Jacqueline Olvera

So basically the class was a waste of time. While it did fulfill my Barnard Social Analysis Requirement, I was quite often zoning out and there was really no need to go to the class if you could understand her power points. The class is mainly how race (black vs white basically) works in the city, so if you find that a little aggravating don't take the class. I got aout with a B+. The TA's grade the paper and honestly depending on who grades your paper and what mood there in your grade can change exponentially. A lot of work outside of class is required and you will be expected to interview strangers who quite often cop a tude.

Here class was good. We got to engage in a lot of interesting talks about immigration expereinces. However, I did feel at times that our one converation extended for the entire semester and I did not truly feel that we were attacking the issues from multiple standpoint. However, she is really a sweet woman and I did gain a much greater appreciation of the immigration debate.

Prof. Olvera was a terribly frustrating professor, which made discussions seem scripted and undebateable. She seemed to be extremely set in her views on community theory (which is total BS now that I've been subjected to this class), which made me feel like I couldn't argue with her, although I certainly did anyway.

This class was an absolute waste of time save for the interesting field work. Professor Olvera simply summarized the various readings in each class and as a result most people just stopped showing up. I found her lectures to be boring at best and terrible at worst. I did not complete any of the readings after the first week and I was just fine in the class grade-wise. Overall, if you are interested in urban sociology, perhaps take this course but skip lecture and do the readings or just don't take the course at all.

Professor Olvera is clearly passionate about sociology and is willing to share her expertise with students who take the time to meet with her. While the power point lecturing is inherently limited (but oftentimes the most organized way of lecturing to a class of 100+ in an introductory course), do not let this deter you from taking her more challenging courses. The upper-level sociology courses she teaches are intellectually stimulating and demanding, with carefully selected readings she presents in an interesting and understandable way. I recommend stopping by her office hours- she is perhaps the most approachable and helpful professor I've had. If you make the effort, you'll walk away from her courses satisfied.

weekly response paper, which she grades A-F (who does that?!?!), final paper 15-20 pages

I actually enjoy this class and would generally recommend to someone who might want to be introduced to a different way of looking at the environment we study in. Prof. Olvera is a nice lady, she does explain things well, she obviously knows what she is talking about, and I do like the fact that, despite being in a lecture hall, she asks questions and tries to get people to analyze and discuss the topics at hand (which is can be borderline painful when either the entire class is reluctant at the same time, or, more likely, didn't read the big ass urban ethnography she had the audacity to assign for an intro course). Granted, I'm an Urban Studies major, and I actually love Urban Sociology--I'm specializing in Sociology for my major--so I could read urban ethnographies all day; However, I don't think the vast majority of the class has acquired the...taste... for such works just yet and feels little motivation to read them. But the material, if inconsiderately long at times, is interesting if you like to think about how people interact and stuff; to be completely honest though, I took Sassen's Global Urbanism and Baic's Craft of Urban History last year and have already learned everything she's teaches, so I don't put much effort in. I do think it's a bit of a pain in the arse for her to base 60% of your grade off of these written reports you have to do field research for and only…

This is a fairly good introductory class. The reading material is very interesting, but it all stems from a liberal viewpoint. It exposes you to a lot of societal problems that you may not be familiar with. As for the class itself, it's fairly boring: Olvera basically reads off of her powerpoint. You can print out the powerpoint from courseworks ahead of time. Her idea behind this is that students will be able to listen and add supplementary notes instead of rushing to copy everything down, which is nice. However, Olvera doesn't add much supplementary info, but the occasional anecdote she does add is usually interesting. Olvera encourages class discussion, but a class of 100 people doesn't usually make for great discussions. The same few students usually speak each class. Attendance is 25% of your final grade and is taken every class, so its not a class you can cut all the time. Overall, a good introduction to the study of sociology, but not an amazing class in itself.

She's a very nice lady and will help you in any way possible. Plus she actually learns your name. If you want a relatively easy class, you should take this one. You basically have weekly assigned readings and the classes are composed of powerpoints so you don't have to take any notes as you can print the powerpoint before class. All the readings are summarized in the powerpoints so it's not confusing at all. You have 3 papers that concern a census tract in Manhattan so you do have to prepare in advance because they take up a lot of your time. The class is really interesting, and the class discussions are too. It's worth taking this class to fulfill a requirement.

This class is very interesting, but do not take the class as a walk in the park. Assignments that ask for a discussion of your family history, for example, require you to use the texts and possibly an outside text for historical support. The workload was not heavy by any means, but take time to be detailed and thourough in your essays. Use the readings!! And if you need to research about your family, find short articles or ask family members, etc. but do not try and produce vague answers. She likes students that break down main points and explain their significance in accordance to the theories we learn in class. Think in terms of theory first and foremost. Also, make sure you attend classes. More than a couple absences will affect your grade.