This class isn't as scary as everyone makes it out to be! I have to admit it is time-consuming but only takes about a week of studying before the midterm/final and a day or two for the paper to do well. The rest of the time just go to lecture and take notes! A laptop definitely makes it easier on your hands though. You can do practically nothing all quarter as long as you take notes, do the readings a reasonable amount of time before the tests, and go to section (also do the worksheets the TAs post on the class website)! Especially if you have Hector, he pretty much outlines what you need to know from the readings for the tests as a gift to students who bother to show up to section. Memorize anything Suman writes on the board, all the lists are fair game for essays. Go to review sessions, TALK TO YOUR TA about your paper before you have to turn it in (a lot of people think they can go without it, but the TAs are incredibly picky about the papers). Also for the essays, you practically have to give every example you can recall from lecture and put it on paper to get full credit. Simplifying your answer just to save time from writing so much won't help, it's all about how much you can regurgitate. Overall just memorize everything verbatim and it'll be an easy, straightforward A (not like you have to understand any complicated concepts or anything).

Amen to the comment below. Emphasis: a LOT of memorization and REALLY boring

I took it for a GE so I could go someplace I had to be on finals week (early final). Anyways, this class wasn't too hard, I got a B+ in it, even though I think I should have gotten an A- (my friend got an A- with only a few more points, so I was on the cusp of it).

Anyways, the reading isn't too bad, the first book is kinda interesting, the second sucks ass. The first half of the class is on interpersonal relationships, the second on mass media. The first day is really funny, but that's it - the rest of the time you're constantly writing for 2 hours straight (10 min break in-between). The second half, mass communication, is extremely boring, just talks about the history of newspapers, books, TV, etc.

Anyways, the stuff you learn in the class really isn't much. Honestly, it's simply making up definitions and memorizing them. Nearly everything you learn in that class is common knowledge, just redefined and given a new word. Not worth taking if you don't have to, IMO.

Do NOT take this class unless you are planning to apply to the communications major. The material is interesting, but the word-for-word memoriztion and regurgitation required on the exams is ridiculous. Suman says he wants you to understand the basic concepts, which is a lie. He wants you to write down what he said word-for-word. The discussion sections were pretty pointless. I had Hector, who was a terrible TA. He wasted time waiting for people who didn't have anything to say beginning talking. And there were rumors that the sure way a girl could get an A was to offer him "favors." The paper topics are the most bizarre things I have ever seen, and simply allow the TAs to give good grades to the people they like. Because, after all, what makes a good paper on nicknames, instant messaging talk, online cartoons, or fluids? And in this class, you don't get the midterm or the paper back, so it's practically impossible to figure out what these people want. Seriously, if you don't need this class for the communications major, don't take it. There are better class to fufill GE requirements that don't require this kind of memorization and "oral skills."

This class was one of my favorite classes at UCLA. Sure, this class has a ton of memorization but you should've known that before taking the class. Discussion sections are optional but my TA was very thorough and helped me a ton with the reading material. There was a variety of topics to choose from regarding the paper that you have to write. The paper was probably the easiest essay I had ever written. I don't recall ever having a boring lecture despite the fact that this class is two hours long. The key to getting a good grade in the class would be to do the following: make flash cards at the end of every week regarding the key terms from lecture, read the book thoroughly, go to the discussion sections and to the midterm/final review sessions. At the review sessions, the TAs give us a myriad of sample questions from previous exams, many of which reappear on the current exam. My advice is to take this class; it is extremely interesting!

I took communications 10 to fullfill a G.E. requirement, not as a major prerequisite. As a result, I probably did not have as great of interest in the class as many of the people who took it, and it's probably one reason why this class seems like a difficult GE. The lectures are fairly interesting (though long), and discussion is helpful, but the amount of memorization definately distracts from the value of this class.

Ultimately, I got an A. If you want to get an A, you need to the following:

1. Go to lecture and take notes. Use a laptop so you can write quickly and bold important terms.

2. Go to discussion. Even if you haven't read, the TA will basiaclly outline what you need to know.

3. Go to your TA's office hours to talk about the paper. They love to give B's on the paper. Going to your TA will help you improve your essay into the A range.

4. On the tests: be as thorough on the essays as possible. You'll probably run out of time (I did during the midterm) so bring a watch and pace yourself.

5. Memorize the lists. A lot of people make flashcards. My friend and I would try and write the lists out by memory and then teach each other the individual topics.

6. Get other peoples notes, from either past or present quarters/quarter. (There are a lot of these floating around) This doesn't mean skip lecture, but reading another person's notes can help clarify different topics or expand on things which you took poor notes on.

That's about all I can think of. Overall it was a decent class, especially if you are a comm major. If you're not, just be prepared to put in a lot of time for a G.E.

i really liked his class. it is true that the first half of the class is probably the most interesting to most people because it is about dating and relationships. the second half is about old school journalism, radio, tv, newspapers, etc. this is my choice of study so it was interesting to me.
suman was always available in office hours. he helped me understand concepts i didn't understand. when i told him i understood, he made me put into my own words what i understood it to be and made me use examples. this was really helpful because i really was able to explain what i iniially didnt know.
i don't remember what the midterm looked like, but the final was half challenging, half easy. this is a very memorize memorize class but it's all worth it.

I had Suman for both Comm 10 and the honors section, and I always enjoyed going to both. The lectures are funny and interesting. He doesn't take himself too seriously, and his lectures incorporate very recent issues into older ones. A lot of it is common sense, but it's also really interesting to look at certain concepts or practices that we are accustomed to (such as dating practices) and analyze them.

I wouldn't say it's an easy A, you'll definitely do best if you go to lecture and do the reading. But I had put off taking the class because I'd read such bad things about it on here, and I don't know why people had such a problem with the class. Discussion section is also optional, although I wish that I had made myself go to section more because it did help.

Overall, if you're looking for a class that you can sleep through and get an A, then take a different class. But if you want a class that you'll enjoy going to and will change the way you look at the world and people, then take Comm 10.

I really liked this class, but wouldn't reccomend it unless you're planning on being a Comm major, or if you just really want to challenge your memorization skills. Here is some advice to make the class easier...
1. FLASHCARDS
2. FLASHCARDS
3. Go to Lecture and take good notes with at least one example for the words he puts up on the board. They will be asked for on the exams.
4. Go to discussion with your TA, they help review the reading. Go even if you think you know the material: they will give you some hints as to what will be on the exams.
5. Go to review sessions- ALL of them. And read and study the posted Review Handouts online.
6. Do ALL the readings. The final has ALOT of reading material on it. More than you will expect.
7. Sit in the front if possible.....it's hard to read his writing when you're in the back.

Overall, I really enjoyed this class, and Prof. Suman wasn't too bad looking either. haha. He is a really good lecturer and definately knows his stuff well.

Final Grade Recieved: A

Suman is a great professor - he tries to make the lectures as interesting as he can. Of course, first half of the quarter was more easier since it was on material that you can relate to. However, when it came down to second half of the quarter, I started to fall asleep in his class because two hours was too much. I heard before coming into this class that whatever grade you get on the midterm is whatever grade you'll be getting in the class. I didn't want to believe it but it was true - I got a B on the midterm, got a B on the paper and passed the class with a B. Of course, I had another final thirty minutes before this one, which is NOT A GOOD IDEA!! Overall, comm was an interesting class and if you're gonna take it, take it with Suman.