SOC 3700

I was nervous coming into this class. The syllabus can appear intimidating at first glance, but that being said, I could not be happier that I stuck with it. Professor Skubby lays every single detail out in the syllabus, so while it seems like a lot, everything you will need to succeed is in there. You are required to write one reflection paper, though you can write a second one if you want a better grade, a midterm after every unit that includes short answer and multiple choice, and a final noncumulative test in addition to the final paper. In the end, it can be a lot, so I recommend starting the final paper sooner rather than later. I ended up rushing at the end, and my final paper was my lowest grade. That being said, his test questions were directly from the slides, and he dropped the lowest test grades. Tests also include extra credit questions. I averaged around a 94 on the tests and easily got an A overall. Skubby also makes himself available to students and will edit and return your essays before you officially turn them in. He really does want you to succeed and love sociology as much as he does. Just stay on top of the readings and work on essays as early as you can; otherwise, just enjoy this wonderful teacher and class!

NEVER EVER EVER TAKE THIS CLASS!!!! RUN THE OTHER WAY! I MADE AN ACCOUNT JUST TO WARN YOU GUYS! I really enjoyed the course content HOWEVER this class is genuinely WAY too much work for any singular class. For this class, I have read four entire books and over 50+ readings. I have written four unit exams (with four long essay questions each), four reflection papers, four papers on the readings from class, four papers on the unit books, an annotated bibliography on 20 articles, and an 11 page research paper that I had to read each of the 20+ scholarly articles for due the day before thanksgiving. Not to mention there is still a final paper. I have done four Socratic seminar style class discussions and a small group discussion every single class and I have written so many notes that I get hand cramps. His grading is so difficult to understand, he barely gives any feedback and the feedback given is handwritten and illegible. When you ask for clarification, he barely elaborates or he gets upset and threatens your grade. He refuses to give anyone over a 95 for participation, even tho it is peer graded, and on the final, you can only get a 95, 85, 75, or 65 (nothing in between, so it is a whole letter grade drop). WAY too difficult and exhausting.

WARNING: DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS!!!! This class is genuinely one of the worst classes I have taken. The content of the class seems so interesting, but this class is so poorly designed, especially with Professor Skubby. He is a nice person, yes, but he is NOT a good teacher. He expects you to have photographic memory, for example: you have to be able to cite every lecture you got your information from (MLA style) on all your 4 Unit Exams (which are handwritten, Blue Book, no notes, timed). The slides from each day aren't even posted-- he expects you to get notes from friends or stop by his office hours to copy down notes (in 15 mins). Here is the coursework: 4 Handwritten Unit Exams (20%), 4 Reflection Papers (10%), 4 Memos (10%), 4 Groupwork Prep sheets (10%), paricipation that is graded by your group (10%), 1 30-source annotated bibliography, 1 11-page term paper (hard cuttoff, and it includes references which you have to cite at least 20) (20%), and a final paper which he says you cannot physically get a 100% on (he either gives 95, 85, 75, or 65, with no in between) (20%). Additionally, I have read 5 books, 50 articles, and am expected to be able to reference all of them on the spot. You have to write notes in every class and be able to reference your peers by their name, or you get a 0. He maxes out participation at 95%, even though it is graded by your group??? One other key moment that stands out is when he said we could get our term paper reviewed by him before final submissions. He gives you some comments, and when you ask if there are things you should change, he says no. THEN YOU GET A B/C because he expects you to read his mind about comments he had afterwards??? He fails you if you use improper research methods on the term paper, even if we have never been exposed to research methods in the past and he doesn't teach it in class, so we are just expected to have been born with this knowledge ig?? His feedback on your work is also all handwritten, and he has illegible handwriting. My friends and I literally play guessing games with it. We also all get drunk after every exam to COPE WITH THIS CLASS. If you like pain and suffering, take this class, but if you are a human being who wants professors that understand the limitations to BEING HUMAN, do NOTTTTT take this class, it is not worth the time and stress it is.