Benjamin Lawrance - University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Professor: Benjamin Lawrance

Department: History

College: University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIS115E
• 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:

Professor Lawrance was definitely one of my favorite professors at Davis. He really knows what he's talking about and he engages the class in discussion. A lot of reading and writing, but they're all relevant and interesting. He's very knowledgeable.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST115E
• 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:

Prof. Lawrance is a good lecturer. This quarter I am taking my second class with him. He is intimidating at first, and he really does assign a lot of reading but I found the paper that he makes you write to be very helpful. And you aren't required to do research outside of the required readings! GO TO OFFICE HOURS... they are helpful!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIS10A
• 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:

Most of your grade will be a research paper that you'll write but don't worry once you understand how it works it's easy. I got all of my help from the TA but the professor does give some hints in class. Doesn't care too much about tests so they're not difficult but he does care about how students respond in class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIS115A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Friendly and funny. May appear intimidating at first, but going to office hours is important. Pay attention to his method of presenting themes; may be useful when writing final paper. Grading is fair: if you average at least an A- through the quarter you don't have to take the final. Do NOT ignore comments he makes on your paper.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIS10A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Really enjoyed his class. A lot of reading, but if you can keep up you are fine! He loves Africa... I think that is where he is doing his research. Read everything world history 10a is very broad. Not an easy A, but can achieve a B or C no problem.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIS115A
• 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:

excellent teacher. makes the information interesting and lets you choose what you want to focus on

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST15
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

lectures are interesting, hes been to africa a lot so he has a lot of information to draw upon. He is intimidating during office hours and does not seem to be too interested or thoughtful about your concerns. His tests are mostly written, graded easily and TA helps out a lot! Good GE credit!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

In my opinion he is arrogant and basically not very intelligent. Easy A and that might interest some. If you consider yourself intelligent and intellectually curious this prof will BORE you. He is NOT the real deal. Thanks UCD for nothing.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 102X
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I've had him for a bunch of classes and I like him. The rest of these people are wimps. Lawrance is one of those people that makes you feel stupid when you need to feel stupid. Some people can't handle that. If they're were more people like him in the world, there'd be many less self-aggrandizing morons. He's not a nazi-so talk to him b4 u diss him

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY115D
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

very hard term paper, 18 pages, and hes really opinionated. not a very good class, except for the book "King Leopolds Ghost" because he brought in the author to talk about it, otherwise, not a good class...

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY115A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Assigns too much reading. Grades really difficult on assignments. He is somewhat helpful, but grades hard. An adive for Yall, if your major consits alot of reading and writiting. DONT TAKE THIS COURSE..

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIS115A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

be afraid, be very afraid.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIS115A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is really interesting, funny and smart. Teaches the class as though he isvery comfortable in the classroom. The reading a pretty interesting, especially for history. He looks pretty good to, cute accent.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST10A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I liked how he shares his enthusiasm for the material, and when he makes an argument, he always backs it up completely. His comments on papers were not very specific - maybe he was being gentle, but I found them unclear. However, in office hours he was really helpful, so be sure to make use of them. He has great suggestions for student research.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIS10A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

It's a tough class, but worth the effort. Maybe it's just because I love history, but Lawrance knows his stuff. Sometimes he can be unclear, especially on the paper, but that's why he constantly suggests his office hours. The challenge was appreciated.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIS10A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Is not clear on what he wants, which made it difficult to do the 15 page essay well and do well on the midterm, where the highest grade was an A-. Comes off as not friendly, and I came away wishing he had spelled out what he wanted on paper, he does a little, but not nearly enough.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIS10A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Overall, a good professor. The class was pretty hard(the second rank was an A- ), but he made it interesting sometimes. Very into his work and research. Take his class if you want to experience a unique kind of essay writing but be prepared for lots of reading and writing.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HISN10B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

lectures are badly organized; topic is too big for the way he teaches it; directions for paper are unclear at best. waaay too much writing for a lower-division course.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: H201P
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His presentations are really rich and he loves to relate events in one area/period with those of another time and place. I got a lot more info out of the reading than in most Davis history courses.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY115A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Unique teaching style, demanding, very into his teaching and his research, and he will take time out to help you and to talk to you if you seek out help. If you want to improve your academic writing, take his class.