Laura Grindstaff - University of California Davis

Professor: Laura Grindstaff

Department: Sociology

College: University of California Davis

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SOC025
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I feel like she is a very great and humorous professor but she assigned too much reading and papers.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SOC132
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures were pretty dry most of the time, went over unnecessary info that was available online. 4 blog posts (750 words min each), group research project (only 10 points), midterm and final both w cheat sheets. Wasn't the worst class but I expected it to be more fun. Sign in sheet every day but u can miss one class no penalty. TA Eli was awesome.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SOC025
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class was pretty easy, you just had to put in a little time, which is expected from a college course. Just keep up with the weekly blogs, pretty easy assignment if you go to class and do the readings. Mid-term and final are exactly like the study guides, again really easy if you do the readings. Overall, pretty interesting class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SOC025
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took this class because I thought it would be super interesting and an easy GE. Super focused on readings- that's what the class is mostly revolved around. Lectures were all over the place, sometimes had nothing to do with the readings. Questions on midterm/final were relatively difficult and sometimes about super specific and unnecessary details

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: SOC025
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

There's a lot of reading and writing in this class. It is not an easy A; however, it was the most enjoyable class I had this quarter. I looked forward to going to lecture as she was great at lecture. She is approachable and always tries to see the point of view when students respond to a question. One of the most understanding Professors at Davis.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SOC025
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She is pretty disorganized sometimes and her PPTs are rambling and often have slides with either just a picture or a wall of text. The class is pretty straightforward and easy but she grades needlessly hard, so despite doing all of the weekly readings and blogs, I ended up only having a B. Class is pretty dry and wasn't very useful sadly.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SOC025
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took pop culture my fall quarter and it quickly became my favorite class. Dr. Grindstaff is a passionate and dedicated professor. Like most classes, you have to work for your grade... but the material she assigns for reading is super interesting. Make sure you attend lecture. She uses some content that she teaches in class on her midterm & final

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SOC025
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

a guide to this class: it's really good material! but grindstaff is a hard grader, especially on the research project. the lectures can be boring but she screens funny/relevant pop culture clips a lot. she hates it when you use your phone in class, though, so pay attention! LOTS of reading and weekly papers, but about interesting stuff.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: SOC025
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I can not express how much I hated this class. She drones on for a solid hour and a half, barely pausing to let anyone answer the questions that she asks and speeding her way through lectures all while having lecture slides that only contain pictures or block quotes. While her TA Evan is probably the best TA ever, it didn't make up for the class

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: SOC025
• Grade Received: INC
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Grading consisted of discussion section, one 500-word essay a week, plus a midterm, a final and a research project. It's easy enough if you stay on top of things, but the readings can get a little heavy, and some material is boring. She definitely has the credentials for what she's talking about, and there are lots of videos in class/discussion.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: SOC25
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

the class is not that hard, although you do have to work for your grade. just do the readings and study for the exams. the material is very interesting and her lectures were never boring: always showed cool clips. overall, i really enjoyed taking this!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SOC025
• Grade Received: P
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Awful. So unclear about what she wants on her essays and tests that when you go to the test you feel confident but end up with a bad grade. Strict grader and wouldn't mind seeing half the class get a D or F (no curve mind you). Worked souly out of the textbook, repeating it verbatim yet she had test questions on stuff she didn't go over. AVOID!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SOC25
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

You have to work really hard. I got a B+, and it's so hard to get a A.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SOC25
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I was excited to take this class at the beginning of the quarter. Now I can say with confidence it was the worst decision. As others have said, the class is HARD. The tests are IMPOSSIBLE with multiple choice that is focused on ridiculous specifics on the reading. I wish I took the advice on this site. Do not take unless you're ok not getting an A

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: SOC25
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Interesting topic, hard tests, impossible to get an A.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: SOC25
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Highly liberal feminist teacher. Sees "inequality and oppression" in everything. Doesn't teach anything new. Only reads other peoples' articles. Difficult tests with impossible questions, that are highly subjective to the TA's opinions. Complete waste of a quarter.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SOC25
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

No matter what others say this class is extremely difficult. The tests are super specific and you're asked to memorize and regurgitate other authors' opinions. Doesn't matter if you understand concepts. Unfair tests. Useless study guides. Went over all study guide Q's with TA and still got a C- on the M/C part of the test.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: SOC25
• 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:

Went into the class interested in the topic of popular culture...came out extremely disenchanted. Class was purely based on reading comprehension.Test mostly based on info memorized from the articles we have to read each week. She doesn't even create her own curriculum. We basically memorize other author's opinions. Don't take it. Save your time.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: SOC25
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Class material was very interesting but grading was TOUGH. Exams consists of 20 multiple choice questions that focus on unexpected SPECIFICS of reading, not main concepts. Memorize the reading to do well on these. Played several videos/movies that were fun! Grading on weekly blogs and on term paper were really difficult but my TA, Jo, was awesome

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: SOC025
• 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:

Fun class in terms of topics (Elvis, Beatles, Barbie, Prom). Prof. is very knowledgeable, humorous, and gives a good explanation of the history and current application using many videos. One midterm (20 ?'s), research paper on subject you choose, and final. Go to class, take good notes, and read the short, interesting articles and you'll do fine!