This class wasn't easy, but it wasn't hard either. It was manageable, and I don't think it was bad. I took this class when it was online, and it was pretty chill. Professor Rescorla did a great job at simplifying difficult concepts. (IMO)

We watched pre-recorded lectures that had one question at the end; it was very easy. There was a textbook for the class, and he assigned us readings every week, but they weren't necessary. The readings were there for students who wanted to dive deeper into the subjects covered in class. He also assigned three short essays. The essay prompts were unclear, but my TA helped us understand them. The final exam wasn't hard. We had to answer 5-short response questions about the topics we learned in class. The professor gave out a very useful study guide to the point where some of the questions on my study guide ended up being on the exam.

He's pretty passionate about the content, and sometimes I found him amusing. I don't regret taking this class, but I regret not putting more effort into it.

I chose this class very initially very interested in the content. However, going into the class my TA was not helpful or clear at all (Jacob) and the professor either. The prompts were not clear and I don’t think their aim was to make sure all their students can get an A because I did try to and I do think this was one of the worst classes because of how they handles the grading and prompts. The content of the class was very interesting to learn but the grading was not fair considering the lack of clarity.

There is a lot of nightly reading for the class but the essays are short, however, there are three of them in addition to the final. You are given plenty of time to do each essay. The questions were a lot to answer but they weren't impossible. The final was in person and a study guide was given in advance. All test questions were on the study guide, but it was unknown how many would have to be known or other specifics. He does his best to answer all questions and is very willing to take questions. Lectures are pretty dry but he does stick to important information. He is an amusing person (he's a little weird) wish that came through in his lectures. Overall he's a nice guy who wants you to succeed, but it's a class at UCLA, it requires a lot of work.

Do not buy the course reader. It isn’t necessary. All of his essay prompts are extremely vague and confusing. Also, he is very rude in lecture when students ask questions. His final consists of 10 “mini-essay” questions that come from a span of over 25 topics.

Rescorla is by far, one of the most disorganized, unconcerned, inattentive, sluggish professors I've had thus far. To begin, he assigned everyone to buy a course reader that costs about $50.00-- the reason I feel the need to address this is because the readings inside this course reader you CAN find online (if you take the time to search), as he literally provided online citations at the end of the course reader-- meaning, he could have easily made the readings accessible to EVERYONE through a PDF file, if he wasn't so lazy (hard to say, but it is true). There are student, like me, who do not have sufficient funds to just buy a $50 book that CAN be made into a PDF file. He does not have ANY material posted on CCLE-- not even his syllabus! Isn’t that weird? He does not post his slides or provide any Bruincasts. Weird, yet again. For his essays, he does NOT provide a rubric or format and he refuses to do so. Plus, he hands out the prompts about a week before the due date. Therefore, students have to somewhat wing it and hope for the best grade (even though there is no guide). The TAs evidently are not up to par with Rescorla as they seem to learn at the same speed as us. My TA rarely had answers to the questions our class asked him. It seems he didn’t update the TAs accordingly. They would ask questions in class, all the time, as if they were students. Personally, the first time I went to his office hours he gave off the impression that he was trying to get everyone out of his office as soon as possible. In class, he promotes his office hours but once you are there, you do not feel very welcomed. He always asks you first (name, year, major), which I find weird. Then he makes a comment or two about your major (no need to). I remember when I was in his office with 5 other students in hopes to get my first essay rough draft reviewed by him and ask questions. After I asked him my questions, he expected me to leave because he assumed that was the ONLY reason I was there-- so when i stayed longer to get my essay reviewed, he said “I thought you were only here to ask questions, you gave me false information. Now i’m reviewing more essays, you told me you were here only to ask questions.” Seriously professor? Why would a professor feel so deeply about students staying to ask questions AND get their essays reviewed? And what if i had not made it clear that i was there for those 2 points? Made it seem he was not at all interested in helping. Now, as we are getting closer to his final exam (happening Monday, June 10), he said he is providing a final review sheet on the Wednesday before the date-- giving us only 4 days to study what he recommends us to study. Unorganized! The upcoming review sessions are being hosted by TAs (who are just as clueless as students) who are NOT reviewing, rather just answering students’ questions. Evidently, no help. I cannot believe such professor is teaching at UCLA-- it is very disappointing and seems that the philosophy department didn't conduct an interview on him.. Idk how such person is teaching on campus.. honestly, save yourself a quarter's worth of mind games and dumb stress..

Nice guy, but he's a damn caveman. He doesn't put ANYTHING online on CCLE. No lectures slides, which I understand, no essay prompts, which is frankly stupid, and not even THE FREAKING SYLLABUS. What is the point of teaching in the 21st century and having CCLE set up for you when you aren't going to upload ANYTHING? I can understand that he wants us to attend lectures and whatnot, but this is not the way to enforce it. Horrible class organization. However, I do think the course material is as expected, and the way he explains the material on his slides is good. Final grade is consists of 3 essays, which go from 500 words to 700-1000 words in the end, weekly "quizzes", which are just one stupid question at the end of lecture to make sure you were paying attention, weekly discussion participation, and a final exam that is just more mini essays.

ONE MORE THING: FUCK PAYING FOR COURSE READERS!!!! WHY DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE US PAY $40 FOR A STUPID COURSE READER THAT HAS "ASSIGNED READINGS" THAT DON'T EVEN HELP OR ARE NOT EVEN MANDATORY. IT'S PATHETIC. IT'S JUST MILKING US STUDENTS FOR MORE MONEY FOR NOTHING. WE DON'T EVEN USE ANY OF THE READINGS FOR OUR HOMEWORK, ESSAYS, QUIZZES, OR ANYTHING!!!! IT'S LITERALLY A WASTE OF MONEY!!!!! Better yourself.

This class had a lot of interesting material but the professor made it all very unappealing. Our final ended up being 3 hours long with 10 mini-essays. When we asked how long we should make these he left it super vague and was rude to students when they would ask about the length. The essays were short but frequent considering it was not a writing class. I would not recommend this professor.

No cap, on my momma, THIS CLASS AIN'T IT!!!!

This class is a DISASTER!!! Do NOT TAKE IT. I thought it would be an easy GE but the professor is so not reasonable!!! Considering this is a BEGINNERS Philosophy course GE, honestly ridiculous. You don't even need the coursereader that he makes you buy. The papers were unfairly graded. Everyone keeps getting Bs. The TAs are lost because the professor didn't prepare them. The final study guide was handed to us only FOUR days before the exam!!! There will be 10 "mini-essay" questions for three hours long and he expects the "mini" essays to be as long as our normal papers !!!!!!! And the TAs were all warning us saying "he made this a very difficult exam." And with all confidence it was said in lecture that he will not curve. Do not take this class.

Nah. Don't do it chief.