Culture in America · Sociology
Two exams, both considered midterms, 1/3 each. A 15 page paper (or options for three 5-page papers, or etc) that is the final 1/3 of the grade. I felt that the exams were a bit difficult due to the profs very particular expectations, and the paper seems long for a 3-point lecture course.
Mid-term (fairly easy), Two Papers graded pretty harshly. Final paper that was I think 10 pages, double spaced.
It was ok. Taking this class as an elective, it seemed very fun at first! Dr Rieder is definitely passionate about his work and teaching and genuinely wants to hear from the students. The reading is manageable, a bit intense some weeks and lighter on others (sometimes down to nothing at all). However, the course is graded off of two exams and a paper, each 1/3 of your total grade, and loosely on "participation" and "attendance," which aren't given actual percentages in the grade but are considered in boosting your final grade. He has a very particular way he expects you to write your exam answers and going outside of that expectation will lead to points being taken off. You can meet with him or the TA in office hours and they are very nice if a little condescending at times, but the grading expectations for the exams are so loose that IMO it doesn't really help. Although the exams are open note open book, the grading caused unnecessary stress for an elective course.
I am not one to write a review but I want to warn anyone who is thinking of taking Lena's class that it won't be super-hard but it will be weird and not entirely intellectually fulfilling. Lena's lectures are filled with nonsensical references, anecdotes and weird humor that I wouldn't mind on occasion, but hers don't drive the point home and two, are irrelevant and don't connect with the main theme/subject of the class. I was confused at what she was trying to teach most of the time. She jumps from one idea to another often and confusingly and I heard this from several students. Lena's weakness is that she is an average lecturer at best but what's worse is that she thinks she is amazing. This arrogance and her often weirdly defensive stance makes for a very sub-par class. Save yourself the weirdness and avoid her class. If you don't believe me, Google "Jennifer Lena Vanderbilt" and go to the "Rate my Professor" website and see her reviews from her previous university, Vanderbilt. Yes, not great at all. I wish I had done that before I took her class.
midterm in class open note, final in class open note (basically a midterm 2), final paper (whatever topic you want) 10-15 pages
About 60 pages of painfully irrelevant readings before class, midterm (reading IDs and essay prompt which she gives you in advance), take home final and 12 page final research paper.
Omg do not take the framework of the class is difficult to follow. Also his weekly questions, which are fundamental towards answering and understanding for the midterm and final, are extremely confusing in word choice. The class is pretty open ended, but I did not find his teaching style to be conducive for me. In lecture, he would often jump point to point and it will quickly be confusing as to what he is referencing or talking about. He does love when students are involved and ask questions, but they often side tracked what the course was actually about. Topics were interesting, i will say. If you HAVE to take, then utilize the TA a lot and email him with questions, but if there is another course I recommend that one instead.
This professor is new (hopefully only visiting) as of the 2011-2012 school year so I'm writing this review a bit early for those who are/will be looking to take her classes in the spring semester. Don't do it. Really, save yourself the energy. I am so appalled by her teaching that this is the first time I've actually felt compelled to write a review on culpa to stop any prospectives from taking her class. Professor Lena may seem attractive at first because she seems like another Shamus Khan. Knowledgeable but can communicate information through pop culture/world issues and humor. Wrong, so absolutely wrong. For one, the information she gives, though correct, often feels misleading. At least when it came to studying some classical theorists that sociology majors are required to study in depth through another class called Social Theory. For example, she may lead you to believe that two thoughts that the theorist had were connected when they're not and she lets students leave with a very vague understanding of the theories rather than concrete understanding of their main points, argument and thought process. On top of that, while you might understand what she is trying to get at after each class, you will never understand how each class connects to the other classes until you go to her TAs (which results in meeting with TAs every week in addition to going to her class twice a wee…
in class midterm, kind of hard but open notes in class final final research paper 10-15 pages
Amazing amazing amazing! Prof Rieder is so smart about American culture, he knows so much niche stuff from random bits of knowledge from the 68 election to rhetorically analyzing Eminem rap battles. One flaw: he is so smart that he speaks like a hard to read academic journal, this can be tricky. But if you truly listen and pay attention, you will understand. I really loved this class and him, go to his office hours, he is SO nice and wants to talk and is always so excited about paper topics and whatever else you are interested in.