BSCI337 | PlanetTerp

Information	Review
Leo Shapiro BSCI337 Expecting a B Anonymous 05/24/2024	I enjoyed biology of insects, it was a super interesting course and I came to love lab. I was really not looking forward to handling insects, killing them, and then manipulating their dead little bodies but I came to really like it and I plan to continue my insect collection that I started in this class. There's a LOT of memorization, but I thought it was fun to learn family identifications. I didn't really go to lecture much because it started at 9:30am and that just didn't vibe with me. The first two midterms I bombed (C-'s) because they were mostly open answer. I then got really good grades on the last midterm and final (As) because they were mostly multiple choice/fill in the blank. Most people were opposite to me it seems, a lot of the multiple choice were kind of "trick" questions that tested how much of the material you really knew. I think having the two exam styles really helps balance things out so people who have strengths in different areas are still able to succeed in the course. I had over a 100% in lab, but did okay in lecture and didn't turn in 1 out of 2 lecture assignments. He totals grades in his own way so he fully disable point totaling on canvas so none of us had any clue what our grades looked like the entire semester, which was annoying to say the least. He will either equally weight all the exams or throw one out from your grade, whichever gives you the highest point total. I ended with a B, which I wish I had gotten a higher grade since I worked really hard in lab, but I am relieved to have received a well-rounded passing grade. I would not say this is an easy class, but if you find a passion in the material it becomes rewarding to learn.
Leo Shapiro BSCI337 Expecting a C- Anonymous 05/31/2023	Personally, this is the second class I have taken with him, and have regretted it. He is a great guy, but his teaching method is incompatible with my way of learning. BSCI337 was a super fun class and luckily with the homework/ lab assignments and him dropping the lowest exam, I was able to pass at least. When I took BSCI160 in the past with him, I failed and had to retake it in the Summer session where I got an A with a different professor. He grades weirdly and expects you to memorize really specific stuff that he doesn't mention in the study guide. His lectures felt tedious and monotone so I could not really pay attention in lecture. The exams also stressed me out, no matter how much studying I did I could just not figure out this class. That being said, a lot of the people around me would get over 100 % on the exams due to extra credit, so really think about how you learn before taking a class with this professor. Strong memorization skills are key to this class.
Jian Wang BSCI337 Expecting an A- Anonymous 10/14/2021	He means well and he's definitely knowledgeable, but communication is horrible. Doesn't understand questions, exam question prompts are written in very poor english, doesn't respond to emails, not very willing to work with students, expectations are way too high for not being explained.
Jian Wang BSCI337 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 03/11/2020	nice guy but he cannot speak english. explanations are so bad and he doesn't understand questions either. he expects us to be experts on insects and doesn't tell us what is on the exam. he basically says memorize everything but you can't learn it cuz taking notes is impossible when he doesn't speak english and the ppts arent the most detailed

Leo Shapiro
BSCI337

Expecting a B
Anonymous
05/24/2024

I enjoyed biology of insects, it was a super interesting course and I came to love lab. I was really not looking forward to handling insects, killing them, and then manipulating their dead little bodies but I came to really like it and I plan to continue my insect collection that I started in this class. There's a LOT of memorization, but I thought it was fun to learn family identifications. I didn't really go to lecture much because it started at 9:30am and that just didn't vibe with me. The first two midterms I bombed (C-'s) because they were mostly open answer. I then got really good grades on the last midterm and final (As) because they were mostly multiple choice/fill in the blank. Most people were opposite to me it seems, a lot of the multiple choice were kind of "trick" questions that tested how much of the material you really knew. I think having the two exam styles really helps balance things out so people who have strengths in different areas are still able to succeed in the course. I had over a 100% in lab, but did okay in lecture and didn't turn in 1 out of 2 lecture assignments. He totals grades in his own way so he fully disable point totaling on canvas so none of us had any clue what our grades looked like the entire semester, which was annoying to say the least. He will either equally weight all the exams or throw one out from your grade, whichever gives you the highest point total. I ended with a B, which I wish I had gotten a higher grade since I worked really hard in lab, but I am relieved to have received a well-rounded passing grade. I would not say this is an easy class, but if you find a passion in the material it becomes rewarding to learn.

Leo Shapiro
BSCI337

Expecting a C-
Anonymous
05/31/2023

Personally, this is the second class I have taken with him, and have regretted it. He is a great guy, but his teaching method is incompatible with my way of learning. BSCI337 was a super fun class and luckily with the homework/ lab assignments and him dropping the lowest exam, I was able to pass at least. When I took BSCI160 in the past with him, I failed and had to retake it in the Summer session where I got an A with a different professor. He grades weirdly and expects you to memorize really specific stuff that he doesn't mention in the study guide. His lectures felt tedious and monotone so I could not really pay attention in lecture. The exams also stressed me out, no matter how much studying I did I could just not figure out this class. That being said, a lot of the people around me would get over 100 % on the exams due to extra credit, so really think about how you learn before taking a class with this professor. Strong memorization skills are key to this class.

Jian Wang
BSCI337

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
10/14/2021

He means well and he's definitely knowledgeable, but communication is horrible. Doesn't understand questions, exam question prompts are written in very poor english, doesn't respond to emails, not very willing to work with students, expectations are way too high for not being explained.

Jian Wang
BSCI337

Expecting a B+
Anonymous
03/11/2020

nice guy but he cannot speak english. explanations are so bad and he doesn't understand questions either. he expects us to be experts on insects and doesn't tell us what is on the exam. he basically says memorize everything but you can't learn it cuz taking notes is impossible when he doesn't speak english and the ppts arent the most detailed

Reviews for BSCI337