Lynne Isbell - University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Professor: Lynne Isbell

Department: Anthropology

College: University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ANT154A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The primate "quiz" is pure taxonomy focused on the material covered in the first 4-5 weeks. Study early or you're screwed!!! it's mostly memorization. I hated the fact that she didn't do poscasts so you have to go to class. The TA grades everything so make sure to have your paper looked at. Final identical to practice final . TAKE IT SERIOUSLY!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ANT154A
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Be prepared to memorize close 50+ genera!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ANT154A
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Be prepared to dedicate your quarter to this course. First half is excruciating, pretty sure primatologists don't know that level of detail about taxonomy. Tests are brutal. There are no guidelines for the term paper. If primates aren't your main interest, don't take this class. Dr. Isbell is highly respected, which counts for something.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ANT154A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

It's a tough class with a lot of reading, writing, and memorization. However, if you are interested in primates and have taken ANT001, you will have a leg-up. Isbell wants you to do well and makes herself and her TAs accessible. She is very passionate about primates. There are reading responses, a quiz, term paper and final. DO THE PRACTICE FINAL!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ANT154A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class isn't a walk in the park. You have to memorize like 80 genera of primates for the first half (midterm quiz) and write a 12-15 page term paper for the second half. But this class is worth it and Isabel is awesome! My TAs were great, too. Just put in the effort and you'll do great. Attendance to discussion mandatory. Do the practice final!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ANT151
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Isbel is a good lecturer albeit TOO fast! She packs in a lot of material which some you do not need. The class was in transition when I took it in Spring so that made a difference. It was mostly the fact that the TAs were NOT in sync. One was SUPER hard and the other was not so hard. (My luck I get the negative one) Overall interesting lectures

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ANT54
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This was my first primatology course, and I really enjoyed it! Grade was: 20 % class participation 30 % reading assignments 25 % term paper 10% term paper revision 15% final The final exam was easy and if you show up, do the homework, and do good on the paper and final you'll do fine.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ANT54
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This was my first primatology course, and I really enjoyed it! The lectures were fun and interesting, and she didn't expect you to know details for the final, so it was pretty easy. 50% is readings/participation, so easy points. Essay is graded easily (criteria isn't 100% clear), and you get to do a revision. I would 100% recommend this course.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ANT151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Isbell tries to fit in wayyyy too many details into each lecture, making lecture boring and exhausting. The final exam was impossible, lots of incredibly specific trick questions. As someone who was interested in primatology, this class made me hate the subject.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ANT151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Avoid. Impossible amounts of useless information, expects you to memorize ridiculous amounts of names and obscure details. This will be the hardest class you have ever taken. Do what ever it takes to not take it with her. If its required for your major, change majors. Move somewhere else. Just do NOT take it with her. Final was impossibly specific

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ANT151
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Amazing. She is a very big deal in the field, yet she is modest and kind - not pretentious at all. Her enthusiasm for the subject is charming. Classes are straightforward. I recommend coming to class because she explains all the concepts (esp if you're not an ANT major like myself) and her lectures are awesome and interesting.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ANT154A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Isbell is the best. Her lectures are very interesting. She provides you everything you need to pass the class. She makes a 5 unit class go smooth and easy. Class consists of an open quiz, term paper, weekly reading summaries, and a final. She's very unclear on what she wants you to write for the paper tho. MUST DO the practice final (very helpful).

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ANT154A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Really respected in the field. For a 5 unit class, her grading is really reasonable, and you have a good chance of getting a B/A. The topic is interesting and i'm glad she gave an open book quiz. She doesn't like tests so her final was the same thing as her practice. Really passionate and likes to teach, which is rare these days. I def recommend!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ANT154A
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

class was interesting and she is very knowledgeable. lectures go by fast but there is a lot of information. book was inaccurate and she is sometimes unclear. the essay was a behemoth and the taxonomy test would have been awful had it not been open notes (it usually is not).

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ANT151
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I loved ANT151. Very interesting content, with digestible lecture notes given. I found that the tests were easy if you studied. Lots of content in the class - flashcards are a must have.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ANT151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The biggest issue with this class is that there is an overbearing amount of information to memorize for the midterms, and the final (which is cumulative). What I thought would be an interesting class turned into drudgery. Lectures are quite boring. This class is really hard and I therefore do not suggest taking it unless required.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: 154A151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One of my favorite profs. ANT151 is difficult (lots of memorization) but she kept it interesting. The paperparticipation points helped boost my grade despite so-so test scores. ANT154 is super easy. No midtermsfinal, just turning in 1 paragraph summaries of the readings and writing separate halves of an 8 pg paper. Discussionlab is mandatory.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ANT154A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Lynne is my favorite teacher of all time. Taking her classes inspired me to become an anthro major. She is so passionate about primates, and is well-respected in the primatology world. She is absolutely hilarious and a joy to listen to. My one complaint is that her directions for papers are often vague, but she is helpful & receptive to feedback.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ANT54
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

One of the best professors I've had at Davis. She's incredibly passionate and knowledgable in her field, is relaxed and casual in class, and honestly cares about teaching the material. As a comp sci major, this class was a breath of fresh air. No tests/quizzes/final test for the class, only a couple papers that are graded kindly. Willmiss her class

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ANT54
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Amazing professor who is really passionate about what she teaches. Great at answering questions and helping you out.