David Tabb

People say different things about Tabb here and I agree with almost all of them.

His lectures are interesting for people that don't know much about politics, people like me. But I can see why those who major in something close to politics don't like him. They probably expect to hear something they don't know, but in PLSI200 he covers basic stuff. It's true that he can jump on some random topic in the middle of the lecture and keep talking about it for 30 min. Nevertheless, it was always interesting for me since I'm an immigrant, engineering major and don't know anything about American politics.

The class is easy - multiple choice tests plus one paper (or two?). I spent a few hours prepearing for each test and got very good grades for both. I mostly used the textbook since I missed half of the lectures. The other (smaller) book is not really needed.

I was pissed when he ignored my comments about a couple of unclear/ambiguous test questions that I answered wrong, but they were worth only 5% and I still got an A.

I showed up to the lecture maybe twice during the whole semester, but the dude was just rambling on about stuff, so I haven't gone in a really long time- and I'm still getting an A!

This class is really easy. The tests are multiple choice and there's study guides distributed beforeheand that tell you what will be on the test. If you sit down, like, a day before the test and look up the stuff on the study guide- then you'll do well on the test. also, don't bother buying the little skinny books about the 2000 election and September 11th that are on the syllabus- i never touched them. Just stick with the text.

Uhhh uhhh uhhh, blah blah blah blah blah. That is a typical Tabb statement. I love political science and have a great interest in world affairs and political happenings, but Tabb sometimes can be such a rambling and uninteresting speaker that 1/3 of the way into the class I was passed out on my desk. He is incredibly random and goes out on some REALLY random tangents-unfortunately you have to attempt to follow his non sensical teaching style if you don't want to fall asleep. Easy tests but the rest sucks.

OK here's the deal. This Tabb character is an ignorant, biggoted hick who by some stroke of luck landed a job at SF state. His lectures are completely useless, as he talks like a politician - never getting to the point. The tests however, are directly out of the book, and there's no homework. I haven't been to the class in a month and I just got an A on the last test. Easy A, don't have to go, a waste of time and resources, but what the hell.

Prof. Tabb's class was a great experience. His class format consisted of lectures that were supposed to be based on his internet notes, but had nothing do with each other. He provides a study guide for each exam which are based on information in the text. If political science is not your area of expertise, an area I'm not to great in, take Prof. Tabb it'll be worth it, academically.

Even though I am terrible with political science, I very much enjoyed taking this class. Tabb is a good professor, he kept me interested, which can be very difficult. He gives study sheets telling you exactly what will be on the test and has lecture notes online. His one draw back is that his lectures will have nothing to do with his tests. His tests are from the book. You could never go to class, read the books, and get an A. Because of this I did poorly in his class. I would recommend it to anyone interesteed in political science.

I am not sure what teacher some people who wrote negative reviews were talking about- but I had professor Tabb, and all I can say is that he is the only college professor from my school that I can speak about with admiration and respect. Perhaps if he did yell at the class to "get off their asses and vote" it's becasue college students have the lowest voter turnout from any other age group. Also if he seemed too eager or forceful with his teachings- it could be directly accounted to the fact that he loves politcal science and only wants to encourage others to feel the same way. To some speaking loudly in an AUDITORIUM classroom might seem unnessecary, but I never saw him yell at anyone- ever, and what some called belittling is simply the way that people interact in the real world when they are discussing opposing viewpoints- GET USE TO IT!! Stop whining and stick up for your convictions. Actually, the fact that he did challenge our beliefs only made his class more enjoyable- it was interactive and I had to think while I was sitting there (contrary to many other classes I have taken). His humor was welcomed and his theories always put a new persepective on old ideas. In fact I enjoyed his teaching so much I went and signed up for another one of his classes this semester.

Tabb is one of the most egotistical instructor I have ever met. In a two hour class, on the average he refers to himself in third person 4 or 5 times. His class time is enormously boring namely because he has a fixation with a sort of classroom of tomorrow integrating computers into the curriculum but he has not knowledge of computers and sits there trying to figure out what's going on while the students sit reading their e-mail. Nothing he ever talked about in class had much to do with readings. Most of the class time is a campaign commercial for Bill Bradley.

First of all I am shocked and horrified by some of the profoundly negative reviews of David Tabb, they do not at all resemble the Tabb I know! Perhaps the students didn't like his liberal political views or his jewishness who knows, but if it's that then state it instead villifying this good and intelligent man, who indeed cares about students and does have compassion. As a student I found him to be fair and respectful towards all. Despite being at times opinionated about certain issues, eventhough I largely agreed with his opinions. One of the books assigned in the class was co-authored by him and Rufus Browning, the findings in the book were insightful and showed his real desire to see in his lifetime substantive changes in our cities for the better of all, not just his own pet group. Tabb is a fair grader, but stay on the safe side by trying to shed light on the points he tries to advance and see their wisdom even if you disagree with him. There was some rumor that he was pro-zionist, which if true would contradict his philosophy for American cities. In Israel everyone should coexist peacefully there regardless of religious background. So that Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druzes, etc. can all join in brotherhood and emphasize on what they do share in common, to build on the peace we so desperately need. Not to have one religious group (i.e. Jews) ruthlessly throw people out of their homeland because of their religious affiliation being different from their own. The world needs healing, let us all get along and live together peacefully and treat everyone in the world fairly!

Hmm well I feel a little like a traitor here considering that most of the posts on Tabb are pretty nasty. Actually though I just had him and he was a pretty cool. He was really easy to talk to and very helpful to students who had any questions on any of the assignments in his class. Most of us in the class think we did a pretty good job in their too. Tabb's not bad, I guess it just depends what classes you take him for and what the student makeup is. I'm sure if he has to deal with a lot of immature students in lower division classes he will inevitably be a jerk, but he's not bad at all.

I have Tabb right now and I have never heard him be disrespectful or abusive to anyone in our class--EVER. Quite the contrary he seems like a great guy. He is very easy to talk to and on many occasions I've talked to him in his office when I needed help with something--each time he helped me and he never belittled me for seeking his help. If he really is as abusive as the others say he is in the other posts then I can only imagine that those classes are filled with absolute blithering idiots and now really who has tolerance for idiot? As a Prof he doesn't need to put up with morons.

This is a first class ass----if I ever saw one. He is disrespectful, abusive, and rejectful of students. You would think that an idiot who graduated from north carolina would show some sense out here in the golden state. However, this moron of an excuse for a teacher should have been fired a long time ago for his abusive style. Where is justice?

I'm sorry but Tabb's performance was horrible. His tests never included anything he lectured about. On top of that,his yelling made me regret even going to class. I thought it was outrageous and very disturbing the way he tried to persuade his students to vote by screaming "I'm too old to dick around!" and "Get off your asses and vote!" I was especially upset by his view that "College students are dumb shits." I work extremely hard in school not only to get good grades, but so that I learn from a teacher who I respect. Unfortunately, it's obvious that Tabb does not respect his students. Luckily, the class broke into discussion sections with T.A.s once a week because that is the only place I learned anything useful for his class.

When I first stepped foot into his classroom (CA141), I was a bit intimidated by the number of students enrolled, and also by prof. Tabb himself. He seemed strict, like someone who's had many years of experience at this campus who doesn't give out many A's. Of course, my initial impression of this instructor and class was far off target. He normally lectures on MW, and on Fridays, there is a mandatory discussion section where his TA's take over and fill us in on things we may have missed in Tabb's lectures. (The large class is divided into smaller discussion groups of about 25.) These discussion sections are also where we take our two midterms and final. So far, the exams have been very straight-forward, with information coming right out of the book (you don't really need to show up for lectures.) He also makes up study guides with pages to the answers that will show up on the exams. I'm really glad I'm taking his class to satisfy my government requirement because I've heard there are other classes out there that aren't as straight-forward as this one.