Interesting material and lectures, but he can be very condescending when dealing with students.

He's got a great personality. Keeps class fun and interesting with his personal stories. Some people may take him the wrong way, hence the bad reviews on this site. Get over it!

Give this teacher a break. He has been one of the best teachers that I had at SMC. He has a great personality, and sence of humor. It totally depends on you what whether you get a good grade or not; he does his job and teaches pretty well.

Awsome lectures. If you want to pass the class need to be there every time. All tests based on his lectures!

Great Teacher...I got a C- on my first test and I went to him to find out why. He let me know and I got an A in the class. Did those of you who got a poor grade ask why? I doubt it. You will enjoy this class and learn alot and he is willing to help.

****. Egotist. Not interested in student input. Loves his own stories. I got an A and liked the material but Brandon is really irritating. Pity those who signed up for his summer dig!

Funny personality and loves to tell stories. He has a big ego but that's just how he is. Go see him after the first test and ask him how you can improve. If you put in effort,are prepared for class and talk to him, you will get an A!!

He's nice but not very lenient when it comes to grading.I am a very neat and thorough note writer, and studied my ass off. I even did well on all my exams.But on the final, he intensely crammed in new information the night before the final exam.I got a C.

Very Passionate about his subject, if you do the reading you should be alright because he lays it out very nicely

Very, very challenging. He recommends studying 10-15 hours for a quiz. I have a hard time keeping up. However, If you need help in class he will really, really help. Don't be afraid to approach him. He seems intimidating but once you break the ice he's pretty cool. Be prepared to work your A off

Ok, here is the real 411 on Lewis. Take good notes. Don't buy the textbook, when needed use the reserved textbook in the library (seriously). Like I said, take good notes the class it’s like Lewis101. He is a good guy, though.

this teacher is quite possibly the coolest, yet the hardest. be prepared to work your ass off in this class.

Brandon is very cool and funny. I loved him. His class is a little hard, but the easiest compared to other science classes. Just need to memorize his notes and you have an "A". Brandon is very cool and fair. A good person and fair grader. His class is easy, but you have to study.

This class is very time consuming and the tests are designed to trick you. The entire course is based on his notes and attendance is mandatory. He has an ego and loves to make examples of people not paying attention.

Lewis makes you work hard - if you take really good notes and if you have good study habits - then you can get an A in his class. I worked my butt off - and managed to only pull a B, but I learned a lot. Didnt use the books much. His quizes are like exams so be prepared to study at least 10 hours!

Dr. L is very good-natured. If you have a basic understanding of biology, you can sleep through the first half of semester. 2nd half is evolution of primates, which is just a lot of memorization of very simple concepts. Important to do your reading on time. Test questions from book and lecture.

Interesting subject matter made better by good lecturer. Very helpful out of class for those who need it.

Decent teacher, but has a huge ego. Gets his jollies by pointing out students not taking 'enough' notes or who seem like they're not paying him 120% attention. If you don't mind that and his overt display of personal views, take him. Don't waste money on the text book though - he doesn't use it!

Unless you are a hugh dork or go on the Ecuador trip, you will NOT get an A in this class. His lectures are interesting, but he is a HARD ASS on grading. Take only if you don't work and can dedicate most of your time to this class.

You really do not need to buy the book because everything he teaches is in his lectures. However you cannot afford to miss not one class, every lecture will be on the test take good notes. His last two test are hard and you have to study specifics, alot of memorization, if u are too busy to study be careful. Nice teacher, and interesting lectures:)

i can't believe this guy doesn't have a higher rating. Lewis teaches the class as if everyone in it is an intelligent college student, if you aren't don't bother because you wont pass. Lewis is definitely one of the most inspiring teachers i've ever had.

i got an B in his class but it was really the best!! He's an awesome teacher! so interesting and nice!! He explains everything, and we had multiple choice exams.. u dont need the book but be in class for lectures!! THATS REALLY IMPORTANT!! He knows how it feels to be a student.. dont take my word for it check it out! He's simply the BEST!!!

I Don't know why he isn't listed as an extremely good teacher ( really I don't know)

Great proffy. Has a big ego, but once u get passed that u learn a lot. Ask questions, if u have trouble getting the info., in class make an appointment for after and ask then... He's great at helping!! Not a bird course!!

Brandon is tough, but his class will prepare you for upper division courses. Of course if you are lazy and don't like to study you won't like his class.I loved the class and I learned tons.Brandon is very approachable tough very busy,but once you talk to him he'll help you.Only take it if you are serious about learning and working hard.

Almost all the material on the tests is from class notes and not from the "required text". Professor should have clarified this at the beginning of class.

Brandon is a decent teacher. He's extremely friendly and accomodating; but he does come off as a bit unclear. He speaks way too fast. Definitely don't need the book!!! (Emphasize on that...YOU DO NOT NEED A BOOK!!!!!) I bought a book thinking we might use it.. I ended up spending 80 bucks on the book, and getting 10 dollars in buy back.

Prof Lewis is enthusiastic about archaeology, especially that found in the Americas. Attendance is crucial since tests are primarily from his lectures. Take thorough notes. Don't buy the book, get it at the library when needed (not often). He appreciates students who show enthusiasm for the subject. All-around good guy.

Absolutely loved both classes. Lewis is a very sufficient instructor, lecturing as if every student is an intellegent college student. The book isn't needed at all,tests are based on lectures and are all essay exams. This professor requires and expects the best from his students. If you can't or won't put in the time, don't bother with the class.

Loved this class! Material was difficult, yes. But Lewis was so helpful when you had no idea what he was talking about. We never really used the book, but if you read it, it helped understand his lectures better. tests were all on his lectures, but that made me take really thorough notes. lots of work, but i reccomend this class!

your grade is based on 3 tests&a final but Brandon pretty much give you all the info you need in his lectures. all you need to do is attend every class, take thorough notes, study study study, & you should pass without any problems!! definitely not an easy A but you learn some interesting stuff..

Authoritative, enhusiastic, thorough. Take notes well, especially everything he writes on the board. Memorize that. Do take the time to review your test results with him afterwards. Big ego, mocks lax students. Anthro 4 was a small, mostly invited class, he was more relaxed and individualized. More like grad school.

He has interesting stories and sometimes could be funny. He gives 3 test and 1 final. Its not an easy A. But, if you write down everything he says and study, study, study, you'll do ok...

He is an interesting teacher. A lot of good stories!! He has 3 test and a final. All of his test are on the notes you take in class. You don't even need to buy the book!!

I always appreciate a challenge, learning something new, and expanding my abilities...he is a great teacher and person. If you truly want to learn and not just take the class for an easy grade...then he is great!!!

He really isn't that hard. He just expects you to come to class, be attentive, participate, take notes, study and take the darn tests. that is the formula for success

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Passionate, dedicated, and knowledgeable professor. More talkative with students than most. Demands complete attention at all times. Each test varies wildly in format and content. This is definitely the man you want to know if you have an interest in archeology, as he hosts frequent field studies in South America. Book is never utilized.

He is truly an amazing person. Easy on the eyes, fair, and funny. I recommend you take this class. You will work hard but also laugh and learn a lot.

Brandon Lewis is amazing, take his class. You don't really need the book, most of the material comes from Lecuture notes. Hes a fair grader, and your grade at the end is determined subjectively, meaning if you got one bad grade it wont kill because if you've done progressively better he'll consider that. Hes passionate, thats what really counts.

Great teacher!!!! I really didn't know what to expect but he is very easy going, approachable and funny. Do Not take if you are not planning to study. Don't really need the book, just take great notes and study them. I studied about three hours for each test and got an A- although he recommends 9-10 hours. Very very funny and I enjoyed him a lot!

brandon is an excellent teacher. didn't open the book in any of the classes i have taken with him, got an A in both. he always likes to claim that you need to study 9-10 hrs to manage an A on his tests. not even the case. simply be able to rep. what you have in your notes on his tests and you have your A.

he's very passionate about his subject but not very intelligent. i did get an A but i had to memorize every word of every lecture. he's kind've goofy, but don't be fooled-- he's a hard grader. he's a nice guy, but not really an enlightening class. listen to him when he says study 10 hours for each test!!!

Brandon was a great teacher. The book is not required because tests are based on how well you take notes. He is passionate about antropology and makes the it fun and interesting. If you go to class most the time and study your notes you will pass.

Pretty awesome professor! He is so passionate about his subject that I am now making it my major. If you are good at taking notes, his class will be easy. Listen well - it pays off! He is fair, and not an easy A prof., but a very good teacher. I learned a lot in this class!

Amazing prof! I loved his class! He honestly makes you feel like a better student by getting you involved in the class and passionate about what you're studying. Pay attention to what he says, your tests will be based solely on his lectures. He wants 10 hours/study for each test, but honestly if you pay attention and take notes, you'll be fine.

His lectures are easy to understand and if you have any questions he is more than willing to set time aside to meet with you. Very interesting class.

Interesting material. Lewis makes the information comprehendible and it feels like you are having a conversation instead of being lectured at. Never opened the book and have gotten an A and B on my tests so far. Tests and quizzes are difficult. Requires lots of memorization and good note taking skills. Overall, good class.

Very energetic, very passionate, very fun teacher. I read the book, but most of the material he tested us on are from his class lectures. I recommend taking good notes, study them, and you should get a good grade. Plus, he makes the material fun to learn.

When he says study for 10 hours for each test, its a must. I worked extremely hard and got an A. However I do not work so I had a lot of free time to study. If your looking for an easy A do not take him. If you are a girl you should consider.

A very inspiring and engaging teacher. His enthusiasm and personality go a long way in keeping the class interesting. Studying both the text and the class notes is a MUST, but he is very interested in your success and good about making his assistance availlable. Even brought coffee for our evening class! There's no homework, just tests.

As my first social science class, Anthro 3 was a refreshing break from all my math and physics. Prof. Lewis is so enthusiastic about the course material and it is reflected in his lectures. You need to know A LOT of small details for the exam, so take EXCELLENT notes and STUDY for the exams. If you do badly, you just didn't study well enough.

Class was one of the best I've had at SMC. He is very enthusiastic about Archaeology and makes you feel the same. There are 4 quizzes and 1 final. Final is not cumulative. He is a hard grader so make sure you take great notes and study them or else you will fail!

Good teacher. Come to class, read the textbook when you can, take notes during the lectures. He is a reasonable person, so if you need help or aren't getting something, ask him after class and regardless of how busy he is, he will be happy to help. I've taken a few of his classes & have gotten Bs & As. Do the HW & pay attention & you'll be fine.

Great guy! The material is his true passion and life's work. He fills class with many anecdotes from his career that relate to the material. If he sees you not taking notes he'll tell you to start because he cares about his students' success very much. He's more than happy to help if you need it. You don't need the textbook until the final.

The best teacher i have ever had! Enthusiastic and passionate about what he does. Great lectures and he will do everything he can to help you pass the class. Really funny and easy on the eyes.

He was my favorite, and the best teacher I have ever had at SMC. Before his class my studying habits were awful Some how by taking his class I learned to study and wanted to study. He takes time out of his busy schedule to help you with anything you need or don't quite understand. I highly suggest this class to everyone! Brandon is an awesome guy!

love this guy- not only does he have a distinguished career as an archaeologist, but he's an approachable, easygoing guy who just enjoys helping people out and teaching cool things

I thought he was a great teacher, very enthusiastic about the subject. The class is almost entirely on the lectures so it's important to attend class, the only time that the book was used was for the final, which actually completely blindsided me.

Very passionate teacher, lecture style keeps you interested. However, not a class for the lazy or bad writers. All tests=written. If you take DETAILED notes on everything he lectures and fully memorize them, you'll get an A. Writing exactly what he has said to you is they key. However, if you half-ass it or don't take notes, expect a C or worse.

Fun class because he is EXTREMELY energetic and excited about the subject. He also jokes around. We barely used the book at all so you can buy the previous edition for $5 online. Tests are on his lectures, make sure you write down EVERYTHING and memorize your notes, then you will get an A.

Highly lecture based only a few questions from book, use the library reserve if you can. Very interesting class but challenges you to be a better student. Ask questions, listen, take notes like crazy, and try. If you dont have a genuine interest in the subject it will be harder for you to grasp.

Very fun professor. He requires a book but doesn't use it, so save your money and just use the one on reserve in the library. Write down EVERYTHING he says. His notes are essential to passing. This class is really interesting, but you have to put some effort into it.

I really enjoyed the class and the professor. The kind of goofy, witty, super-enthusiastic teacher that gets you excited about the material and genuinely wants you to do well. Even brings in coffee for everyone. Tests can be challenging, but no trick questions. Just study the book & lecture notes thoroughly.

He is really hard. You dont need a book, but you have to write down everything he said, examples and staffs. After that he would tell you what he wants you to know from the class. Everything appears on the exams. Exams are 2 essay, short and long one. You have to write everything he said during the lecture!!!!! Final - 15 volunteer at UCLA.

Very nice guy and will go out of his way to help you. But class is very hard. To pass exams you basically have to memorize every single lecture of his. The final is a total of 15 hours of volunteering at UCLA, which is extremely difficult if you can't get easily get around during the week. Also treats students like they're in high school.

He is a harsh grader but as long as you take notes on everything he says, you know exactly what's going to be on the test so you really can't ask for much more than that.

I had previously taken Prof. Lewis for Anthro 1 in Winter, so it says a lot that I decided to take Anthro 3. Although he is a "tough" grader, as long as you attend class and don't sleep, exams should be easy. This is how a college class should be. He is a nice guy and will accommodate you.

Professor Lewis Is an interesting character. Yes, all the comment about he's hard are true, but i am so happy i took him. He Makes you actually learn the Material. I can say because of him i have learned how to actually study. If you are anthro major take him because he prepares you for UCLA or anywhere you want to go. And hes a funny guy.

Fact is he's a hard grader making the class hard. Be prepared to basically memorize everything he says during lecture. On that note, he really wants to see you do well. Go to his office hours and he'll be happy to help you. I really enjoyed what I learned in this class. Don't take this if you want an easy A because it's not.

The tests are tough with lots of essay questions based on lectures. Cell phones will get you more questions one the test for the whole class or an F on your next. test. Overall a great instructor with very good lectures. Requires extra study time and good essay writing skills.

Grades are based on in class essays. All you have to do is study! He is very helpful and manages to make lectures very interesting. I highly recommend him.

Awesome Professor! Lots of people complaining probably because they don't know how to study. Its NOT an easy A, you gotta work for it. Maybe you gotta recite everything he says about a particular subject, but oh well, just do and get the grade. I appreciate his class so much more after transferring.

Extremely engaging lecturer, and extraordinarily nice man. His tests are HARD. The seemingly unnecessary details show up on the exam or are worth points on the essays. I recommend typing notes if you are a fast typer, as everything he says is important. I had to take this class for my major, was dreading it, and ended up greatly enjoying it.

HE IS AMAZING! I rarely use caps like that but he deserves them. He loves the subject and he loves to teach you can totally tell! He is fantastic. I'm a history major, so all this science was pretty unrelated to my interest, or so I thought. Brandon Lewis is a great teacher and he is wonderful to watch.

This class is definitely not a walk in the park for those who are looking for an easy grade. However, if you really commit yourself, (I'd suggest bringing a laptop) and reread your notes a little everyday; you should be fine. I found Lewis' archeology class to be quite fascinating and believe that he tries to help his students as much as possible.

Got a C on 1st exam and ended up with an A. Great Format: THERE'S NO HW or classwork or projects or papers. The grade is based on 4 tests (mainly MC). Just show up, take LOTS of NOTES, and STUDY dude! Tests are hard, but based mainly on notes and if you read the book too, you'll get an A. He'll hook you up if you show you care. Tests are curved+!

I Love this teacher. His class is simple, show up, pay attention and take notes. NO HOMEWORK. Tests are based off notes and are very easy if you study your notes. Great classroom environment. Lewis loves to teach. Got an A on every test. I RECOMMEND HIM HIGHLY.

I like Prof. Lewis a lot. He cares about his students and wants them to succeed. That being said, YOU HAVE TO STUDY TO PASS THIS CLASS. Class is 100% verbal lecture, TAKE GOOD NOTES. He's passionate, a good teacher, and a nice person. His class is formatted like a University level class, no one is going to hold your hand, simple as that

Difficult class that requires understanding and memorization. More so of the latter. Notes are 100% necessary. Helps to participate. Overall as a person, he is funny and is likable.

Prof Lewis is one of my most memorable instructors at SMC. He is open-minded and very passionate about his job as a researcher and professor. This was one of the classes in which I can honestly say that I earned my grade. I did not miss class, took notes, and made outlines of the book. It definitely prepared me for UCLA as a transfer student.

Heed what I say!: Everything he writes on the board is fair game on the test. Do not think you can get away with skimping on the notes. If he assigns stuff from the book, read it; it will be on the test. You gotta study hard for the exams, but he tells you that. And he does not do email. Anyway, fun class.

If you pay attention, read the book, and study, you'll be fine. The questions on his tests are almost word for word from his lectures. There are 4 tests, and to get an A in the class you have to at least get 2 A's and 2 B's. I highly recommend getting A's on the first 2 tests, because an A on the last 2 is extremely difficult.

The key to passing Brandons class is to write down every single thing he says when he lectures. Anything is fair game - if he mentions an anthropologists favorite drink then assume it will be a test question. You also need to be on his good side. He has high standards and if you want an A you have to do well on every test. Textbook isnt required

If you're good at memorization you'll get an A. If not, you'll have a harder time. You're only graded on in-class essays, so memorize an outline of what you think will be on the test (whatever he spends the most time on) and you'll be fine. If your grade isn't looking great after the first test ask for a meeting and iron out a study plan.

Professor Lewis is an amazing professor. I enjoyed his class and found it to be extremely interesting. Take notes on EVERYTHING, not taking 1 second of note will cost you a question on the test. Don't let the fact that the exams are mainly mult. choice fool ya, his exams were easily the hardest MC exams I have ever and probably ever will take LOL!

Lectures were heaps of fun. Tests were intense but reasonable. I got two B's and two A's and relied mostly on my notes for all but the last exam, and all of them were mostly short/long essay format. Archaeology is nothing if not a detail-oriented field. Tedious? Absolutely. But not impossible. Study intelligently, be consistent and you'll be fine.

Although I didn't receive the highest grade I could have, this professor was awesome... His approach to teaching evolution & biology is very thoughtful and appropriate. Important note for studying: Everything is fair game! meaning test questions are drawn from ALL the material... Even if information seems unrelated, assume it will be on the test!

The lectures are pretty long, but they go over a lot of detail. As long as you take extensive notes and pay attention to everything, you should be fine just with the lectures. I really enjoyed his class and the way he presented the material, so I actually took him again for another class the next semester. He seems like a really friendly person.