Andrew Orta - University Of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Professor: Andrew Orta

Department: Anthropology

College: University Of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ANTH423
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He seems like a nice guy, but I had to drop the class because I couldn't deal with reading 100+ (usually very dry) pages a week. And then having to discuss them in detail for 3 hours straight. My ADHD just could not keep up lol.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ANTH103
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Genuinely nice and caring guy, but awful teacher in my opinion. The class isn't necessarily hard at all but it has four group papers which are never fun in a gen ed. He also revolves lectures and exams around his own personal experience rather than more general anthropology.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ANT103
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very poor lecturer, was very boring, and didn't learn too much. I found the easiest way to succeed was to just memorize his exam study sheets like a mad man. The test were just regurgitating info back. As far as electives go, this was terrible, group projects were dumb, and graded in an almost nonsensical way.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ANTH103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was the worst one Ive taken at this school so far. Youre only graded from two tests, 4 projects, and your final. The group projects were very boring and it was also hard to stay awake during lecture. He reads from topics from a sheet and makes the content seem more complicated than it is. He also does not explain the content well.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ANTH230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Definitely did not like this class. Every time I went to it I almost fell asleep. He drones on and on and you don't know what to write down for the exams. The papers were graded overly hard and the books and readings were intense.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ANTH230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Try to avoid him! He didn't do much for any students. Lectures were hard to follow, exams fairly difficult, too much arbitrary grading. Received a grade that ended in -9.96, and he refused to round. Thinks he's a big shot, really didn't enjoy his attitude toward students. Overall, makes life difficult for a gen ed course.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ANTH230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Orta is fairly good at his job. Lectures are not listed as mandatory but for a good grade they are. I was more disappointed with his TA selection for discussion sections than anything else

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ANTH230
• 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: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Though lectures aren't mandatory you must go or else you will fail tests. Take notes verbatim from his slides and pay attention in discussion. The topic isn't too hard but he is very specific on tests!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ANTH230
• 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: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Orta's lectures are a must: try not to miss any, as the exams are heavily based on them and if you don't want to be cramming last minute to figure out all the material, just GO TO THE CLASS! His lectures are a little hard to follow because he kind of reads from his sheets but I have learned a lot from his class. 3 five page writing assts & 2 exams.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ANTH103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This professor is terrible! The test are very hard. There are a few multiple choice (worth a lot of points), fill in the blank, and 2 essays which you have to do in 40 minutes because he hands out the test late. He is boring, old school, and confusing. He doesn't give out busy work, or any assignments for that matter. 3 test and a term paper.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ANTH103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I'm not sure what the other reviewers are talking about. His exams are super straightforward. He gives a "word list" prior to each exam, and if you know all the definitions, you'll get a 100%. Readings are all discussed in class, so you don't have to do them. Exams only require 5/6 questions to be answered per page, too, making them extra easy.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ANTH103
• 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:

Professor Orta is a very old-school professor who relies on slides and lectures during his classes. There is a lot of reading but a lot of it is interesting so it is not hard to get through. He provides studyguides before every exam and there are only 3 exams.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ANTH103
• 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:

Do not take this class with this professor. He is absolutely terrible. You have 3 test and a term paper and that is it. He does not offer any extra credit and the test are very hard even if you study. He is a terrible teacher, he gives out no study guides and does not try to help his students pass the class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ANTH103
• 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:

Lots of readings, but if you go to class you can do well without them. Class is interesting, tests mainly focus on general themes. DO NOT take pictures of his slides.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ANTH103
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Teaching style reminds me of a high school teacher. He knows a lot about his subject, but expects students to write down what's on his power point slides while listening to what he is saying. One of the most ineffective ways of presenting material. Just don't take this class with him. Choose another Anth103 prof. 103 is supposed to be really easy.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ANTH103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This guy doesn't want us to succeed in his class at all. Too many readings, doesn't go through all of them, useless slide outlines posted online (which are actually just the slides without the content and only the titles) and we can't even take pictures of his slides even though he talks much more than what's on the slides. Avoid him for this class

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ANTH103
• 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:

Terrible class. He is a bad lecturer and when you ask a question he never gives a direct answer, so you usually end up more confused than you were before. His tests are very hard and there's no good prep for it. Requires too many readings-3 books at once. I would avoid a class with him.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ANTH103
• 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:

I never really go to class, and got As on the tests. Studying in needed and his tests are kind of weirdly structured.. Interesting class though.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ANTH430
• 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:

I took prof. orta's anth 430 last spring. You will learn/read so many important authors in this class. Hes great for advice/consulting on papers. One word of advice though: the readings are really intense.. but if you can work through it, the class isnt over-bearingly hard. its heavily relient on discussion though.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ANTH230
• 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:

I took Prof Orta's class last year and he is great. Sure, he may be "dull." but he is very smart and a great lecturer. Honestly, he is probably one of my favorite professors at this institution and deserves more recognition