Steven Schlesinger - San Diego State University, San Diego, CA

Professor: Steven Schlesinger

Department: Philosophy

College: San Diego State University, San Diego, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Extremely fascinating lectures. Passing requires good note-taking skills, as a majority of his teaching will be lecture, purely aural/oral/hearing. Rarely writes the concept on the board, it may take a genuine interest in Philosophy to fully grasp what he is saying. Grade is entirely based on in-class written essays, based on the lectures.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHIL110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

He's really good.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

In class written essays are all that is in the grade book. Repeat everything he says in class onto your paper, that will guarantee a good grade. Lectures are very long.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Schlessinger is by far my favorite professor at SDSU. You have to go to every class and write down word for word his lecture. There are 5 in class essays which he asks you to basically reword his lecture so take good notes. Super helpful I had the flu and could hardly walk to class gave me a 2 week extension of the paper. Office hours are helpful!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

He's hilarious and his lectures are very interesting. However, his essays can be difficult unless you spit back word for word what he talks about in class. You must go and take clear, hefty notes or you won't do well on the essays. The whole class is 5 essays and you get to rewrite 2 for the final. No homework and optional textbook.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHIL0310
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

His Lectures are actually really interesting, but he typically repeats them once or twice to kind of 'hammer in' the info. Only 4 essays throughout the year, which he lets you turn in several times to get feedback. That said, you really do have to go to his office hours to understand his feedback because his handwriting is downright awful

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHIL0101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

No homework, no book, no participation points, don't skip classes though cause his lectures are his exams. Take audio recordings of his lectures and memorize them before the exam and you'll get an A 100%. He has 5 essays throughout the semester and allows you to retake 2 of them to better your grade. Easy class if you can make it to class at 8am.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Write down everything he says in his lectures and you'll do great. His tests are open note essays. Just copy his lecture and you'll get an A.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Not a difficult class but instead of a class open to discussion and critical thinking, he expects everything to be done his way. The entire class consists of essays which he expects to match his lectures word for word. Even then his grading criteria is confusing, and if you dare challenge his opinions in an essay, he'll simply mark it wrong.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHILOSOPHY101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

5 open note essays, except final (optional, rewriting two past essays). He will help you during office hours. Take good notes since there are no powerpoints. Repeats lectures at least twice. His lectures are interesting and the class is easy going.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He is fun, sarcastic, & easy-going. His lectures (anti-God, Communism, etc.) involve current arguments. Show up & take notes. Explain & evaluate his position (agree? why?). 5 essay tests & optional final (rewrite 2 essays no notes). You can rewrite your first 3 or 4 essays if you go to his office hours. DO NOT SKIP CLASS & Good Luck!!! :-)

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

What it comes down to is that Steve is an awesome professor. He is funny, interesting, intelligent and incredibly passionate about Philosophy. He is the best teacher that I've had since coming to SDSU. I learned so much in his class and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone! Just be sure to take good notes during lectures and you will do well

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

His grading criteria is so confusing, just write exactly everything he says during lectures and use his examples and he'll give you a good grade. Don't think on your own because he doesn't appreciate it. His lectures are interesting, however I o not understand what goes through his mind when grading.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHILOSOPHY101
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

i took him and i thought i took awesome notes but i failed his exams and the only comment i got on my exams was "so?" and went to his office hours for help and he said it wasn't his job to help me so id better pray for a miracle if i wanted to pass

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

From the very first day of class he is very clear on what will be covered in every section all semester. 5 in class essay exams, all open note (I wrote mine the night before and hand copied in class), optional final, NO homework or reading at all. But you MUST go to class and take amazing notes or you'll fail. Pretty simple, very interesting.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: 22545
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

EASY A. All time favorite professor at state, his lectures are so well prepared and interesting! I would take this class again. You have 5 written exams & final optional. Go to his office hours if you did bad on an exam, SO HELPFUL YOU WON'T REGRET! No reading required, MANDATORY to go to class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Amazing class to take if you like learning. He teaches things you most likely wouldn't learn in any other philosophy class. 5 tests all open note, final is correcting 2 tests and is optional. Tests are regurgitating his lectures word for word so if you don't go to class or have someone to take good notes for you, you will fail.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This class was super interesting! I learned a lot of cool stuff you probably wouldn't learn in any other class. Downside is you basically have to take notes of what he says in his lectures word for word, then regurgitate exactly what he said for the tests to get an A. I would recommend, but not if you don't appreciate learning.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I loved him and he is one of those ones who inspire you in that subject. Tests are all based on lectures and his lectures are all speaking with no powerpoint. If you are willing to turn up to class and take notes, this class is great and you can definitely get an A. All of his tests are open note also!! OFFICE HOURS MEAN GOOD GRADE!!!!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

He's an easy A if you take notes verbatim. Just make sure to write down EVERYTHING he says. If you do get a bad grade on a test go to his office hours and he'll tell you what you did wrong and he lets you re write it and gives you a higher grade after.