WAC 33 is a very challenging but rewarding class. This was my first WAC class, and I didn't expect it to be as great as it was! I wish I took it earlier in my undergrad career, because it improved my critical thinking skills and my writing by a lot! If you have the opportunity to take this class, you definitely need to sign up for it! David is an awesome professor; he's funny, entertaining, sarcastic, etc.). I always looked forward to going to class. Also if you need the course materials, I'm selling the course reader and the two required novels. Please email me at *************

I'm a first year this year, and I took WAC33 my winter quarter 2013. I spent all of my time going to the TA sections, which were helpful when writing papers. Despite his strict writing requirements, it really does make the paper sound better in the final product. He's one of those professors who will recognize your hard work, and give you the grade that you work for. There are a lot of readings, but it all comes together and makes a lot of sense. You must have an open mind about religion and culture. I read a post saying, that this was a hard class but worth it in the end, and I could not agree more, which is why I decided to leave a comment about Shorter. The TAs are nice, he is a good lecturer, but I never really spoke to him in person for longer than a few minutes. He replies to e-mails. He's am intelligent man in his fieldwork of indigenous groups. Be prepared for the two papers. He has EC opportunities!!! And he lets you re-write the first paper, the Gill paper. On my first paper I got a -1.5/20 all because of "grammatical" errors. Then, a 3/20. Then on my last rewrite I got 18/20. It's worth it though. And the final paper, I got a 25/25. Ended up with an A+. If you can write, or like to, and want to delve into cultural differences, self-reflection, and meditate at the beginning of class, etc. Take the class. Your writing will improve, even if you think you're a stellar writer... If you have questions or seek advice on the writing style, email me at *************.

As one of the few nonmajors in the class, I can say it was overall worth it. I took this class as one of my last few GEs and it was a pretty good one to take. Perhaps because I have taken classes where colonialism was the main topic prior I found much of the information pretty engaging and easy to follow. I stopped doing the readings completely after week four, but perhaps I would have had an easier time finishing my final essay and engaging in class conversation if I had continued them.

Attendance is required and 30 percent of your grade but you get up to five absences (barring if you have COVID) without needing any sort of excuse without it affecting your grade. We had three writing assignments, two letters, and one final essay. We worked up to our final essay throughout the class which was really helpful in alleviating a bit of the stress during finals week (I still barely slept to finish my essay in time tho lol).

There wasn't any homework in the traditional sense apart from the readings which we would pick apart in class. One thing I really liked was how the class had conversations that would sometimes go past the readings and really delve into one's own experience-- which was nice for me to step away from the STEM world a bit.

Overall, if you take this class the only thing that's really a bit annoying is the college rule, but tbh if you hit your essay with the CTRL+F at the end you should be able to catch all of the errors. Would recommend!

I enjoyed this class, though people who meet him either love or hate his teaching style. He's a friendly and helpful professor if you attend his office hours. His teaching style prepares you for academic writing and makes every other paper after his class seem easy work.

He makes all the class materials free and accessible to students, which is very nice.

Incredibly arrogant and hateful of students; This professor uses fear tactics to call on students; I don't know why he is a faculty member considering how much he hates students; On the first day of class, he gave a whole speech of how he doesn't care if students don't come prepared to class or do the reading and yet he'll scold the students who try to leave (I thought he didn't care); He is a a very unusual WAC professor because most WAC professors are nice and enjoys interacting with students, he does not.

The title of Prof. Shorter's fiat lux is "Aliens and Ghosts." It seemed like more work than a 1-unit class is worth (there were two books to read, and something like 4-5 papers to write), but overall it wasn't too bad. I really enjoyed the material and always looked forward to his lectures. In class, he got to know everybody's name, brought his dog to class, and often gave us food. Though he made it relaxing to be in class, he made us think. Like other people have posted, his lecture style seems condescending at first, but that's just because he's making you think twice about what you're saying. He's open to all beliefs and doesn't try to change your mind about anything through his class.

I went into this class knowing that it would be difficult, and only wanting to take it because it would be my last GE.

I can honestly say that this was probably one of the most enriching classes I have ever taken at UCLA and I don't regret a single moment of it. This class, like other reviewers have said, has truly changed my worldview and has help me become more understanding of the worldview of others.

Professor Shorter is definitely not one of those professors that is going to take your bs excuses for not going to class or let you walk away with an easy A. You're definitely going to have to work for it, but hopefully you'll walk away with something much greater in value than a grade...or something like that.

His class is sometimes brutal but undeniably fair. His quizzes, in all honesty, are not difficult if you have done the reading. I probably missed only two questions the whole quarter -- not a big deal. The readings are sometimes dense, but they're always gone over in class.

Shorter is one of those professors that truly care and he might even change your life. Take this class, I doubt you'll really regret it.

disgusting demon of an instructor who gives stinging, discouraging responses when you seek clarification
Thank you for this bullshit of a class. I will now change majors.