Professor
Sheldon Smith
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Most Helpful Review
Spring 2020 - I took this Spring of 2020 during the coronavirus quarantines/protests. This quarter was a bit different in design from the usual in-person class, so the grading may be different in future classes. Overall, I'd say it was really easy: there were originally supposed to be 5 quizzes (about 1 every 2 weeks) worth 50% and 2 papers worth the other 50%, but Smith was very accommodating and dropped the lowest quiz and paper, so only 4 quizzes and the highest scoring paper counted for your grade. Since I got 100s on the first 4 quizzes and did well on the first paper, I was basically exempt from the last ones. All of the lectures were pre recorded and uploaded so we could watch them at our leisure. They were also shorter than in a normal 1.25 hr timeslot so you can watch on 2x speed. The quizzes were 10 questions with a generous 20 min time limit that covered only material from the last lecture of the previous quiz to the most recent material, so it was mostly 2-3 lectures worth of material and was also open notes and book. The papers were also manageable, though it does depend on who you get as a TA and what they are looking for in your papers! There is one book that you are required to get, but it can be found online free in PDF form. You'll likely need it for the papers, but the quizzes themselves were based mainly on handouts from Smith that accompanied lectures. There are also two outside source readings you have to do, but it isn't hard and as long as you take notes in lecture or discussion on them, you don't really need to read them either unless it is what you choose as a paper topic. Overall, this class was an excellent and easy choice for a philos GE/pre-req compared to some other philosophy classes. The content is not difficult to understand at all either. I recommend taking it!
Spring 2020 - I took this Spring of 2020 during the coronavirus quarantines/protests. This quarter was a bit different in design from the usual in-person class, so the grading may be different in future classes. Overall, I'd say it was really easy: there were originally supposed to be 5 quizzes (about 1 every 2 weeks) worth 50% and 2 papers worth the other 50%, but Smith was very accommodating and dropped the lowest quiz and paper, so only 4 quizzes and the highest scoring paper counted for your grade. Since I got 100s on the first 4 quizzes and did well on the first paper, I was basically exempt from the last ones. All of the lectures were pre recorded and uploaded so we could watch them at our leisure. They were also shorter than in a normal 1.25 hr timeslot so you can watch on 2x speed. The quizzes were 10 questions with a generous 20 min time limit that covered only material from the last lecture of the previous quiz to the most recent material, so it was mostly 2-3 lectures worth of material and was also open notes and book. The papers were also manageable, though it does depend on who you get as a TA and what they are looking for in your papers! There is one book that you are required to get, but it can be found online free in PDF form. You'll likely need it for the papers, but the quizzes themselves were based mainly on handouts from Smith that accompanied lectures. There are also two outside source readings you have to do, but it isn't hard and as long as you take notes in lecture or discussion on them, you don't really need to read them either unless it is what you choose as a paper topic. Overall, this class was an excellent and easy choice for a philos GE/pre-req compared to some other philosophy classes. The content is not difficult to understand at all either. I recommend taking it!
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2022 - Preface: I took this class during the TA-strike; the whole class was awarded full participation points. You do not need to be a math genius to take this class. I took logic as a prereq but you don't need to be advanced. The Prof: Dr. Smith is so great. His exams are exactly what he covered in lecture making the material feel a lot less intimidating. He's funny and clearly passionate about teaching. He's deeply invested in his students. I went to office hours every once in a while, he always answered questions clearly and in detail. He's a very popular professor. TA: I had Alonso Molina. Honestly, I would get more confused when he explained things to me BUT I went over my study guide answers with him before the midterm and he helped a lot. He told me what I should pay close attention to and what I could improve on. Again this is just the study guide.. but filling out the study guide helps for the exam. Material/Workload: not bad but not great. Definitely keep up with the readings, try to stay consistent with notes. I usually took notes after lecture but I think that taking notes before would have been an advantage. The material is DRY and convoluted as hell. McTaggart can eat his heart out, I can't stand his theories. Luckily Smith explains it very well. Things get better with Block theory, Growing Block, theories of space, and Minkowski spacetime. It's hard but lecture makes it easier. The material is hard but honestly, Smith makes it worth it. I love philosophy; I'm glad I took this class because now I know what this side of philosophy is. I still prefer Nietzsche, Fanon, and Korsgaard. Exams: 1 Midterm, 1 5-6 page essay, and a final. Stressful but it's what one expects in a philosophy class. You need to keep up with readings though. Exams are generally composed of a series of essay questions (6-7) where you pick two to answer. You are well prepared for them in lecture but to get an A you need to expound upon what was taught in the book. I rephrased things and explained how I taught myself the concepts, I talked about it with my TA, and I created my quizlets. I practiced writing my answers and then I took the exam. It's not easy but you can have a system for it. Overall: Definitely take it. The grade distribution is undeniable. The material is hard but it's digestible. Prof Smith is fantastic and the TA's want you to succeed. This class is much more interested in seeing you do well rather than pick you apart. I would definitely take it again.
Fall 2022 - Preface: I took this class during the TA-strike; the whole class was awarded full participation points. You do not need to be a math genius to take this class. I took logic as a prereq but you don't need to be advanced. The Prof: Dr. Smith is so great. His exams are exactly what he covered in lecture making the material feel a lot less intimidating. He's funny and clearly passionate about teaching. He's deeply invested in his students. I went to office hours every once in a while, he always answered questions clearly and in detail. He's a very popular professor. TA: I had Alonso Molina. Honestly, I would get more confused when he explained things to me BUT I went over my study guide answers with him before the midterm and he helped a lot. He told me what I should pay close attention to and what I could improve on. Again this is just the study guide.. but filling out the study guide helps for the exam. Material/Workload: not bad but not great. Definitely keep up with the readings, try to stay consistent with notes. I usually took notes after lecture but I think that taking notes before would have been an advantage. The material is DRY and convoluted as hell. McTaggart can eat his heart out, I can't stand his theories. Luckily Smith explains it very well. Things get better with Block theory, Growing Block, theories of space, and Minkowski spacetime. It's hard but lecture makes it easier. The material is hard but honestly, Smith makes it worth it. I love philosophy; I'm glad I took this class because now I know what this side of philosophy is. I still prefer Nietzsche, Fanon, and Korsgaard. Exams: 1 Midterm, 1 5-6 page essay, and a final. Stressful but it's what one expects in a philosophy class. You need to keep up with readings though. Exams are generally composed of a series of essay questions (6-7) where you pick two to answer. You are well prepared for them in lecture but to get an A you need to expound upon what was taught in the book. I rephrased things and explained how I taught myself the concepts, I talked about it with my TA, and I created my quizlets. I practiced writing my answers and then I took the exam. It's not easy but you can have a system for it. Overall: Definitely take it. The grade distribution is undeniable. The material is hard but it's digestible. Prof Smith is fantastic and the TA's want you to succeed. This class is much more interested in seeing you do well rather than pick you apart. I would definitely take it again.
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