Michael W Suman
Department of Communication
AD
3.2
Overall Rating
Based on 321 Users
Easiness 2.2 / 5 How easy the class is, 1 being extremely difficult and 5 being easy peasy.
Clarity 3.6 / 5 How clear the class is, 1 being extremely unclear and 5 being very clear.
Workload 2.5 / 5 How much workload the class is, 1 being extremely heavy and 5 being extremely light.
Helpfulness 3.3 / 5 How helpful the class is, 1 being not helpful at all and 5 being extremely helpful.

TOP TAGS

  • Tough Tests
GRADE DISTRIBUTIONS
14.4%
12.0%
9.6%
7.2%
4.8%
2.4%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

18.2%
15.2%
12.1%
9.1%
6.1%
3.0%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

20.4%
17.0%
13.6%
10.2%
6.8%
3.4%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

16.7%
13.9%
11.1%
8.3%
5.6%
2.8%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

16.4%
13.6%
10.9%
8.2%
5.5%
2.7%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

17.9%
15.0%
12.0%
9.0%
6.0%
3.0%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

14.9%
12.4%
9.9%
7.4%
5.0%
2.5%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

15.4%
12.8%
10.3%
7.7%
5.1%
2.6%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

21.2%
17.7%
14.1%
10.6%
7.1%
3.5%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

20.4%
17.0%
13.6%
10.2%
6.8%
3.4%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

23.9%
19.9%
15.9%
11.9%
8.0%
4.0%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

20.4%
17.0%
13.6%
10.2%
6.8%
3.4%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

19.6%
16.4%
13.1%
9.8%
6.5%
3.3%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

24.4%
20.3%
16.3%
12.2%
8.1%
4.1%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

16.8%
14.0%
11.2%
8.4%
5.6%
2.8%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

21.3%
17.7%
14.2%
10.6%
7.1%
3.5%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

18.1%
15.0%
12.0%
9.0%
6.0%
3.0%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

20.4%
17.0%
13.6%
10.2%
6.8%
3.4%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

20.3%
16.9%
13.5%
10.2%
6.8%
3.4%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

21.2%
17.7%
14.1%
10.6%
7.1%
3.5%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

17.6%
14.6%
11.7%
8.8%
5.9%
2.9%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

23.4%
19.5%
15.6%
11.7%
7.8%
3.9%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

18.8%
15.7%
12.6%
9.4%
6.3%
3.1%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

18.6%
15.5%
12.4%
9.3%
6.2%
3.1%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

25.3%
21.1%
16.8%
12.6%
8.4%
4.2%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

16.8%
14.0%
11.2%
8.4%
5.6%
2.8%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

18.2%
15.2%
12.2%
9.1%
6.1%
3.0%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

20.0%
16.7%
13.3%
10.0%
6.7%
3.3%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

24.3%
20.2%
16.2%
12.1%
8.1%
4.0%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

18.6%
15.5%
12.4%
9.3%
6.2%
3.1%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

22.3%
18.6%
14.9%
11.2%
7.4%
3.7%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

16.7%
13.9%
11.1%
8.3%
5.6%
2.8%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

17.5%
14.6%
11.7%
8.8%
5.8%
2.9%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

20.6%
17.1%
13.7%
10.3%
6.9%
3.4%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

19.2%
16.0%
12.8%
9.6%
6.4%
3.2%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

23.5%
19.6%
15.6%
11.7%
7.8%
3.9%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

24.4%
20.3%
16.2%
12.2%
8.1%
4.1%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

21.5%
17.9%
14.3%
10.8%
7.2%
3.6%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

21.8%
18.2%
14.6%
10.9%
7.3%
3.6%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

ENROLLMENT DISTRIBUTIONS
Clear marks

Sorry, no enrollment data is available.

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Reviews (293)

24 of 30
24 of 30
Add your review...
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
Dec. 7, 2008

DONT TAKE THIS CLASS -- COMM ST 10. IT WAS HORRIBLE

Suman himself wasn't bad. Lectures were interesting at times, and he was funny sometimes, although it was pretty dry a lot of the time. But the worst part of the class was the grading. If you're hoping for an A, good luck. His tests are straight-out memorization. LOTS of memorization. Not fun. And even if you understand all the material, go to all the lectures, and take notes on everything -- and then study your notes and memorize it -- it's still not enough. The TA took off random points for no reason. The reason why: "Not many people get 8's. Only like 2 of my students got an 8." What a fair way to grade. Don't take this class if you can avoid it!!!

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
July 16, 2008

i think the material was pretty interesting. the first half was more along the lines of social psychology and interpersonal relationships and the second half was mass media. his lectures are straightforward and fairly entertaining. he DOES do a curve which actually helped out but i think the number one best advice i could give to anyone is......
TAKE YOUR OWN NOTES!!
........he's been teaching this class for a very long time and so while i took my own notes, i also borrowed other friends' notes which were more thorough and thought would help me out. i think he knows that most people borrow notes so each quarter he makes tiny changes to his lectures and puts those changes on the exam. (you can still use your friends' notes as an aid but not as a primary study guide). as everyone has mentioned, his exams are almost 100% memorization. the material is super easy to understand, but you're tested more on your ability to retain all that information. overall, if you are smart about the class, it is COMPLETELY possible to get an A. i would recommend the class to people who seem interested in the subject. i ended up with an A- despite my mistake of using other peoples' notes instead of my own

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
July 11, 2008

TAKING THIS CLASS WAS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE!

Suman is a great professor because he is interesting and the lectures are basic knowledge but when you get to the midterm its the hardest thing in the world to write down an interpretation of the topics discussed in class. The TA's are very hard graders they seem to keep the A's for the ones who memorize every single detail in class. This class is hard and its really difficult to memorize everything they want you to for the midterm and final

AVOID!

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
June 27, 2008

Ditto exactly to the comment before mine. I agree completely! Thought I did well on the midterm and paper, but ended up with a B. I was especially annoyed about the paper--I had it edited a few times and felt that I wrote a pretty good paper too, but got a B+ on the it. Worst of all--comparing myself to the class curve, I noticed that the TA's were really stingy and hard about giving out A's this quarter. Only about 14 people out of the 300 students got A's on the paper.
Not to mention the final. That was ridiculous.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
June 23, 2008

This class really isn't about being the smartest - a lot is luck. I got one of the highest scores on the midterm (which is DEFINITELY easier than the final, not because of the books but because of the nit-picky questions asked) and ended with a B in the class - definitely not used to Bs. My essay got an 18.5/30 raw, which translated to a B- with the curve...the essays don't even get returned so you don't know how they graded. On top of that, I read all of these reviews coming into the class knowing what to do. I spent two weeks on this essay and thought it was great, I've never written a bad essay in my life, and this grade was a slap in the face with how much effort I put in. The final asks very detailed questions, and it's difficult because the midterm scores set the curve, but since the final is harder than the midterm, everyone gets nailed. Basically, good luck and memorize everything. Don't believe him when he says that things will only be on the final if he writes them on the board - complete bullshit statement. One short answer question was "What type of novels does Oprah recommend?" I mean I got that question but it was completely irrelevant and a sidenote he made. Be careful.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
May 8, 2008

This is seriously a terrible class. Such a pain. I won't say much else trying to say so and so is good NO this class is not good at all. It's horrible all the way around. Im a science major and Ive been through A LOT of weeder courses in my lifetime, but for a NORTH CAMPUS class? It's amazing what kind of Sh** they can pull to turn a north campus-suppose-to-be-easy-as-hell class into the most obsurd thing you've seen in your life.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
March 31, 2008

Suman is a very knowledgeable professor. He's very nice one-on-one and the material is extremely interesting. I agree with people on the site who say don't take it unless it's required of you. It's really hard for a GE course, only because the midterm and final are word vomit style (aka spitting out lectures word for word in 26 short answers and 3 essays). There is A LOT to take notes on. Write down everything AND get notes from people who have already taken the course. Since your grade is based only on the midterm, essay, and final, you don't have much room to screw up.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
Feb. 12, 2008

If you're applying to be a Comm major, don't shy away from this class! Even though they say not to take Comm10 before you actually get accepted into the Comm progam because it's so hard, you should take it. If you're like me and your GPA is just O.K. and you want to get into comm, take Comm 10, study hard and kick it's ass. It'll definitely impress them and I'm sure if i hadn't taken comm10 and done well i wouldn't be a comm major now. That being said, it is a ton of memorization. Take your laptop, type down everything suman says, and study the terms he puts up on the board.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
Jan. 9, 2008

This class required obscene amounts of memorization for the midterm and final. I had over 50 pages of handwritten notes for the midterm, and 80 for the final which had to be memorized- almost word for word- with lists upon lists that had to be regurgitated on the midterm/final. That said, if you can do the memorization, an A is definitely achievable. Get Hector as a T.A. , he was incredible. Went over the readings so well, and has a sixth sense for what test questions will be, so you're more then prepared. He also had a great teaching style. So basically, try not to take this course with other difficult ones, because it'll kick your butt come midterm/final time.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
Nov. 22, 2007

I really wouldn't recommend this class if it is not a Req for your major or unless you are somehow really interested in Communications... That being said, the class is really not hard. Minimal readings, everything on the tests is written on the board and honestly, he hasn't changed those key words that he puts on the board in years so... go find someone elses old notes... or just stay awake, its really not hard and his examples can be really good and interesting albiet old fashioned. This class is incredibly straight forward, middie, paper, final and done. So, don't fear this class, just enjoy it, take notes and get through.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
Dec. 7, 2008

DONT TAKE THIS CLASS -- COMM ST 10. IT WAS HORRIBLE

Suman himself wasn't bad. Lectures were interesting at times, and he was funny sometimes, although it was pretty dry a lot of the time. But the worst part of the class was the grading. If you're hoping for an A, good luck. His tests are straight-out memorization. LOTS of memorization. Not fun. And even if you understand all the material, go to all the lectures, and take notes on everything -- and then study your notes and memorize it -- it's still not enough. The TA took off random points for no reason. The reason why: "Not many people get 8's. Only like 2 of my students got an 8." What a fair way to grade. Don't take this class if you can avoid it!!!

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
July 16, 2008

i think the material was pretty interesting. the first half was more along the lines of social psychology and interpersonal relationships and the second half was mass media. his lectures are straightforward and fairly entertaining. he DOES do a curve which actually helped out but i think the number one best advice i could give to anyone is......
TAKE YOUR OWN NOTES!!
........he's been teaching this class for a very long time and so while i took my own notes, i also borrowed other friends' notes which were more thorough and thought would help me out. i think he knows that most people borrow notes so each quarter he makes tiny changes to his lectures and puts those changes on the exam. (you can still use your friends' notes as an aid but not as a primary study guide). as everyone has mentioned, his exams are almost 100% memorization. the material is super easy to understand, but you're tested more on your ability to retain all that information. overall, if you are smart about the class, it is COMPLETELY possible to get an A. i would recommend the class to people who seem interested in the subject. i ended up with an A- despite my mistake of using other peoples' notes instead of my own

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
July 11, 2008

TAKING THIS CLASS WAS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE!

Suman is a great professor because he is interesting and the lectures are basic knowledge but when you get to the midterm its the hardest thing in the world to write down an interpretation of the topics discussed in class. The TA's are very hard graders they seem to keep the A's for the ones who memorize every single detail in class. This class is hard and its really difficult to memorize everything they want you to for the midterm and final

AVOID!

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
June 27, 2008

Ditto exactly to the comment before mine. I agree completely! Thought I did well on the midterm and paper, but ended up with a B. I was especially annoyed about the paper--I had it edited a few times and felt that I wrote a pretty good paper too, but got a B+ on the it. Worst of all--comparing myself to the class curve, I noticed that the TA's were really stingy and hard about giving out A's this quarter. Only about 14 people out of the 300 students got A's on the paper.
Not to mention the final. That was ridiculous.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
June 23, 2008

This class really isn't about being the smartest - a lot is luck. I got one of the highest scores on the midterm (which is DEFINITELY easier than the final, not because of the books but because of the nit-picky questions asked) and ended with a B in the class - definitely not used to Bs. My essay got an 18.5/30 raw, which translated to a B- with the curve...the essays don't even get returned so you don't know how they graded. On top of that, I read all of these reviews coming into the class knowing what to do. I spent two weeks on this essay and thought it was great, I've never written a bad essay in my life, and this grade was a slap in the face with how much effort I put in. The final asks very detailed questions, and it's difficult because the midterm scores set the curve, but since the final is harder than the midterm, everyone gets nailed. Basically, good luck and memorize everything. Don't believe him when he says that things will only be on the final if he writes them on the board - complete bullshit statement. One short answer question was "What type of novels does Oprah recommend?" I mean I got that question but it was completely irrelevant and a sidenote he made. Be careful.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
May 8, 2008

This is seriously a terrible class. Such a pain. I won't say much else trying to say so and so is good NO this class is not good at all. It's horrible all the way around. Im a science major and Ive been through A LOT of weeder courses in my lifetime, but for a NORTH CAMPUS class? It's amazing what kind of Sh** they can pull to turn a north campus-suppose-to-be-easy-as-hell class into the most obsurd thing you've seen in your life.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
March 31, 2008

Suman is a very knowledgeable professor. He's very nice one-on-one and the material is extremely interesting. I agree with people on the site who say don't take it unless it's required of you. It's really hard for a GE course, only because the midterm and final are word vomit style (aka spitting out lectures word for word in 26 short answers and 3 essays). There is A LOT to take notes on. Write down everything AND get notes from people who have already taken the course. Since your grade is based only on the midterm, essay, and final, you don't have much room to screw up.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
Feb. 12, 2008

If you're applying to be a Comm major, don't shy away from this class! Even though they say not to take Comm10 before you actually get accepted into the Comm progam because it's so hard, you should take it. If you're like me and your GPA is just O.K. and you want to get into comm, take Comm 10, study hard and kick it's ass. It'll definitely impress them and I'm sure if i hadn't taken comm10 and done well i wouldn't be a comm major now. That being said, it is a ton of memorization. Take your laptop, type down everything suman says, and study the terms he puts up on the board.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
Jan. 9, 2008

This class required obscene amounts of memorization for the midterm and final. I had over 50 pages of handwritten notes for the midterm, and 80 for the final which had to be memorized- almost word for word- with lists upon lists that had to be regurgitated on the midterm/final. That said, if you can do the memorization, an A is definitely achievable. Get Hector as a T.A. , he was incredible. Went over the readings so well, and has a sixth sense for what test questions will be, so you're more then prepared. He also had a great teaching style. So basically, try not to take this course with other difficult ones, because it'll kick your butt come midterm/final time.

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Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
Nov. 22, 2007

I really wouldn't recommend this class if it is not a Req for your major or unless you are somehow really interested in Communications... That being said, the class is really not hard. Minimal readings, everything on the tests is written on the board and honestly, he hasn't changed those key words that he puts on the board in years so... go find someone elses old notes... or just stay awake, its really not hard and his examples can be really good and interesting albiet old fashioned. This class is incredibly straight forward, middie, paper, final and done. So, don't fear this class, just enjoy it, take notes and get through.

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24 of 30
3.2
Overall Rating
Based on 321 Users
Easiness 2.2 / 5 How easy the class is, 1 being extremely difficult and 5 being easy peasy.
Clarity 3.6 / 5 How clear the class is, 1 being extremely unclear and 5 being very clear.
Workload 2.5 / 5 How much workload the class is, 1 being extremely heavy and 5 being extremely light.
Helpfulness 3.3 / 5 How helpful the class is, 1 being not helpful at all and 5 being extremely helpful.

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