I initially hated this class, but as time went on I got used to Prager's teaching style (he literally just talks for the whole lecture) and began to enjoy the class. It's not a heavy workload, and if you keep up with the readings and go to lecture you will do great. The midterm structure was not my favorite but he accommodated and gave extra credit for the final!

Selling all 4 books for the class and will include free notes and study guides I used for the midterm & final!! Text: **********

Inspirational professor with a lot to say. I learned a lot from this class. That being said, avoid if organization matters to you. There is absolutely no structure, it feels like he's talking at you, and he talks in circles in lectures. Prager wants you to fully understand the material, however, he does not prepare you for the insanely hard tests and paper. The fill-in-blank section of the test is STUPID hard, and if you get stuck with a TA that has a superiority complex, this class feels absolutely IMPOSSIBLE. He's a very reasonable person though, which I appreciate. He made up for the TA grading discrepancies and made the final a lot easier than it needed to be. Even allowed extra credit on the final that saved my grade!! Love Prager but if you need structure and organization to help you learn (which I do), do not take!!!

I really enjoyed taking his lecture throughout the winter. As mentioned from several reviewers, tests were pretty tough since there are 4 different textbooks you have to read and understand. However, it wasn't so bad at all. I'd recommend it.

2 writing assignments (easyyy) = 25 %
discussion section participation = 5%
midterm = 30 %
final = 40 %

DON'T TAKE HIM. Literally a waste of time and energy. He is ridiculously hard, most of the class failed the midterm and he still was deciding not have to have a curve. He is way more complicated than the other Soc teachers. I also had the WORST TA too so I just don't trust this teacher all the way around. Don't make the mistake I did.

Very difficult class. I felt that I learned so much more from my TAs rather than Prager. His exams were ridiculously difficult in my opinion.

Prager is ana excellent professor. He explains the material very clearly- however, you have to do the reading to do well in the class. Combining the reading with his lectures you will do excellent in the class- take him! He's an excellent professor!

Prager is extremely knowledgeable. I liked him a lot, but you REALLY have to pay attention in lecture. Luckily, he does podcast them. He doesn't use slides and his exams were pretty tough. I got a 90 on the midterm and I was the only one in my discussion to get an A on it (which is sad considering how low of an A that is), but...my TA was was by far the worst of the ones the class had to offer so I wouldn't read too much into that. I have a suspicion he may curve the overall class but that's just my own theory. I never went to his office hours but I hear he's extremely helpful if you do go.

The tests are reading intensive and pretty tough. Two papers relatively easy. In terms of grading, it really depends on your TA. I ended up with a B+ (didn't read all the time but crammed during midterm/final). Prager is a really sweet outgoing man. He wants you to do your best and loves people to go to office hours. I also took his honors class which was a really great way to get to know him and the material better. I would recommend him over other professors for 101. Currently in 102 with him because I know his style and what he is looking for.

Prager's 101 class was engaging, interesting and challenging. We go over Marx, Durkheim, Freud and Weber. 1 midterm - 40%, 1 paper (pass/fail), 1 Final - 55%, Discussion group participation 5%. There is 1 optional 5 page paper to lower the percentage of each test. Do all the reading. Part of the final and midterm relies on memorization of (in Prager’s words: Being familiar with) the text. The prompts are not always clear as to which term fits in each quote. Many of the terms were not discussed in class. The other part of the tests are 5 questions of 1 page essay answers which are not difficult. I went to all classes, all discussion groups, read every word of text twice and wrote both papers to barely receive an A-. Not an easy A. you work for it. Be prepared.
But Prager is incredibly insightful, motivating, open and interesting. Some of the theory will not change your life, but some parts might. Be open to it. And make sure to hit his office hours – he loves that!

Where do I even begin? This was my first quarter at UCLA and what an awful first experience for my social theories class. When I sat down to our midterm I thought I was crazy! I looked around and everyone was looking at each other like what the hell is this? He gave us a general idea of how the test would be formatted which is describing passages which is worth 50% off the grade and then 16 fill in the blanks with a word bank worth the other 50% of the test grade. A word bank... sounds easy right? IMPOSSIBLE! It was the single hardest test that I have ever taken. The reason that I am most upset about this test format is that I knew the information being tested I knew the theories of Marx like the back of my hand but the passages were simply unfair. You would have had to memorize the entire texts to get these fill in the blanks right. The words being used as well were words like power, money, and strength. These words were so vague and did not demonstrate an understanding of the material at all! I scored almost a perfect score on the first half of the test and the fact that the fill in the blanks were worth so much and was so difficult hurt my midterm grade very much. I was not the only one to think this and even the TA's admitted it was a difficult exam that might have been unfair. After the class voiced there frustration with the midterm, Prager decided to make the fill in the blanks worth less on the final only supplementing them with a essay question though lol! Anyways I thought I did extremely well on the final only to receive a 77% on that as well.... As if the class could not get any worse when final grades were posted on myUCLA, some students only received their final exam grade while some only received there overall class final grade. Some TA's were emailing students a breakdown of the grades while other TA's responded that they couldn't? This class was so such a nightmare for no reason and honestly a huge waste of time which is unfortunate because I loved the material so much and wish I would of been able to have a teacher who really cares about his students and wants to see them do well/understand the material. There is a reason that most exams especially in Sociology are short response exams... professor's just want to see that you understand the material. Avoid Prager at all cost!