Jim Dobson - Las Positas College

Professor: Jim Dobson

Department: TBD

College: Las Positas College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SPEECH1
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took his interpersonal communications class. He doesn't lecture, and when he tries to he gets lost in his tangents. This isn't so bad until you realize all the reading you have to do to actually learn the concepts. He's not clear with what's on the test and his grading criteria is a bit odd. He's a pretty cool person but not a great teacher.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SPEEC1
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I've heard this is the most difficult speech class of them all but I believe that's because he actually makes you try. Hardish grader but is always fair and blunt with feedback. I only used the textbook twice for the midterm and final. Very nice guy and a class I always looked forward to going to.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SPCH1
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Jim's my favorite professor I've had at Las Po. This class was easily my favorite. Having to learn everyone's name at the start made this class so close and it felt like we were a family. Jim gives great feedback and really challenged me to be a better speaker. There wasn't a day where I wasn't laughing in this class. SO worth taking.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SPEECH148
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Jim Dobson changed my life. I would not be the person I am today or where I am today without the passion and drive he instilled into me on the forensics team. He is the best!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: SPCH1
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Jim is an awesome teacher! His feedback is extremely helpful so take it to heart whenever he gives you back your speech grades. He is very specific in what he wants to see in speeches so if you follow all of that then you're golden. Almost no homework but when it comes time to prepare for those last 2 speeches, start like 2 weeks in advance.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SPC1
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Jim is also Las Positas' speech coach. He knows what is needed in order to give the perfect speech. He's very helpful with feedback. The textbook is used a lot in his lectures. He gives a lot of life relevant examples that are useful for the class as well. Very approachable and accessible.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SPCH10
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Attendance is a must. His lectures are very conversational. There's a name test in the beginning of the semester. We watched 5 films and wrote papers on each of them. He's a tough grader, but he makes it clear on what he expects. There is a group presentation before your final. No other HW, just a midterm and final. Would take again.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SPCH1
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I love the way he makes his class become really close to each other like a small family, but he grades speeches really hard which was the downside. There are 4 speeches in total, but a lot of time given in between. His tests were super easy and there are only 2, however, speeches really impact your grade more.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: SPCH1
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Genuinely a great teacher! Made speech really fun, but preparation and attendance are a must... It really shows when students didn't prepare.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: SPCH1
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Hes super funny, and all you have to do is your speeches. When he says practice your speech, actually practice it.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: SPEECH1
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Extremely funny teacher, never dreaded going to class. However, his lectures are somewhat pointless. He tries to teach the material sometimes, but gets lost on many tangents, although very entertaining, it can get a little annoying at times. He makes you memorize everyone's names in the beginning, but it actually helps you feel more comfortable.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SPEECH1
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I learned a lot from this class! I've done public speeches before, but this tuned it in for me. He expects a lot from the class, but if you show up and try your hardest you will get a good grade. I had a few attendence issues so I didnt get the grade I wanted and that is my own fault. You will learn a lot from this teacher! BE CONFIDENT!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SPEECH1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I was incredibly anxious during my speeches and felt as if I had bombed every single one yet somehow I ended up with an A. All you have to do is follow his formatting guidelines and all the other rules that he explicitly points out to you and stumble over a decent speech with okay supporting materials and you'll easily pass. EC is 5% of grade!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SPEECH1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Jim is by far the funniest teacher I have come across. Speeches are easy as long as you do what he tells you to do, if you don't youre grade will reflect it. Easy class with a great teacher.

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

The class is more of an acting class than a speech class. Readers theater is hard concept to comprehend but it was really fun. You get close with the people in the class and you can learn a lot from a Dobson who really knows what he's talking about. Show up and be ready to rehearse and you will do great! It's a fun class and a fun concept to learn

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: SPEECH1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took Dobson for speech and and he was a really great teacher! There wasn't homework and as long as you showed up, listen to the lectures, and applied them to your speeches you'll do fine. The mid-term and finals were pretty hard but as long as your doing fine with your speeches, you'll pass.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SPEECH1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I liked him at first, but his lectures are completely usless, the book doesn't help. He has two major speeches and no matter if you do amazing if hes mad he will grade you poorly. Expects wonders from speeches, but if you are not naturally good at speaking... you might aswell drop, he wont help you learn.... Expects you to just know it.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: 31180
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This guy is a joke! He absolutely gives no direction as to how to structure scripts. He assumes everyone knows how to write scripts. There are no pre reqs for the class so it's impossible to understand what he wants. He doesn't explain reader's theatre terminology at all. He's horrible at giving direction. Thumbs down is an understatement!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: SPEECH1
• 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:

Mr dobson is an awesome teacher! He was always a really funny teacher and i always loved going to class. If anyone has to wants to take a speech class at laspo, i totally recommend Mr. Dobson!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: SPEECH1
• 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:

Mr Dobson is an awesome teacher! He was always hilarious! I loved going to his class everyday I had it and I was never tired of the class either! I would definitely take this again and I recommend mr Dobson for anyone who has towants to take a speech class!