2.4
Quality3.8
DifficultyN/A
Would Retake220
ReviewsN/A
Would Retake
220
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
22
4
35
3
48
2
66
1
49
What Students Say
“Avoid him if possible take Gibson's version online I hear it's easier”
PSY330 - 2.0 rating“Melvin Jaffa was the worst teacher I have ever had”
PSY330 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
43%
Textbook Required
83%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.24 avg changeRatings by Course
PSY333
5.0
(1)PSY630
5.0
(1)PSY383
4.0
(1)PSYCH100
4.0
(1)PSYSECT
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
100
5.0
PYS100
5.0
PYCH120
5.0
PSY630
5.0
PSYCH330
5.0
Reviews (220)
Hard class, hard tests
Sounds like sol rosenberg
Perhaps one of the worst teachers on campus
Was to damn hard and the text seemed to be very bad and unhelpful. He sucks
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It's funny when he yells at himself, sad when you get your final grade.
Really boring, except when he scolds himself. Its not so bad if you can listen.
Sooo boring - definitely robotic! Would never never never take him again!!!!!!!
very difficult class & exams, prof is a nut! avoid at all costs! stay away!!!!!!
Great material, very smart guy. No free grades slackers, gotta work.
Not helpful at all, only funny when he scolds himself, very insensitive!!!
The absolue worst teacher I have ever had in my history at CMU
He doesn't teach anything from the book. STAY AWAY!!! JAFFA IS ****!
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Boring lectures (except for his ticks ) hard tests, not one of my fav classes
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mumbles a lot; scolds himself....very odd. very hard tests FIND A DIFF. PROF.!
An odd funny little man who reminds me of Woody Allen
A bit odd and class is boring, but his tests are not hard if you go to class.
he is so irritating, i hate his class, but it isnt very hard if you take notes
Worst teacher ever! Yells at himself and wears the same outfit everyday!
Hey, I didnt think he was that bad, I showed up to most lectures and got a 4.0
Yells at himself. Very sketchy.
same clothes, yells at himself (dang it jaffa!)
aweful prof, terrible class, & he yells at himself all the time.
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Even when you go to class the tests are impossible!! TAKE ANOTHER PROF!
read and take notes and stay awake in class and should be ok, very diferent guy
Easy. Gives simple homework and straight forward tests. Didn't try and got a A-.
poor, poor man. wears same thing, talks to himself, goes way too fast with notes. tests make you ask yourself, am i in the right class?
Please do not take this class...he needs HELP!! I can't believe this man is a teacher!
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very entertaining fellow. i love to count out how many times he yells JAFFA! during class. am waiting for the day when he curls up in the fetal position and starts crying.
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He goes through material super fast and is sometimes not really clear on what he is trying to say.
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Take this class with a friend and laugh at this guy.. and watch out for the scrambled ****
dr. jaffa, or jaf-diddy as i like to call him is the man. everytime i go to class i laugh to myself the whole time because of his subtle humor, and when he yells JAFFA! . this class is not hard, he gives you VERY complete study guides for the tests.
He crams in a lot of information in a short period of time. He also doesn't leave the notes up long enough, like we are supposed to know this stuff before we take the class.
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dont take him. he talks to himself.
Funniest prof. on campus. Why the these people get into PSY in the first place?! He's like a little Woody Allen right here at CMU (before Soon-yi). Yells at himself and on special days, bangs his head on the board to get the information out. Funny st
He is so fun to watch. Plus he always wears a blue sweater and blue pants every class!
Wow is all I have to say... crazy guy... I wouldn't suggest taking him to anyone who wants to learn something.
jaffa, jaffa, jaffa! fun to laugh at, horrible professor.
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This teacher is crazy. He yells at himself and talks to himself and hits the chalk board...he's the one who needs to go see a Psych
I was irriated most of the time in this class. He looks and acts just like Woody Allen. Definitely do not take this class if you want to do well in pysch.
I know what you are talking about with the blue outfit. I took him like three years ago. He still wears that??? Horrible teacher though.
always talks to himself, hits himself and other things around him. really funny but hard to follow his notes. draws all over the board. looks like a bunch of jibberish. tests are hard. wears the same thing to class the entire semester.
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HE IS SUPER SMART AND GAVE ME GOOD ADVICE ON MY MAJOR. OFFERED TO TEACH ME HOW TO DO RESEARCH.
he sucks
Terrible prof, worst I've had in the 3 years that I've been here. Don't take it if you want to do well in the class.Take Deb Poole!!
He knows the stuff and is funny when he bangs his head on the overhead and says "Jaffa! Jaffa! Jaffa!"
He is really funny with the Freudian slips. Also, really does talk to himself. Class is not hard but his notes are terrible. Sit in the front row and squint.
needs to go to the psych ward. he yells at himself and hits himself in the face. his lectures do not make sense. the good part is that there is barely any work, except for tests and small homework assignments. must read book to pass the tests.
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JAFFA!!! If you had his class you would know what I mean. Although he freaks out on himself alot, he is a very good teacher. Just go to class and TAKE ALL THE NOTES! Besides that, you should do alright. Be prepared for JAFFA!!!!
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JAFFA,JAFFA,JAFFA - yeah he yells at himself..little weird. Tests are difficult - questions are so long you forget what is being asked by the time your done. They are 50% on lecture 50% on book. Review helps however
His notes are so unorganized sometimes, his tests are really hard and long - the average in my class was a C- ..I ended up with a B- lucky for me but I don't recommend this guy. However if you get stuck with him, take notes, read book before lecture.
Other than the pure entertainment of having a professor scream at himself..I couldn't stand his lecture. it was boring and he wasn't clear with notes. But he was understanding with making up a few tests, most aren't
The man is a little crazy. The class is pretty difficult but by doing the review guides he hands out in class (start on them early, they are very time consuming) you can get pretty good grades on the test. He also curves all of the tests which is nice.
crazy. o social skills. hard exams, but an A is possible if u work hard...JAFFA!!!!!
Yes, he does talk to himself a lot! He is pretty crazy...and lectures are boring...but then again, psychology is also!
Class is pretty easy, guy is nice and all. you just have to READ THE BOOK. Which for most people is a pain in the ass(myself included). But no homework and only 4 exams(50 multiple choice). Its a good class, just study alot for the exams.
Gives out study guides for each exam. Just do the study guide, read it over a few times the night before the test, and you are guaranteed an easy B. Lectures are WAY boring, but it is a lot of fun to watch him pace and yell at himself.
I also did research with him. That was a bigger mistake than the class. Class - easy but BORING, he was insecure & sometimes funny. One on one - he knows people make fun of him in his classes so he takes it out on these students. Woman hater.
I had Jaffa twice...social psych and then I was his research **** in 496 for a semester...Jaffa is not a good professor, but, from the blue clothes (EVERY DAY) to the Mr. Spock complexion, he is an extremely fascinating person.
He is very intresting... doesnt take attendance, but half the tests are on lectures. Offers Extra credit. Boring in less you like psych. It's an OK class... but studying is a must
He is an interesting character. The class is 4- 50 M/C questions which if you go to class and read the book you'll do fine...he also has a different grading scale which benefits the student immensely.....like i wanna say a 60% is a C
Not a bad class: I liked it a lot more than my friend who took PSY 100 in a lecture hall. Jaffa is a little quirky, but offers good notes to copy down that cover pretty much all the material on the test. And he gives random extra credit for attendence
NEVER EVER TAKE THIS CLASS. ITS IMPOSSIBLE. HE IS CRAZY AND WAY TO DIFFICULT OF A TEACHER. AVOID HIM AT ALL COSTS!!!!
Yeah he's a little wierd, but if you can put up with his talking to himself, pacing back and forth, and the blue pants and sweater he wears everyday, you'll enjoy his classes. Just do the material, read the book and sit back and enjoy the show!
difficult to understand, not very self confident
Warning: sitting it first row leads to extra shower of unwanted bodily fluids. Tip: bring an poncho. Stopping his pacing causes severe yelling of "Jaffa!" concluding with whacking his head. Tip: Bring Popcorn. Tip: To pass tests learn latin, br
He is Woody Allen.... not kidding.
Everything you hear really is true! Tests are hard and lectures are boring. But how many times to you see profs wearing the samething every day, smaking their heads and yelling their last name.
The hardest teahcer I have ever had. Never take a class if Jaffa is the teahcer. I have taken two classes with him and failed them both. His test are IMPOSSIBLE. Every answer to a question on his test can be the correct answer. Save your self the stress, AVOID MEL JAFFA!!
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Good ole Jaffa .... He likes to scream out his own name in the middle of class. It is kinda funny, i suggest keeping a record of how many times he does it. All and all, its not that hard of a class, just show up, take notes, and do the study guides and you'll do fine.
DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS! It is extremely extremely boring, and the tests are really difficult.I go to class, do the study guides, read the books, and still only get C's on the test. His questions are tricky and hard. And your whole grade is based on 4 exams. DO NOT TAKE
Pretty much what everyone else said. I almost feel sorry for the guy. Just pay attention to the study guides and go to lectures.
you guys are ridiculous. i really like his class and it is possible to get a good grade if u actually go and do the study guides, he has an insane curve already and he always gives out extra points. i would definitly take one of his classes again
The material really isn't that difficult and he's really not the worst professor I've had. I do wish he had made the material a bit more interesting though. The study guides help a lot, as well as the hand outs he gives in class.
he is a horrible teacher. his tests are so hard and they shouldn't be since the material is not. He can't even help you when you need it because he is antisocial- makes sense since he teaches social psych. He only has time for going over the material and no time for questions.he screams his name.
Jaffa rocks the world. He maybe a Woody Allen rip-off, but he's still sweet. Tha d00d shouts his name out because he knows it means instant wawesome is shortly to ensue. The class is a little difficult, assuming you're retarded as hell.
Jaffa is awesome. class is extremely easy w/ tons of extra credit. he really knows his stuff. very amusing to watch. the random outbursts are hilarious. tests are easy if you look over vocab. know the concepts.
He talks really fast and is very anal and high-strung. He doesnt make eye contact so if you need to ask a question and raise your hand, good luck having him see you. The tests are pretty easy if you go through the study guide he gives you. The questions related to the points on the study guide.
Will not give you a break. His class was pretty hard, but interseting. It was sometimes difficult to follow him, and the exams were a little to in-depth for the lectures that he gave.
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Very boring class. I had to force myself not to fall asleep during his lectures. Class becomes more important as the semester goes on, as he gives random extra credit quizzes.
WORST class ever i would suggest tkaing this class with a different prof, he mutters and talks in third person...weird!! DON'T DO IT
DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS! Find another prof that will make things clear and actually teach the subject. Boring as hell.
He is an awful prof! The class is so boring and the test questions are asked as a situation, making them take forever. He goes very fast on important points and slow on things that are not important. I took this class as an easy A but you actually have to study for the bi-weekly tests.
yes he's crazy, but if you study for the tests they aren't that hard. not an easy A, you have to work, but its interesting. don't take him if you are a slacker or hate studying. tests are very in-depth but if you do the study guides you will be fine. class is curved - an 88 is still an A.
I think he's an alright prof. Yes, he talks alot, fast and is slightly crazy, but he makes it interesting. Some days are boring. My suggestion, go to class and listen, then read the chapters and take self notes. It's college kids, learn to study! He does grade on a curve though, which helps.
SO BORING. Unless you have to take this class, avoid at ALL costs!!
Jaffa isn't as bad as everyone makes him out to be. Just go to class. And yes, sometimes it is boring and it's all you can do not to fall asleep. But all in all, not so bad.
Jaffa, Jaffa, Jaffa! He's a very interesting professor to say the least. Tests are really hard and he's pretty boring. Doesn't really offer extra credit. Make sure you go to class and read the chapters. He's pretty unusual so you have to do good on your own. Avoid if possible.
If you are critical about idiosyncrasies, Jaffa will drive you insane. To everyone else, his mannerisms are hilarious. I ended up not going to class at all except for exams the second half of the semester, and I got a B. He is NOT as bad as everyone says, and is nice if you ask questions. He has a tendency to go off on tangents, though.
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How can you not like Jaffa?!!!! JAFFA!! You will hear that plenty of times. He likes to say his own name. I would go to class just to see what he would do next. There are only 4 tests in the class so you can screw up, but they are not too bad because he gives extra points at the end and grades on a curve. Just follow the study guide & notes.
Babbles a lot...to the ground. Provides a lot of handouts and studies for examples. Study guides are rather helpful...but the exams are wordy. Funny guy that will probably make you laugh at least once a session.
just dont do it
He is the worst teacher I have ever had. He doesn't talk to the class, but himself and the floor. And his tests are impossible. You can read everything, and study his notes and still get a "C". He is very confusing. The only thing that saves you are his studyguides, but they even take 3 days to do.I would never take another class with him Good Luck
Babbles to himself constantly, dosn't talk to the class. If you like seeing teachers hit themselves, then you will enjoy the class. If you do not have to take it don't!
anyone who doesn't like this guy is crazy. he's HILARIOUS and always makes class really interesting. i looked forward to hearing his lectures because they were so interesting. REALLY CLEAR, and the tests are seriously not bad at all. an 88 is an A in his class, plus he curves if the class does poorly on exams. TAKE HIM, it will be worth your time.
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This guy is freaking fabulous! So what if he probably has tourette's? He's fun, he is a genius, and he entertains you during class. What more can you ask for? His tests are pretty easy, and he curves like crazy. Take him- you'll enjoy it!
Jaffa's been teaching this class for so long that he doesn't even look for students with questions. People go to class and sleep.
This man is out of hand...He talks to himself and wears the same outfit everyday. You have to read the book, so if you don't like to read don't take this class. His tests are a bit hard because you never know what he is going to pull out of his sleeve. He means well, just doesn't know how to commincate with his students.
out of control..hated this class and it was impossible to pass
Really hard to follow. Goes over notes to fast. Tests were hard and worded weird. Good luck if you get him as a teacher.
HAHA Jaffa!! His guy is kinda creepy!! He loves the color blue, and talks to himself. He really doesn't look at the class when talking, and is monotone in voice. He spends a long time talking about one thing when he should have skiped it, and then skips over important things. He grades on a mad cerve, which is awesome!!
This class requires a lot of work. There is so much information that has to be memorized.
Not really that hard, do the reading, go to the class as much as you can, or need to and you'll do fine. He curves every exam and then he curves the final grade, i think an 88 or higher is an A. Don't know why he has such bad reviews, other than the fact t hat he wears the same suit(well I think he owns like 10 of the same suit) every day to clas
Nice guy. Very fast class and you have to pay attention. I recommend doing all the extra credit available and make sure you do the study guides and READ READ READ the text. Not too bad if you stay focused, passed an A-.
He's kind of a strange guy. He yells at himself a lot. lol. The lectures are very fast... don't try to take notes word for word because you can't write fast enough. He gave really interesting examples for things... too bad those aren't what's on the test though. He does give great study guides though... use them and you'll do well!
he keeps things light
He's a great professor. Knows exactly what he is talking about. The class is not easy but if you read the book you will do well. He is very clear and concise and devoted to his work.
People are very unfair to him. This is a very easy and informative class. Just pay attention, use dictionaries and research, read the textbook.
Not much to say except Jaffa does not hardly answer anyone's questions in the PSY 330 class I was taking. I feel that he should have worded his exams a little more differently because I honestly read, took notes, and etc. and the exam questions were still iffy at times. If you can help taking another PSY class, I would say go for it.
I loved this class! Jafa is definately quirky, but that's what made the class so interesting! I am a lecture learner, so his lectures definately helped. He REALLY knows his stuff, and doesn't just read from handouts. He also shows alot of interesting videos. This is not an easy class, but I learned alot!
What stands out about this professor is he took pride in failing mass of amounts of students. What was on his exams was never discussed in class. Class was not Educational at all worth attending. He was there not to help, but to prove to the class how smart he thought he was. Do NOT TAKE THIS PROFESSOR!
No one should have horrible things to say about this guy. Sure he is weird but...he hands out good study guides and can be very entertaining at times. Class is boring though! Just Read and do study guide and be content with a B.
Jaffa is my hero. Not only is he a Woody Allen clone - but he is a social psych genius too. Not sure how he could have made the class better. He grades on a huge curve, hands out tons of helpful sheets, and has a comprehensive study guide on what to study for every exam. What more do you people want? JAFFA!
This was a very interesting class. There are some cool experiments he talks about and some interesting videos. Jaffa pretty much makes this class easy for anyone to pass. The tests are difficult but what do you expect with a 300 level class. He grades on a huge curve and gives study guides that help imensely. Know the experiments!!!
Jaffa is the most boring professor I have ever had. He wears the same outfit every single class!! Test are hard but he does curve them. The only excitement in this class is when he yells out his last name after losing his thought, kinda funny. Nevertheless find another professor to teach this class if you can.
How Jaffa got rated this low is beyond my comprehension. Yes, the exams are a bit tricky. HOWEVER, he grades on a DUAL curve. He has a built-in curve on your over all grade then re-curves individual exams. You can score 85% on every exam and still manage an A in the class. He's entertaining, hilarious, and endearing.
This class is an easy A if you do one thing. *Know the study guides* His tests are like 95% covered on the study guide. I hardly ever listened in class, nor did I ever read more than a couple notes in the book and I got an A. KNOW THE STUDY GUIDE
Jaffa is a great prof who really truly loves Psych. The tests were a little tricky but he gives out great study guides that make up most the test. He had a lot of fun, cool examples. Grades on a GIANT curve.
I never went to class except on exam day and still got a B. USE THE STUDY GUIDE! The entire class is worth 200 points from 4 fifty point exams, but he grades on a huge curve.
Jaffa is somewhat out of date. He simply lectures every class on the reading and every fourth or fifth class theres an exam. he doesn't regularly update blackboard but your grades are easy to figure out. Exams are a huge part of grade so study in advance and do the study guides, they count for points. This is your typical lecture/ take notes class
Jaffa's exams are completely based on the study guide which is on material from book that he does not cover in class. Do all study guide questions and study them and you will do fine. He is really nerdy and most of the lecture material is not on the exam. Alright professor. Good if you are self motivated to do study guide questions.
TRY TO AVOID JAFFA IF POSSIBLE! He is so odd. He lectures day in day out in his high mouse tone of voice. Class is so boring. i did the study guide, but they didn't seem to help much. His exams are really tricky. It seems as if he wants you to fail. More than one person tried to ask him for help and he did didn't help much at all!
worst professor ever in the history of CMU....i was reading comments from '02 to see if he was the same nutcase back then and he sure was. he as been wearing the same outfit everyday for almost 8 years. and has ticks and yells at him self alot "JAAAAAFFFFFFA"! he is not helpful whatsoever..and go check out his office. theres no word to describe it.
Probably the nerdiest person on the planet but I liked him. Once you got past his weirdness he was entertaining. STUDY GUIDES!!! I know everybody says it on here but it's so true. Just do those and know them and you'll do fine
Avoid Jaffa at all cost... its as simple as that. Hes a nice guy but not a good prof.
AVOID JAFFA. you will learn nothing and bomb every test even if you do attend his sleepworthy lectures. if you have him..switch asap. you will hate psychology forevr after jaffa.
avoid if possible. he often chatters himself in circles which is incredibly confusing. his exams are nearly impossible. thankfully grades on a huge curve because so many people do poorly.
Professor Jaffa is a very nice man and he is a very professional and knowledgeable psychologist. However, that doesn't mean he is easy this is a very difficult class and you should be prepared to spend at least 10-15 hours a week studying for class. The class is a great experience if you are willing to work hard and only four tests.
Very nice man, very boring class. I went to every class and failed every exam. I recommend not taking Social Psych with him. Doing the study guides is a must but his exams are all multiple choice and extremely difficult. His lectures are helpful but VERY BORING. If you do take this class you have to buy the book.
Ok So he does talk to himself, and the class is a little boring, but he's seriously not that bad. The material is interesting but he really isn't. However, he provides SOOO MANY examples, he's always available in his office hours. The class was seriously easy. If you want a quick and easy A just come to class and read. Simple As That.
Your entire grade is based off of four multiple choice tests...easy, right? No. These are the hardest multiple choice tests I have ever seen, there will be three right answers and you have to pick the *most* correct one. And don't even bother taking the tests if you don't do the study guide. Worked my butt off for a C+.
Jaffa was the most boring teacher I have had at Central. I did not go to one class without falling asleep. I would stay away from him if possible.
I am a strait A student and this class blindsided me. I went to class every day, did my reading, and my study guides, but this clearly isn't enough. I had my first exam today and was clueless. Its not that he's a bad guy, its just a very difficult class. your entire grade is based off exams that cant be passed. worst class of my life!
Oh, Jaffa. Lectures aren't ALWAYS boring! Sometimes he does and says crazy stuff and its awesome. Tests are WAY hard, so hang in there on that. He's cool though. JAFFA!
He was my thesis advisor and I took several classes from him in grad school. He's a quintessential Social Psychologist. I had him for a seminar and he taught the class using a Socratic style. Very intellectual, yet surprisingly personable at rather inopportune moments. Wouldn't guess it if you didn't talk to him.
He is a great prof. If you actually go to class, and want to learn, it is very easy to pick up on what he is teaching. This class is all about being able to make yourself do the work. Do the work and you will be successful. READ THE BOOK!
Going to class did nothing to help your grade! You have to read the book, and even then you may still fail his class. DO THE SONA POINTS! You will get 10 points automatically added to your grade. Try hard to avoid him!! But if you cant just do the study guides and pray...a lot!
Not a very approchable demeanor. Never ever lets a student talk to him before class. Yet he is a smart professor and really knows his stuff. Graded only on exams which are VERY hard. Read your text and do the study guides and you'll survive. Hot in a Woody Allen kinda way ;)
Melvin Jaffa is very rude to students who want to talk before class.. don't even attempt. Tests are hard; questions usually have same variation of the answer which makes it hard. Advoid at all costs.
I feel that Jaffa goes out of his way in an attempt to trick his students on the exams. The point of college is to think critically, not to try and confuse the student. Take as a cr/nc option or avoid this guy at all costs
He is the most awkward little man I have ever seen, he's Mr. Rogers less outgoing twin. I really learned a lot from this class, and enjoyed the subject. The test are tough but if you read the chapters and do the study guides you will be fine. Melvyn is an entertaining guy to watch teach and listen to, I highly recommend him. JAFFA!!!
Dr. Jaffa is by far the most brilliant individual I have ever come into contact with. He lives and breathes social psychology and I feel lucky to have had him teach my social psych class. I advise attending all of his lectures, reading the textbook, and knowing the study guide. If you want a challenge take his class...he is brilliant!
Horrible Proffessor. Might know a lot about psychology, but he cannot teach it at all. Test don?t correlate to material in class at all, book doesn't help. Read all handouts he gave us in class, read chapters in book, did all practice tests in book and could still not pass a test. Class average for all tests was failing or below failing. Don?t take
His tests are pretty hard! He is weird and pretty boring I just hope I pass... I feel like he is too smart but socially awkward just started going to class towards end of semester because he is so boring hopefully it helps my grade
only 200 points in the class (4 tests) very hard!
This class was the hardest class I have ever taken! I went to class everyday and did the study guides and worked my butt off only to get a C. The grade is based on 4 test that are impossible to pass. He has no heart for his students and is very hard to follow AVOID HIM AT ALL COSTS
This professor cannot teach what so ever. I you would like to do poorly and like to learn nothing, I would take this class with this professor. Exams are EXTREMELY difficult. It doesn't matter how much and how long you study for, your not going to pass.
I feel that Jaffa gets a bad rap because his exams are difficult. However, he makes it clear right from the beginning what you need to do in order to succeed.. Attend every lecture and actually listen to him, read the assigned readings weekly, and do his study guides. If you TRULY do all of these things you will find it not so difficult to get an A
He lectures all class, and grade is based off 4 exams. They are VERY tough. Read and attend lectures. GOD FORBID you have to actually study for a class in college. Put forth a great effort and you can do well. Got an A. If you finish with a B+ or better he offers you an undergrad research position. Make a good effort, you'll do fine.
Miserable old man. Cannot teach the material. Yells at students all the time and yells at himself too. 200 points in the whole class from 4 exams. No other points. Do not register for any class this man teaches. Problems on exams are sometimes incorrect and he does not care.
Dr. Jaffa is a very dry professor. He is very knowledgeable, but his exams are incredibly confusing. He isn't very warm and is not particularly helpful in understanding what you did poorly on. I enjoyed his lectures, hated his exams, and thought he was a very rude person. I would take this online if I could do it over.
I honestly go to this class to pick up the notes that he refuses to post on BlackBoard, and then I walk out. Half of the class is sleeping while the rest are clock watching or playing on their phones. Im certain that when hes teaching hes trying to convince himself hes doing it right, all in the worst monotone Ive ever encountered. Do not take this
While he is excited about the topic, he is not great at teaching it. He does make it clear that the class will be hard (by listing reasons why NOT take his class on the syllabus). To get close to a decent grade you MUST go to class, take notes, and READ THE TEXTBOOK! Most of his exam questions are from the text, not class. AVOID HIM, IF POSSIBLE!!
Jaffa is an AWFUL teacher. Exams are super hard. Half of the class dropped the class. DO NOT TAKE HIM.
This was the worst class I have ever had. No matter how hard you study, his tests are full of confusing and trick questions. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS.
The man is a case study in and of himself. A clearly brilliant scholar in his own right, but has NO connection with his students - in fact, I'd be surprised if he looked up from his overhead more than 3 times in a class period. Smart guy, tough to learn from unless you are very comfortable with straight lecture and no prof. interaction.
I don't recommend taking Jaffa unless you plan on not falling asleep in class and actually using the textbook. I enjoyed the videos he used in class, but that was all I got from the class. He is a strange individual, and you will be startled when you finally realize he wears the exact same outfit to class every day.
I really enjoy this class. People don't like his class solely because you actually have to go to class and study for exams. He is a strange individual but you will learn tons from him if you actually show an interest in the topic.
I took Social Psychology with a Sociology professor and had to take it with Jaffa for my psych major. We were taught the same exact things, and I got a B+ in the soc one and a D- in this one. His exams are horrible and have nothing to do with what we were taught. If you can take it with anyone else but Jaffa!
Most of the test questions he did not discuss in class, and even if he did, it was easier to understand if you just read the book. I did well in this class only from reading the book and found classtime to be utterly useless. He is confusing and although I find social psychology quite interesting, this class was very boring. I don't suggest him.
Very smart professor, knows what he is talking about. Read the book and his notes really well. Difficult tests.
He is a very sweet guy, but his class is very lecture oriented. He lectures everyday with not much class interaction other than that. His tests are pretty hard though and that is the only grades in his class (four exams).
He demonstrates key concepts and experiments like any other science class on the board or overhead. He attempts to convey the gravity and relevance of the concepts. The devil is in the details on the exams, but you will never find more palatable material. This is not physics, it is not math, it is a squishy soft-science survey course.
he is a nice guy and has weird quirks he talks to himself, but every 2weeks theres an exam and some questions were never mentioned.
Do not take him, very hard exams, only 4 of them worth 50 points each. Hard to understand. Potential to be a very interesting class but nearly impossible to understand and pass with this guy. needs to upgrade his teaching style or retire.
There are only 4 exams, 50points each. I attended all of his classes, took notes, and studied, but I failed. I received a D in the class. I love the subject but his teaching style is not for me. I do NOT recommend him.
I got an A in this class, it is possible. The guy gives a long list of reasons that you shouldn't take his class the first day. It's a lot of hard work and he's a bit out there. I learned a lot though. I wouldn't recommend it if you don't want to make a huge time commitment.
Very dry and boring. Also quite a strange man. Went off on tangents all the time and exams were impossible. Used very old movies/materials. A friend who got a B spent COUNTLESS hours reading and studying (she's normally a straight A student)
Not a bad teacher like people say. In truth he is just old school, no hand holding, no fluffy bunny make-up exams, no questions asked. He really hates people who ask questions. He knows what he is teaching and he expects you to learn it thoroughly. I never missed class, studied a normal amount (2-3 hrs a week) and I got an A- without trouble.
Jaffa is by far the worst teacher I have had yet. He doesn't like to help his students and he has no connection with his students. It seems like he almost wants to fail his students. Normally I am an A B student and I had to drop the class so I would still have a good GPA. I suggest avoiding him.
Honestly, everyone says he is such a hard teacher but he's really not. People complain his tests are hard but he said that the tests are HALF OF THE BOOK INFORMATION AND HALF LECTURE!! People say stuff on the test he never talked about and that's because it's from the book, which you're suppose to read for the test anyways!!! Read the book!!
I do not recommend taking Jaffa. His tests have trick questions. His lectures do not help. About half of the class dropped by the end of the semester. Take anyone else if possible!
Went to his office hours for help literally told me and quote "why are you here, I gave you everything you need in class." Test have a lot of trick questions, no class discussions, and is a very weird man wears the same thing everyday and seems as if he takes please in failing his students. Avoid him and this class!!!!!
Interesting material, but I would highly advise people to not take him.
Vey strange man who doesn't help his students, and also has no class discussions. You cannot raise your hand in class and test have a lot of trick questions. Avoid him if possible take Gibson's version online I hear it's easier.
I'm a psychology major and would highly recommend avoiding this class. I ended up having to retake it online with another professor and loved the material. Taking it with Jaffa was confusing and almost as if he sets you up for failure. He himself said he takes pride in how difficult his class is. Take it with someone else!
You must be genuinely interested in the subject to do well. He personally hands out really good notes, but make sure you read the book before coming to class for optimum understanding.
Tough grader, kind of funny. Don't buy into the bs about him being boring: go into it for the information and you may learn AND laugh if you listen.
Jaffa is a really cool guy. a lot of people think his class is boring, but if you're in to the material and you listen to what he says, then you won't be bored. Sometimes the lectures drag out, but he plays occasional movie clips that help break it up. His exams are really tricky. Overall, I learned a lot from Jaffa and am glad I took his course!
Melvin Jaffa was the worst teacher I have ever had. Half the class failed and exam (before I dropped the class). When I brought it to his attention we needed better help, he didn't care. I asked him something I was confused about once and I got yelled at for not understanding. He doesn't care about his students, do no take any class with him..:(
He is boring and sometimes rambles on about himself instead of material. He is very mean and likes to talk about how students don't like him because he's unattractive, when in reality, we don't like him because he doesn't care about his students. Over half of the class dropped out by the end of the semester. Do not at any cost take a class with him
Needs to retire. Worst teacher I have or will ever have in my lifetime. I'm a psychology major and absolutely love psychology. I get A's in every psych class I've taken and this class was pathetic. Take it with someone else if you don't want to waste your money like myself, and half of the class did after we all dropped it. Can't even ask for help.
Taking PSY 330 with Jaffa was definitely a great idea. Always go to class because he gives out notes that you can add more too, which is EXTREMELY helpful! He also explicitly tells you when certain things should be copied down which is a good majority of the time. Lots of studies we reviewed were from previous classes, but still helpful.
Initially on the first day of class he flat out said that half of us would end up dropping, and shows no sign of caring about how well his students do. As a psychology major I am genuinely interested in the material and attended all lectures. My grade of a C+ was one of the highest in the class when I am usually an A student. Tests are confusing.
I had to take this class twice because it was required. The material in the class is actually interesting but the way he teaches and what he focuses on makes it unclear and less interesting. there are no assignments in the class and only 4 tests out of 50 which are basically impossible.
Mel is seriously the worst prof I've ever had. I would like to think he's a nice person, but DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS. EVER. He told us multiple times that people do poorly in his class, yet he does nothing to change it. The highest grade in the class is like a C. I took 2 years in high school and have struggled all semester.
Jaffa is not the nicest or easiest professor you'll ever have, but you do end up learning a lot if you pay attention. The tests are hard, but if you read the book, review the homework, and read his handouts, you won't get less than a B. Getting a A is hard, not impossible. Overall: smart guy, kind of a jerk, but you'll learn a lot.
unable to understand him and learn the material. very erratic and awkward. not very helpful in explanations. half the class failed the class and he is the only one that teaches it. unless you take it online with a different professor, dont take it with him.
Very boring and monotone. Got mad easily and didn't care if he kept you after the class is supposed to be over
Ive had to take this class more than once because it is so hard. The lectures are actually some what interesting but he makes them boring. There are only 4 grades for the class and they are all exam grades. He will tell you on the first day of class that most people fail and it is a very hard class. He is a very nice person, just a hard professor.
He is an extremely boring monotone professor that repeats words he just said multiple times every sentence. He tells you that many people fail his class but doesn't do anything to change that. He's not there to help you and every exam he gives has material that wasn't in the book or covered by him in class. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. not with Jaffa.
I think Jaffa is just getting too old to teach now a days. He seems like a good guy and it's hard to be harsh on him but he's just someone you don't want to take a class with everything you basically have to teach yourself.
Granted, I am only a sophomore, but this was the absolute worst class I have ever taken in my life. I was taking 18 credits when I took this class. Got an A in all of them except this one. Failed this one. He doesn't know how to lecture and doesn't know how to help you. I would recommend taking this online!!!!!!!!!!!
He is very intelligent and has taught for a long time. I can see how many see his way of teaching as difficult to follow, however, I really liked it. If you're a more intelligent student and you truly care about learning for learning's sake, you'll like him. He is a bit older, but he truly loves the material and will give you a lot of knowledge.
Jaffa knows his material but he is very monotone and speeds through his lectures if he is running out of time. His exams are difficult and can be confusing. His lectures can be very hard to follow and I would not recommend this professor if you have a hard time paying attention in class. You need to read the book or you will fail.
Seriously the worst professor I have ever had. He doesn't care about his students and the class is only out of 200 points (4 exams) and the exams are ridiculous and have nothing to do with lecture or the book. He says everyone fails his class and doesn't do anything to change it. Take this class online.
Definitely a lecture heavy class. It is pretty much you sitting there for the whole hour while he talks. Every test was pretty much straight from the book and notes. If you take solid notes and keep up with the reading it should be a pass. ONE POSITIVE if you keep a B or higher by the end you get a chance to do research which does look great on app
This class is SO lecture heavy and he's very boring and monotone. He knows what he's talking about but if you have trouble paying attention you won't do well. All of your grade relies on 4 exams worth 50pts each and are biweekly. Exams can be difficult and confusing. One of the worst profs I've ever had.
Decent lectures but not engaging at all. VERY clear criteria in syllabus. Extra credit opportunity for 18 points plus pop quiz for extra credit if high amount of absences on any given day. Gives good notes and semi-difficult exams. 7 exams by the way, every other week.
Very lecture heavy. Covers so much material for each exam, which there are 50 question exams every other week. His voice is monotone and boring, and it is easy to zone out during class or not go in general. Only positive about him is that he covers the material thoroughly if you are actually interested in psych. Exams can be confusing and hard
if you've never taken psych before do not take his class!! jumps around in his lectures a lot and doesn't make sense. his tests are worded weird but he offers up to 30 points in extra credit
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
43%
Textbook Required
83%
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B
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