Truly one of the best and inspiring professors I have ever had. A true activist and very helpful if you go and talk to him during office hours. A bit awkward at first but he is just shy, I think. Attendance is mandatory and the readings are interesting. I loved that there were no exams. Take him before you graduate!
My impression of Robinson on the first lecture was really positive. He's passionate ad well-spoken. However, as someone not terribly interested in the subject, I found this class disorganized, overwhelming, and unsatisfying. Only papers, no tests, but being forced to come to this class for 3 hrs a week was almost torture by the end of the quarter.
You either love him or hate him. +: Lectures are interesting, good movies and guests, very passionate prof, I came out feeling like I learned a TON, helpful TAs, no big exams. -: prof has radical views, intimidating, disorganized handing back assignments, mandatory attendance. If you are interested in globalization or latin america take this class!
Highly recommend. 3 hour lecture once a week (no section!). Class is actually taught by the professor. Attendance is mandatory but class is pretty interesting most of the time. Cool with taking notes on lap top. 4 pop quizzes on weekly readings. Only other work is 4 essays (just 4 pages pretty standard). Pretty easy class overall! Great professor:)
This class is terrible. A ton of reading & writing. Pop quizzes, mandatory attendance & him & his TAs patrol the room for people using fb. Avoid this class like the plague.
He is a jerk! Calls you out in a 150 person lecture if you are nodding off. 4 papers (3pgs,6pgs,4pgs,8pgs) in that order plus 4 pop quizzes based on reading. Long readings assignments(around 100 pages). Boring lectures. Don't take him unless you have lots of time to study and write papers.
Love this professor. He is so smart!!!! and you will learn alot in his class. Keep up with the work and you will get an A=)
I looked at the reviews and said NO WAY IM NOT TAKING THIS CLASS but I'm so darn glad I did! He's an AMAZING professor who knows what he's talking about. There are 3 briefs,5 pop quizzes and 1 research paper. EASY. I'm not a good writer. Steven and Pat are awesome TA's! take this class you won't regret it. Most likely will get an A. ps:extracredit
Attendance is extremely important not only because he takes roll but because there are random quizzes. The reading is excessive and there are 4 three page briefs due. If you just keep up with the readings and turn in decent papers, you will definitely get an A in this class. Not impossible. Take it but keep up.
Lecture slides are riddled with typos, readings are dry and he makes sure to assign quizzes the day papers and other assignments are due, and he tells the class not to use phones while he texts during movies. The way he speaks is convoluted and pseudo-intellectual.
I LOVED this professor. His slides are extremely detailed and exhausting to look at...but the subject matter makes it worth it! He is a true activist and made me want to become one as well. Lots of reading but I actually was sad when I didn't have time to read it because it was so interesting! Show up, do quizzes,and put thought into the papers!
4 thick novels & a 300 page reader. readings were all necessary bc there are (5) random quizzes. 4 papers. isn't really available; can't email him because he's too busy. TAs expect so much in the essays but it's impossible bc of the page limits. grading is way harsher than it needs to be. this was my last class for my degree & it was my worst one
points are docked if you miss class. aside from the 2 sign-in sheets, he took roll out loud in a huge class and we got out late. doesn't sound like a big deal but it is when it's a 3hr class & you're still in class waiting for your name to be called at 8:10pm. hard grader. confusing slides in all caps w/ lots of typos. kind of confusing lectures
OBSESSED w/ attendance. 2 sign in sheets & sometimes ALSO took roll out loud. 3 hr class & we never get out on time. expects us to already know a lot of the material. he & the TAs grade harshly. had to turn in a paper before he even taught us the relevant info bc he included too many topics in the course. 5 quizzes, 4 papers, no exams.
He has a serious problem with attendance and was so paranoid with it that I got scared at times. Felt he wasn't for his students but was always trying to find a way to make us lose points (said quiz will be in the beg. of class and bc a lot of students left, gave a OPEN BOOK quiz at the end) I mean who does that? Had high hopes for this class :(
If you want an armchair professor take someone else Dr. Robinson is an activist and any true Sociologist can appriaciate that. He truly changed my life.
AMAZING! such a passionate professor. made me want to get involved with activism on such a higher level! i would take any class he offered at UCSB.
He is the best professor at UCSB no make that EVER- he is very intelligent and passionate, I wish their were more professors like him!!!
I wish I could take another class with him before a graduate but it doesn't look like I will be able to. He is one of the gems at UCSB. He teaches because he wants students to keep the information for life and use it everyday rather than giving students random useless work. He is WONDERFUL!
Go to lectures and do the reading and you will get a good grade and learn something vastly different than ever before. He is a life changing professor, I wish I had taken a class with him earlier. He is very helpful and clarifies until everyone in the class understands. 1 to 2 pg paper every week, random short quizzes only a question or 2.
Take him you won't regret it!!!
GREAT GREAT GREAT. This professor is so helpful, he is always there for his students. There are random pop quizzes and there is a paper due every week. However the quiz is a piece of cake and the papers are graded very fairly. As long as you get the key ideas across you are golden. I wish I could take him again but he is not teaching right now.
had him for soc 130LA, structure is good, no real exams... "pop" quizes on the reading-- 4 very easy and simple if u read. Nothing is particularly hard about this class but his lectures are very dry and he likes to keep you after class... be warned also sidetracks a lot. Slides are online.. only go to lecture cuz he takes roll othrwise its useless
This has been one of the best professors I've ever had. He is an eye opener. I have taken two classes with him and I've gotten A's on both. He gives interesting topics. If you do the readings you'll do fine and the quizzes are easy. His lectures really interested me and made me not want to miss class. Take him, he?s a good instructor. I highly re