Took the class last quarter. Got an A, but this class really isn't worth it. If you are considering taking this class for a GE requirement, don't even think about it. You don't really get much out of the class, and I know very few people who took the class that were actually happy with their grades.

Despite all the complementary evaluations I have to say I found the class a bit ridiculous. He likes you to be able to regurgitate the notes. The topics are entertaining but all the "insights" unbearably mundane. It feels like a waste of time and besides the little interesting tidbits, there was a lack of anything significant or deep.

I was curious about this major so I decided to take this GE. I have heard that this class is avoided by those that are in the major; they usually take it later in their career at ucla. It's very interesting, yet a bit tedious. I did not think the material was hard AT ALL. I loved how Suman organized his lectures and exams; it was very reasonable and fair. Quite honestly, it is a very straightforward class. Take this class only if you're willing to stop procrastinating studying for the exams, as we all do. It is the kind of class that you NEED to study for. NOT only during finals week, trust me. I've learned with my grade. But I deserved it.

I absolutely loved Suman. He is such a great professor and person. I took the honors seminar as well and really enjoyed doing the experiment.

Awesome professor. Great class, take it. Learned a LOT. And still remember. And don't even THINK about trying to save your GPA, what's better, GPA or actual learning? If you want a preview, just go to his first lecture, you'll see how awesome it is.
Exams aren't actually that bad. So don't be so scared, whoever says Comm 10 is scary is wrong. The reason why they say that is because you have a lot of material to memorize, and need to be precise on the exams.
I was also in his honors section and it's really great. You should take it. Also, the paper is important, do well on it. I got A- and got a B- on the midterm.

This was pretty hard for a GE -- don't take it unless it really interests you. Don't expect an easy A. I got an A- but I spent a lot of time studying and writing the paper.
The paper topics were a bit difficult for me but I went to office hours with my TA to discuss it. This really helped me. She had great advice (I had Hui Kim).
Be prepared to take a lot of notes for this class and memorize all of them. The material is really not that difficult... The memorization is the problem. Also, the Taking Sides book is pretty dense reading and not very interesting, and a lot of the final is based on it.
All in all, take good notes (try as hard as you can not to fall asleep), go to discussion (even if you think you understand the reading), maybe visit office hours for the paper, and don't procrastinate too long studying for the final. But the bottom line is I wish I would have gotten an easier GE... If you can take something else that seems more interesting, go for it.

It's very easy to get a B or A- in this course. A's take some work. I got an A but put some time in the course to study for the exams and I met with my TA. I wouldn't say it's difficult unless you don't go to class or have really bad notes. But then again under those circumstances, what class isn't? Suman can be funny at times and the material engaging depending on your likes.

I had the head-TA which I think helped. He looks young. He's a bit arrogant at times, but cool, funny, and very helpful. I also heard he's the easiest grader compared to the other TA's but then again maybe I'm biased because I got an A in the class.
Go to lecture, study your notes. If you average at least a high B/B+ on the midterm then your half way there. Work on the paper with your TA should at least put you in a B+ to A- range on the paper which is a good place to be going into the final.

If you take this class in the summer then you are in luck! A friend took it and there is less information you are tested on!! The exams are easier, and I hear the head TA teaches the sections for the summer class. My friend aced this class and looking at her notes, I know there was less information given to them.

Bottom line, in terms of UCLA classes, I don't think it's that hard but takes some attention. Logically, the more attention you give the higher the grade. If you can take it in the summer then do it. Either way, put effort into the class and you'll be alright.

This class was interesting at the beginning, but then it began to get really boring. There were times when it was extremely difficult to stay awake, especially with people next to me sleeping. The concepts are very subjective, and the class was difficult, it is a lot of memorization. Overall, if I had the chance, I would not have taken the class. So if you don't have to take this class, DON'T.

Suman is a nice and funny guy, and his lectures are bearable. He writes key points on the board and makes note that only the stuff he writes on the board will be on the exams, so you don't have to copy down everything he says word for word because he does say a lot of stuff in the 2 hours of class. However, his tests are extremely harshly graded and the curve is stupidly low. In the end, he made the curve for the final grade of the class 80/60/40/20 rather than the normal 90/80/70/60. So most people ended up getting either a C+ or B- which is consistent with most professors. You may think, "80% is an A? I'm gonna take this class for an easy A." Well think again. I mean it when I say his tests are hard. There is so much crap to memorize, and if you're not interested in the material then you'll do poorly. The first half of the class is pretty interesting, he talks about people communication and a little bit of psychology. The second half however, is just plain stupid. The lectures are about mass media, and he spends time talking about shit like how television signals get delivered to your house. Who the hell cares? Worst of all, that stuff is going straight on the final (which is not cumulative, but that actually makes it harder for this particular class). There is also an essay that accounts for 30% of your grade. It is very harshly graded with the average being about 20/30, so I definitely suggest you take an English Composition class first before this. So my final verdict on the class: Do not take it. It is a weeder class to dissuade people from the Communications Studies major. And don't even think about taking this class for a GE requirement especially if you're a South campus major.

Great professor! Lectures were always interesting and gives tons of examples to make sure students fully digest all subject matter. From my experience, all the TAs were great too...I personally had Matt who was first and foremost a really friendly, approachable TA, but especially as a TA he always went out of his way to make sure the students in his section always knew what was going on in/out of class, grasped the concepts, and he even arranged out of his own time, not required by Professor Suman for review sessions prior to both the midterm and final for his sections. Got an A- in the class...plenty of resources available to do well in the class.

I thoroughly enjoyed this class. BUT- it is extremely difficult. If you are not thinking about majoring in communications, i wouldn't advise you to take this class, especially if you're just taking it to get rid of a GE. I worked really hard in this class. You have to go to lecture, because most of the final and midterm consists of lecture material. Take notes on your laptop, because otherwise you will get hand cramps. The material involves a bunch of memorization and on the exams you have to be very precise in your language when trying to explain a definition or concept. There is a paper, but i wouldn't do it at the last minute because if you don't do well on the midterm, you have a chance to improve your grade with the paper and the topics for the paper are pretty interesting. Get to know your TA because they will tell you exactly what they want out of you on the tests. Basically, if you want to do well in this class, you have to invest a lot of time. There are two books you have to read. The first one is interesting and an easy read. The second one is really hard to understand and very dense. He takes a lot of questions from the second book for the final and they're very detailed. It's a fun class though, and Professor Suman is a really cool guy and a good lecturer.