Professor Thornton is easily the BEST professor I've had at UCLA. Although the subject material can sometimes be a bit dry, he always tells you exactly which topics will be on the exams. Professor Thornton is incredibly knowledgable and often shares his own relevant experiences with the class, usually from his time as the director of the Smithsonian repatriation committee.

If you show up to class and pay attention most of the time, you will do really well in this class (and 172A). Both classes are graded solely on the midterm (40%) and final (60%), but Professor Thornton grades very generously, and most people get A's in his classes.