GEOG 5
People and the Earth's Ecosystems
Description: Lecture, three hours; laboratory, two hours. Exploration of ways in which human activity impacts natural environment and how modification of environment can eventually have significant consequences for human activity. Examination, using case studies, of real environmental problems that confront us today. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 5.0
Units: 5.0
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Most Helpful Review
I actually liked this class and thought it was one of the easiest class I've taken here at UCLA. It's true that the workload may be painful sometimes, but all the work can be comparable to a high school environmental class-- work that are assigned just to give you points to help out your grade or something. I thought the class was well organized and loved the fact that I was able to print out the lecture notes whenever I missed class. I think any who went to lectures (or glanced at the lecture notes) and went to labs had an easy time getting an A in the class. Sure it geography is a boring subject, but this class was actually pretty interesting. We had no finals- just two multiple-choice midterms that you dont even need to score A's in but can still get an A overall in the class.
I actually liked this class and thought it was one of the easiest class I've taken here at UCLA. It's true that the workload may be painful sometimes, but all the work can be comparable to a high school environmental class-- work that are assigned just to give you points to help out your grade or something. I thought the class was well organized and loved the fact that I was able to print out the lecture notes whenever I missed class. I think any who went to lectures (or glanced at the lecture notes) and went to labs had an easy time getting an A in the class. Sure it geography is a boring subject, but this class was actually pretty interesting. We had no finals- just two multiple-choice midterms that you dont even need to score A's in but can still get an A overall in the class.
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2019 - This was by far the worst professor I have ever had. He uses slides but they're all pictures he finds online or photos of the places he's traveled to. The required textbook is not in any way helpful. The exams are totally different from the course material. Although I took notes and actually knew the material, the exams ruined us all. As a result, I failed my midterm, but his curve set me at a C. He also curved the final, and I ended up with a B- in the class, but I know that I could've gotten an A. In conclusion, don't take this class with him. Take it with Gillespie. Also, I have the textbook in pdf version for free. Text me if you want it **********
Winter 2019 - This was by far the worst professor I have ever had. He uses slides but they're all pictures he finds online or photos of the places he's traveled to. The required textbook is not in any way helpful. The exams are totally different from the course material. Although I took notes and actually knew the material, the exams ruined us all. As a result, I failed my midterm, but his curve set me at a C. He also curved the final, and I ended up with a B- in the class, but I know that I could've gotten an A. In conclusion, don't take this class with him. Take it with Gillespie. Also, I have the textbook in pdf version for free. Text me if you want it **********
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Most Helpful Review
He's an okay professor. Lectures are fun because he has an interesting, catchy voice and shows lots of pictures. The subject material of the class and what he chose to focus on was very interesting. "Labs" involve going to a classroom, writing down what the TA says, and turning it in. SO EASY. My TA was horrible so I found the "labs" to be completely pointless but hey, at least they were easy. I was very annoyed when I got a C on the midterm and a B in the class because this should not have been such a hard class--it's Geography! He's apparently a very hard grader and must not give out many As, which is annoying. Take Geography 5 for sure (great GE), try to avoid him--but if you can't, just take him. He's okay.
He's an okay professor. Lectures are fun because he has an interesting, catchy voice and shows lots of pictures. The subject material of the class and what he chose to focus on was very interesting. "Labs" involve going to a classroom, writing down what the TA says, and turning it in. SO EASY. My TA was horrible so I found the "labs" to be completely pointless but hey, at least they were easy. I was very annoyed when I got a C on the midterm and a B in the class because this should not have been such a hard class--it's Geography! He's apparently a very hard grader and must not give out many As, which is annoying. Take Geography 5 for sure (great GE), try to avoid him--but if you can't, just take him. He's okay.
Most Helpful Review
Take one of his classes. Take one if you're a geographer. Take one if you're not. Take one for a GE. Take one if you're done with GEs. Just take one! Professor Zackey is a genuine, friendly professor. He's the kind of teacher that every college kid hopes in meeting... even if only for a recommendation! But seriously, taking a class with him is one of the most valuable things you can do in your time at UCLA. Sure, you learn about the environment, or biogeography, or development issues, but the real lesson is in thinking. I knew how to think critically before taking the two classes I've taken with Zackey, but he'll teach you how to apply that skill to real-world problems and dialogues. If you feel like you've thought critically about everything, you'll probably be proven wrong (but in the nicest way possible!) Overall, he's a great professor, his classes and assessments are easy (my apologies to him if he reads this haha, but they are!), you can knock out a GE or two and you can learn a lot in the process. I would certainly take his classes in the future and (obviously) recommend them. Believe the BruinWalk reviews! He really does a great job.
Take one of his classes. Take one if you're a geographer. Take one if you're not. Take one for a GE. Take one if you're done with GEs. Just take one! Professor Zackey is a genuine, friendly professor. He's the kind of teacher that every college kid hopes in meeting... even if only for a recommendation! But seriously, taking a class with him is one of the most valuable things you can do in your time at UCLA. Sure, you learn about the environment, or biogeography, or development issues, but the real lesson is in thinking. I knew how to think critically before taking the two classes I've taken with Zackey, but he'll teach you how to apply that skill to real-world problems and dialogues. If you feel like you've thought critically about everything, you'll probably be proven wrong (but in the nicest way possible!) Overall, he's a great professor, his classes and assessments are easy (my apologies to him if he reads this haha, but they are!), you can knock out a GE or two and you can learn a lot in the process. I would certainly take his classes in the future and (obviously) recommend them. Believe the BruinWalk reviews! He really does a great job.
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