ASTR 1220

There's no homework except for reading the textbook and the Constellation Lab, which has to be done by early November. The only grades you receive are for the lab, and three non-cumulative exams (no final exam). Average grades on the exams are usually in the low to mid-50s. The final grade is curved. Exams go a lot better if you keep up with the reading. The professor is pretty boring to listen to and doesn't use slideshows or anything during lectures, but he'll occasionally show a graph or diagram from the textbook.

Saslaw is easily the most boring professor at UVA. His lectures are impossible to follow, and he makes no sense. He puts absurd questions on his tests, and the average scores on all three were 55. That being said, going into each test, I knew nothing but the textbook. I studied that thing until I knew it like the back of my hand. The tests required no critical thinking, and with my knowledge of the book, I was able to average a 76 on all three tests, which gave me the highest grade in the whole class. So, in order to do well in this class, you don't really have to go to lecture. If you know the textbook, you will do well.

Saslaw is one of the most irritating, disconnected, genuinely unlikable people I have ever met. Our class had 8 people, so I decided not to drop it at the beginning of the semester because I sort of felt bad for him. Our classes consisted of 4-5 people trying (and ultimately giving up completely) to understand his random, incoherent rambling. He failed to inspire interest in the subject in anyone, and his irritating and condescending mannerisms ground on everyone's nerves. This class has no homework, no final, you do not have to go to lecture to do fine on the tests, and I STILL would not recommend it.

DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS!!!!!! I didn't know about course forum or ratemyprofessor when I signed up this class and taking this was the biggest mistake. All the reviews are true. Avoid at all costs. You can read the textbook, go to lecture, and still fail the tests. Horrible, horrible class and I actually like astronomy! Nope, nope, nope. Seriously- do not take this class.

Professor Saslaw is very kind, but very out of touch. He normally does not ever use slides to explain the material or write on the board. He speaks physics at you and hopes you have read enough to understand what is going on. There are only 3 exams and those exams are your only grades other than one astrology lab, which is very easy. The exams, however, are not. The average grade is normally around a 60 on the exams. If you do not have a prior background in science or have no love for it, I suggest taking a different class.

No need to go to class. His questions aren't from the book either. Basically you'll fail every exam and the curve is so much you'll end up with a B. Take the other professors to actually learn and get a B+ or even an A.

The class average on every test was a failing grade and studying more did nothing to change that for me. The questions weren't really from the book or lecture and he expected us to have a much deeper understanding of concepts than we should in the second level of intro astronomy. It was ridiculous and it sucked. If you have to take it for some reason, he doesn't have a mastering astronomy homework site but the study area of that helped me raise my test scores marginally I think. I just took all of the chapter quizzes offered and used the pearson site to make a deck of flashcards. Good luck :')

Do not take this class! I read the reviews and thought that "it's okay, I work hard and can do well." NO! Saslaw is completely out of touch with how to teach effectively and teaches straight out of the textbook. Even if you read the textbook, though, you still won't be able to do well. The content on the exam is obscure and specific and the short answers are aimed at very specific pieces of information with no room for different perspectives or plausible ideas. I met with Saslaw once to discuss some of my answers that I knew to be true from the textbook (but were not the "right" answers for the test)- and he was unwavering and not accepting of other viewpoints. The average on the first test was a 61 and the highest score received was a 75. There is a curve but it is not revealed till the end of the year.
The lectures are extremely dry and Saslaw is very hard of hearing, discouraging any questions from being asked. Overall, try and avoid this class. There are better astronomy courses with way better professors!!

This class is almost completely self taught and the material is almost always different from what's on the test. I would not recommend this course.

The professor fell asleep twice in class so don't expect an engaging lecture. The entire class is about the book so if you do well with just reading the book and testing then you will do fine, else, don't take this class.