James Taylor

School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Department: Social Work
Location: Birmingham, AL
Overall Rating
rated by 20 students
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For an online class he grades a little harshly on the discussion boards. Its cool though because he only wants to make sure you have a clear understanding of the information. Overall it was a pretty easy course. The three assignments we had to complete weren't at all difficult. We had a five page paper on a cite visit. A 10 page paper on a disability that would cause someone to need a caregiver and a fun assignment. It sounds like a lot but it's really not.
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This was a required course for me, so I was stuck. Especially since no one else teaches this class. Dr. Taylor is a cynical, arrogant guy who thinks he's better educated than his students and he seems to derive pleasure from belittling the students. This was an on-ine course and I'm glad - I don't think I could stand a full semester of looking/listening to this guy. He may be "smart" but he's highly insulting and degrading - comes across as a real jerk.
However, it's a super easy A if that's all you're after!
Exams: This was an on-line class. 60% of our grade came from discussion board postings but we were marked off if we posted too much or left off his silly titles to the discussions. 40% of our grade came from 3 papers. The first 2 papers were assigned day 1 of class; paper 3 waa assigned 48 hours prior to being due, it was to watch and review a movie on Hollywood's views on caretaking, and his instructions were to "sit, relax, enjoy the popcorn" during FINAL WEEK! Ha.
Homework: Posting to the discussion board several times a week.
Textbook: With a book, we might have actually learned something. This course is taught by weblinks. You may or may not stumble across some useful information on his weblinks. Doubt it though.
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I enjoyed this class and recommend this professor. We had a pizza party on the last day of class which was lots of fun.
Exams: Always remember to put down why anything is important to Social Work!
Homework: One group presentation. 2 on site visits. We went to Project help in groups of 3 and observed the children playing there and then wrote a 3-5 page paper. Later we went to Saint Clair St. Senior Center and then wrote about that. There was also a Stand Point essay where you write about your life. Don't forget to say in what way your life experience will help you as a Social Worker.
Textbook: I used the textbook for all of the projects and the test. If you don't have access to one you wont know the answers for the Final.
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This man could care less about his job. He will never answer his emails and does not make himself avaliable to his students. He is rude and thinks that he is the greatest professor on campus. If you dont have to take him dont. Unfortunantly thats hard in the Soc Wk departement!!
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Dr. Taylor is a wonderful professor, and a wonderful man. I think some students just don't get him...but he has a more hands on approach to teaching which i think is good. You'll learn more in one day in Dr. Taylor's class than you will in a whole semester with Mr. Rucker. Dr. Taylor assigns great site visits which are always very interesting, and very relevant to Social Work. If you're open you'll have a great time in his class, i know i did.
Exams: They're pretty easy for the most part if you read the chapters and study.
Homework: none...a few site visits, but they always proved to be incredibly interesting.
Textbook: You need it for the tests.
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He made a mistake in counting up the points for an exam, but I told him about and he corrected it. I don't think he's completely stubborn like some would leave you to believe. Sure, he's moody and stand-offish at times but he's got a soft spot for people who work hard and don't constantly look for instances where they feel they're being slighted.
Exams: They're short answer.
Homework: Advocacy project and a report on a social welfare agency.
Textbook: It's like any other textbook
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We never did anything in this course. If you are taking this course because it is required of you as an undeclared major, and you don't care about getting anything out of it, then take this professor. All you have to do is show up at the beginning of class each day, and you'll get an A.
Exams: We were never tested over anything and there was no exam.
Homework: There was no homework.
Textbook: I bought the text, as did everyone else. We ended up coming to class and leaving after attendance was taken. The book was never touched. Don't buy it.
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He is terrible - If you miss things on tests and papers - he will not tell you why. I got deductions on my final and he said they were his mistake and refused to correct them. He should not teach social work and he should not teach at all. He is mean and rude and unprofessional. Oh, and by the way - don't ever call him at home - he will tell you off because he does not know how to act any other way. Even if you do not get your grade - don't call him at home. If he was anywhere where else - he would be fired - SW department must be desperate. He is a LOUSY Professor and an AWFUL Person!!! He is the only one teaching Policy and now he is taking over Terminally Ill - don't be deceived!!! He can't teach that class either - so drop it and wait to take it another time with a better professor!!!!! Trust me guys - you will not like him!!!!!
Exams: He marks wrong what are his mistakes and will not explain your mistakes that he counts off - chances are - you guys have no real mistakes - he can't teach and he can't grade either!!!!
Homework: a lot of papers
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I am amazed at the comments of others on this site! I thought that Dr. Taylor was a good teacher, just misunderstood at times. He is old school, so maybe the students that don't relate well to him just don't understand that he wants respect and for students to TRY or make SOME effort.
Exams: As long as you are in class, paying attention, and you study, than you should do well.
Homework: A 10-page paper that you have the ENTIRE semester to work on, an advocacy assignment, and 2 site visits.
Textbook: I recommend the textbook in order to fully understand the material.
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Dr. Taylor is one of the worst professors i have ever had, he says that he wants students to speak up and be involved in his class, but be ware only speak up if you agree with him, if you have a different opinion than him he will not treat you fairly. He can be nice when he feels like it or if you are a student that he likes, but even then you can never tell how he will react to something. I have this guy for 2 classes this semester and am going to try and avoid him in the future. Sorry for all of you who have no choice because right now he is the only professor that teaches this class.
Exams: I have so far received good grades in his class, but for the most part those of us in his class feel that his grades are based on who he likes and dislikes or what mood he is in. I have gotten the impression that he doesn't really read the essay parts of the test.
Homework: advocacy project, a ten page paper which he originally was making single spaced until we talked with him about that and he was not happy about changing it.
Textbook: The text book for this course is probably the only way you will really learn anything about policy because taylor won't teach it to you. He sometimes follows the book but says what he wants to about it, it is also five years old so it is a little outdated
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Dr. Taylor is the worst teacher I've ever had!!! He is a rude and hateful man! He is always talks down to students and makes them feel terrible, and enjoys it thoroughly. He should be fired and never allowed to teack anywhere!
Exams: The tests were over material that wasn't covered and the questions were really confusing. Don't even try to ask him for help or to throw out a question that no one got right. He will RUDELY refuse!
Homework: a few papers and a site visit
Textbook: Don't buy it! He doesn't use it.
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Overall, he is a very nice man but not the greatest teacher I've had at MTSU! Although, I do feel like I learned about social policy and being politically active in the social work field, it was mostly of my own initiative. He tolerates other views, but then has the final word based on a very male, African-American, liberal viewpoint. This often conflicted with my own personal female conservative viewpoint, but that's ok. It is still America and we are all entitled to our own opinion. While taking this course, I did some deep soul-searching and decided social work wasn't the major for me after all.
Exams: Questions were often misleading or worded unclearly.
Homework: Reading of text (if you could determine what the next chapter might be--he didn't follow his syllabus)
Textbook: Very helpful--some test questions came from the text. Most of these questions were not discussed in lecture materials.
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Dr. Taylor is the only professor that teaches this course so you have no other option. HOWEVER, (that's a big however) you probably won't like it! In my opinion he is arrogant, inconsiderate, and rude. He's not teacher material. He doesn't care about his students or actually teaching them something. His structure for the course is lacking in terms of not explaining things very clearly. As for communicating with students he fails there too. He refuses to commnunicate via email or call when it is needed. My advice, is to just suck it up because there is no alternative, but be aware of what you are getting into!
Exams: Well, he seemed to grade them fairly, but he is not very willing to talk with students about their scores.
Homework: None
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75% of the time we took roll and left. It gave me an A, 3 credit hours, but it wasted my time. I wish we had done something, but if you want a ridiculously easy A, take Taylor.
Exams: What tests? We didn't do jack in this class.
Homework: We did a couple chapters in the text, but most students just filled in the summary in the back and turned it in. And he was fine with that!
Textbook: Ok at best, retarded at worst. It had alot of potential, but the way he used it made me hate the book.
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Dr. Taylor can be a challenge; however, he lets you know from day one what he expects from the class. He is big on class discussion/debate and expects you to participate. Those who take the initiative and participate will enjoy this class. For those of you who tend to be quiet and reserved, you will find this course and teacher very difficult. This class is what you make it. I loved it!!
Exams: The tests were easy as long as you listened to lecture and took notes. The book was used, but tests were primarily over lecture.
Homework: Letter writing, a few papers, and one major advocacy assignment.
Textbook: Textbook is good; however, it is very out of date.
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Dr. Taylor is a smart man but that does not make you a great teacher and he is a horrible professor. He is arrogant and rude to his students. He wants to conduct in class discusions, but doesn't let you speak and if you fight your way into the discussion he does not listen to what you have to contribute. I believe he just wants to hear himself talk for an hour and fifteen minutes. I do not advise anyont to take his course! He should be out in his field not teaching it! He makes you unmotivated to do social work and instead put all that emotion into disliking him!
Exams: He would ask questions that were off the wall! He would not really give specifics as to what he was going to cover, but then ask questions that were not emphasized as to being important! A result of being a poor instructor.
Homework: The homework is not like any other course. You have do put a great deal of effort into social work/volunteer projects, which is fine. But many people have jobs and not free time to do what he is asking of his students.
Textbook: He discusses absolutely nothing from the text book! Oh, but he lectures like no other and then asks test ?'s that come from the text and random ?'s from the lectures.
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Dr. Taylor is probably a very smart guy, but he is too moody. If he decides not to like you, then it is very hard to talk to him about anything. I has a great way of making you feel stupid. I had him three times and never made lower then a B+, but I don't feel as though he taught me very much. If you are an opinionated person, I would not take his course. If you just want to sit back and make a pretty easy A, then go for it.
Exams: It seemed as though the assignments were sometimes graded according to how he felt that day.
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This is the worst professor I have ever had. If things do not go his way, you should forget it. He is hateful and should be seen by a professional. I hope I never see him or take another class from him. He expects us to be perfect and I am only a student trying to make a dollar out of fifteen cents. He needs to be fired. Please, if you have to have this man, drop the course.
Homework: Usually once a week
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Most of the time, Dr. Taylor would just bring a newspaper to class and we would discuss whatever was in the paper. I didn't learn a lot about social policy. He doesn't have an attendance policy though, so that was nice. He's a really nice guy, but I would not recommend him as a teacher.
Exams: Multiple choice was from the book, essays were from class discussion
Homework: Long term projects
Textbook: The text is helpful for the tests- and for learning about social policy.
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I did learn alot about policy and about policies that should be changed, not because of the professor, but because I was taught myself. The tests don't really affect your grade (unless you fail them all). The guidelines for the papers seem very unclear and vague. You have to catch him in a good mood to explain what he wants. He was always super nice to me, but some kids in the class were treated unfairly. Just write two awesome papers and you'll get an A.
Exams: There were a few girls in my class that got the same answer on a test, one marked right, one marked wrong. He wouldn't discuss the test (in relation to changing a grade) after the test at all.
Homework: Two LARGE papers, lots of outside research - Pick a topic that you can get excited about b/c you'll be writing about it all semester!
Textbook: We didn't use it in class much, but if you wanted to actually learn anything, read the book.

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