I am not a history major, and this class was my second course in the history department at UCLA. Yet, I'm glad I took this course with professor Madley, because I learned so much and he is probably one the best professors I've taken since transferring to UCLA. His course consists of reading six books, two essays, and the final exam. You'll be given three essay prompts, but you only have to choose two. All three essay prompts ask for five page papers. I did the first two since we only had two weeks between each essay and it gave me a grace period during week nine to study for finals. The first essay was due during week five, the second was due week seven, and the third essay was due week nine. In general, your grade consists of the two essays, which are worth twenty-five points each and the final which was worth fifty points. The final was another five page paper worth twenty-five points and the other twenty-five was identifying terms (who, what, when, where, why). The terms took a little more time than usual as he gave us sixty-five terms on the final study sheet and he only chose fifteen to put on the exam. However, you'll only have to identify ten out of those fifteen terms on the exam. This class was a little more reading than I expected, but I'm glad he chose interesting reads as week eight you'll be instructed to read over 350 to 400 pages in a single week. As mentioned, the readings are six books ranging from 100 to 450 pages. Make sure you set aside time in your schedule for the readings. Especially if your other classes have dense reading assignments. It was most helpful to take notes and annotate during the readings for the essays, which helped me from having to continually look back in the books for important points for my essays. All your papers and final are graded by TA's and I would recommend you drop in during their office hours to speak with them to get a general idea of what they'll be looking for in your papers. Our TA's were Zavardino and Munoz. I would say the former was a little more forgiving than the latter, but they are both stringent about how concise your thesis is structured, how you provide backup evidence from the readings in your argument, and the accuracy of your argument. The first paper I did not go to the writing center and I got a 21/25. The second paper, I did go to the writing center and got 23/25. So if you have time it might help to go by the writing center and get a second opinion on your paper. Professor Madley's lectures are some of the best I've encountered from a history professor, both at community college and UCLA. His research is in the study of California Indians, but his general knowledge of American Indians is the most in-depth and impressive. I learned so much more about the American Indian during the American conquest than I originally thought I knew. In all honesty, I'm so disappointed that I did not get to experience this class in person and I'm sure his in-class experience is that much more intellectually gratifying. With that said, I would definitely recommend this course.

I only went to class twice and got a 96% in the course. Grading consisted of 3 essays that you get to choose (out of 6 options) and then an at home final which was also very simple and engaging. Only a few books in the class but to be honest you only need to understand the historical basis around the readings rather than genuinely reading each page.

This class is TOUGH and definitely not an easy A. I had to work my but off for this class but it was extremely rewarding. Madley is an excellent lecture and his choice of readings was very good. My TAs were Christian and Javier. Javier is the tougher of the two graders but he was extremely kind and compassionate to me when I was struggling to get through particularly trying time mentally and physically. Madley is also a very reasonable professor because he knew a lot of us were struggling and he was pretty generous when it came to extensions.

Professor Madley is an amazing history professor. Cannot recommend his classes enough. They were always my favorite lectures to attend. The readings and assignments are all manageable and interesting. Truly a gem.

Professor Madley is in fact a gem. History and non-History majors will love his lectures. The readings are never boring. Your grade is based on two essays and a final exam. The essays are based on the assigned readings, and you'll be given a choice of prompts to select from. The final exam has two portions, first are IDs where you give a who, what, where, why, when for a person, place or term. And the second half is a short essay. Madley's syllabus is clear and he provides a study guide of possible terms and prompts with plenty of time to prepare. I always received a quick response from him or TA with any questions. If you take any class at UCLA I would recommend this one the highest.

I highly recommend Professor Benjamin Madley's seminar on the New History of American Indian Studies to anyone interested in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the histories and historiography surrounding Indigenous peoples in the United States. This class offers a selection of thoughtful and engaging readings that challenge students to critically engage with the contributions made by both Native and non-Native scholars in the field of Indigenous history. By delving into these readings, students will have the opportunity to explore the advancements made in shaping the narratives and understanding of Indigenous peoples throughout history.

This seminar stands out for three compelling reasons:

The seminar encourages thought-provoking dialogue among classmates and the professor. Engaging in these discussions provides valuable insights into how Native peoples are perceived both within and outside the United States. As a Native person from outside the US, I gained a fresh perspective on Indigenous peoples of the US.

Professor Madley goes the extra mile by inviting the actual authors of the readings to engage in discussions with the students. In addition, he includes his own book and gives his own talk during that week. This unique opportunity allows for in-depth conversations about the authors' thoughts, writing processes, and the impact of their work. It offers a deeper appreciation for the creation and reception of books on marginalized histories and peoples, particularly those related to US, Indigenous peoples.

While the focus of the class is on the histories and historiography of American Indians, Professor Madley ensures that the course caters to students' individual interests. This means that students can explore subjects aligned with their own research topics. Additionally, the professor provides professional feedback to help improve writing skills and offers support for those interested in pursuing a career in academia.

In conclusion, regardless of whether the course directly aligns with your core research topics, I highly recommend taking this seminar to learn about the history of Native peoples in the United States. The class not only offers valuable insights but also provides opportunities for personal and professional growth in writing and future academic pursuits. It is a course that I would recommend to both graduate and undergraduate students.