Carl Backman - Auburn University

Professor: Carl Backman

Department: TBD

College: Auburn University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SOCY1000
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Backman is an easy A, all quizzes and homework are bonus. The only hard part is reading the textbook before every test. Tests are scaled based on class overall attendance so go to class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SOCY1000
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took sociology as a general class because I'm pre med and needed an easy A. Not so much. Backman is boring and immature. If he sees one student on their phone he will storm out of the class. I would memorize every single slide and study the book and still couldn't manage to come out with better tan a C on tests. Extra credit pulled me up to a B.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SOC1000
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Backman is hard to listen to at times, but go to class to get points on pop quizzes. Read Sociology Matters and pay attention to details because lots of test questions comes from that reading.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SOCI1000
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Honestly the easiest class I have ever taken. LOTS of extra credit for just sitting there. I skimmed the book and the notes the morning of my exams. Just go to class and take notes. Pop quizzes and homework are all for extra credit. Very easy class and amusing teacher. A little dry of a subject, but there aren't many reasons to get below an A.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: SOC1000
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Class is super easy as long as you do the readings and review the powerpoints on canvas. I didn't go to class half the time and ended up with an a. Professor Backman is a cool guy but his lectures are sometimes boring. All the notes are online though and the tests always come straight from the powerpoints and textbook readings

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SOCY1000
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

You don't have to go to class or do the homework, but homework and pop quizzes are considered extra credit. Tests are half notes, which he puts on canvas, and half textbook readings. If you read the textbook, which can be a lot but you have enough time, you will do well on the tests, which are all multiple choice. Curves test based on attendance

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SOCY1000
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Backman in one word is meh. This wasn't the the hardest class I've ever taken but it definitely was challenging. I hate reading and self teaching but that was 50% of the tests are so if you're the same, don't take this course. Half of the tests are on textbook material he does not discuss in class. I dont suggest this class for an easy A.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SOCI1000
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Socy1000 isn't bad. As long as you read the textbook and pay attention somewhat in class you'll be fine! Every pop quiz/homework counts as bonus so that has the potential to help you grade a lot!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: SOCY1000
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Beckman's lectures don't make that much sense to me, and neither do his power points really. GET THE TEXTBOOK, the readings count and you'll be tested on them. Attendance isn't mandatory but if a certain percentage of the class doesnt show up he won't put the notes online. Material isn't that difficult, read and study and you should be fine.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: SOC1000
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Finished with a 103 in the class and made a high C on the second test. He gives bonus points for attending and for doing the homework. Such an easy A if you can just take the notes and show up to the class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: SOC1000
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This is the worst teacher on the planet. Do not take him. He enjoys making his class extremely hard. He brags about how he went to yale and cornell and all the famous people he has met. He is prideful. His tests are imposaible. Studying doesnt help and i am a straight A student saying this. WORST TEACHER AND CLASS AT AUBURN

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SOCY1000
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Take something else if you were planning on taking this class for just a humanity credit. I've heard it was easy in the past, but this semester the tests were hard and its going to end up being my only B when I expected it to be an easy class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SOC1000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof Backman is quite the character but overall a really nice guy. Homework and quizzes are extra credit so definitely go to class. Make sure you read the textbook and pay attention and you'll be okay.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SOCY1000
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a quirky, goofy guy. As long as attendance is satisfactory, he posts the lectures online. There is a lot of reading, but it's doable in the time between tests. He assigns homework, but it never takes more than 20 minutes. He has one-question pop quizzes, but if you just write your name you get a point. Easy if you do what you're supposed to do

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: SOC1000
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Occasionally barks during lectures, but its fine. Interesting man. Read the book and tests are easy.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: SOCI1010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Backman is a nice man but his lectures and tests can be confusing. If you don't read the material you won't get a good grade. Pay attention to the lectures and do the reading and the tests will be doable but hard. Not an enjoyable class but not the worst thing ever if you do the work.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SOC1000
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lots. Of. Reading. He doesn't ever go over the textbooks in class, so the tests are 50% lecture and 50% self-taught. As long as you do the readings and study, you'll be fine. He is a great person though so if you go to his office hours he will definitely help.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: SOCY1000
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. B is an interesting person. His class is not the most interesting, but if you take notes and do the reading (usually abt 125 pgs per test) you will do fine. I made notecards on all the book and lecture terms that were bold/underlined and read the days leading up to the test and made a high A. Scales tests based on total class attendance.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: SOCY1000
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

All pop quizzes and homework are extra credit, so go to class and just do the work--it'll save you. Read the textbooks pretty thoroughly, go through all of the powerpoint slides, and you'll do fine on the tests. He also scales a little bit based on how many people show up to lectures. Try to look engaged in class. Find his tests if you can.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: SOCY1000
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Getting a B would be a miracle just because the tests are really hard & have a lot of trick questions. Some tests are based on confusing videos and questions are very specific. He mumbles in lectures with no microphone so no one knows what he is saying. Have to read about 100 pages in textbook on top of power points per test. Wouldn't recommend.