Professor Lerdau seems nice enough and knows his stuff, but his lectures are boring and you just have no idea what's relevant/important. Going in to the tests, I mainly just studied from the slides.

Lab somewhat unrelated, take with Manderino if you can.

If you're a Biology major and have already taken Ecology and Evolution, this class should be easy because a large majority of the concepts in Fundamentals of Ecology overlap with that class. That being said, Lerdau is the worst professor that I have had at UVa. He lost my second test and didn't find it until after I had already taken my final, resulting in me having absolutely no idea where I stood before the final. He's ridiculously disorganized, and though he is somewhat enthusiastic about the material, I don't think that he cares at all about the class next to his research or whatever he does. I don't recommend this class.

Don't look at the pie chart attached. It is old and outdated. Lerdau gave out only 20% A this year (8% A, 12% A-). Averages on the 3 exams were: 71% for the first exam, 60.5% for the second and 53% for the third. Class was curved and he gave students an opportunity to get 3 points added to the last test by going to a guest lecturer.

He handed our tests back about a week before the next test. There were no study guides and no logic to the material on the tests. Your only strategy is to write down literally everything and try to learn/memorize it all. On the upside, you can get by without reading the textbook, and there is effectively no work besides studying.

There are not as many A's. I don't think it was even 20%. Most people got B's in the class, and his tests are not that easy. You have to pay attention to his lecture and write everything down. Also, some of his test questions are hard, and there is no study guide. I would not take this class if you need an easy A class.

Lerdau is very enthusiastic about the class he is teaching so that is very helpful. He is very approachable too so that is always helpful. Your grade only consists of three tests, but they are not difficult at all as long as you put forth a little bit of effort before each one. The book isn't necessary if you go to class, but at the same time, the lectures aren't necessary if you use your book. My only problem is that his area of study is with plants, so he expects you to know a little more about that then I was expecting. Great person to take it with as long as you are willing to put forth a slight amount of effort.

Take this class, but go to class.

This class is really not that difficult as long as you go to lectures and take good notes. You don't need to read, since all the exam questions come from lecture. Just take really thorough notes and study the power points before exams, and you'll do fine.

Your grade is entirely composed of 3 exams (non-cumulative)--all short answer questions, and there is no final. Lerdau takes a while getting tests back, and his questions can be a bit confusing, but there's a generous curve. You seriously can't get less than a B as long as you attend lecture and take notes.

He's also really nice and helpful if you go to his office hours.

Would recommend this class. Lerdau is pretty good and the material is interesting.

Manuel Lerdau is a decent lecturer. He grew on me as the semester went on especially when you approach the latter portion of the lecture material. He has lots to say although much of what he does is read off the slides, sometimes he inserts an absolutely hilarious joke or has some interesting story relevant to today's world. Lerdau does a great job of explaining things well but unfortunately taking notes on everything he says didn't make the exams an easy A. He talks convincingly about many things that you think will be important and could be on the exam...and then the exam has a lot of questions that seem to come out of left field. At least that's how I felt. A reviewer mentioned before that he provides a study guide. He didn't during my course with him, which I'm sure would have made the exams much easier even though they aren't that difficult overall. Fine class, nothing special.