Anthro 2U03 - MacInsiders - Student-run McMaster University Help Forum

**lorend**

I really enjoyed the material for this class, and am presently still interested in Syphallis (okay, I know it sounds weird...but...it's interesting!).

However, I did not like the large class size (300ish) and complete lack of interaction with the prof (Padiak). I also didn't like the fact that the slides were gone over so quickly that writing notes was difficult.

As much as I dislike them...this course would have been much better with two hours of lecture and an hour of tutorial.

I found the marking schemes for tests unfair, and test questions confusing. I disputed my mark on one...it was the only time I have done that.

DylanKel · 12-02-2008 at 10:14 PM

Hmm was there any writing assignments in the course, or only tests/quizzes?

**lorend** · 12-03-2008 at 05:59 PM

Only tests. When I took the class it was around 400 people. I think more-recent years were similar as it is open to all students in level II and up.

pk00 · 01-03-2009 at 12:51 PM

Although I found the course material and the textbook very interesting, I found the prof (Padiak) to be awful. As the original reviewer said, the marking scheme was unfair, and the midterms were far too long for the roughly 40-45 minutes we were given. I also felt that the prof did not prepare us sufficiently for the midterms/examinations. A tutorial would have been useful and would have allowed us to better engage the thought-provoking material provided in the textbook.

asood · 06-10-2009 at 06:14 PM

What is the key to doing well in this class? attending lecures? taking good notes? reading the textbook? finding old tests?

**lorend** · 06-12-2009 at 01:13 PM

With Padiak, I honestly don't know, haha. I attended lectures, re-wrote notes, read the textbook a few times before the midterm...basically the amount of work I did should have reflected a much better grade.

However, Padiak isn't supposed to be teaching next year according to the Undergrad calender: it's the prof who designed the course several years ago (Moffat I think).

feonateresa · 06-13-2009 at 09:41 AM

I think Herring is teaching it this year, anyone know anything about her, like what her classes are like?

**lorend** · 06-14-2009 at 03:06 PM

Herring! That's who it is. She's the one who designed the course/this was her baby before she went on research leave.

moops · 06-15-2009 at 07:32 PM

I agree that there's no real trick to doing well in Padiak's class. She would say that some questions are only from the slides but she writes so little on her slides and went through them way too quickly for me to write great notes. So the midterms were definitely difficult. The good thing about the course was that Padiak was very approachable. I was able to discuss my midterms with her as did several other students and mark changes did happen!

Definitely one of the most interesting second year courses to take!

marieeeeeee · 06-20-2009 at 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feonateresa

I think Herring is teaching it this year, anyone know anything about her, like what her classes are like?

I had her for Anthro 1Z03 the other year, I enjoyed her class a lot (for a night class!) her tests are usually multiple choice/short and long answers. I'm actually planning on taking the course this school year.

Samantha · 07-23-2009 at 03:55 PM

Does this course involve a lot of science? like in the biology of it?

feonateresa · 07-23-2009 at 05:59 PM

This damn class is so full all the time, I really wanted to take it too. ;_;

aurry · 08-03-2009 at 09:26 PM

I am in Biology and so people in Anthropology may not agree with my review and should not necessarily take heed.

This was by far the best course I have ever taken at McMaster and I recommend it to everyone. It was a 9:30 am course when I took it, and I did not miss a single lecture, just because I was so interested in the material. The knowledge that I learned in that class helped me out a lot in other biology courses, I still remember everything I learned and can often relate back to the material in conversations I have with people.

I personally loved Dr. Padiak as a teacher. She stumbled over her words sometimes, but that just made me see her as a real person. I also thought her test questions were very predictable, and I'm sad she isn't at McMaster anymore.

For biology students: This course is your secret holy grail. Its easy in the way that it is a) interesting b) not a lot of work is required (or it dosen't feel like a lot of work) c) its the history of diseases you already know about/can understand the basic biology behind easily d) will give you a HUGE advantage in other biology classes, especially if you're taking microbiology/medical microbiology. Anthropology is the social part of the science. It gives you the history and the human impact of the biology that I know you love which gives you the bigger picture. And what is better then that?

My only wishes for the class was that I wish there had been tutorials and a take-home paper or presentation, for independent research, instead of an in-class essay-midterm (there were two other multiple choice/short answer midterms as well)

But yeah, great course =)

feonateresa · 08-03-2009 at 11:17 PM

^ DR. PADIAK ISN'T AT MAC ANYMORE?! Wtf. Damn..

kammy435 · 06-11-2010 at 12:12 PM

I took this course with Herring last year and I have to say it was one of the courses I have most enjoyed while at Mac!!
The information is EXTREMELY interesting. Its not very biology based...but you do learn about the biological aspect of the diseases that are discussed. However it isn't necessary to be a biology or science student to do well in this course.
Some of the diseases we talked about were Smallpox, Syphilis and Influenza. We watched movies on certain days which were very interesting.
There were no assignments, just 3 tests and a final. The midterms included T/F, M/C, Short answer which were mostly definitions and one long answer question..but you always had a choice for the short answer and long answer (ie 6 out of 8 or 2 out of 3).
The prof was REALLY good. She went at a steady pace and we usually covered a specific disease for a week (so approx 3 lectures for each one). She did require you to read the text because it was fair game for the tests. I even found the book interesting, it wasn't dry and sometimes you got really into it and it didn't seem like a chore to have to read and make notes.
Overall, I would DEFINITELY recommend this course. I did not find one point in the course where I thought the info/lectures were boring and that made me want to study for this course even more. GREAT COURSE!!