James Griesemer - University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Professor: James Griesemer

Department: Philosophy

College: University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHI031
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Concepts are mostly foreign but extremely easy to learn. Discussion attendance not mandatory. You can easily wait til the night before, study for an hour or two then ace the quiz/exam. With the EC he gives, you can probably finish this class with over 100%. HW graded for completion. Anyone who struggles in this class will have problems in college.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHI031
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Griesemer gets the job done. He is not particularly inspiring, but he presents interesting ideas to think about. His class is fairly easy but he tries to ask curveball questions on his tests. But either way, people do well on his tests. He uploads videos of his lectures so it is not necessary to go to class. Take for a GE

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHI031
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Clear prof, very caring, trivially easy A. Despite this, I loathed this class (Note: NOT because of him). The course isnt what it sounds like. Its not philosophy but rather a formalization of the act of reading articles. Seriously, the whole class is about developing formulaic steps for how to read. Want a free A, take it. Want intrigue, avoid.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHI031
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Pros: Super kind, cares about each student, posts notes and lecture videos so attendance is optional, practice midterm and final that mimic the actual tests, 5 HW graded for completion, lots of extra credit, easy class content in general, easy GE Cons: Boring material, easy but boring. Take him! He does a lot for students outside of lecture.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHI031
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Griesemer really wants everyone to do well in the class! He posts his lecture slides and videos of his lecture online so you don't need to attend class. He posts a "practice" midterm that is word for word the midterm you take in class and he offers extra credit. Discussion sections are helpful for the homeworks (which are graded for completion).

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: STS131
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I think he gives incredible lectures -- although he can be a little monotone, each lecture was chock full of incredibly cool info. Professor G. is very insightful about the life of Charles Darwin, and does a great job of explaining key concepts and ideas behind Darwin's scientific reasoning and life's work. Course assignments are open-ended (+++).

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHI031
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

One of the easiest classes I've taken so far --- discussions are pretty helpful for homework. I only went to lecture about 3 times throughout the quarter.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHI031
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Easy A! His lectures are exactly what's in the book. Either do the readings or attend his lectures. You really don't need to do both unless you really want to solidify the material into your head. The midterms/final is pretty much exactly what's on his practice midterm. If a few people complain about not getting a good grade, he'll boost the score.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHI031
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He's a super nice professor, but unbelievably boring. It's incredibly easy to tune out, and even more tempting to skip. But it's also easy to fall off the class as well. The midterms can be very confusing, but make sure to look over his practice exams because they are identical to the tests. Pretty lenient grading in my opinion.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHI031
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Good teacher, easy GE, and sometimes interesting too. You'll get credit for the homework usually just by completing it, and the practice quizzes and tests he gives out before are just like the actual ones. It's easy to zone out during lecture but the concepts aren't difficult anyways.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHI031
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Watch lecture through the podcast, it's a lot clearer and easier to digest. Also, you can speed it up if you're an efficiency maniac like me. Homework is easy, read the book (rent it through Chegg for $20) Discussion is not mandatory, some TA would give out the answers.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHI31
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very good professor! Very nice and extremely knowledgeable on the topics presented. Buy the textbook to supplement lecture as Professor Griesemer sometimes gives more complicated examples than you need... it keeps it interesting! Always fair grading and fair exams to what he covers in class. Homework super manageable. Great course!!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHI031
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class is easy. Lecture is extremely dry and his way of speaking is not at all captivating. The slides are unclear. He is a very nice person but a terrible lecturer. Discussion section and self-teaching were the only ways I did well. Do the homework, study briefly for tests. Class not mandatory, barely worth it at all.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHI031
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

As long as you pay attention in PHI 31 and do each homework assignment, it should be an easy A. The concepts covered in class are very simple and Professor Griesemer cares a lot about students. After most quizzes and mid-terms he gave out extra credit and his grading was always fair.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHI31
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The tests and quizzes are unnecessarily difficult. The material is relatively easy but is made more confusing by the lectures. Always go to your discussion, it will make this class so much easier. The TA's explanations of the material is much more helpful than the professor's. The reading isn't necessary, but buy the book for reference and hmwk!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHI31
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He makes this class MUCH MORE annoying than before, which seems totally pointless and unnecessary. It's not what it used to be anymore so make a note if you're seeking for easy GEs

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHI31
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Read the textbook, watch podcasts, don't cheat (it made him mad at the class and gave a scorching Quiz 2.) The topic is great for students with interests in doing research, it provides reasonings and deeper understanding of the various research types.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHI031
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

This class is the easiest class I've ever taken. I went to his lectures maybe once or twice and still passed with over a 100%. Tests are very easy and you don't need to study at all. If you need to take an easy GE, I highly recommend this class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHI031
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Basically what everyone else said. Very easy class. Material is dry and dull just due to its nature-but Griesemer is a first class professor who really cares about students. Would recommend taking this as a GE if possible.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHI031
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Easiest GE I've ever taken. Gives so many extra credit assignments. Quizzes and midterms are straight out of his practice ones that he posts online. Prof is clear and coherent. Very accessible too for any questions online. TAs were also helpful. EASY A