Alaka Basu - Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Professor: Alaka Basu

Department: Sociology

College: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: DSOC2010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Alaka is very knowledgable in her field but does have a tendency to be hard to listen to in lecture as she talks fast and is not super interactive. Overall, the class was easy and if you have some level of common sense, the tests aren't hard. Demography can be bland but Alaka knows her stuff, for what it's worth.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: DSOC2010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Likes to ramble and doesn't seem to take a breath or a pause during the entire hour. Tests questions really hone in on weird small details mentioned during class and answer choices are debatable and vague. Overall just tiresome to attend class and feel motivated to do well

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: DSOC2010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Probably the worst class I have yet to take at Cornell. Nobody can understand her as she rambles about population dynamics for a whole hour and 15 minutes. Its unfortunate that this professor is even at Cornell.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SOC355
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Brilliant professor who really knows her stuff. She lectures as though she has prepared for hours and hours. Makes the material interesting and is an overal impressive person/

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: DSOC410
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Ridiculously easy class. Go to class once in a while (don't need to read the papers) and figure out a couple of major concepts she uses, then spit them back on the test. The class is mostly common sense. The paper we wrote in the class (if you choose an interesting topic) is really fun to write. Easy A, relatively good class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: 410421
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Love her. I deeply respect her as a human being and a teacher. Her expectations are reasonable and her lectures clear. I do wish she incorporated more discussion though, and provided better written feedback on her assignments. But overall, a great teacher.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SOC421
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Love her. She talks non-stop for the full 75 minutes, but I found it pretty easy to follow her. I have to warn you though...the material is extremely dull and theoretical. Unless you like demography for some reason...

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SOC421
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Brilliant. Her lectures are so clear, but delivered at rapid-fire pace. Fortunately, there is always a recap of the previous lecture in the beginning. She has a biting wit and a human presence, and is concerned with fairness. Use her office hours.