Professor: William Baller
Department: History
College: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA
Rating # 1
Overview:
- Course: HI1341
- Grade Received: A
- Overall Rating: 4.0
- Course Difficulty: 3.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: Yes
- Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Get ready to hear the phrases "communistic" and "like I said" over and over. Overall pretty decent. Lots of reading, class participation and group discussions were important. The paper wasn't bad.
Rating # 2
Overview:
- Course: HI1341
- Grade Received: B
- Overall Rating: 3.0
- Course Difficulty: 2.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: Yes
- Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Go to class because participation helps and the things talked about in class directly relate to tests. His rubrics don't make much sense so ask for help on papers. He also turned global History into a class on why technology is terrible. He frequently strays from relavent topics to discuss his disapproval of all forms of technology and big business
Rating # 3
Overview:
- Course: HI2316
- Grade Received: B
- Overall Rating: 2.0
- Course Difficulty: 3.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: No
- Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
He has dull lectures, constantly strays off topics about why kids should not use technology for learning (this is a class on WWII foreign affairs by the way), easy B if you do the bare minimum.
Rating # 4
Overview:
- Course: HI2320
- Grade Received: Not sure yet
- Overall Rating: 1.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: No
- Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
The lectures are dull, and the discussions are next to useless when he jumps between groups without making sure everybody's following. The essays are modified versions of study questions where he's added more sections to answer seemingly at random, and he wants quotes from the text in a closed-book test. Brush up on your essay-writing skills.
Rating # 5
Overview:
- Course: HI1341
- Grade Received: A
- Overall Rating: 4.0
- Course Difficulty: 2.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: Yes
- Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Clear rubric, nice person and interesting material (somewhat repetitive).
Rating # 6
Overview:
- Course: HI2320
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 2.5
- Course Difficulty: 3.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
He is way to arrogant in sharing his view. He will ask a question that is an opinion and if he doesn't like it he will refute it. Also America is just the best according to him, he doesn't realize that even if Harvard is amazing doesn't mean Oxford can also be too. Discussions are not discussions and lectures are not useful.
Rating # 7
Overview:
- Course: BRITISHHIST
- Grade Received: A
- Overall Rating: 5.0
- Course Difficulty: 1.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: Yes
- Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
I really enjoyed this class. If you just introduce yourself once, say one comment in every class, and look generally interested and you're guaranteed an A. The test was not hard, just all mini essays, just brain dump and show you read the material. By the end of the term I stopped reading and still managed to get an A just from paying attention!!
Rating # 8
Overview:
- Course: HI2322
- Grade Received: B
- Overall Rating: 2.5
- Course Difficulty: 2.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Baller does tend to focus on particular topics and has a tendency to be single minded and close minded, however the class discussion is where you learn the most. Although he isn't a great lecturer, you do learn something through the required readings and class discussion. You have to do the reading and participate to get an A.
Rating # 9
Overview:
- Course: HI1341
- 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:
Most assignments are just reading; there was no real physical homework, just the research paper. He only gives you three topics to choose from for the paper, which was kind of annoying. Luckily, it did not have to be very long, and he isn't a harsh grader. On tests he doesn't care about specific dates, just that you know your stuff, which was nice.
Rating # 10
Overview:
- Course: HI1341
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 3.5
- Course Difficulty: 1.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Really into his subject. Take a few minutes after class one day to introduce yourself and he will be your good friend. Participation was part of the grade but if you email him beforehand about missing a class he will not count it against you. Homework was just reading, tests and papers were graded generously. Sometimes rambles during lecture.
Rating # 11
Overview:
- Course: HI1341
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 1.0
- Course Difficulty: 3.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He is the most rambling repetitive professor I have ever experienced. A lot of classes are discussion based but when he lectures it''s so disjointed it''s difficult to follow. Jumps around from topic to topic in non chronological order. He wastes a lot of class time essentially talking about how technology is bad and makes you stupid.
Rating # 12
Overview:
- Course: HI2324
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 1.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
This professor is both disrespectful of kids in his class and arrogant about all his views. Would not recommend taking a class with this professor.
Rating # 13
Overview:
- Course: BRITISHHISTORY
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 5.0
- Course Difficulty: 1.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Really good class. Lectures were mandatory but I enjoyed them anyways so that wasn't a bad thing. Always talk during classes because if he sees that you are trying and are putting in the effort he will give you an A. The readings were very interesting too and we watch some videos that were a good break. I would definitely recommend him!
Rating # 14
Overview:
- Course: HI2321
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 4.5
- Course Difficulty: 1.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Do, the reading, go to class, and meet with him outside of class about your paper and you'll be good to go. He's more than happy to help you as long as you show interest in the class. Lectures can be a bit rambling, but usually interesting, and he incorporates a lot of group discussions. He's not for everybody but I would recommend him.
Rating # 15
Overview:
- Course: HI1341
- 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:
Good professor. The books he assigns are very interesting and you can learn a lot from them. He is not too hard, however you have to attend class, participate and demonstrate interest in the class to get an A. I advise you to go to his office hours to talk about the assignments/papers.
Rating # 16
Overview:
- Course: HI1321
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 5.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
An interesting class, and a very passionate teacher. Willing to help with and revise papers if you show effort, and with papers outside his class if he likes you.
Rating # 17
Overview:
- Course: GOV1301
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 4.5
- Course Difficulty: 2.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Had American history with him. Tends to ramble, but is pretty accepting of well-reasoned opinions. Very broad tests, covering all the reading.
Rating # 18
Overview:
- Course: HI1332
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 4.5
- Course Difficulty: 3.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
What a great professor. He is very nice and always has class discussions about topics. Just do your reading and write your paper with analysis and not just facts and you should do good. Not biased as the others are saying. A lovely professor and you should be happy to have him.
Rating # 19
Overview:
- Course: HIST2322
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 2.5
- Course Difficulty: 3.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Very biased professor. If he doesn't like you he will either fail you/give you a C
Rating # 20
Overview:
- Course: HI1321
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 4.5
- Course Difficulty: 1.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Very nice guy and a very easy class that you will get a good grade in as long as you do the readings and come to class/participate a little.
No comments:
Post a Comment