Perry Neel - James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Professor: Perry Neel

Department: Philosophy

College: James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: REL102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Your grade consists of 4 tests 20-30 questions each & 4 short(1 page) essays as the final. You probably won't like his sense of humor. Lots of reading. Lectures are boring unless you like philosophy. Some kids will get an A by just taking good notes and others will read and take notes and still not get an A. I enjoyed it but most will not.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: REL102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Neel is not that bad a professor. He has a crude and sarcastic sense of humor. He does go against a lot of traditional Christian beliefs, so heads up. Just make sure to show up and take notes. I barely read and got an A but only missed once! There are three easy tests (questions are specific and come from lecture). The final is a essay.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: REL102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not an easy gen ed. It's honestly hard to stay away for this class. I regret not listening to people on here. IF you decide to take this class: make sure you read the readings, take your own notes before class, take notes on everything he says during class and study very specific stuff. Tests are multiple choice (25-30 q) and final is a take home.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: REL102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you have strong opinions towards religion then I would not recommend taking him because a lot of the readings go against traditional beliefs. The books are difficult but if you get an overall understanding of them you'll be fine. Lecture helps so much so make sure you go. Tests are hard but he curves. He kind of has an eccentric personality

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: REL102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Neel is a very intelligent man who knows what he's talking about. However, he's also the type of person to treat every question like a dumb one so he comes off extremely unapproachable. 11 chapter books required. One per week. But in class we spend the entire time going over a summary of it. If you're a good reader, you'll be fine.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: REL102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I generally like the guy as a person but he is a terrible educator. He just spits words at you and at times it can be confusing. He expects you to remember quotes word for word. However, he gives you extra points on the tests because you're going to do poorly.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HUM102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Hilarious guy, I expected to hate the class but he made it worthwhile. Class is easy as long as you go, he lectures everything you need to know. I got an A without reading a single book just by attending class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HUM102
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I am currently taking his class now. He thinks that he is funny but he's not. He doesn't give you full understanding to effectively pass the quiz. You're basically in a "Book Club" because all you do is read books and we "talk" about it in class. Majority of my class is currently failing. The highest grade is a 64. The Final is Take Home.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HUM102
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's hilarious. I didn't expect to like this class at all, I only took it to fulfill my GenEd requirement. The only assignments you have all semester are 7 quizzes that are totally based off his lectures (only read one book and the quizzes were easy) so GO TO CLASS! Other than that your final is a take home final made up of essays so not bad at all

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GHUM102
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Neel is a very strange, but smart man. His lectures can be boring at times but the content is usually very interesting. Do the readings and take good notes! The quizzes can be difficult if you didn't pay attention in class. He assigns a very complex final paper at the end, but if you took good notes, you shouldn't have too much trouble.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HUM102
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

after reading all the reviews, I was absolutely dreading this class--what a waste of energy. He's really cool. Not always politically correct, so if you're one of THOSE people, not recommended. If you take good notes during the large books, and read the small ones (I promise you can do it), you're good. Notes will also help you with the final

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HUM102
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I absolutely loved Professor Neel's class! He comes of as quirky and weird, but once you get to know him, he is a really funny guy. Quizzes were not hard as long as you took good notes in class and payed attention. His final was REALLY hard, but overall, I would take this class again.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HUM102
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

So much reading! If you use sparknotes you will fail the quizzes miserably. Even if you read and take extensive notes you still will probably get a B or a C on the quizzes. I managed to pull off B's for the most part but everyone sitting around me were getting C's and D's. You cannot ask questions! He is a total downer, the class is a gpa bomb

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HUM102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very funny guy, but his lectures can get kind of boring, and you'll probably find yourself dozing off in early classes. There are several quizzes throughout the semester and they're all based on his lectures of the readings, so PAY ATTENTION AND TAKE NOTES!! He can be a little condescending at times but he's a good professor.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GHUM102
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I highly recommend finding a different course in this cluster if at all possible. There was so much reading in this class, I could never get caught up. Very frequent quizzes. The professor is very cynical.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HUM102
• 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:

I didn't like him too much BUT his class opened up my perspective. Get ready to question things and accept ambiguity.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HUM102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The hardest Gened class I've ever taken. 7 quizzes and drops the lowest. everything on the quizzes comes from his lectures, if you skip class,you're screwed. I busted my ass with the readings and going to class but still had a 60 average on quizzes. Final is a take home with 7 essays, had to work like crazy on the final just to get a C in the class

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GHUM102
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He was one of the BEST professors that I have had at JMU! I wish I could take his class again! The material is super interesting. He likes the philosophy side so get ready to know your philosophers. There is 5-6 little books and then a huge book on happiness at the end. Write EVERYTHING he says in class! The quizzes are direct quotes FROM HIM!!!!!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: 100
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You are going to have to read the material, but he is awesome. Not for those that want a politically correct teacher, as he speaks his mind. On of the best professors I have had a JMU!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GREL101
• 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:

Neel comes off as funny or at least interesting to most, but he can be very condescending and rude if you ask even simple questions. However, if you get to be on his good side or you can keep your mouth shut and understand his boring lectures, it can be a manageable class.