Dwaine Plaza - Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

Professor: Dwaine Plaza

Department: Sociology

College: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SOC437
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Plaza had compelling lectures, but overall he made this course much more difficult and cumbersome than it needed to be for the students to comprehend the material. Yes, 400 level courses are designed to be more difficult and rigorous, but he blatantly made things much more time-consuming than even close to necessary.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SOC204
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I loved Plaza's class! This class was a real eye-opener to all sorts of issues in this world. It is a very interesting class to take, Assignments are minimal, but you MUST attend lectures. midterm/final exams are half things he discusses in class. If you need help he is VERY understanding and helpful. Def recommend him!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SOC201
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Would not recommend. He likes to get on his soapbox a lot. Uses outdated material. Assumes everyone in the class is a 19 year old with no life experience.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SOC460
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I really loved this globalization class. Plaza made the international concepts very clear. He linked colonialism as the key to understanding the current problems. I really liked the videos he showed and the assignments and presentations were very clear. Plaza made the students present material that was new and interesting. I would highly recommend!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: SOC437
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He can be unclear about assignments & guidelines, but is understanding if it was not clearly communicated. He does grade hard, but if you are taking a 400 level class you should be able to understand the concepts & do the work. He is willing to meet for extra help if needed. His class would benefit from a socratic teaching style, as it is dry.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SOC437
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Professor Plaza is one of the brightest professors I have had at OSU. He really teaches students about modern forms of racism and how the media works to perpetuate stereotypes. YES he is hard on the stuff we write but it makes you a better writer. Very cool dressed professor--easy on the eyes.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SOCRACE
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He has little tolerance for people who don't agree with him and is unclear about his expectations for writing assignments. If you do the reading and just regurgitate what he tells you you should get at least a B. If you think for yourself or try to counter his dogma with other valid sociological theories your grade will suffer.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SOC204
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He is very helpful and gives great lectures. I liked how he was very professional and was never rude.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: SOC460
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Interesting class and enjoyed the videos. His TAs do all the grading for him. Attendance is MANDATORY; missed 2 classes and got 9/10 in participation. Blackboard grades are also constantly changing so you aren't sure of your grade because they keep taking things off and on.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: SOC451
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Very great. Knows his stuff and clearly passes it on to his students. Can be dry, but if you engage in his class it's great!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: SOC399
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

great class!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SOC204
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Talks fast during lectures, however is extremely knowledgeable and easy to approach. Takes the time to get to know student's names (if they engage in class). Tests and assignments are easy to succeed in if you just put a little effort into it. He also provides extensive study guides for the midterm and final... very rare for a professor to do!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SOC204
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

WORST PROF EVER. Lost my paper & gave me 0pts for it, then told me it's not his fault because "he has so many students to keep track of". Grades his class out of 100pts. The 1 paragraph writing assignment was worth 3pts. My final grade drops down 3% instantly. I was told he's famous for doing this... Lectures are painfully boring and long. AVOID!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SOC204
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His lectures were painful to sit through. The topics he talked about were extremely interesting but he found a way to make it all so boring. I was unclear about one assignment and he had no sympathy when I went and talked to him after class. He always gave off a pompous attitude.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: SOC204
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Awesome teacher. Clear, engaging and fun. He's a powerful speaker and extremely knowledgable.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: SOC1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dr Plaza was the best professor I have ever had. He is passionate about what he does and he allows students to experience multiple learning environments. I appreciated the writing to express myself-- he did not rely on scan tron exams. It means lots of work for him. He is also HOT looking

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SOC437
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Plaza is a great teacher, he shows that he is interested in the subject he teaches and wants his students to be to. He's willing to help students clarify and understand better what he lectures on. Sometimes can be annoying because he cuts people off in mid-question or answer, but I think he means well. Nice guy, recommend SOC437.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ALS199
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

For the record - Don't take an ALS class! Such a phenomenal waste of time. If you know how to write your name and weren't raised in an isolationist cult, you don't need it. But Dwaine is a nice guy, friendly and the work is literally the easiest I've done since 9th grade. He made the class fun, though it was a little too touchy-feely for my taste.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: SOC399
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Plaza is a wonderful instructor who takes seriously his job of elucidating social inequality. If you are someone who has benefited from societal ascribed privilege, you may be irritated he says so. His classes give a voice to those who have historically been silenced. Come to his class prepared to LEARN.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: SOC204
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dwaine thinks he knows his stuff, but he puts a lot of opinion into his lectures. He can be very rude. If someone gets out of their seat to go to the bathroom or to put an assignment in the front, he thinks they are doing it to disturb him and calls them out. Got the vibe of a "know it all". But his grades are based on papers/tests..so good.