PPOL 3200

Where does one start? First, I'll admit that I'm not in Batten so maybe that could explain some of my dislike for the course. However, I think I mainly disliked this class because it was extremely arbitrary. I learned nothing. I did well above-average on the midterm and my memo grade (without actual editing) improved throughout the semester.With this said, I did not learn anything. The final was, like the class, super arbitrary. Do not take this course if you want your grade to reflect learning. The group project is the dumbest assignment I've ever done. Lectures are boring and the TAs (at least mine) was not able to clarify Volden's lectures. Do not take.

Volden was great. He was really sweet and had a great sense of humor. I was just a little disappointed in this class. I had high expectations and they were not totally met. The grading was super weird. Midterm grades were awful and the memos were graded super harshly, only for there to be a massive curve at the end of the course. So I was very discouraged in this course throughout the entire semester, only to be totally fine in the end. Why not just grade normally instead of super harshly throughout the semester and not have to worry about curving everyone up at the end?? I don't get it. But I will say, don't let the poor grades that you will likely get throughout the semester discourage you to the point that you lose interest in the course. There is some interesting and valuable information that is covered in this course, but it can get tedious and boring at times. Also, a good TA can make a huge difference. Mine was pretty ho-hum, and it further added to my dissatisfaction with the course. I've heard that, overall, most Batten classes are different from this one. So maybe take a different course if you are trying to decide whether or not to apply to the major. I feel like this class is almost a weed-out class, which is helpful for Batten admissions but not for prospective students trying to decide whether or not to apply. This class was just alright. Take it if you are already in Batten but not before.

If you aren't definitely planning on Batten, don't bother with this course. It's super easy which is refreshing, but the entire class is just common sense applied to basic modern day issues. Lecture has top hat points (like clicker points) but there is no reason to go because you can answer the questions online and the TA's spend the entire discussion telling you what you actually need to know from lecture. Don't worry about the memo, it isn't actually hard, and if you get a bad grade you can rewrite it TWICE. It brings in important concepts from poly sci, econ, philosophy, etc, but you would be way better off taking classes in those departments if you want to be challenged. With that being said, Professor Volden himself is actually really interesting and smart! The TA's are also great, so if you don't mind a somewhat watered down course then you should enjoy this class if only for the people teaching it!

If you decide to take this course- be forewarned it is dry as a bone. Volden is a good professor but everything he says in lecture is read directly off the slides so there's not much motivation to actually show up to class unless you absolutely love policy, and in that case my prayers go out to you. Now buckle up boys, because this is the part I CANNOT stress enough: if Alexa Ladarola is still TA'ing, for the love of all that is good and holy in this world do not take her discussion. I don't care if the alternative is a Friday 8am, just trust me on this one. Absolutely the most infuriating experience of my life. Most of the points that she'll dock you on your memos come from things that she personally just doesn't like, not anything wrong with your memo. She will also withhold commenting on everything wrong with the memo just to have something to dock you on for the next draft. Need help with the actual class material ? Too bad, buckaroo. I honestly contemplated driving my car off of the nearest bridge every time it was time to attend her discussion section. Seriously just don't do it.

I am not applying to Batten, but if you are interested in policy/politics, I would recommend this class. As other reviews have stated, this course is dry at times, but I enjoyed it. You will most likely do terribly on your first memo, but you have 2 chances to revise it, so do not fret! I think the quality of this class really depends on your TA, as they grade all of you assignments, and break down the policy "frameworks" in discussion (which is imperative as Volden can be very vague sometimes). My TA, Amanda Pickens, was by far THE BEST TA I've had at UVA thus far (15/10 would recommend her). The class consists of Top Hat participation (basically clicker questions, minus the clicker), 3 memos (you're just revising your previous memo... so essentially it's 3 memo drafts), a discussion-group project which is presented to the lecture (it's kind of annoying but not that bad as you do it with your whole discussion, and you may get lucky and not have to present to lecture!), a midterm (open note) and final take home exam (open note). Although the exams are open note, they are not easy. I highly recommend taking notes on your laptop as Volden moves pretty fast, and it's impossible to write all of the information down from the slides. That being said, he uploads all of the power points to Collab which is very helpful!

I have never take a Batten class nor am I considering applying to Batten but I still very much enjoyed this class. While the content may be slightly superficial, I found the various frameworks you learn (the bulk of the class’s substance) to be quite interesting. It definitely provides you a decent foundation to policy analysis. However, the breadth of the course is a problem because youll likely leave the class with only a surface-level understanding of policy topics and frameworks. If you’re seeking a more in-depth look at public policy, this is definitely not the class for you. Grading-wise, the class is graded on a curve so don’t worry about your grades on individual assignments seeming low. As long as you’re consistently doing better than the average, you’ll be fine.

This class was challenging but ultimately very fulfilling. The content forms a strong basis for future coursework. I found the lectures to be interesting and thought provoking. Volden was very smart and informed although at times he was hard to follow. Alexa Iadarola was my TA, I'd highly recommend her. Her grading fair, and it seems to be on the same level as the other TAs. She's approachable and gave helpful comments on memos. Would recommend this course.