Richard Tessler - University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Professor: Richard Tessler

Department: Sociology

College: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SOC105
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

So far at UMass Richard Tessler is my favorite professor because he made it so easy for everyone to pass his class. He takes attendance but he uses an app and a code you have to download all you have to do is make friends w people in the class and they can tell you the code (so you can skip). You can also answer participation questions there

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SOC105
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The information on the two exams that you take come directly from the slides in his lectures. If you show up, take notes (I recommend on a laptop since he uses an online platform called TopHat), and review the slides before exams, you're golden. Beware: The out-of-class assignments can be tricky depending on who your TAs are. (Quote your sources)

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SOC105
• 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:

Very easy A. Lectures are posted online. In class extra credit for final grade (6 points). He's a little old man who can be a little dry and boring but I don't mind. Good GenEd, passionate professor. Need to study a little to get an A on the texts (all multiple choice-very straight forward). Not attending class can still get you a high B.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SOCIO481
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's a very friendly guy, but he is especially monotonous. He's elderly, and shy (his own words), but tries to make a joke every now and again. Incredibly nice, however, the lectures feel longer than they really are due to the material being taught in a somewhat dry manner.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: SOC105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Prof Tessler speaks very slowly- at times it was painfully slow. He posts his lectures online and attendance is optional. There are two multiple choice exams & hw (50% grade). The hw is straightforward- you read an article and answer 4 questions. There are extra credit points (for your final grade) for in class quizzes. Easy gen ed & no textbook!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SOCIOL105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof Tessler is a very boring lecturer, but the class and the content is interesting. Pretty easy class with assignments due every couple of weeks but nothing not do-able. It's an easy class but he's kind of boring.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SOCIOL481
• 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:

Very intriguing prof. Ya, class is kinda boring but not for a lack of trying. He has the best intentions; cracks jokes, encourages questions& is extremely knowledgeable on the subject. Don't be fooled, he's aware of everything. Not going to class? He will email you. He wants you to learn. Even had guest lectures from each profession in the field!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SOC105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Although he’s really nice, he is a terrible public speaker. He is unbearably boring and inarticulate and takes forever to reach his point because he includes useless and self-indulgent anecdotes. His lectures cover very little material. His class is insanely easy, but don’t take it if you want to learn anything new or challenge yourself.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

So sleepy, only go to class when there are quizzes. i want him to be my grandpa

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: SOC105
• 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:

I really enjoyed this class. While Professor Tessler can be boring at times, he has some genuinely funny remarks and gives you all the tools to succeed. A brief skim through the book and a focus on lecture notes for the biweekly quizzes will get you an A. I enjoyed the class, as it put complex behaviors I had noticed into interesting theorems.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: SOC105
• 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:

Pros: Very nice, loves what he's teaching, post lectures online (video recording, and powerpoints), optional final, only 10 quizzes a semester, and no attendance. Cons: goes on tangents, slow at getting through a lesson, monotone, no interaction-straight lecturing, and uses information from the textbook not mentioned in class on quizzes

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Professor Tessler is one of the nicest, sweetest professors I've ever had.Very grandfatherly. Yet he can be a bit boring sometimes. Delivering long lectures in a monotone voice. However, he is obviously very passionate about his subject,and tries everything possible to help his students learn. Though not the most intriguing class, I recommend it!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SOC481
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He is the sweetest, nicest prof I've ever had by a long shot. He may not be the best public speaker but he's genuinely interested in his subject & definitely tries to inspire interest in his students. The quizzes are easy as long as you go to class (if not read the book). He absolutely wants everyone to do their best & is very helpful, love him!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SOC107
• 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:

Honestly one of the most sweetest Professors I have ever had. He is extemely intelligent and has a passion for the subject. Content isn't hard, or boring. By the end of the semester no one showed up, but he posts everything online. As well as having about every two weeks announced in class quizes(not hard) I really liked the class overall.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: SOC105
• 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:

Attendance not mandatory. Quizzes are twenty questions long and based off of his power points word-for-word. Don't waste time going to class because you will zone out anyway and he posts everything online. He's dry, but a very sweet guy who is genuinely interested in his students success! Don't buy the book, just the access code.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: SOC105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

EASY gen-Ed with only 4 questions about 2 short readings only 5 different times throughout the semester. Quizzes once every 2 weeks or so are 20 multiple choice questions about stuff straight from the slides, which are all posted online and include the stuff you would miss in the actual lecture. Only used the book to strengthen definitions. TAKE IT

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SOC105
• 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:

Professor Tessler is the sweetest guy in the world. Even though his lectures are somewhat boring, he posts every slide show online and attendance is not recorded. His exams are straightforward questions directly from the lectures and pretty easy if you pay attention. He is so cute (in a grandpa kind of way) and even cracks a few jokes.. I love him!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: SOC105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The class consists of 4 assignments and 4 exams. Attendance is extra credit if you answer the iClicker questions. The lectures are online. THERE IS NO FINAL. The class is easy. The exams are right from the lectures and book.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: SOC105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

at first seems really boring, but this is definitely one of the best classes i've ever had in college. tests are easy and prof tessler is always helpful if you talk to him after class. grade is comprised of 4 tests and 5 assignments which are also easy and attendance is extra credit. definitely a clutch easy A.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: SOC105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Tessler has a monotone voice that puts you to sleep for all of his lectures. Good thing is, every lecture he puts online, so you don't have to go to class. For exams, he gives you the essay questions, and as long as you study notes, your gonna be fine. He also gives out 2 extra credit assignments. Not a bad class.