Stephen Taaffe - Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX

Professor: Stephen Taaffe

Department: History

College: Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIS133
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

MY FAVORITE PROFESSOR! His lectures are AMAZING!! He made me consider minoring in history because I loved his class. If you don't take good notes, study and go to class don't take his class. But if you love history, are a good note taker and study a lot TAKE HIM!! You will not regret it. Always went to his office hours just to chat with him.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIS134
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The discussions are amazing if you have a good class. He expects you to read the textbook on your own time but rarely gives test questions about it, and if he does there should be another question about an in class lecture. STUDY STUDY STUDY STUDY STUDY STUDY STUDY STUDY STUDY STUDY STUDY STUDY STUDY STUDY STUDY

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIS445
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Taaffe is an acquired taste. He is interesting and starts each class with a personal story, and real. I did well on his exams, high B or low A, but his essays are unreal. He expects perfection in grammar, clarity, and word usage. He outright said that the use of the passive voice would get a large grade cut, I received a 50 on that paper.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIS134
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I LOVED going to this class everyday and honestly looked forward to it. He is very funny and really makes it worth going to your 8 AM. If you aren't an essay person don't take him. GO TO CLASS! I made the highest grades on the test and had a B in the class but received an F because of attendance. He really doesn't mess around with attendance.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIS134
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Memorize every single word this man has ever said, and you might just pass with a C. I'd like to think I'm studious and focused. I studied for 14 hours straight before the first exam, I knew every thing he'd gone over so far. He failed me because he "didn't like the way I phrased things." Don't do this to yourself.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIS133
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Respected for his intellect, not for the non-history major, smart and interesting

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIS133
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

You will only be graded on tests. The tests will all be essays. You will not know the prompt until test day, youll be able to choose from 2 or 3. You must go entirely in-depth, you have to really know your stuff. So I would use the book, which is what I didnt do last time. Write down everything he says. But his lectures are great!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIS134
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Taaffe was an awesome history professor! I never missed a class because his lectures were so funny and interesting! This class wasn't that hard but if you are bad at dates and names, I wouldn't recommend this course. Also, if you are not good at writing essays, you should also avoid this course. Overall great instructor!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIS133
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I enjoyed his class, but if you are bad at writing essays, DON'T take him. He gives a total of 3 mandatory tests, and 2 optional ones. We study 1 subject per class, and the test is only an essay over 1 of the subjects he lectures about. He doesn't tell you which one, and he's not afraid to give you a 20% if you don't give enough information on it.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIS134
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Taaffe is absolutely fantastic in class. He really cares about American History and provides fantastically presented lectures. But if you don't study your notes and read the book, you WILL fail. There are 3 exams, along with 2 optional exams (not extra credit, just extra exams to pad the grade). Taaffe is fantastic, but if you must study

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIS133
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I love Dr. Taaffe's class! You have to take very good notes during his lectures, but as long as you write down everything he tells you to, you should be fine. He really knows what he's talking about and makes history really interesting.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIS134
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His a great professor. Really tough class and heavy lectures, but very clear on what he expects. Gives optional test which saved my grade. Don't take if you are not a study person.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIS350
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I absolutely loved this class. Dr. Taaffe does have high standards with grading so dont expect to do stuff the night before and do very well. He is very clear about what he wants in his papers though. For his test you just have to study the lectures hard! Overall loved this class and he was an awesome professor to have, but definitely have to work.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIS133
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is quirky, but he tells funny stories. He isn't as bad as people make him out to be! If you write down his lectures word for word and study weeks before an exam, you should be fine. There are only three exams the entire semester including the final, so they cover 10-13 lectures. This isn't an easy class; don't take if you're not willing to study

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIS133
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is a very hard teacher. His class is all lectures and a few discussion days. There attests including the final and they are immeasurably hard. Give yourself two weeks or more to study for his tests. There are usually 15-20 topics on the review plus a few chapters from the book and he only puts two topics on the exam. DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS!!!!!!!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIS133
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Taaffe is a really good teacher. My only downfall to his class was his tests. There was 3 (including final exam), and it's completely essay. If you truly put time and effort into studying the notes that he gives you in class, you'll do good. He's super funny and sarcastic, which makes history a lot less boring. He's pretty great.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIS133
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Taffe is cool if you aren't scared of him. Go to class and actually participate in his class discussions. Write down lectures WORD FOR WORD as he says them. His tests are hard and require an extreme amount of studying. But if you go to class and go to his office hours, he will notice you're making and effort, and he will help you out if you ask!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIS134
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are long, but are clear cut. Write down EVERYTHING he says unless he states other wise. if you know a test is coming up, give your self a week to study because you have to know every detail from each lecture. The hardest thing about the class is the amount of material you have to know. The test are all essay but are straight forward.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIS133
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I absolutely hated Dr. Taaffe. He's rude, condescending, and makes fun of his students. I'd always consider skipping class on discussion days because he always left me wanting to cry. Other than that, he's a great proffessor. He makes you think about every side to an argument and is passionate about history. Don't take if you're easily offended.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIS445
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I'll say this first and foremost, if you are taking him for an upper level history course then it won't be a walk in the park. He's a fare grader but demands alot out of you. I personally found the exams rather easy but you need to put in time to study cause it will just be one long essay question. Side Note, super funny very entertaining guy.