3.9
Quality3.1
Difficulty82%
Would Retake165
Reviews82%
Would Retake
165
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
91
4
25
3
17
2
11
1
21
What Students Say
“I took this class despite the ratings my friends gave her”
CPO3010 - 1.0 rating“If you want to keep a good gpa, do not any class with her”
COP3304 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
23%
Textbook Required
61%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.22 avg changeRatings by Course
CPOPOS
5.0
(1)LATINAMERPOL
5.0
(1)LATINAMEPOL
5.0
(1)LATINAMER
5.0
(1)SEVERAL
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
ANYCOURSE
5.0
INR3061
5.0
LATINAMEPOL
4.0
COP3304
4.0
INR000
4.0
Reviews (165)
Great teacher.Pay close attention to her notes. Look for small details while she lectures. Goes straight to the point. Midterm is made up of an essay. STUDY!!!!!!!! final seems easy but its hard bc you have to memorize essays then she goives you an option of 2 and you choose one. One research paper (piece of cake) make sure you do it!!!!!!!!
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Very nice lady, helpful. The most important thing is the lecture, copy everything she writes. Lots of writing and memorize essays, she never changes her format, so you always know what to expect.
her classes are all lectures. you have to take copius notes because the midterm and final are exactly the what she says in class. basically memorize the notes and spit it back out in an essay. so if you're good at that you'll get a "A" for sure. there's also an essay which is pretty easy and you can pick pretty much any topic you want.
she's a great professor and such anice lady but her tests are KILLER!!!!!! I highly DO NOT reccomned her for CPO 3055
She is a very good teacher. She knows what she's talking about. Just write everything she puts on the board follow the readings and you should be fine.
She is an excellent professor who explains everything. In her class you will learn very much!!!
This professor is excellent i took her for two different classes and i got an A. She makes the class interesting and shows graphic films about violence in politics. She also encourages class discussions and is very neutral and objective in course material.
I agree with most of the comments, you will learn with her, however, she is never available as well as she takes forever to return papers back. I got a B in her class, it was the most work I have ever done for a B, if only I had gotten my papers back in time I would have corrected my mistakes and get an A.
i loved her class, there was not 1 moment where i had to look @ my watch to see if the class was over. her test aren't hard as long as u really study from her study guide that she gives weeks before the exams. she really makes her student stay interested and want to participate. now there is a heavy load of reading, and some are boring but doable
she is great, i really enjoy her class. she knows the topic. you have to study
She is very nice and wants you to pass. This was my first political science class (I'm not a poli sci major) and I got a B+. She really loves the subject and gives you an unbias view of the politics of the countries. For the midterm and final she gives you the essay questions beforehand so you can prepare.
Great professor. Very upbeat and outgoing in attitude. She stimulates class discussions and stays unbiased in all topics she poses. She is a harsh grader on tests if you dont know how she wants you to write essays.She has certain guidelines on opening paragraphs that she takes off a lot if you don't follow.Overall a great professor/challenging class.
Excellent Teacher !
she is an excellent teacher! i love her! she is very nice, clear cut but the only thing is you have to study! i got an A- for her cause i studied very hard but if you have any problems she will help you.
She is very nice and she is very helpful if you ask. Keeps everyone awake which I liked! You have 1 paper, best 5 out of 6 quizzes, MT and Final. She gave lots of extra credit (definitely helped!) You need to attend to make the grade, paper is graded very hard (so seek her help!) No books, just 1 text. Taking her again in the spring.
great professor i love her! make sure you go to class and take notes her lectures are very clear if you take good notes you dont have to worry easy A she is very helpful her door ir always open and she will sit with you and explain everything with details until u get it! im taking her again in the spring easy A if u take notes! lover her1
Extremely difficult professor! Lectures are beyond explanation (boring). Doesn't give you any feedback on where you stand in the class. I would not recommend taking any of her classes to my worst enemies.
I really like Prof. Arraras' class. Her lectures are very clear and organized. She is also passionate and entertaining. I enjoy going to her lectures. I learned a lot from attending lectures and doing the readings. She is a fair grader. Just make sure that you go to class and do the readings.
I took this prof. for CPO 3055. I found her to be very helpful and very sweet. She has a little bit of an accent but is easily understood. She is passionate about teaching and creates a very flexible environment. The coursework is not heavy and it is very easy to do well.
Prof. Arraras' class is not easy, but if you want to learn TAKE IT. You are going to learn more than you expected. Essay exams, very detailed.
She is into what she is teaching. Classes seem hard but she gives tons of help. Only midterm,final,then paper. For the tests she gives you 7 essay questions and she randomly picks 2 for you to pick from on test day. She also gives 400 terms/names of people which she picks ten on test day for you to define. If you want just a B just use your notes.
Her lectures are fascinating, and you can tell that she is extremely knowledgeable on the subject. I walked away from her comparative politics class of latin America with a new interest in the region. I suggest her for insight. However, she is NOT easy.1 10 pg paper--mid&final are in class essays of randomly chosen questions.
I found this website and I needed to rate some Professors..lol..Astrid Arraras is great...All you need to do is go to class everyday and listen to her and be involved in the lectures..remember to take notes bc everything is from the class and study them... I tried to do as many clases with her as i could.
She is nice lady and it is not a difficult class but she made such an interesting subject the most boring subject ever. If you only care about getting a good grade and dont really want o learn, take this class. Its not extremely easy but if you study a little you should get and A. But if you want to learn take someone else.
She is nice and all but her test are really tedious. You have to study so much stuff and your only tested on a small portion of it. You kinda learn a little but the difficulty is too much
Best proff ever! she cares about her students, she is sweet and very nice. The class is very interesting and her tests are pretty easy if you read the material and study.
she is really a great professor.. she is very helpful.. no book needed for her class, all is based on her notes.. there is a midterm, a paper and a final... the discussions are extremely good... and she is very outgoing.
One of the best persons and professor one will ever come across, She is a gem of FIU and taking her class made me thinks how good the education would have been if most of the prof's where like her. Excellent Knowledge of subject and interest simulation.Bottom Line "Prof Arraras is one the best of best " .
Professor Arraras is the nicest person you'll ever come across and she's also an excellent professor who knows her material and doesn't really make you fall asleep in class. I got an A in her class because the subject matter was interesting to begin with, but also because she knew how to present the material and how to test us on it.
I love her. The best prof ever
NO FEEDBACK FROM TEACHER. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND. TESTS ARE TOO HARD AND SUBJECTIVE SINCE IT IS BASED UPON HOW SHE PREFERS ESSAYS TO BE WRITTEN. SHE DOES NOT INTERACT WITH CLASS. DOES NOT TEACH.
DOES NOT TEACH AT ALL: SHE ONLY UPLOADS POWERPOINTS AND READINGS. LOTS OF READING MATERIAL. LOTS OF WRITING. FORMAT OF CLASS SUCKZ. FEEDBACK:ZILCH. ADVICE: SHE PROVIDES NADA. BASICALLY, TAKE THIS CLASS IF YOU PREFER TO BE ON YOUR OWN, SINCE YOU WILL NOT LEARN ANYTHING AND SHE WILL NOT PUT IN EFFORT TO TEACH NOR INTERACT WITHIN THE CLASS DISCUSSION.
AVOID AT ALL COSTS [if it is an online course with her] be prepared for lots of monotonous reading and tons of writing!! Discussions get boring quick.People post up on the final day. Class isn't structured well. And she DOES NOT TEACH at all. You will get tired of the same thing and won't know what grade you have until the final week. BAD
Horrible professor ! Taking the class online and it really feels like I'm just learning by myself. If you really want to learn something DO NOT TAKE ! WORST ONLINE CLASS EVER.
Just know: Just, NO. Next week is finals week and no grades or help from instructor. There should be a rating for feeling of "Student Helplessness" . The only thing that makes me feel better is that I am not the only one in my class who feels this way.
Extremely hard ESSAY exams. Professor does not demonstrate her knowledge on the subject. What a waste of time and 3 credits.
Horrible. Get away. You will not learn anything and will not receive any feedback, no grades, nothing. Save time and money, look for a Professor that will actually teach.
ABSOLUTELY NO. TERRIBLE. GET AWAY. NO TEACHING. NO GRADES. NO FEEDBACK. YOU WILL BE BY YOURSELF WITH A 100pages+ READINGS A WEEK AND ENDLESS DISCUSSION BOARDS! EXAMS ARE ESSAYS TO HER LIKING AND OWN INTERPRETATION. IF YOU MUST TAKE THIS CLASS I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU.
SHE WANTS TO FAIL US ! She doesn't even try to help students. :( From my own experience I know the previous positive comments are LIES!
Her class is a joke. Don't make the same mistake I did. Git' out while you can!
Disregard what the previous negative comments state. Arraras really cares about her students and I so happen to be in the online class now with these other students as well. Technical anomalies have occurred but she is a great person & her class is easy as long as you do the work and readings. Give her a chance. she is nice &helpful. no free rides!
Dr. Arraras is very understanding and knowledgeable on the topic of LA. Do yourself a favor and take her. My writing has greatly improved under her directives and I have learned a lot about LA and Chavez. If you are not a good writer, idk If you should take it.. But overall, she is top-notch and very kind and caring. & She has years of experience.
Dr. Arraras is one of the nicest professors at FIU. I loved the readings of the class. Her powerpoint presentations were clear and informative. Professor had many technical problems with the online class and could not teach they way she normally does in a regular class. If you go to her office, she is extremely helpful
I would take any class she teaches. Her lectures are interesting and no one can say she does not encourage class participation. When you study for her test just memorize the class notes and you will do fine. This is the 2nd class I have taken with her.
She is actually the best professor at FIU! The most caring, objective, enthusiastic, understanding and thought-provoking educator at the Poli-Sci Dept. No free rides for slackers, though. You will get the deepest insight on LA and what it truly is all about from Dr. Arraras!
She is an amazing person and professor. I took her 3 times. Go to class, take the notes, don't need to actually read just listen to class discussion. For the exam memorize the notes in a timeline and just write it out like that. Always very helpful in her office whether its recommendation letters or questions.
Took her for INR 3243 She is a very good teacher, she expects you to go to class although she doesn't take attendance she will mention things that are not in the book but she will test you on. Her exams are essay exams, she expects you to write a lot. She is very strict in grading the fist exam, more lenient on the last two.
Bless her soul. VERY KIND AND CARING LADY. SHE WILL GO OUT OF HER WAY TO HELP STUDENTS. Must pay attention to material though and take notes on her lectures, or read at home from books. Exams are ESSAYS. To discuss time periods in terms of people, events, dates....so memorize as a timeline :) VERY BRIGHT. TAKE HER
Prefers to teach via rote memorization rather than application. If you don't have a background in INR or you are not from a Latin American country avoid her. She is slow to grade yours tests which consist of three essays and account for 90% of your grade so you go the entire semester with no idea about what you're going to have in the class.
She really cares about her students. does take long to get your grade back from a test or paper and might seemed a bit unorganized or out of it at times but thats just the way she is. attendance isnt mandatory. easy A!!! everything is online and books are not required (if any). trust me an easy A for sure! Take her!
Arraras is a nice person but I would never take her again. She is extremely disorganized and bases most of her exams on lectures, which makes it pointless to purchase books or print out readings. Easy A, but definitely annoying because of her lack of preparation.
I have taken her for several classes and she is one of my favorite professors at FIU. Would take any class she teaches. Anyone who complains does not know how to study the material for the exams properly.
I've taken Professor Arraras for two classes and will have another one with her this semester. I think she's an amazing professor. She is very kind and understanding. Do not confuse her kindness for easiness, however, as her course is academically challenging. Does not usually require textbooks or much, if any, homework.
I took the internship class under her guidance. Dr. Arraras is very helpful, I appreciate the several times she has helped me both as a professor and adviser. Taking another course with her in the summer!
I can honestly say that this is one of the worst professors I have ever taken. I got an A in both classes I took with her so this does not come out of revenge. She simply is not a good teacher. Her testing method is absolutely terrible and not conducive to learning. Unless you want a major headache and to learn nothing, don't take her classes.
I loved this class. I learned a lot about Central American Politics thanks to Prof. Arraras. She made the class interesting and fun. She combined lectures, power points with documentaries. Her lectures were clear and easy to understand. She was organized and helpful. I will take another class with her in the future.
Loved the class and the professor. Her lectures were clear, organized and fun. I will recommend her class to anyone. I will take her again. Not an easy A but you will enjoy it.
Prof. Arrarás was a great instructor. She brought outlines for her lectures. She used videos to illustrate what she covered during lecture. She made the class fun and interesting. Not easy material but I learned a lot. She is also a very nice lady. I recommend her class. :)
A great professor, who is willingly to help everyone. Class consists of midterm, final, and one paper(5-7 pages). Attendance isn't mandatory. Would take her again.
VERY HELPFUL IF YOU GET TO MEET HER, SHE IS AN ADVISOR FOR INR. THE TESTS WERE EASY, BUT CONFUSING (MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS). I WILL RECOMMEND HER!
Professor is very nice. I liked the lectures and discussions. She knows the material and makes the class fun. Exams were not easy. Very tricky. I recommend the class.
This prof is a new adoptive parent and therefore needs time to adjust to having them and juggling her job as a professor. Does not review for midterm nor for the final exam. Good luck to everyone that takes her.
Not a very good professor. Nice person. Exams are not clear and reads straight from powerpoints.
She is a great person and great advisor! but a not so great professor. The first exam is very tricky, the second is not that tricky and the final was a paper 5 to 10 pgs. VERY slow grader and never responds to emails. You can go the whole semester without knowing what grade you have.
Great.Makes you feel like you are in High School at first,but she is very flexible w/ appointments and is always available when you need her.Attendance isn't mandatory.All u need to do is learn the powerpoints(in detail)and attend class from time to time to know what she expects from you.The midterm is be tricky but read PP. I'll take her again!
Really bad class, she does not review for anything, boring lectures. 20 pg group project paper, presentation, midterm and final. The hardest is the midterm it is basically not possible to get an A as no one did without the curve. Final is also insane handwritten minimum of 5 pages (I did 10) complete regurgitation of information. DO NOT TAKE
Great professor. She really knows her stuff. It is a challenging professor, but you will absolutely learn. You need to study hard. And yes there is a lot of writing. Ingot an A in the course and I would definitely take her again.
This is the only teacher I have ever felt the need to review. I am a senior. She is horrible. Took her online. There is no communication between her and her T.A., let alone with her students. She never graded papers. Never saw what I received on final paper, just saw my grade was DRASTICALLY different than what I expected. AVOID HER. Trust me!
I like the course and the professor. She requested 3 exams. Two of them were tricky. Not easy. She gave a curve. The third one was a bit easier. Not an easy A but your learn. She is a very good professor. She responded to my messages and was available to meet after class. I will take her again.
Took her for both INR 3243 and CPO 3010 both classes were the same. Class is interesting. Uses powerpoints to teach, she's super nice, & lenient when it comes to deadlines. No textbook required she gives it to you on BB. 3 Tests & 1 paper. Tests are tricky in the wording but doable. Attendance not mandatory which was my favorite part.
She is very helpful. She uploads the textbook online so that the students don't have to spend money on it (very nice of her). Exams are trick! FYI: She never answers emails.
I took two classes with Dr. Arraras this semester. She's one of the best. Make sure to learn all the power points, that's how you get an A. She's funny and always replies to emails.
I liked Prof. Arraras class. She was clear and organized. She also made the class fun and interesting. She always answered my messages and met with me to go over class material. I will take her again.
ONLINE class is not bad, but she sure gives you A LOT to read, it feels like you go to class SUNDAY Through Sunday of the loads of reading she gives us. overwhelming :( she takes her time w the emails too.
I loved this class. Prof. Arraras is a great teacher. Her power points and readings were very interesting. She was always available to help me. She is such a nice person. I learned a lot in this class.
She reads directly off the powerpoints. Attendance isn't taken, but I recommend you still go because sometimes she moves around important dates. Her first exam was over a lot of content and was very few questions. Very tricky exam. Second exam was essay based. Two essays out of 10 possibilities, SO MUCH content, you're better off not taking her.
Super nice & helpful. She makes sure that no one fails her class! There are 3 exams and 1 paper. 1st exam multiple choice, 2nd essay (she provides a list of 10 questions & randomly chooses on the day of the exam), 3rd exam was basically the paper. So paper (4-7 pages) counted twice. Gives a few extra points & curved 1st exam.
he reading assignments for this course is overwhelming, she may assign 4 articles in the week but each article is 15-20 pages. -.- The 2 test is an essay based exam of the material you have read and you also have a weekly discussion post which is about a page long. The course isnt hard, just really time consuming so dont overdo it.
Amazing professor. Little worried at first because of all the reviews, but turned out good in the end. Very nice, will definitely help you, but don't expect extra credit. No book and readings are not even need, not even on the test. She assigns like 5-6 essays, but should be simple if you write well. Focus and you'll do great!
Great professor, alot of writing required but this course really gives you an insight of comparing case studies. Also a GL requirement and Professor Arraras is a very kind person! just do your work and you get the grade you want. May seem overwhelming at first but its really not hard! TAKE HER CLASS!
you keep up with the readings, attend class, ask questions, and study for the test. but then she hits you with a blindside. the test are multiple choice, but it has been the most tedious and detailed test EVER. The choices are A-I, and from F-I is a combined of "is it A,CD, OR A,B,D" she is nice and curved the test since the highest grade was a 70
She's a good person with the right intentions. She flies through the powerpoints, so make sure you have them opened up on your laptop or phone while shes talking. Tests are pretty challenging but not impossible. Shes clueless in some regards but very well versed in others. Not a bad professor at all
She's a great professor! The first test was pretty tough and left most of the class not passing BUT then she generously curved it! She's super nice and always willing to help her students. You are not required to go to her lectures, but they are definitely helpful. I would definitely take her again if I had the chance to!
Great teacher, beware of tests
I had her for her INR of Latin America class. It was easy. She's a really sweet woman but she's not a "professor". She doesn't teach, and reads right off the powerpoint. She sympathies her students if they do poor on the tests and gives a generous curve. (The first test is the hardest.) She changes her mind a lot regarding dates and assignments.
Shes a very nice and easy-going person throughout the class. But the tests? Whole other ball game. Turns serious at the drop of a hat. She will curve generously but even after that the average grade isn't high. Takes pride in tricky questions. Dont be fooled by the easiness of the lectures, studying is VERY necessary. Go to class, she changes dates
Amazing professor. She is always willing to meet with you and help you out. First test was very tough, but mostly because of the style (it was based on 4 chapters worth of vocab!!); from then on it got better. Great lecturer, zero bias, and knows her stuff. WARNING: changes dates around. Book on BB.
I took this class despite the ratings my friends gave her. I did everything i possibly could in the class and every one including myself failed except for two people who passed with a C. She pretends to be helpful by e-mail but in person does not care. She works for the department and is not a teacher nor does she act like one. do not take her.
If you want to keep a good gpa, do not any class with her.
do not take. honestly her character and the way she grades the discussions have nothing to do with how she grades the 3 exams. I've taken hard classes, but the class isn't hard, her grading is. unfairly hard. When you ask her if there is anything more you can do for your grade she doesn't help you.
terrible. worst experience in FIU. terrible grader, won't help students.
DO NOT TAKE. Professor Arraras might be extremely nice, but her grading is terrible. If you care about your GPA look for a different professor. Takes time with her e-mails and exams are ridiculous. Took her because of the good and average comments here. Wouldn't take again,ever.
Couldn't drop this class due to my scholarships. I am a straight A student and had a tough time with this one. Really nice lady, but holy cow. Never again.
Great Prof. Class is boring because she just goes through 40 slides on PowerPoint. However, there is only one test which you MUST study for. Most people failed but you can pass it if you really study the info. The rest of the grading is based on short 3-5 page essays every 2 weeks on a movie, which is SUPER EASY!! Final exam is a research paper
I took this class online, the overall subject and material is quite easy. Each week a country is assigned and you have to write a page on it. She takes centuries to grade the essays. She took over a month for the first one. And the 2nd (again about 1 1/2 pgs) essay still has no grade. she never replies to emails or answers phone calls
She is completely nonexistent and does not respond to emails. Normally takes at least a month to grade exams and requires weekly in-depth one page papers on each subject. I highly encourage you to avoid her courses.
Want to learn, take it. Want not to learn. Move on, no time for you.
Alumni from Princeton and Oxford University. Want to Challenge Your Mind. Easy A. If you Study and do your homework.
DO NOT TAKE!! GPA killer... She is a nice person but her teaching methods are mediocre. She reads off her power points and does not offer feedback when grading papers. Extremely hard midterm, though she does curve the grade. She didn't post not one grade on blackboard though its her choice of paper submission...
If you want to learn. Take any course you see Dr. Arraras. or Dr. Sarah Moats Oxford University - Princeton University Ph.D. Graduate and Pensylvania State University.
Great professor, cares about students and always have time to spare and to meet with students.
You will keep entertained by the lectures and the material provided by professor.
Don't bother with the emails. Just finished the course I still haven't received my second test grade, nor the essay, much less the final. Not hard material.
Definitely, by FAR, best professor I've ever had in college. Lectures are worthwhile because she engages with the material instead of reading off a powerpoint. She encourages you to discuss in class with your classmates. Exams are fairly easy, given that you study and go to class. Best part: all her readings were free online! Highly Recommended!
Anyone stating she is anything but sweet, fair and easy is not being truthful. I have taken her 3 times and always got an A in every class. Her papers are easy and test are not hard as long as you study. She works strictly from powerpoint and she will give you hints or even the answer on midterms and finals if you ask for help. Best prof at FIU
This professor is great. She is kind and attendance is not mandatory however I recommend you attend class if you plan on passing. Her tests are difficult but passable.
The professor gives a lot of opportunities for a good grade, she sometimes does provide feedback but she takes an extremely long time to grade things which make it difficult to know where you stand in the class, whether or not you are doing a good job or if you need to change anything. She gives everyone a good grade which is unfair to most.
Use Wikipedia, and you are dead. Follow instructions, read, and you will live forever. Get ready to learn and to uncover a world you just did not know existed.
The class itself isn't very hard, especially if you have some prior knowledge to the subject. She takes forever to grade, so it's frustrating because you never know your standing in the class. By the time the final exam came around, some people hadn't received their grade for the first exam. She also assigns way too much readings.
You're relaxing in her class and then suddenly you get that Midterm test back and everyone drops the class lol. She's not bad, her class is somewhat lecture heavy, the exams are difficult, she goes over the material but is meticulous in detail. She wants you to be a good a reader. She shows a lot of movies and makes u write essays on them.
Did not stick to the syllabuswe were supposed to have a paper due every other week, it turned rather into a 3-5 page paper due every Sunday, in addition to a weekly discussion post and response. The movies were difficult to find. It seems that all the links were from a prior semester. Did not get grades back till a day b4 grades were due. Beware.
Awesome professor. If you want an easy A, this is not a class for you. You will need to read a lot, watch a film and write a short essay every week due on Sundays. The readings, films and lectures are great. I really learned a lot. She responded my messages on time and gave me good feedback on papers. Fair grader.
Unrealistic reading expectations, unclear and repetitive instructions for assignments. Take someone else.
Professor Arraras was a great teacher! She was super chill when it came to deadlines, I had many family problems and when I spoke to her she gave me extra days to turn in my discussions. She gives good feedback and it was a pretty easy class, a discussion weekly based on the lectures plus two tests and a paper worth 50% of the grade.
Dr. Arraras is one of the best and respected professors at FIU. She is extremely knowledgeable and her power points are excellent. I encourage all political and International relations students to take one of her courses. She is very fair and wants her students to take as much as they can from her courses.
She is an excellent professor, super kind, always makes herself available. Her grading criteria is very clear and she is flexible and understanding. You only fail her class if you don't turn anything in. She is super smart, you will have a wonderful time taking her and you won't regret it. Valuable and practical writing information, learned a lot.
Arraras is literally a sweetheart, anyone saying otherwise has definitely not taken any harder classes. The tests yes you need to study for and there is no curve, that was probably the hardest part but if you study the material it is fairly easy to pass with a good grade. very flexible & gives options which is something most prof lack
Prof Arraras is a super nice person, but I wouldn't recommend taking her. The class requires weekly 3-5 page response papers to a movie you have to find on your own and watch. She also took almost the whole semester to put any grades in, so you don't know your grade the whole semester. She's a very picky grader, but doesn't provide clear criteria
Prof. Arraras is not easy and makes you work. Lectures are fantastic. Be ready to write short essays every week. She takes a long time to grade. However, her comments were great. Thanks to her, I have improved my writing skills. She also allowed students to revise and re-submit. She responded to all my messages promptly. Loved her class.
Prof. Arraras is amazing! I learned so much in this class. Great lectures! Course work is average. 1 midterm, weekly discussion boards on assigned readings and 1 final exam/research paper. Clear instructions and grading criteria/rubrics. Graded work and responded to all messages on time. Highly recommended!
There IS a lot of writing involved. You have to watch movies about authoritarian regimes and then write papers about it. There are discussion boards as well. Its fairly easy A as long as u follow her desired writing structure. Shes nice, and you dont have to do zoom university
I loved Prof Arraras teaching style. She is caring and incredibly intelligent. I learn a lot from her lectures and she is very accessible if you need her help outside of class. One of the best professors at FIU! She provides all the readings for the class, but get ready to write quite a few essays!
Professor Arraras is a very caring professor. Be ready to write papers (every week) and a final paper. The class is not easy. Fair grader. No exams. She gives very good feedback. She answers messages and grades assignments pretty quickly. I loved her lectures and class discussions. I learned a lot in this class. I highly recommend it.
Professor Arraras is a very good teacher. I learned so much in this class. She makes you work for your grade. Fair grader. No exams. One paper per week and a research paper. Clear instructions and rubrics. Good feedback. You will become a better writer at the end of the class. Great lectures and discussions. I recommend this class.
This professor is really a joke. You have a reflection and an analytical paper for her class every single week. I do not know how she grades those papers, but it does not make any sense to me. I always make the corrections that she suggests on the papers. Sometimes she gives me a good grade, most times she gives whatever grade she feels like giving
Her lectures are good but shes very apathetic and also vague when it comes on to her feedback on assignments. Also she requires 2 lengthy assignments every week which i think is bizarre. I dont think she generally cares about students but to rather get the class over with
Amazing professor. Very smart. Fantastic lectures. Makes you work the whole semester. Weekly essays and discussion boards. One final research paper. No exams. Clear rubrics and instructions. Responds to emails and phone calls. Fair grader. Great feedback on papers. Very caring and helpful. She is passionate about teaching. Loved her class.
Super caring & nice don't get me wrong, wonderful woman however, the way she grades can be a little too extremist. Deducts 10 pts off something little as your conclusion being too short/if you don't mention one specific thing she was looking for in the introduction. It seems okay as you keep low 90s but those low A's on papers give you a final B.
BEST PROFESSOR EVER MY FIRST SEMESTER AT FIU I HAD HER. SUPER UNDERSTANDING AND DONT GET ME WRONG LOTS OF WRITING BUT ITS SIMPLE NOT HARD YOU DO ALL THAT EAST A NO TESTS AND IF YOU DONT UNDERSTAND SHE EXPLAINS IT. SHE ANSWERS TO HER EMAILS AND ALL FAV PROFESSOR HERE SO FAR. TAKE HER YOU WONT REGRET IT ��!!!!
To those saying that she gives too many writing assignments, she mentions this on the first day of class and you have the chance to drop her course if it's too much for you. With that being said, Prof Arraras is truly one of the best, if not THE best professor at FIU. Not only is she understanding, but intelligent and wants you to learn. Take her!
The good news is for this class you don't have any exams. The bad news is there are a LOT of papers to write, which I guess makes sense considering we don't have exams. Professor Arraras is an amazing professor though! She cares about her students, and what she teaches. Recommend if you're a very productive person and like to write.
You must take this prof at least once in your University career. Although you have to write a lot, you will become a much better writer. She gives good feedback and states what she is looking for in the description of the assignments. She is extremely kind and gives extensions, if you are open and honest with her. Have taken twice will take again.
Dr. Arraras is so sweet and cares about her students! She mainly lectures and requires a weekly essay summarizing what you've learned that week. It can get repetitive but it's an easy grade. We had a final essay that took place of our exam. Super compassionate and understanding towards students. Occasionally unorganized at times.
The professor is super sweet and understanding. If you have any concerns and email her she will get back to you in under 24 hours in my experience. The class does require a bit of writing but the teacher has a flexible late work policy. Would definitely recommend it.
Prof. Arraras's class was awesome ! Her discussion and analytical paper topics actually make you think and analyze different topics. The class is not hard at all, but you have to be active with completing short papers every week. If you're into writing and no final exam, this class is for you. She is understanding with due dates too. Awesome prof!
I loved this class and professor so much, and will be taking her again next semester. There are a lot of readings and essays you have to do, but hands down worth it. My writing skills have increased a lot, and my knowledge in politics have grown so much! I went in knowing nothing, and learned so much in such a short period of time, so thank you!
Prof Arraras is amazing. Yes, it is A LOT of writing, but by the end you will be a pro. It teaches you to stick to deadlines and do consistent good work. She is extremely kind and her lectures are all you need. No tests, no textbook. She is a hidden gem at FIU. Everyone should have this professor at least once in their University careers.
You have to write a lot, but she does not make you struggle a lot through grading. Her lectures are interesting. She is very kind person. I loved her lectures and attitude to students and her work.
One of the worst Professors I've ever had. On top of being a tough grades she doesn't give good feedback and doesn't follow her own rubric. Asked her if she could re-grade some of my work when she didn't give feedback despite addressing concerns and SUPER petty through email. No classroom control and missed a lot of classes start of semester BEWARE
This professor was behind several lectures and decided to speed them up, this pilled up the assignments. Discussion and Essay due weekly, assignments require you have to be in class and read the article she provides because she is a heavy grader. If you take this course, recommend that you don't take another heavy course load.
Doesn't give clear instructions for assignments and grades harshly, doesn't really give feedback consistent with her rubric either, and was really rude through email when asked to give some feedback on 3 assignments. Also delayed everything in the class and took a long time to grade assignments. Doesn't care about students, just finishing the class
Professor Arraras gave amazing lectures. She assigned weekly short papers (2-3 pages). Fair grader and very helpful. I asked her to re-read my papers. She gave me long and detailed comments. NO other professor has done that. My writing skills improved significantly. Very kind and caring. I recommend to take her classes.
Professor Arraras is one of my favorite professors at FIU. Bright, charismatic, kind and caring. If you want an easy A, do not take her classes. She makes you work but she is very helpful and cares about students. A little tough grader. She gave me a lot of feedback on my papers. I write better essays now thanks to her feedback. Take her classes!
Great professor. Smart and caring. Very good class. Loved to learn about democratization in different countries. No exams. One paper and discussion boards every week. She gave good feedback. Fair grader. If you are willing to do the work, I recommend it!
Awesome class and professor! Lots of reading and writing! Not an easy A class. Fair grader. Very organized. Interesting lectures. Good sense of humor. Responded to emails quickly. Always willing to help students.
Best professor I've had. Gives plenty of feedback in papers- you write A LOT of papers, but they are all very interesting and your writing gets so much better. Posts all the PowerPoint (don't have to take notes) and the pages of the book (don't have to purchase the book). No quizzes or tests, just papers. Super caring and flexible.
Amazing content, even better professor. Essays and discussions are due every Sunday, discussions are short, and essays are based on movies she sends related to the topic. Not a good class for people who don't like writing. You learn a lot and your writing will get so much better. She gives a lot of feedback on essays.
1 paper, 1 reflection per week. Put the work in and you will get a good grade. Class-optional but I didn't miss any because I loved the lectures and class discussions. 100% if you want to learn and be a better writer.
Dr. Arraras really cares about her students. She will listens to them and help them succeed. Don't procrastinate on her work!
Dr. Arraras is a wonderful lecturer and person. She's clear, patient, and very engaging. Constantly shares opportunities with the class both on and off campus.
This professor's the queen like straight up. She's concise, knowledgeable, and very understanding. Lots of work, but as long as you stay on top of it, you can't go wrong with her.
Attendanc eis not mandatory and since the class is hybrid, all the informaton you need is on Canvas. the class itself is not hard if you read what she posts. overall i would take her class again
2 short papers due weekly and 1 final paper 5pg minimum. Attendance not mandatory and book is provided. Many extra credit opportunities. Lots of papers but very easy and straightforward. Professor is easy grader and provides feedback. Impossible not to pass with an A. Not for lazy people!
Professor Arraras is great, her lectures are incredibly interesting and engaging. She is very passionate for what she does and really cares for her students. An essay a week is very difficult to achieve but it builds up character and improves your writing tremendously. She is an amazing human being and a fantastic professor, very patient too
Professor Arraras is a great professor who really cares about her students. She was flexible and understanding and the work load was very manageable. This class had a 3 paragraph reflection due at the end of each week and three other papers 4-5 pages in length. Taking another class with Professor Arraras next semester.
If you can take her, I highly advise you to do so! She is very heavy on the essays, and you must get used to writing a paper every week. However, it helps improve your writing, and she was very open to meeting with you to correct your mistakes and improve your writing for future use. She is one of the BEST professors I've taken. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Professor Arraras is amazing - she cares deeply about her students and provides tons of helpful feedback. The workload is heavy with weekly assignments, but unstuck ai made study prep a breeze. Take this class if you want to improve your writing skills!
Very sweet and understanding professor. The lectures are not mandatory, but somewhat helpful. Only thing to know is that there is a lot of reading and weekly assignments.
Professor Arraras is wonderful, her lectures are incredibly interesting and engaging. Her passion for teaching comes across very day in class. She really cares for her students. The class requires weekly papers. You will improve your writing tremendously. She is an amazing human being and a fantastic professor. I will take another class with her!
This woman is the mold of a perfect University Professor. She is caring, understanding and helps you participate In class. She loves FIU and gives extra credit for attending political meetings outside of class. Be prepared to write and learn about every nation on the planet. Great class, I would recommend anyone to take this class.
She is probably one of the best professors I had. You will learn a lot because you have to write a lot but you will learn efficiently. She will make sure you write good and read good in an inspirational way rather than being strict. Loved the class.
She is amazing and such a kind soul. If I could have all my classes with her, I would. She does assign two weekly assignments but her midterm and final are papers with such easy topics. She is caring and will always look out for her students and she is an amazing resource if you need anything for the future. If you can take her class, do it.
She's a very great professor and very knowledgeable too. There's a paper each week about a different country. You have to watch a movie (from a list) and write a 3-5 page essay. There's a final research paper 8-10 pages and discussion posts per week. Overall, very good professor! I'd take her again.
she is amazing, really caring and the class was so easy and interesting
Class Info
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100%
Attendance Mandatory
23%
Textbook Required
61%
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