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.
One of my favorite professors at UCSB. The material is relevant and stays with you. The reading are clear and add to the lectures. The exams are fair and should be easy if you went to class and read. Learned so much and would take any class with Abra. Little early though.
my favorite professor! His lectures will stay with you. He's funny and uses common sense. Great lectures. i only wish he didn't teach at 8 am
Personally one of my favorite classes I have ever taken. No power points he simply stands up there and talks with a few hand drawn visuals on the board, so if you miss class you won't pass. Two midterms and a cumulative final, as well as two super easy 2-page memos. Overall not too much reading and a fairly easy class if you show up for class!
Best professor I had at UCSB. You actually learn in his lectures and you must attend lectures and do the readings in order to do well on the exams. His lectures are very clear and uses great examples and gets to the point. He is also funny which keeps the class engaged.
Best Prof I have had at UCSB. Don't be scared, he is awesome!
class is early in the morning but it was worth it because he kept my attention. He's funny and great at lecturing. You will need to read and pay attention the midterm is a bit difficult. I would take him again- TAKE IT!
Abra stuck strictly to verbal lectures without powerpoint, but I found the content of his class so interesting and him as a person a pretty good lecturer it wasn't hard to pay attention. Interesting material/topics in a class I didn't expect to enjoy.
Extremely difficult tests, no guidance/tips on what areas of the book to focus on for midterms/finals, no power point lectures in class, and the most boring lectures. I thought this would be a fun UD elective but I regret taking it because I don't even think I'm going to pass. Extremely tough grader. Wouldn't recommend.
Abra is enthusiastic and engaging, and his expectations for both the exams and paper are straightforward. One thing I will say is lectures are purely auditory and if you don't learn like that it's not always easy to pay attention. There are barely any readings but you have to do them to do well on tests. Take this if you're at all into science.
BEST PROF. & CLASS EVER. He has the most exciting and interesting lectures and topics. He teaches in a way that keeps you on your toes, and allows you to have the material ingrained. He's so passionate about each of the topics he teaches, and it shines through. Wishing I wasn't graduating so that I could take all the other courses he teaches!
Abra is THE best prof I've ever had. He has taught the most eye-opening, world-shaking, passionate lectures I've ever heard. In both courses I've taken with him, he managed to incorporate existential reality bombs that also relate to the material. Can't really be described. The stuff he's taught me about the news, govt, etc. have changed my life.
Honestly one of the best teachers I've had at UCSB. He really makes you think about the material in different ways that you wouldn't have thought of before. It's obvious that he loves what he does, but the class is tough so you have to put effort in. Midterm is all blue book, final is all blue book and there's one legal analysis paper.
Professor Abra has been by far my favorite professor at UCSB! His lectures were entertaining and insightful, and as long as you pay attention and read it is easy to pass. He has a skewed grading scale, so an 84% and above is an A+. I cannot wait to take more classes with Abra!
This class wasn't as bad as people made it out to be. Abra is a very clear and entertaining lecturer. There are two 2 pg papers and one 4-6 page one, all easy and straight forward. Two midterms (multiple choice) and a final (multiple choice and essay with prompt given before). The tests are hard but the grading scale makes up for it (80% is an A)
Considering I am not a morning person, Abra does a brilliant job in keeping my attention at 8 in the morning. The lectures are always very engaging but the tests are a challenge. Tests are literally half lecture and half reading. The lecture section isn't bad if you attend daily and focus but my gosh best of luck with the reading
I am very conflicted about Abra. His lectures were honestly very entertaining and interesting, I always left feeling like i learned a lot and got some good laughs. That being said, this class was HARD. So much info, so little time. Tests were split 50/50 by lecture and reading, but reading half was so hard because we didn't know what we had to know
Even though my class was at 8am, Abra is able to keep your interest, and made clear what he wanted you to gain from his lecture. Abra and his TA both make themselves very available, because this is a difficult class because he does not coddle. He wants you to know everything for your benefit and will not coddle students with study guides.
Comm & Power was an amazing class and i left thinking ABra was one of my favorite professors. Applicable material to everyday life, got a B+. Took Comm 182 with him (using comm research) and he is TERRIBLE. Objectives are NOT made clear and he is all over the place.
Worst Professor I have ever had. I still got an A but seriously the worst. He doesn't make it clear what he wants you to do for papers and for tests. The wording he uses in lecture is not the same wording he uses on his tests. He doesn't test your knowledge, he's testing how well you can interpret his vague words. Avoid at all costs.
Abra was absolutely brilliant. He's hilarious in lecture which makes the material very digestible and easily recalled on exams. The text was dense but essential as he asks very specific questions on exams. If you can't make your own outline, stay away as he doesn't even broach the readings in class. 2 midterms, 2 papers and a comprehensive final.