BSCI135 | PlanetTerp

Information	Review
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting a B Anonymous 09/09/2024	Edgar favorite lecturer at UMD. He puts a lot of effort into making this course digestible to newcomers and also enjoyable overall, bringing in real-world examples of the plants he discusses or maybe bringing in a chocolate bar for everyone to tie in the lesson on cocao. He is the professor that I wish would teach every course as he really does have a great way of lecturing and involving students in the lessons. Homework is frequent and labs are sometimes confusing but I do not delegate all of that to Edgar himself as the lab TAs also have a lot of content to go through during lab. The course is generally not hard as long as you pay attention, use what he provides you, and spend some time with the material. The course was enjoyable and I would definitely take him again.
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/15/2024	Professor Moctezuma is genuinely one of the nicest professors you’ll meet on campus. One of the only faculty I’ve met that genuinely feels like he cares about his students and provides lots of ways to succeed in the class, even going as far to bringing bagels and fruit for us on the morning of the final. The class itself can be a little boring as his lecture style largely consists of reading off slides, but actually attending lecture and doing some flashcards before every exam should be enough to set you up to do well. Labs were also easy, if not a little boring and long at times, although this largely depends on your TA and how quickly they go through the lab. Overall, as long as you don’t mind putting in 3-4 hours of memorization prep for each exam, you’ll do very well in the class. He also hosts review sessions before each exam, where he typically highlights most of what will actually be on the exam and strongly hints at some potential answers. The extra credit opportunities provided are also enough to help save your grade in case you end up doing poorly on an exam or two. Would highly recommend.
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting a B- Anonymous 05/10/2024	Do not take this class. The lectures are extremely boring. I attended for the first unit and got a 75% on the exam, I did not attend for the second exam and got a 75% on the exam, thus rendering them useless. The exams are pure memorization and written in a way that does not care about content mastery. The concept is in theory a cool idea but is taught poorly. Look elsewhere for a gen ed. Professor Moctezuma is a nice guy but the class structure is useless. The lab is an easy 100% if you show up...tbh can be on your phone for most of it and never lasts the full time. The class is graded on a 400 point structure which is not equitable. If you take this class be sure to get good at memorization. No idea how this professor and class has a 4 star LOL
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting a C- jaylxn310 05/09/2024	Prof. Moctezuma was very chill and very engaging with us. Funny guy too. The lectures were very straightforward but the exams were kinda hard as they were worded weirdly and confusing and makes you second guess your answers. Definitely study and ask him questions when it pertains to that. I didn't understand why he wanted us to pay for Tophat, a system that works the exact same way as Point Systems. It's providing an unfair advantage for students who can't afford or don't want to pay extra for a class that's a simple GenEd. It made me upset that he offered extra participation points to students who used that and didn't offer alternate solutions for those that couldn't afford it. There were about 120 students in this course and only 1/4 of them used TopHat. It was ridiculous. He also needs to be prepared for when he does the study sessions. The first time there was a study session, he said there was going to be a Zoom for those who couldn't make it but he couldn't get the Zoom working so the students that were present had to frantically get a zoom open for their peers that weren't present. He didn't offer any reimbursement towards the test and left the rest of us to dry who couldn't be present. Also when the review sessions happened for what I could be a part of, they didn't really help and didn't go over the main ideas of the topics. The labs were chill but they're a huge part of your grade so make sure you go. They're honestly pretty simple and get you engaged with the concepts and ideas of the class.
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting an A Anonymous 04/24/2024	Easy class to get your lab credit if you're non-STEM. Three nonculmulative exams that aren't too difficult; you do need to study lectures to do well but all the content is on the slides he posts. Just go to lectures, go to labs, and complete assignments and it's a really easy A.
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 02/19/2024	Professor Moctezuma is one of the nicest professors I've ever had. I took BSCI135 over the summer, but the way he presented the material made the class less unbearable. He is very passionate about what he teaches and he shows that he cares about his students. My only complaint is that the labs are poorly worded and thus super confusing.
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting a C pierogi 12/20/2023	Moctezuma is one of the nicest professors I have had yet. He loves the topics he teaches, and he tries to get everyone interested too, even to the point of bringing snacks as examples relating to that days lecture, like coffee, tea, chocolates, apples etc. I wouldn't say this class is an easy A (unless you already know the contents well) but it is definitely very doable to get a A/B if you put in a bit more effort than I did.
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/20/2023	Took this class as an easy lab credit. Way more work than it needed to be. Labs were easy but exams were all memorization and sucked. The concept was actually interesting but I found myself spending too much time prepping for this class instead of my major classes.
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 12/15/2023	On the daily this class is super easy; you don't really need to attend lecture because he posts all the slides and there are lots of small assignments to help boost your grade. But the tests are HARD. For someone like me who knows nothing about the content, there was a lot to memorize and the study guides are very confusing. Tests are mostly multiple choice but it is straight memorization from 9-10 lectures that are 30-40 slides each, so you really need to put the effort in to do well. If you need a science gen-ed this one is not too much work, but prepare to study a lot for the exams.
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/15/2023	Proff Mectezuma is very passionate about what he teaches and cares a lot about his students. The lectures can get a little boring and repetitive but I do recommend going as much as possible as it is the fastest and easiest way to prepare for his exams. His exams are fair if not a little memorization heavy. The Labs are easy, with very little outside of class work. Overall this class is an easy way to fulfill your DSNL gen-ed.
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 06/12/2023	Definitely take this class for your lab credit. It's probably one of the easiest options, plus the content is pretty interesting (at least to me). It is a lot of memorization, but that's any science class. You might as well take one that's interesting. Plus, it is really easy to cushion your grade so that if you do bomb the exams, you won't flunk the class. He offers extra credit and so do the lab TAs, and again the content is not miserable to learn in the first place so if you put even a little effort into studying you should be fine. I highly recommend this as a non-STEM major.
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting an A Anonymous 06/05/2023	Professor Moctezuma is a very nice professor who is very passionate about what he discusses during lecture. I am a CCJS major, so this is outside of my interests, but Moctezuma manages to make the class interesting. I took BSCI135 over the summer, which can be overwhelming since the class only meets for about 6 weeks, which is for Summer Session 1. The only problem I have with the class is that the Labs are very confusing. It may be better to take it in the Fall or Spring Semester, since the pacing is more relaxed (if that makes any sense). Moctezuma is a great professor and a great guy to talk to.
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting an A- Anonymous 05/21/2023	Nicest professor at UMD. Genuinely cares about his students and is very passionate about course materials. Labs are generally easy to get full credit on. Exams are pure memorization so if that’s not your thing you probably won’t do well on them. Edgar is great as long as you have a good memory.
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/19/2023	Definitely take this class for your lab credit. The content is honestly interesting and it is not hard to get an A in the class. You definitely have to put effort into studying, but all you need to do is review the lecture slides. I recommend going to each lecture even though many people didn't, just so that you get participation points. Overall the class is really easy and Dr. Moctezuma is a cool guy.
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting an A- Anonymous 05/19/2023	This class is too much work for gen ed. We went over a brand new PowerPoint every class on a new topic and then were expected to memorize almost everything on 9-10 PowerPoint for each exam. The classes themselves were fine and somewhat interesting, but I found myself putting in more time studying for this class than for my major classes. I would find an easier science lab credit.
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting an A- Anonymous 01/25/2023	The class is relatively easy as long as you remember to do the lecture quizzes (which I forgot to do a couple of times) and really study and memorize every bolded term on the slides. It's clear that Moctezuma is really passionate about what he teaches but you really don't need to show up to lecture-- I barely got an A- by only studying the slides 3 days before each exam. Overall, I learned more in this class than many other gen-eds and I highly recommend it.
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/13/2022	DO NOT BUY THE TEXTBOOK, waste of money. Ask for a printed syllabus because the one online is locked and he never fixed that. Very nice professor who wants you to do well. He hosted a review before each exam (the evening before which sucked though) and they helped A LOT so I advise that you go. This class is alot of memorization, so keep that in mind. I took this for my natural lab credit and the lab portion was so easy. A 2 quiz for each chapter we learn and 2 attempts are allowed (highest score kept). This is probably your easiest route to take if looking to fulfill the natural lab credit. People like myself began not attending lecture once they realized its pure memorization, but the professor noticed and got upset. He really is a nice guy and did his best to make the class engaging to students.
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting an A Anonymous 09/28/2022	This is the best science class you can take here. Moctezuma is a legend.
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/16/2022	As long as you studied the material before the exams you should be fine. Quizlet is your friend. Most of the negative reviews are probably because they didn't bother putting in the time to study. Professor Moctezuma is a very accommodating and easy to talk to professor. You'll learn a lot.
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting a B Anonymous 05/12/2022	Class is not as easy at it seems, and he makes the exams way too hard.
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Anonymous 12/16/2021	He is a really nice guy but this class is pure memorization of facts. His exams often have very specific facts. The class is purely him reading the slides, occasionally he has activity sheets that go along but i ended up skipping classes. The lab was super easy but exams are too difficult because of their specificity.
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting an A Anonymous 06/01/2019	Moctezuma is an all star. Memorize the lecture slides before exams. Do all the extra credit. You'll get an A
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/08/2016	BSCI135 is a GREAT course. I would recommend this class for anyone who's trying to fulfill their Gen Ed lab credit. The material is very interesting, and he keeps the class engaged by throwing in some jokes here and there. You learn about food - what's there not to like? He says there's an optional textbook you can get - don't get it. He bases his exam questions off of the powerpoints, some movies we watched, and articles we read. There are a lot of extra credit opportunities at the end of the semester which is great for people close to jumping up a grade, and they're not hard at all. This class doesn't require a lot of effort - just put in some time to study for exams. The labs were easy and interesting as well - we got to cook food in lab! Take this course! You won't regret it. Moctezuma is a great, funny, and helpful guy and the TA, Annie, is the best!
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/11/2015	The class itself is pretty easy. There were three exams that weren't hard, and in each class he had a worksheet based on the notes that day, which you typically turned in the next class. Labs were an absolute joke, and you often got to leave early. However, the lectures got kind of boring; you'd fill in one blank on a powerpoint, and otherwise basically not pay attention. There were a few extra credit opportunities, so definitely do those. DO NOT BUY THE TEXTBOOK, all the exams were based off the powerpoints. Overall, easy class, the subject matter was interesting enough, and there was actually minimal info about real biology, it mostly focused on the nutrition of foods, how they're grown, and how they might affect you (i.e. caffeine wgives you energy, etc.). If you're a non-science major looking for a lab requirement, definitely take this class.
Edgar Moctezuma BSCI135 Expecting a B Anonymous 11/19/2013	This class is super annoying for many reasons. It's super boring and easy in lecture. He gives you a powerpoint before each class with one word blanked on each page. You then listen to him ramble on for 75 minutes. The exams, though, are super difficult. They aren't what you're expecting at all. The exams are actually difficult! Pick one, Moctezuma! Hard or easy! The lab was easy, but TA John Clay is annoying. Bottom line: Moctezuma is a cool dude you can probably grab a beer with, but this class is deceptively harder than it seems.

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting a B
Anonymous
09/09/2024

Edgar favorite lecturer at UMD. He puts a lot of effort into making this course digestible to newcomers and also enjoyable overall, bringing in real-world examples of the plants he discusses or maybe bringing in a chocolate bar for everyone to tie in the lesson on cocao. He is the professor that I wish would teach every course as he really does have a great way of lecturing and involving students in the lessons. Homework is frequent and labs are sometimes confusing but I do not delegate all of that to Edgar himself as the lab TAs also have a lot of content to go through during lab. The course is generally not hard as long as you pay attention, use what he provides you, and spend some time with the material. The course was enjoyable and I would definitely take him again.

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/15/2024

Professor Moctezuma is genuinely one of the nicest professors you’ll meet on campus. One of the only faculty I’ve met that genuinely feels like he cares about his students and provides lots of ways to succeed in the class, even going as far to bringing bagels and fruit for us on the morning of the final. The class itself can be a little boring as his lecture style largely consists of reading off slides, but actually attending lecture and doing some flashcards before every exam should be enough to set you up to do well. Labs were also easy, if not a little boring and long at times, although this largely depends on your TA and how quickly they go through the lab. Overall, as long as you don’t mind putting in 3-4 hours of memorization prep for each exam, you’ll do very well in the class. He also hosts review sessions before each exam, where he typically highlights most of what will actually be on the exam and strongly hints at some potential answers. The extra credit opportunities provided are also enough to help save your grade in case you end up doing poorly on an exam or two. Would highly recommend.

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting a B-
Anonymous
05/10/2024

Do not take this class. The lectures are extremely boring. I attended for the first unit and got a 75% on the exam, I did not attend for the second exam and got a 75% on the exam, thus rendering them useless. The exams are pure memorization and written in a way that does not care about content mastery. The concept is in theory a cool idea but is taught poorly. Look elsewhere for a gen ed. Professor Moctezuma is a nice guy but the class structure is useless. The lab is an easy 100% if you show up...tbh can be on your phone for most of it and never lasts the full time. The class is graded on a 400 point structure which is not equitable. If you take this class be sure to get good at memorization. No idea how this professor and class has a 4 star LOL

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting a C-
jaylxn310
05/09/2024

Prof. Moctezuma was very chill and very engaging with us. Funny guy too. The lectures were very straightforward but the exams were kinda hard as they were worded weirdly and confusing and makes you second guess your answers. Definitely study and ask him questions when it pertains to that. I didn't understand why he wanted us to pay for Tophat, a system that works the exact same way as Point Systems. It's providing an unfair advantage for students who can't afford or don't want to pay extra for a class that's a simple GenEd. It made me upset that he offered extra participation points to students who used that and didn't offer alternate solutions for those that couldn't afford it. There were about 120 students in this course and only 1/4 of them used TopHat. It was ridiculous. He also needs to be prepared for when he does the study sessions. The first time there was a study session, he said there was going to be a Zoom for those who couldn't make it but he couldn't get the Zoom working so the students that were present had to frantically get a zoom open for their peers that weren't present. He didn't offer any reimbursement towards the test and left the rest of us to dry who couldn't be present. Also when the review sessions happened for what I could be a part of, they didn't really help and didn't go over the main ideas of the topics. The labs were chill but they're a huge part of your grade so make sure you go. They're honestly pretty simple and get you engaged with the concepts and ideas of the class.

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting an A
Anonymous
04/24/2024

Easy class to get your lab credit if you're non-STEM. Three nonculmulative exams that aren't too difficult; you do need to study lectures to do well but all the content is on the slides he posts. Just go to lectures, go to labs, and complete assignments and it's a really easy A.

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting a B+
Anonymous
02/19/2024

Professor Moctezuma is one of the nicest professors I've ever had. I took BSCI135 over the summer, but the way he presented the material made the class less unbearable. He is very passionate about what he teaches and he shows that he cares about his students. My only complaint is that the labs are poorly worded and thus super confusing.

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting a C
pierogi
12/20/2023

Moctezuma is one of the nicest professors I have had yet. He loves the topics he teaches, and he tries to get everyone interested too, even to the point of bringing snacks as examples relating to that days lecture, like coffee, tea, chocolates, apples etc. I wouldn't say this class is an easy A (unless you already know the contents well) but it is definitely very doable to get a A/B if you put in a bit more effort than I did.

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/20/2023

Took this class as an easy lab credit. Way more work than it needed to be. Labs were easy but exams were all memorization and sucked. The concept was actually interesting but I found myself spending too much time prepping for this class instead of my major classes.

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting a B+
Anonymous
12/15/2023

On the daily this class is super easy; you don't really need to attend lecture because he posts all the slides and there are lots of small assignments to help boost your grade. But the tests are HARD. For someone like me who knows nothing about the content, there was a lot to memorize and the study guides are very confusing. Tests are mostly multiple choice but it is straight memorization from 9-10 lectures that are 30-40 slides each, so you really need to put the effort in to do well. If you need a science gen-ed this one is not too much work, but prepare to study a lot for the exams.

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/15/2023

Proff Mectezuma is very passionate about what he teaches and cares a lot about his students. The lectures can get a little boring and repetitive but I do recommend going as much as possible as it is the fastest and easiest way to prepare for his exams. His exams are fair if not a little memorization heavy. The Labs are easy, with very little outside of class work. Overall this class is an easy way to fulfill your DSNL gen-ed.

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting an A+
Anonymous
06/12/2023

Definitely take this class for your lab credit. It's probably one of the easiest options, plus the content is pretty interesting (at least to me). It is a lot of memorization, but that's any science class. You might as well take one that's interesting. Plus, it is really easy to cushion your grade so that if you do bomb the exams, you won't flunk the class. He offers extra credit and so do the lab TAs, and again the content is not miserable to learn in the first place so if you put even a little effort into studying you should be fine. I highly recommend this as a non-STEM major.

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting an A
Anonymous
06/05/2023

Professor Moctezuma is a very nice professor who is very passionate about what he discusses during lecture. I am a CCJS major, so this is outside of my interests, but Moctezuma manages to make the class interesting. I took BSCI135 over the summer, which can be overwhelming since the class only meets for about 6 weeks, which is for Summer Session 1. The only problem I have with the class is that the Labs are very confusing. It may be better to take it in the Fall or Spring Semester, since the pacing is more relaxed (if that makes any sense). Moctezuma is a great professor and a great guy to talk to.

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
05/21/2023

Nicest professor at UMD. Genuinely cares about his students and is very passionate about course materials. Labs are generally easy to get full credit on. Exams are pure memorization so if that’s not your thing you probably won’t do well on them. Edgar is great as long as you have a good memory.

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/19/2023

Definitely take this class for your lab credit. The content is honestly interesting and it is not hard to get an A in the class. You definitely have to put effort into studying, but all you need to do is review the lecture slides. I recommend going to each lecture even though many people didn't, just so that you get participation points. Overall the class is really easy and Dr. Moctezuma is a cool guy.

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
05/19/2023

This class is too much work for gen ed. We went over a brand new PowerPoint every class on a new topic and then were expected to memorize almost everything on 9-10 PowerPoint for each exam. The classes themselves were fine and somewhat interesting, but I found myself putting in more time studying for this class than for my major classes. I would find an easier science lab credit.

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
01/25/2023

The class is relatively easy as long as you remember to do the lecture quizzes (which I forgot to do a couple of times) and really study and memorize every bolded term on the slides. It's clear that Moctezuma is really passionate about what he teaches but you really don't need to show up to lecture-- I barely got an A- by only studying the slides 3 days before each exam. Overall, I learned more in this class than many other gen-eds and I highly recommend it.

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/13/2022

DO NOT BUY THE TEXTBOOK, waste of money. Ask for a printed syllabus because the one online is locked and he never fixed that. Very nice professor who wants you to do well. He hosted a review before each exam (the evening before which sucked though) and they helped A LOT so I advise that you go. This class is alot of memorization, so keep that in mind. I took this for my natural lab credit and the lab portion was so easy. A 2 quiz for each chapter we learn and 2 attempts are allowed (highest score kept). This is probably your easiest route to take if looking to fulfill the natural lab credit. People like myself began not attending lecture once they realized its pure memorization, but the professor noticed and got upset. He really is a nice guy and did his best to make the class engaging to students.

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting an A
Anonymous
09/28/2022

This is the best science class you can take here. Moctezuma is a legend.

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/16/2022

As long as you studied the material before the exams you should be fine. Quizlet is your friend. Most of the negative reviews are probably because they didn't bother putting in the time to study. Professor Moctezuma is a very accommodating and easy to talk to professor. You'll learn a lot.

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting a B
Anonymous
05/12/2022

Class is not as easy at it seems, and he makes the exams way too hard.

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Anonymous
12/16/2021

He is a really nice guy but this class is pure memorization of facts. His exams often have very specific facts. The class is purely him reading the slides, occasionally he has activity sheets that go along but i ended up skipping classes. The lab was super easy but exams are too difficult because of their specificity.

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting an A
Anonymous
06/01/2019

Moctezuma is an all star. Memorize the lecture slides before exams. Do all the extra credit. You'll get an A

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/08/2016

BSCI135 is a GREAT course. I would recommend this class for anyone who's trying to fulfill their Gen Ed lab credit. The material is very interesting, and he keeps the class engaged by throwing in some jokes here and there. You learn about food - what's there not to like? He says there's an optional textbook you can get - don't get it. He bases his exam questions off of the powerpoints, some movies we watched, and articles we read. There are a lot of extra credit opportunities at the end of the semester which is great for people close to jumping up a grade, and they're not hard at all. This class doesn't require a lot of effort - just put in some time to study for exams. The labs were easy and interesting as well - we got to cook food in lab! Take this course! You won't regret it. Moctezuma is a great, funny, and helpful guy and the TA, Annie, is the best!

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/11/2015

The class itself is pretty easy. There were three exams that weren't hard, and in each class he had a worksheet based on the notes that day, which you typically turned in the next class. Labs were an absolute joke, and you often got to leave early. However, the lectures got kind of boring; you'd fill in one blank on a powerpoint, and otherwise basically not pay attention. There were a few extra credit opportunities, so definitely do those. DO NOT BUY THE TEXTBOOK, all the exams were based off the powerpoints. Overall, easy class, the subject matter was interesting enough, and there was actually minimal info about real biology, it mostly focused on the nutrition of foods, how they're grown, and how they might affect you (i.e. caffeine wgives you energy, etc.). If you're a non-science major looking for a lab requirement, definitely take this class.

Edgar Moctezuma
BSCI135

Expecting a B
Anonymous
11/19/2013

This class is super annoying for many reasons. It's super boring and easy in lecture. He gives you a powerpoint before each class with one word blanked on each page. You then listen to him ramble on for 75 minutes. The exams, though, are super difficult. They aren't what you're expecting at all. The exams are actually difficult! Pick one, Moctezuma! Hard or easy! The lab was easy, but TA John Clay is annoying. Bottom line: Moctezuma is a cool dude you can probably grab a beer with, but this class is deceptively harder than it seems.

Reviews for BSCI135