Martha Gibson - University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI

Professor: Martha Gibson

Department: Philosophy

College: University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHILOS101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Martha made the power lectures feel short, and struck off the first exam score IF it was the worst of the semester (which for many students it is because of her testing style). She explained the material well, and she gave out exam questions before the exams. Her handwriting is terrible, but she rereads everything after she's done writing it.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHI101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Love her so much and love the class. Going to lecture is very important because we get the exam questions beforehand and she literally answers the questions in class and tells you what she wants. Only thing is watch out for her handwriting because its pretty awful so just pay attention so you dont have to read much of it. Love her!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Really great philosophy instructor! Her lectures can be a bit everywhere but provides great insight for a 100 level class. If you miss a class you will be lost, but the exams are simple and the workload is acceptable.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Really nice professor. Her handwriting sucks so you have to keep up with her talking. Don't miss a lecture or you'll be lost.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHI101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

The lectures are very boring and she has hard handwriting to read, but she's very clear on all the exams. You get the questions ahead of time, so you can prepare accordingly.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHILOS101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Overall a good professor. The lectures can be dry and boring but she's very clear with what is on the exams, practically gives you the answers.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHI101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Let me start off by saying that I hate hate hate philosophy. Worst subject matter ever; the only reason I got through this class was because Gibson was so fantastic. She was always so understanding. The material was super hard to read and would take me hours, but her lectures were straight forward.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHI101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

the content is super basic, so it wasn't hard. lectures are long and can drag on. explains all the stuff thats going to be on the test and gives test questions before hand. go to office hours if you need any help and you should pass just fine

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are boring af, and you really need to pay attention, because everything she explains are on the exams. She is pretty good at explaining things, but her handwriting is awful and trying to just follow along with what she writes on the board is super confusing. Be attentive and you should do fine.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHI562
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Best professor I ever had. People gripe about her being boring, but if you care about philosophy you will love her upper levels. Incredibly knowledgeable, and cares more about students then most profs in the Philosophy department. Takes absolutely no sh*t, but that's what makes her great.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I didn't read the material once all semester. She gives you all questions that will be on the exam and answers them all in lecture. So if you take good notes and go to lecture you will get the easiest A of your academic career. Note, her writing is not that good so sit close.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: 581
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Knowledgable and caring--there for students and a great source to learn from. enjoyed this class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: 562
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Martha is an amazing analytic philosopher and teacher. I got a D on the first assignment, and improved on each assignment because of her feedback and going to her office hours literally every week, and ended up getting an AB. She's funny, and pretty flexible with attendance and deadlines, esp. if you're having a rough semester. But don't abuse it.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHILOSOPHY101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I loved this class! Yes lectures are long and can sometimes be a little boring, but I felt the exams were very fair and if you take good notes you will have all the answers. The final is not cumulative either which is a big weight off your shoulders during finals week. Would recommend if you are in need of a humanities credit!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHILOS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Not overly hard but prof is extremely boring and dull. Hated going to lecture but she doesn't use Learn@UW and has a very vague syllabus that we had to request so you have to go to lecture to find anything out. Only take this if you are truly interested or need credits but dont care about the class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: 432
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Gibson has a very standard format, which includes very lengthy papers/exams. Her lectures are reading from notes or a book, limiting discussion. The course becomes a regurgitation of theory rather than critically engaging with texts. The department has a wealth of brilliant instructors, select carefully. Grad seminars are easier & more engaging.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHIL430
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Gibson was available to help when I needed it. She explained difficult materials very well.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She is a pretty good professor, but yes, the lectures are boring. The tests are pretty fair; my TA went through each individual question on the test and explained them to us so that we could study. Overall, a fair class. The readings were not overly important if you pay attention to what she says in lecture.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Lectures were SO boring. If you managed to stay awake, they were somewhat helpful because test answers were always given. However, you could also get a more concise answer from the TA during section for each test answer as well.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHILO101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

most boring class ever but its quite easy. gives all questions and answers to test and you just have to memorize them. DO NOT PURCHASE THE BOOK OR READINGS. totally unnecessary to success in the class. hopefully you get a friend in the class so you can trade off initialling each other for "mandatory" lectures. good luck not falling asleep