Manisha Sinha - University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Professor: Manisha Sinha

Department: Ethnic Studies

College: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: AFRAM132
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Sinha is extremely intelligent and it is very clear during her lectures that she is an expert. Her lectures are very clear and she makes sure that nothing is confusing to the students in the class. There are two essays, a midterm, and a final. If you go to lectures/take good notes and go to discussions every week, you will do well.

Rating # 2

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Professor Sinha is brilliant. She will challenge you to work and to do everything to the very eat of your ahilities. She can be intimidating and a little scary but she means well and she does it to train you to be a scholar and to think critically.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: 132
• 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:

No comment beside my papers not being RETURNED ON TIME!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: AFROAM
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

don't need to read, just show up to lecture

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: AFROAM132
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

You will get an A if you show up, pay attention, and take good notes. I had Bob for section, and he made the class a lot more interesting. Everything is essay-based. You really only need to skim the textbook- most of what you need if from lectures, discussion, and the primary document book.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: AFROAM132
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Manisha is a good lecturer, and has the cadence of a good storyteller. You may not find all topics interesting, as is expected, but you will certainly be drawn by one topic or another. The TA sessions, on the other hand, were relatively boring. The readings are very short, and you are given plenty of time for the two required essays. Two exams.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: AFROAM132
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not a great Professor as she was sometimes hard to understand and her power points did not always correspond to what she was saying. Discussion is the best way to get questions answered. I had Bob and he was great. Just paying attention to lectures and reviewing the readings is enough for the test. Lots of readings and usually pretty dry.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: AFROAM132
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Sinha really knows her stuff! Lectures are a bit boring but mandatory and if you pay attention and take good notes, you will get an A. The TA's are wonderful- I had both Julia's in different classes and I love them. They grade easily and are very helpful. If you show up willing to try the class will be easy.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: AFRO132
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Good class. Johanna is a great TA. Choose her for discussion section. All reading is compulsory. Pay special attention to From Slavery to Freedom chapters because that is where Sinha gets her exam material. Read both narratives: Harriot Jacobs and Frederick Douglass. Second response paper you will have to write on one of them.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: AFRO132
• 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:

The exams are written exams that are easy if you know details about main people and main events that are discussed in the course. The two writing assignments were easy but the lectures are completely pointless. I would recommend just reading the textbook, going to discussion and not buying her book that she tells you to buy.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: AFRO132
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Grade really depends on your TA. my TA Johanna was the best. The class is not hard, but you have to pay attention in discussion. Many people in the class are doing poorly because they have bad TAs. i wouldnt say easy gened, but not hard either. books are expensive though

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: AFRAM132
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

TAs grade very differently. All grades are papers or written exams - no multiple choice testing. A lot of reading, but its usually discussed in class so that you don't have to do it. Take good lecture notes because her powerpoints dont suffice

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: AFROA132
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

i don't understand why she had such high ratings. i cannot understand a thing she says. i sit in the front of the lecture hall and still cannot comprehend. she has a heavy accent, and her powerpoints are no help in studying for the exam. the grade depends on the TA, and luckily i got a really good TA. go to discussion and listen to recap of reading

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: AFRO132
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I must say she is one of the most knowledgeable teachers or professors I have ever had. She really knows her stuff. If you can stay focused during the lecture you will learn a lot. However, her lectures are very bland and I found myself fighting to stay awake. Stay focused in class and you'll get an A.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: AFRO132
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

no sure why everyone likes her so much. her notes do not help you understand the material at all. I paid attention in class and still didn't understand what she was saying. The books are expensive and you have to teach yourself everything. Grade depends on TA

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: AFRO132
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

awful, didn't show up to any exams. grade really depends on who you get for a ta.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: AFROA132
• 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 Professor, she really knew her stuff. She lectured pretty quickly in class and included a lot of information in her lectures but they were really interesting, however hard to take it all down in notes.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: AFROA132
• 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:

Sinha is the bomb. She really knows her stuff and gives amazing, super-information-dense lectures, and bomb.com reviews. Tells the TAs to grade easy on us and attendance isnt mandatory, but the lectures are so good you don't want to miss! Also, the TAs this semester were top-notch. Def take this class, it's super interesting!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: AFRO132
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I love this class. Professor Sinha is super passionate and knows everything about the subject. The tests are written which is great. I feel that the TA graded them a bit unfairly though. We watch movies in class sometimes which is a nice break. She sends around an attendance sheet which the points can only help your grade. Great class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: AFROA397H
• 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:

She is very, very intelligent and passionate about what she teaches. Very helpful, always willing to give extra help and meet with you. She takes herself and her class seriously but is not mean or condescending. She is very encouraging and engaging, the best professor I have had at UMass