I took this class because I thought it would be an easy GE and an interesting introduction to Chicano culture and history. It was definitely easy, but I learned absolutely nothing. He would read lectures directly off of the powerpoints, which looked like they had been copy pasted from the internet, and hardly ever answered questions well. There was quite a bit of reading, not one bit of which was tested on the midterm or the final. The midterm covered only weeks 1 and 2, so going to lecture after that was a complete waste of time. Half of the classes were just watching videos from the 1980s, which was easy but not very educational. In the end this class was an easy A but a complete waste of time. I hardly learned anything and felt like the professor didn't know the material well enough to lecture on it.

Lectures are retarded. Don't bother going to lectures at all. The TA controls 100% of your grade so make sure to get a good TA. All you have to do is readings and maybe watch a few videos the professor shows in class on your own. I had Mares and she was an excellent TA, but supposedly the harshest grader of all the CS10a TAs.

The grade breakdown is 10% participation, 10% quiz 1, 10% quiz 2, 20% midterm, and 50% take home paper final. Each quizzes are 20 MC administered in sections and are different in each discussion section because the TAs make them. Quiz 1 was tough, but the second quiz Mares let us make about 80% of the questions. Like most north campus classes, attendance in discussions are mandatory. If you are looking for easy TA avoid Mares. I took this class for a sure A and ended up getting an A-. Otherwise take this class as a GPA booster or just to learn about Chicano culture and history. But you won't be learning anything from the professor.