If you do not show up to lecture or you take crappy notes, you will not do well. If you don't read or read last minute, you will not do well. Common sense. I highly recommend taking reading notes! It sucks but it's how I became number one in the class. If you do all of this and start to study a week prior you will do fantastic! 3 tests and 1 final.

3 tests & 1 final exam. Teaching is boring & he wrote the textbook that the class is required to use. Many of his teachings are completely made up like 'the greater upper force' you search that up on the internet & nothing will show up. harsh grader & lecture heavy class. Would've been alright if he taught real material instead of his made up stuff

John is a wonderful professor! He makes it obvious what he is looking for on tests. I appreciate the review sessions before exams. He talks fast in lecture and does not post the slides, but his lectures are always very interesting and he makes it fun.

I attended every class and found the way he taught to be difficult to understand. I understood the readings and everything in the lecture, but when I would take the test, I'd write paragraphs and still not do well. I would talk to him and he would say thats what he said in lecture. I've talked to others who had similar experiences

Baldwin is by far the best professor I have had ever. He loves what he does, knows what he is talking about, is extremely engaging, and wants you to succeed. If you show up to lecture and do the readings, you will do great in the class. This is a class I look forward to going to--his lectures are so informative. Highly recommend to anyone!!

He is very enthusiastic and clearly loves HIS lectures and concepts. All his lectures are clearly opinionated. A lot of the concepts he talks about do not exist. Google it, you won't find it. This class is psychology based not sociology based so don't get fooled. Myself and many other classmates are disappointed. Ridiculous. Do not take this class.

People love him and I don't get it. Ok he is nice but I got all As and Bs and UCSB other than in this class. I read the material and studied but kept failing his tests which made no sense to me. I took socialization at community college and got an A. This class ruined my gpa. Also there is no such thing as the great upper force but it's on test.

Took all 3 (185,142,152 Easiest to hardest) tests based off lecture and some readings. Graders look for specifics. Lectures are interesting but found in 185 a lot of the material was unrealistic and misleading. Memorize specifics and you be straight.

Don't do it fam.

One of the hardest Soc classes I've taken at ucsb. Really enjoyed his 152 class so I decided to take 142 but it was a huge mistake. I studied 24/7 for this class and it took a lot of time away from my other classes. Heavy reading and you are expected to know everything from all readings and lectures to do well on the tests. Ruined my gpa BEWARE.

Class is more psychology based. In all honesty, it's not difficult but you need to READ like crazy. He assigns 5/6 questions that will be based on 40 + paragraph length questions per each exam. The graders want microscopic detail & his lectures are very crude & disorganized. I regret taking him. Don't take him unless you don't mind your GPA dropped

Had Baldwin for 152ABC, and now 142. He's very kind and passionate about Soc. Sometimes concepts in lecture are very abstract and lowkey pseudoscientific. Tests are built on textbook/lecture, and are all essay/short-response format. You must read and go to class to do well. Go to office hours for extra credit/if you have concerns.

Lectures were dull so it made it difficult to attend BUT there is both lecture and reading materiel on test so attendance is recommended. Not an easy class, you will need to put in some effort.

I have taken three courses from Professor Baldwin! He is an incredible teacher and his outlook on life is inspiring. TAKE ANY AND ALL CLASSES HE OFFERS! Do the readings and show up to class and you will get a good grade in the course. Your grade is made up of 3 exams and a final ( For SOC152A & SOC142).For (SOC185P)you have 2 exams and a final.

worst class I've taken at UCSB. Was warned to not take this course by other students at UCSB but thought I would at least try it out and failed miserably. Approached him outside of class on a couple occasions and he basically told me I didn't know how to study and sent me off with nothing but 2 points e.c. that he offers. DON'T TAKE THIS

Talk to him and he is willing the help and work with you. I enjoyed his class and only missed 4 classes. 3 midterms and 1 final. study hard for the 1st and 2nd and the final. Do the regrades if you feel like you can justify your answer.

John inspires me so much. As an old man with all white hairs, he teaches his lectures with SO much enthusiasm and encourages you to live with so much positivity, i really enjoyed his class. his tests are all basically based by memorization of concepts and terms (no mulitple choice you basically just write out what you know of the concepts.

A lot of work, but easy A if you do the readings & attend lecture. Make sure to attend lecture and do the readings because the test draws from there. His lectures are structured so students can see the main points. For example, he uses (A,B,C & 1,2,3). He writes on chalk board making it easier to follow and take notes. TAKE THIS CLASS!!

Took this class because I loved 152. Going to lecture and reading the book/reader is a must to do well on tests. I didn't think his lectures were that bad, he was very enthusiastic which made class fun. I wish he'd given us a review sheet or had better ways to prepare us for the 3 midterms and final, but class was overall easy if you work for it

I Would not recommend 142 for socialization. He calls it positive sociology, but its more so a glorified version of behavioral psychology. There are reasons why behavioral psychology isn't popular anymore, so I'll leave you with that to think.

The way he runs his lectures you would think that the material is of the utmost importance, but think again. His tests are horrible because he grades really tough and will not mark what you did wrong or what to improve. He has curved every test because at the students were struggling. Oh did i mention the book assigned for class is written by him.

I loved 152A which is why I'm disappointed in 142. His "positive sociologist" approach completely disregards any social/racial/economic inequality & his lectures felt more like life coaching/parenting classes. I learned absolutely nothing & his tests were roughly graded & unclear. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND SOC142!!

if you like spending weeks on certain topics then being tested about materials not discussed then this is your class. Unclear with his midterms

Took 152A with him, but this class was not as great. He is very picky with what he puts on his tests, and the material is not that interesting.