Professor
Vilma Ortiz
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2023 - This cluster has definitely expanded my horizons on the topic of Race and Indigenous studies, and it has filled in a lot of my cultural "blindspots," if you will. This is a very history and sociology-oriented cluster, as the topics are focused on different races and their historical backgrounds. There are multiple professors who lecture about their respective cultural identities (i.e. African-American, Japanese-American, Indigenous California Indian, etc.) which allows for very interesting firsthand experiences being told. Thus, the class material is very interesting and engaging, but as for the workload, it is a lot of work. There are a LOT of weekly readings assigned about different topics on race/indigenous studies, and you must leave a comment on each reading digitally for credit. Lecture attendance is also pretty much mandatory as well (but you can watch them on Zoom), because you fill in a lecture survey at the end of each one describing what your main takeaway was. Furthermore, the quarterly essays assigned (one a Literary analysis, the other an Oral History Paper) require a lot of work and background research (but this cluster does count for the Writing 2 requirement, which is very nice). However, your TAs will be very helpful.
Fall 2023 - This cluster has definitely expanded my horizons on the topic of Race and Indigenous studies, and it has filled in a lot of my cultural "blindspots," if you will. This is a very history and sociology-oriented cluster, as the topics are focused on different races and their historical backgrounds. There are multiple professors who lecture about their respective cultural identities (i.e. African-American, Japanese-American, Indigenous California Indian, etc.) which allows for very interesting firsthand experiences being told. Thus, the class material is very interesting and engaging, but as for the workload, it is a lot of work. There are a LOT of weekly readings assigned about different topics on race/indigenous studies, and you must leave a comment on each reading digitally for credit. Lecture attendance is also pretty much mandatory as well (but you can watch them on Zoom), because you fill in a lecture survey at the end of each one describing what your main takeaway was. Furthermore, the quarterly essays assigned (one a Literary analysis, the other an Oral History Paper) require a lot of work and background research (but this cluster does count for the Writing 2 requirement, which is very nice). However, your TAs will be very helpful.
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2018 - Overall liked this cluster and it wasn't super challenging to get an A in the course since I am a pretty good writer. If you struggle with writing, this class could be tough. Midterm fall quarter is VERY EASY and pure memorization that you can do in two days. Final winter quarter is also fairly easy and can be learned in two days. Reading from the course reader is not entirely necessary you will come to realize. SELLING COURSE READERS FOR FALL AND WINTER QUARTER FOR $20 (this saves you over $100). Text ********** if you're interested!
Fall 2018 - Overall liked this cluster and it wasn't super challenging to get an A in the course since I am a pretty good writer. If you struggle with writing, this class could be tough. Midterm fall quarter is VERY EASY and pure memorization that you can do in two days. Final winter quarter is also fairly easy and can be learned in two days. Reading from the course reader is not entirely necessary you will come to realize. SELLING COURSE READERS FOR FALL AND WINTER QUARTER FOR $20 (this saves you over $100). Text ********** if you're interested!
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2024 - This class is the second half of Cluster20A: Race and Indigeneity in the U.S. This quarter's workload and general content is very similar to the first half's, yet I'd argue that this quarter was actually more interesting than the first. Its topics deal more with modern-day issues of race and recent legislation surrounding it, whereas the first quarter focused on the historical origins of race (very early history lessons) and unpacking how it is a social construct. There is no midterm but instead there is an Oral History Paper you must write -- you need to choose an interviewee whose life has meaningful relation to race/Indigenous experiences in America (the ones we have learned about in class), write a script with questions for an interview, interview them, submit a transcript, and then write an essay incorporating their quotes. LOTS of work, but lots of payoff. I find that contemporary topics are more exciting to learn about and more easy to retain, hence why I like this quarter more. As always, the reading load is a little bit heavy and many of them are long. However, I recommend doing these in depth, because the final is a take-home essay about any given topic we have learned about (and you need to use lecture material and supplementary readings to get credit).
Winter 2024 - This class is the second half of Cluster20A: Race and Indigeneity in the U.S. This quarter's workload and general content is very similar to the first half's, yet I'd argue that this quarter was actually more interesting than the first. Its topics deal more with modern-day issues of race and recent legislation surrounding it, whereas the first quarter focused on the historical origins of race (very early history lessons) and unpacking how it is a social construct. There is no midterm but instead there is an Oral History Paper you must write -- you need to choose an interviewee whose life has meaningful relation to race/Indigenous experiences in America (the ones we have learned about in class), write a script with questions for an interview, interview them, submit a transcript, and then write an essay incorporating their quotes. LOTS of work, but lots of payoff. I find that contemporary topics are more exciting to learn about and more easy to retain, hence why I like this quarter more. As always, the reading load is a little bit heavy and many of them are long. However, I recommend doing these in depth, because the final is a take-home essay about any given topic we have learned about (and you need to use lecture material and supplementary readings to get credit).
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2021 - Absolutely loved this quarter! If you are looking at this review then you are probably already committed to the year long course. Professor Fong and Professor Brown were Professors added in this quarter and they were very engaging and would play music at the beginning of lectures. Professor Bunten and Ortiz were great Prof's as usual. Professor Ortiz also really was compassionate and understanding this quarter, she's actually so sweet! Grading: Participation (40%): Same as last quarter (during covid) 40% of your grade is easy participation points if you just do the readings, do lecture participation, and talk during discussion. Media Paper (30%): They shortened the media paper from previous years so now its only a 1500 word paper, and they just want to see your writing improving across the quarters. Final (30%): They implemented "biweekly" reflections and the average of those one-pager's was your final exam grade. (Ortiz even cancelled two of them because of our media paper deadline so the writing in this class isn't too overwhelming.)(She might not do the reflections after covid though) Take Laura Terrance as your TA if you can! She is a really sweet, knowledgeable, and welcoming TA. Her grading is also extremely fair if you put in a good effort! Final Course Grade: A+ Participation: 100%, Media Paper: 97%, Final Exam (reflections): 100%
Winter 2021 - Absolutely loved this quarter! If you are looking at this review then you are probably already committed to the year long course. Professor Fong and Professor Brown were Professors added in this quarter and they were very engaging and would play music at the beginning of lectures. Professor Bunten and Ortiz were great Prof's as usual. Professor Ortiz also really was compassionate and understanding this quarter, she's actually so sweet! Grading: Participation (40%): Same as last quarter (during covid) 40% of your grade is easy participation points if you just do the readings, do lecture participation, and talk during discussion. Media Paper (30%): They shortened the media paper from previous years so now its only a 1500 word paper, and they just want to see your writing improving across the quarters. Final (30%): They implemented "biweekly" reflections and the average of those one-pager's was your final exam grade. (Ortiz even cancelled two of them because of our media paper deadline so the writing in this class isn't too overwhelming.)(She might not do the reflections after covid though) Take Laura Terrance as your TA if you can! She is a really sweet, knowledgeable, and welcoming TA. Her grading is also extremely fair if you put in a good effort! Final Course Grade: A+ Participation: 100%, Media Paper: 97%, Final Exam (reflections): 100%
Most Helpful Review
Spring 2022 - The Special Topics - Art, Activism, and Social Movements was very thorough in terms of explaining the meaning behind politically and socially motivated works of modern and historic art. This course was taught by Elizabeth Dayton, whose humor often made the class way more enjoyable. As long as you have the gist of weekly readings and really put effort into writing requirements, you will be fine.
Spring 2022 - The Special Topics - Art, Activism, and Social Movements was very thorough in terms of explaining the meaning behind politically and socially motivated works of modern and historic art. This course was taught by Elizabeth Dayton, whose humor often made the class way more enjoyable. As long as you have the gist of weekly readings and really put effort into writing requirements, you will be fine.
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