Richard Meixsel - James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Professor: Richard Meixsel

Department: History

College: James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST301
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prepare yourselves with lots of lube because you'll need it for when he destroys you. Most boring lecturer I've ever had. Also likes to ask irrelevant questions. Sorry I don't know the musket model Monsiuer Jacques Rochelle used in Napoleon's 79254825th army of Toulouse... Wants to see every possible detail in essays- caution his chicken scratch!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not a professor I'd recommend. I'm not a history major, but have always enjoyed history classes and this one was a snooze to sit through. His lectures are bland. The discussion sessions are alright, but he'll call on people randomly to answer & if you don't know he'll often smirk and judge you. Few tests, papers, etc. A lot of reading required.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST225
• 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:

im not a history major. this class sucks. I'm falling asleep just thinking about sitting through a lecture. zzzzzzz

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His class is a bit bland, but if you're interested in the topic it's pretty good. A lot of reading, two exams and one paper. Not too terribleness (as a history minor), and the man definitely knows his stuff. Will take again for HIST 301

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST225
• 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:

The lectures are so boring but you need to go because attendance is mandatory and all the notes help you on the midterm and final AKA the only two tests all year. There is one paper, but it's pretty easy; however, the main thing about this class is GO TO EVERY DISCUSSION CLASS. He adds 8 points to your final grade, yes 8 points on you FINAL GRADE!!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Meixsel is a pretty chill dude. The lecture is big so you don't have to participate. Skim the chapters and take good notes and the tests, which are all essays, won't be that hard. Discussion was pretty boring. You go over primary documents that you're supposed to read and he calls on people but they usually don't know the answers lol.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

absoutely horrible. any professor that starts the first day of class with "after today you should decide if you want to listen to me lecture for the rest of the year" is a professor you shouldn't take. He gets mad when no one participates but then you try and he makes fun of your answer. Ridiculous expectations for a gen ed DO NOT TAKE

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST225
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I absolutely hate history and was dreading this class. However, I got an A- by going to office hours and taking good notes in class. Although Meixsel is a boring lecturer, he is a great professor. He answered all my questions and helped me out tremendously. Before the midterm and final he has review sessions where he gives away questions. Take him!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GHIST225
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He gives a mid-term and a final and theyre both all essay and you just have to show your knowledge on the topic in the essay. His lectures are interesting and he really enjoys the subject. Definitely doable if you set up a good amount of time to read for the discussion sessions and a good amount of time for the tests. Also has 2 easy papers.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GHIST225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not the most pleasant guy, but he will give you some help if you go to his office hours. Make sure you read the primary documents for the discussion sessions, because they are based on participation. Two all-essay exams; you choose 3 of 6 prompts. Two 3-page essay assignments.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GIST225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Meixsel is a great professor, his lectures are very interesting and he gives a good overview of U.S. History. The course it not too hard, there are 3 test all essay based which is a lot of writing, but you can easily get an A if you listen during lectures. Meixsel is also very helpful and friendly if you get to know him. Would Recommend.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GHIST225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Try to find another professor. He expects you to know as much as he does about history and makes you feel dumb when you don't. There is a ton of reading and if you don't read and get asked a question in discussion he'll take points off. He is arrogant and unreasonable for a GenEd.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GHIST225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Most boring class. He talks down to students who don't know the correct answers and acts as though he is extremely superior. I, personally, was not comfortable with attending his class. Course requires a high level of knowledge. All of his exams are essays. I probably won't do too well in this course.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

There is a lot of reading and if you miss class at all, you are significantly behind and it becomes impossible to catch up. He is very understanding and willing to work with students if they come to him with a problem, but he is very dry and bland in his lectures.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GHIST225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

You need to know details for the test. They are al essays. The final is 4 essays. It's not easy. I would recommend going to class and discussion. If you are confused go to office hours. His review sessions before exams are great. He would sometimes give one or two of the questions or questions that would be similar on the exam.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GHIST225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was one of the most boring things I have ever experienced. Sitting through it was literally hell. He is not the least bit helpful in any sense. I went to office hours and all he ever told me to do was study more. Extremely hard grader. Requires a "master level" of knowledge to get an A in a GEN ED! Absolutely ridiculous avoid at all cost

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GHIST225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class took up all of my time studying. All of the tests are essays, even final and midterm. There is no discussion during lecture. You just sit there and take A LOT of notes!He does know a lot about history though. However,I do not recommend taking this class if you want an A. You wont get it, and i studied HARD.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GHIST225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are boring, but overall this wasn't a bad class. Although lectures aren't mandatory, I recommend going because if the essays on your tests aren't detailed you won't get a good grade. 3 essay tests, 2 3 page essays and discussion participation make up your grade, so if you do poorly on one test, you have the opportunity to make up for it.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GHIST225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

So I'm taking this class and after 2 (yes, 2) essay-format midterms, my confidence is gone. I studied my butt off and really knew the material. This guy, however, likes to grade the essays as if you should know as much about history as him. Instead of teaching, I think this guy gets a kick out of tearing apart essay answers and destroying GPAs.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GHIST225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you don't have a friend in an earlier discussion class, be prepared to fail the quizzes. Tests are based off his slides though, so if you wrote all that down, you'll be okay. Pretty monotone guy but as the semester progressed he grew on me and if you speak up in class he's not too bad.