Abra is very passionate but the criteria isn't crystal clear. His lectures are great but you definitely have to do a close reading of the readings to do well on the tests. Should definitely go to office hours for help on the papers, he's very helpful and will give you ideas there. I would take this class again but it isn't an easy A

2 midterms, 2 analyses, and the final The hardest class I took, the test is 50% on the textbook, and the other 50% is on the lecture. Be ready to read heavily, and comprehend the lecture. There is no PowerPoint to his lectures, and attendance is mandatory if you want to pass the class.

Dr. Abra is an amazing lecturer. He is very hilarious and helpful. Get ready to read since the reading takes 50% of the exam. The paper prompt is a bit vague, so it is necessary to get help from him and TAs.

Overall, I really liked Abra. His lectures are creative and funny. Don't try to write down what he says word-for-word; taking hand-written notes are helpful since he wants you to understand the main idea (what's on the board is important!). He'll use a lot of examples which will come in handy during exams. Keep up with readings and you'll do fine.

He's a great professor, I am on my last year at UCSB and he's the best professor I have ever had. The material is interesting and easy to grasp. overall great class

Abra is one of my favorite comm professors I've taken a class with. His expectations are straight forward, his lectures as engaging and interesting, and the assignments are simple if you pay attention and try.

for the sake of ur mental health and if u struggle w anxiety, I strongly don't recommend this professor. one of his old reviews perfectly sums it up: he does not test you on ur knowledge of the course material, he tests how well you can interpret his vague wording on exams. speaks in a condescending tone when you feel overwhelmed by the workload

Take any class with Dr. Abra!! He's an awesome professor and cares so much about his students. The class was asynchronous so it's all at your own pace. The layout of the class is very simple and organized and his lectures are fun and engaging.

This class was taken online through an asynchronous format. There's 6 modules in all and have 2 paragraphs assignment for each module. This is more of a work at your own pace class as long as you complete the modules before the deadline. There is a 8-10 page essay that is due the end of the quarter. Very relaxing class and easy

With the circumstances of covid19, Dr. Abra's lectures were still so interesting and I felt like I finally learned something for once while online school has just felt really dragging. The work load is not much and easy to get through. Textbook could be helpful but I did fine without it.

Due to COVID I had to take Dr. Abras class online and it was asynchronous so I thought it was going to be difficult to stay focused and do well but his lectures were great and easy to pay attention to! You can tell hes passionate about this subject and is very knowledgeable so it makes lectures interesting. Definitely recommend!

He's not /technically/ a professor, but definitely my favorite lecturer in my entire undergrad experience here at UCSB. Tells fun stories and connects them to bigger picture concepts. First class where I feel like I didn't do a brain dump right after the midterm, just because concepts are so cool. Also doesn't have that many readings.

I love Gordon!!! Hes been the best professor Ive had in the comm department so far. He doesnt use PowerPoint but he doesnt need to. Super engaging, if you go to lectures, pay attention and skim the readings for the main points youll be fine. His lectures always have a big ah ha moment and it really gets you to think. Will take him again!

This was the worst class Ive ever took. The professor was a extremely hard grader. Many of the students in his class didnt show up to the final because of how harsh he was at grading assignments. Attendance wasnt mandatory but if you dont show up you wont pass because his tests are half lecture half reading. I would not take this class again

One of the best professors I've ever had. His style is unique in that he just talks and occasionally uses the chalkboard, but man, he is engaging and interesting to listen to. His tests are half textbook, half class, so you must do both to get an A. The class has a nice curve to it, and there are 3 short paper assignments, of which you pick 2 to do

Straight forward grading criteria: 50% of the tests directly from his lectures, and the other 50% from the textbook. He's an extremely smart guy. His lectures are hilarious and easy to follow because he relates the concepts of sociology to the stories he tells in class. He makes you think about society in a whole new way. Take his class!

Go to class and read the textbook - midterms and final are 50% lecture material and 50% textbook. If you skip one of these components you will have a very difficult time. Abra is one of the most engaging lecturers and makes the content interesting with his examples even if it isn't. 10/10 would take another class from him again

BEST PROFESSOR I'VE EVER HAD!! You'll need to read the whole textbook and show up to every class - his tests are 50% reading and 50% lecture. It's worth the work though, he's amazing!!

Abra is an engaging lecturer. But he has completely unfair and unrealistic expectations of his students. He says that you don't need to read the textbook, but most the test questions will be on the readings. 8-10 pg paper on a nonsense topic. Genuinely felt like he was just doing half the things he did for his own entertainment to see us squirm.

Abra is one of the best professors I've ever had. Tests are short answer (less than a sentence usually), half on lecture half on book. Reading and showing up to lecture is therefore necessary, but the material is interesting. Not that tough overall, as long as you read and study hard! If there was a second class for 173, I'd definitely take it!

I loved Abra's class, but I didn't get the best test grades. I am a DSPS student who needed accommodations, and still got a D on both exams, but an A on the few assignments we had. Other DSPS peers had the same issue. If you can devote 4 hours a day to reading the material, I recommend this class. If you're a full time student, I would not.

Abra is an amazing lecturer, he's really smart and engaging. The book will be your life though, he asks the most detailed questions from there. The papers were okay too. The curve was a life saver, he's a great professor but it's definitely going to take a lot of dedication on your end.

Abra is among the best professors I've had. He keeps people engaged and is a natural educator. I would definitely take any classes he offered as he easily conveys the material and makes the class fun, despite it being 8am. The papers let you explore facets of law you're interested in - while the tests were hard his grading scale made up for it.

Abra is a great professor! he doesn't trick you and is clear about what hes looking for. He doesn't use powerpoint (verbal lectures) but it wasn't hard to follow at all because he lets you know whats important. this class was very entertaining for a morning class and especially for a comm class! 1 mdtrm and 1 final (1/2 take home 1/2 mult. choice)