Professor profile for Harry Swinney
Student reviews of Harry Swinney
Review from a student who took PHY 301
-LECTURES- Swinney's lectures are great. It's easy to keep up, and he explains the ideas very thoroughly. He does lots of demonstrations to show the different laws and concepts. He is genuinely interested in teaching the class, and is always open to any questions you might have. It seems to make him happy when you ask questions. -WORKLOAD- You will usually have to read a few lessons in the book prior to each lecture. The reading assignments are very short compared to other classes. You can still understand his lectures without having read the book, but obviously you'll get a lot more out of it if you kind of have an idea about what he's talking about before class. A lot of times if I didn't have time to read the lessons before class, I flipped through the book and looked at the words in bold or the highlighted equations, and it was usually enough to not fall behind during lectures. There's one homework assignment due each week. They are usually 10-15 questions. Usually all except 2 or 3 of the questions will be very easy. Go to the TA's discussion sessions. Even if you totall understood all of the homework, a lot of times the TA will gives tips on other kinds of problems you need to know that weren't on the homework or other ways of looking at the concepts presented in class that Swinney didn't talk about. -TESTS- The tests are usually 20-25 questions. Also, the tests are usually a lot harder than the homework problems, but if you really understand the concepts behind the homework problems, you should be fine. Doing the problems in the book at the end of each chapter also helps. Even though the test is supposed to only take 2 hours, the TA usually gave us as much time as we needed to finish it. The final is cumulative and will be on all of the 15 chapters that were covered during the semester.
-LECTURES- Swinney's lectures are great. It's easy to keep up, and he explains the ideas very thoroughly. He does lots of demonstrations to show the different laws and concepts. He is genuinely interested in teaching the class, and is always open to any questions you might have. It seems to make him happy when you ask questions. -WORKLOAD- You will usually have to read a few lessons in the book prior to each lecture. The reading assignments are very short compared to other classes. You can still understand his lectures without having read the book, but obviously you'll get a lot more out of it if you kind of have an idea about what he's talking about before class. A lot of times if I didn't have time to read the lessons before class, I flipped through the book and looked at the words in bold or the highlighted equations, and it was usually enough to not fall behind during lectures. There's one homework assignment due each week. They are usually 10-15 questions. Usually all except 2 or 3 of the questions will be very easy. Go to the TA's discussion sessions. Even if you totall understood all of the homework, a lot of times the TA will gives tips on other kinds of problems you need to know that weren't on the homework or other ways of looking at the concepts presented in class that Swinney didn't talk about. -TESTS- The tests are usually 20-25 questions. Also, the tests are usually a lot harder than the homework problems, but if you really understand the concepts behind the homework problems, you should be fine. Doing the problems in the book at the end of each chapter also helps. Even though the test is supposed to only take 2 hours, the TA usually gave us as much time as we needed to finish it. The final is cumulative and will be on all of the 15 chapters that were covered during the semester.
Review from a student who took PHY301
Overall, he's pretty good. The only real downside to this class is that the tests are multiple choice, and you only have 50 minutes to do them. Just having to rush through them can cause you to get a bad grade, even if you know the material well. There isn't really a curve either, but the lowest of the 4 test grades is dropped.
Overall, he's pretty good. The only real downside to this class is that the tests are multiple choice, and you only have 50 minutes to do them. Just having to rush through them can cause you to get a bad grade, even if you know the material well. There isn't really a curve either, but the lowest of the 4 test grades is dropped.
Review from a student who took PHY 301
He's really good prof. The lectures are good, however, tests are hard. But if you really know the materials well, you can still score high. You can really learn things from the class. If you score well in this class, that definitely means that you have learnt the material well. A very good preparation for classes that follow.
He's really good prof. The lectures are good, however, tests are hard. But if you really know the materials well, you can still score high. You can really learn things from the class. If you score well in this class, that definitely means that you have learnt the material well. A very good preparation for classes that follow.
Review from a student who took PHY 301
Gr8 prof. Very enthusiastic, funny at times and really makes the stuff come alive. His tests are pretty fair and are mainly based on hws and CPS questions. He should definitely be your No.1 choice.
Gr8 prof. Very enthusiastic, funny at times and really makes the stuff come alive. His tests are pretty fair and are mainly based on hws and CPS questions. He should definitely be your No.1 choice.
Review from a student who took PHY303K
You will learn absolutely nothing in the class. It is basically a waste of time, I spent the entire semester attempting to teach myself. Office Hours only show you how to solve homework problems, but do not clearly explain concepts for conceptual questions on exams. If possible do not take any physics at UT, which is pretty sad to be honest... When will the school notice that there is a problem with the lower level physics classes. My advisor told me that almost 80% of the students in my major do not take physics II at UT... Hint: There is a major issue
You will learn absolutely nothing in the class. It is basically a waste of time, I spent the entire semester attempting to teach myself. Office Hours only show you how to solve homework problems, but do not clearly explain concepts for conceptual questions on exams. If possible do not take any physics at UT, which is pretty sad to be honest... When will the school notice that there is a problem with the lower level physics classes. My advisor told me that almost 80% of the students in my major do not take physics II at UT... Hint: There is a major issue
Review from a student who took PHY 303K
Review from a student who took PHY 303K
Review from a student who took PHY 303K
Review from a student who took PHY 303K