Gail Anderson - Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC

Professor: Gail Anderson

Department: Criminal Justice

College: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CRIM355
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Interesting class, but the amount of work that must be done to prep for the exams is ridiculous. You can study the textbook material and lectures, but she will still ask questions that come as a surprise to you. Exam was fair, but final was brutal. From a person who did exceptionally well on the midterm and paper, the final was very disappointing!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CRIM355
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Gail is such an underrated prof. Her lectures are very interesting and definitely keeps you on your toes. This is a fun course as she mentioned but it is also very hard. There is so much content covered throughout the semester. It's best to relisten to lecture recordings when studying and to make flashcards. She loves to test on lists.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CRIM355
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Gail truly knows her stuff and you will learn a lot from her; however, she is very strict on marking guidelines and is very specific. You will have to know intricate details, albeit, most are emphasized in lecture. Would recommend if you're interested in forensics, but its not an easy A.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CRIM402
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

The final for this class is absolutely ridiculous. Questions based on personal opinions rather than material covered. Was doing great in the class up until the end. Beware that no amount of studying can prepare you for the irrelevant questions that are asked on the final exam - which is worth 40%

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CRIM402
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I have taken a few of her courses online and in class and she is a great prof, true expert in her field, clear expectations in courses. Lecture material in class important for exams, textbook important for online course exams. You learn alot.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CRIM355
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I took this class online and thought it was great. However, the exams were difficult. She wants you remember all the little details. We were given modules (which helped understand the chapter better) and the textbook (which you had to read). Overall, if you put effort into this course it shouldn't be too bad. The paper was not that difficult.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CRIM402
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I took this class online and it was all based on the textbook. The exams were tough, but if you study hard it shouldn't be too hard. The TA graded the exams hard. You had to take all your notes from the textbook (no modules- just a general outline of the chapter). You need to work hard to achieve a good grade.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CRIM355
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Gail is amazing, honestly it is a privilege to take a class with such an accomplished person. She is so sweet and down to earth, and what she has done career wise is seriously inspirational. Lectures are very interesting, tests are a little tough so get ready to read the textbook. I have taken several of her classes and I never cease to be amazed!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CRIM355
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Gail is one of the most intelligent profs I've ever had. This class is extremely FAIR. Print out notes and bring to class to add to them, attend each lecture and tutorial. Do not stress over the textbook details, focus on her lecture notes when you study. MT was super doable and fair, the paper was easy and the final was pretty fair. Put in work.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CRIM355
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I think the in class version is way easier, they give you all the answers to the tests before but if you do it online you will never find them. The tests are useless, major concepts are ignored and small details that you would find pointless to study are on the exam! The assignments were a joke, 5 minutes max per week, easy marking on paper.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CRIM355
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

The class is NOT easy. Even if you come to every lecture and read the textbook, the exams are very hard. The questions are really specific and random. Probably won't get higher than a C unless you read the textbook every week.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CRIM355
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

took CRIM 355 online, material is not hard to learn but there is A LOT TO KNOW. you have to literally know every tiny detail in the textbook. exams are extremely detailed. momo as the TA marks so hard, but she also marks pretty easy on the paper and participation. still, this is a stressful class. avg on exams were 61% and 70%. not recommended

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CRIM355
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Very interesting course. Gail is extremely knowledgeable and knows the material inside out. However, she expects the same from students for the exams. Exams are very difficult - marking is incredibly specific. Definitely not a GPA booster.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CRIM355
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Reads off her lecture slides, while TAs focus on important parts of the lecture. However, her exams are not reflective of the material.I scored well above average on the paper and the midterm but the final was an absolute mystery.NOT A GPA BOOSTER

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CRIM355
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

NOT a GPA booster. Exams are hard. Tutorials are useless.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CRIM355
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Despite learning a lot from the class and Gail being very knowledgable, I do not understand how this course was set up. The exams were unreasonable. The tutorials (not mandatory but should be for mark booster), where the TAs even gave us hints, did NOT help. Too much emphasis on tests that are impossible.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CRIM355
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This was one of my favourite classes I took in my undergrad. Gail has so much experience in the field, she has a passion for forensic sciences and knows what she is talking about. Every lecture was so interesting and she could always talk about her own experiences on the job. Excellent prof!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CRIM355
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Class was interesting, but exams were horrible. The final exam consisted of over 10 pages on short answers only. The short answers were usually 2-4 marks each also. Tutorials were pretty much useless.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CRIM355
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

cannot stress enough how backwards the exams are. maybe its because gail is from the UK. you can study your brains out and know everything in lecture in side and out and I guarantee you, you will not get a high grade..questions - easy. her marking.... the TA follows a SET answer sheet, deviate from it, you're screwed. class avg C+ .... wow

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CRIM355
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

How to put this class in words? I got 3 A's this semester and got 93% on the term paper for 355, but because of her exam marking, got a B overall. Do not take this class for a GPA booster. Exams were the most ambiguous I've ever had at SFU and a poor reflection of course material. That being said, she is knowledgable,textbook is very interesting