Sherry Keith

Prof. Keith is a super hippy weird kind of teacher. Her discussions were very good, but she was too ambigious and unorganized. I think she really has no teaching abilities. She has no clear cut way she wants her answer. She doesn't know want she wants out of the students, and she definitely doesn't know how to teach it to us. Everyone wanting to take this class, please learn how to kiss that part of her anatomy, because that's probably the way you will pass.

Considering this is Dr. Keith's first time teaching SOC 466, and she may never teach it again, since she was filling in for someone else, I may have graded her a bit harshly. Putting those matters aside, though, I find Dr. Keith to be frustrating and unorganized. The assignments are ambiguous, she favors some students work over others, her class discussions are too controlled and thus, get nowhere, and going to class is pointless because nothing gets taught, (and what does is all Freshmen Soc. information). Most the students in my class are disgruntled and roll their eyes whenever she is not looking. To be very frank the class is boring and I am regreting the day I signed up for the class. The only saving grace is the freedom one gets to explore topics while doing research for the papers that she assigns. Sorry to be so negative, but I think there is much concensus with this view point from many of my fellow classmates.

Before you read any further, you should ask yourself honestly "am I a good writer?" If the answer is no, then you will likely have a struggle in this course. However, if you are a good writer, or you are at least willing to try your best with whatever writing skills you have, you'll do just fine with Dr. Keith. Dr. Keith is a very bright woman, and, unlike many other profs at State, her knowledge and experience extends far beyond the subject she teaches. She is engaging and easy to talk to. The lectures can get a little dry at times, but there is enough classroom interaction and group projects to keep the interest level high. I would advise you to take advantage of her office hours; she is fun to talk to, and she is always willing to help you. After all, she is teaching how to be a teacher! The first assignment is a gimme, you write an autobiography of your educational experience. The next two assigments are rough if you don't like doing heavy duty research and writing. Those assignments are each 8-10 page papers on topics in education. There is a short book you will read, and there is an in-class essay about the reading. Dr. Keith is a fair, understanding grader. I advised her that I was taking 17 units and working full time. I was a few weeks late with my first 10 pager, but she was still willing to grade the paper on its merits and gave me an A. She appreciates a good paper rather than one that is thrown together just to be in on time. My only complaint is that she requires you to turn in an annotated bibliography BEFORE each paper is due. Her reasoning is that by making students turn the bibliography first, they will be forced to get started early rather than scramble at the last minute. That's fine, but as a senior in college I feel it's my right to do the paper the morning its due so lang as I am willing to take whatever fair grade I am given. Again, consider whether you're up to do some big writing projects. If so, I would highly recommend Dr. Keith.