Doneson is extremely smart, which might explain his circuitous nature. He tends to be really philosophical though, and is often confusing. However, if you try hard enough--and he notices it--your grade should not be too bad at all.

Take it, take it, take it. One of the top five classes I've taken in UVA; don't graduate without it. Every reading you have to do is gold. Amazing, enthusiastic, absolute nugget of a professor. Listening to him lecture made my day, three times a week.

DO NOT take any class with this professor. He talks in circles and is unable to explain any point thoroughly. You have to go to class for participation, but you get more out of doing the readings and trying to learn on your own. When a paper is due, he will wait til only 3 to 4 days before the due date to give out the paper topics, leaving you with no time to work. It is supposed to be such an easy class. While an A- or B+ is easy to obtain, just stay away from Doneson. He is the absolute worst. Also, it took him 2 to 3 weeks to give out a syllabus to some students in the class, and took him nearly 2 months to grade and return 18 people's 6 page papers. Outrageous.

Fairly easy but can be boring