Richard Sammons

This is an awesome class. Sammons is a nice guy with a good sense of humor. He expects students to listen, learn, and actually do the readings. Except for Fontaine, I liked all the readings we did. He gives an option to either take a cumulative final OR a creative project. I learned a lot, and hope to have him again for another course.

I had Professor Sammons for two classes in the same semester and it made my life so much easier. Fables and Tales and English 214 are both very easy and he lets you slide when it comes to turning in papers late. When you get on his good side, he's wonderful to deal with and although his lectures are not that stimulating, they're possible to sit through. Others in the class felt that he ignored them, but you have to make yourself known and let him see that you're willing to work hard in the class. I would recommend Mr. Sammons to people who know how to get on a teacher's good side.

Sammons seem like an easy teacher, but after the first test you know he means business. Pay careful attention in class, because his test asks for very very very specific details. There was no homework, two papers due, and I think 3-4 tests. The tests make up most of the grade. It's best never to miss lecture because sometimes he teaches something that's not in books.

I had a wonderful time in Mr. Sammons class. He understands that most students have other classes so he does not overwhelm you with homework. His main teaching tools are picture slides and some movie clips that he explains in great details. There are 3 exams altogether that are not so difficult. There are also a couple of writing homeworks. The final exam can either be taken as scheduled or replaced by an individual project of significance to the class.

This class was part of my segment III cluster which provided a refreshing relief away from my ISYS classes. I love Humanities classes because I feel like I can really express my thoughts and listen to other people's inputs as well--and with Sammons at the helm--it just makes the class more interesting.

Sammons knows how to stimulate the class by inviting views and discussions from students. So even though you might spend the majority of the class time watching slides, it's hard to fall asleep. This is a great class especially for immigrants and people from other parts of the country who want to learn more about San Francisco.

He is a great teacher, but there are times when you do not want to get on his bad side...Overall the class was great. You get to learn fairy tales, fables, etc. more in depth. Also Sammons knows his stuff, he is not like other teacher, who think they know at the end they don't. Anyways there is a final if you want to take it, but the catch is you have to do a final project about any story that you did not learn in class(he give a paper what he wants on it). So if you want to learn about fairy tales I recommend to take his class and you will have fun.

Richard Sammons who usually teaches this course with his colleague Susan Connell, took on the teaching of this class alone this past semester. I don't think he has strayed much from the course that they first developed when the course began so he was in auto-pilot.

I can't comprehend some of the films shown during this semester as educational. A BBC computer documentary from the early nineties is as relevant today as a 286 computer. His idea of teaching us the history computers was for us to memorize a timeline that he scammed from other sources. The tests were more on the innane comments he made than the actual stuff he showed. He never involved the class in his discussions but went on long diatribes about the most insignificant info.

In all he showed five full length films over the course of the semester and expected us to sit in class and watch them when most people have the same movies at home. The class should be responsible for seeing the movies before class instead of having us waste over 10 hours of class time watching movies most people have seen. He actually showed the film "Hackers" with Angelina Jolie, and expected us to learn something from that god-awful film. When he showed "2001: A space oddysey" he actually told us the ending before we watched it. His guidance for papers and projects is non-existent. "Just do whatever!"

If this class was taught by an english, cinema, or art teacher AND a COmputer teacher then it would truly be a NEXA class. Instead it was a film club with a lazy Sci-Fi geek running the projector. (Speaking as a Sci-Fi Geek myself, I am offended by my use of the term , so let me call him a wannabe Sci Fi Geek)

Before you take this class, make sure to work on your people skills. What do I mean? well, this teacher is overexperienced. He knows his stuff. Get on his good side and make it known you're not challenging his authority when you question him. Show him you want to see things from his point of view and he'll gladly help. Attempt to belittle him by questioning his right as a teacher and you will be chewed out. (The dude even speaks Latin!) The common feeling shared by all who take his class is one of a "Holier than thou" attitude. Play your cards right, and you'll do great.

Professor Sammons is a very good lecturer. His lectures are well-organized. He has a great knowledge of the subject that he is teaching but he is not the kind of professor that throws vacabularies out to you and expects you to know as much as he does. He made the subject easy for the students to understand so that it is more interesting. His tests are mostly from he lectures. No surprise questions. He is fair to everyone.

This class was so easy...all you do is read fables, stories, and watch videos like Cinderalla and reenactments of other fairytales. His lectures are interesting (some of them) and he gives a fairly good insight on the readings. He is kinda organized in regards to the syllabus, but it's all still pretty good. The work is just reading, some exams, and a required assignment in which you can either choose do a project or review 2 stories of your selection. This class was a joy to be in, and I totally recommend this class to anyone!

Prof. Sammons has done a pretty good job this semester. His flexibility for due dates and his open lab days are much appreciated. One thing I do not like about the class is the number of handouts we receive. It seems to me that too much paper is wasted on dittos most of the class lok at once and then discard. I would like the class better if it was NOT in the computer lab, giving it a more friendly and comfortable environment. He has done a good job teaching some methods of writing to us and he is very well organized.

The professor is obviously very knowledgeable and well-prepared. His major weaknesses are that he assumed that people in the class already know everything about San Francisco, and he was there only to crearify some of the facts. In fact, I did not know anything at all, and it was very hard for me to follow him. When he heard that someone in the class knew the material, he moved forward, and I was left behind. Another huge weakness of the professor is that he has no relationship with the students. Sometimes I felt that if you ask him how many students were present today, he would not know the answer. Very often people would raise a hand, but he would not even notice it untill the person tells him that he/she has a question. That was annoying. I really think his exams were not fair. He should definitely make a fill-in part a lot shorter. I know that he is one of the professors who means well, and if he only knew better, he would do better.