Professor
Daniel Thompson
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2021 - Overall, I really enjoyed Poli Sci 40 with Dan Thompson. I just finished up my first quarter at UCLA so my review is not relative to a bunch of other classes, but nonetheless I wanted to contribute to the Bruinwalk community. 39% of the grading is based on 3 "Paper Explainers" (13% each) which are basically 1-2 pages double spaced breaking down any paper he covered in class. The assignment only requires a very surface level understanding of the paper which is often done already in lecture so these are pretty easy. I definitely recommend going to your TA a few days before these are due just to have them look over it, as they are the ones grading them. 50% is midterm and final (25% each). Both of these exams were take home and we were given about a week to complete it. The format was also the same for both, 8-9 short answer questions covering material from the readings, and lecture. The exams were moderately difficult, but fair for the most part. My only complaint is that the questions were sometimes worded weird, but it was achievable for sure. The last 11% is participation in discussion, and while attendance in lecture is not mandatory, discussion is. You get one free absence and after that they dock points from your final grade unless you make it up. Participating wasn't difficult as long as you listen to the assigned podcast ahead of time, as my TA (Graham Straus) opened the conversation to topics from the podcast. I would recommend this class to Poli Sci majors as well as anyone who wants to take it as a GE. Not a lot of work but very interesting content! Also don't buy a textbook, he says on the first day that it's unnecessary!
Fall 2021 - Overall, I really enjoyed Poli Sci 40 with Dan Thompson. I just finished up my first quarter at UCLA so my review is not relative to a bunch of other classes, but nonetheless I wanted to contribute to the Bruinwalk community. 39% of the grading is based on 3 "Paper Explainers" (13% each) which are basically 1-2 pages double spaced breaking down any paper he covered in class. The assignment only requires a very surface level understanding of the paper which is often done already in lecture so these are pretty easy. I definitely recommend going to your TA a few days before these are due just to have them look over it, as they are the ones grading them. 50% is midterm and final (25% each). Both of these exams were take home and we were given about a week to complete it. The format was also the same for both, 8-9 short answer questions covering material from the readings, and lecture. The exams were moderately difficult, but fair for the most part. My only complaint is that the questions were sometimes worded weird, but it was achievable for sure. The last 11% is participation in discussion, and while attendance in lecture is not mandatory, discussion is. You get one free absence and after that they dock points from your final grade unless you make it up. Participating wasn't difficult as long as you listen to the assigned podcast ahead of time, as my TA (Graham Straus) opened the conversation to topics from the podcast. I would recommend this class to Poli Sci majors as well as anyone who wants to take it as a GE. Not a lot of work but very interesting content! Also don't buy a textbook, he says on the first day that it's unnecessary!
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