Barbara Messamore - University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC

Professor: Barbara Messamore

Department: History

College: University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST399
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Incredible course load would definitely hurt people's passion toward history. Anybody who are interested on history and have above 45 university credits could take this course. I do have interest on history and would like to learn but I feel I don't learn much from this course because the only thing I consider is how to get assignments done.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST102
• 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:

Barbara was nice enough for an online class. However, she was so picky when it came to marking. for a first year online history class she needs to chill. I generally do well on my papers and writing, but she picked everything apart and marked as if it were an English course. She was a co-author for the required text, so couldn't really critique it.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took her condensed summer semester class with three other classes and found the amount of assignments and readings very fair. If you enjoy history and don't mind reading then you'll enjoy this course and do well. Just make sure you show up and take notes.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST331
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I really enjoyed class with Barbara. Interesting lectures that led to an understanding of the important events in the 40 years leading up to Confederation in Canada. Something all Canadians should learn. The weekly readings are pretty much mandatory to get your participation grade.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I found this class to be easy even though there were 2 quizzes and a worksheet every week and 4 precis. She gives amazing feedback so if you mess up on one assignment you know exactly what to fix for the next one. She is understanding with late hand ins on blackboard. Her lectures had fun and weird facts thrown in which was nice.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• 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:

I am a third year student who typically gets A's on academic papers. However, Barbara is an extremely tough marker and I got the worst marks I have ever received on papers in her class and this was a first year course!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Barbara assigns too much reading and expects far too much for a first year course. She asks for one chapter and an article read plus a worksheet done before each class. On average, that's about 60 pages of reading per week. I have had easier 2nd year courses than this! As I am taking this for the TEP requirement, I have to take it at some point.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST102
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

For an online course I was pretty happy. For each unit you would have 2 quizzes, often a worksheet, and 4 'precises' through the course. I had never heard of a precis, and did very poor on my first one, but she allowed one re-write (so I figure most people missed the mark). I averaged 3/5 on quizzes without reading, but if you have time, read!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Barbara is a champ and totally recommended.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

i found her to be a very hard marker for a first year class. I should have know because she was one of the authors of the textbook for this class. she does know her stuff and expects you to know her stuff too! her assignments were not hard and she does mark you down for grammar and proper sentence structuring. I have a 3.4 GPA and i struggled

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Messamore knows her stuff, however, she had unrealistic expectations for a first year course and I found that she was a very tough marker. Expect to read a lot and be careful about your wording and accuracy, you will get dinged for being vague. She was the toughest teacher I have ever had (this is my last semester), I would NOT recommend her

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST102
• 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:

There is a lot of reading to do - every class you have to have read a chapter from the textbook and then she gives a quiz on the chapter you read. You also have to read a long article for every class and fill out a worksheet on it. Prepare for at least 2 hours of outside reading per class. She is a hard marker but overall is a nice prof.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

hardest prof i have ever had. would not recommend to anyone who cares about their marks. she is such a hard marker it is almost impossible to get an A

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Barbara Messamore's lectures are extremely engaging. She is a very fair marker who gives lots of feedback, and she answers emails promptly. She's one of the best online instructors I've ever had.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: 101
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

i have nothing negative to say about Messamore. She is always prepared for class and treats everybody fairly. extremely knowledgeable about the subject matter and is always in a pleasant mood. my favourite prof so far!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Barbara was a great prof. Her lectures are really interesting with lots of visuals. she is really knowledgeable and helpful.There is quite a lot of work but she is very clear about expectations. I actually did not find her to be a hard marker.She is super nice and very fair.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She is a very strict marker. Marks more on grammar than content which frustrated me. Often unclear on what she wants for the precis. Exams are completely written and quizzes every class on chapters. She is helpful if you ask for it though. Tough class. Harder than my other history courses. But she is nice.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST100
• 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:

I tried to do my very best and she was a really hard marker, I did my biographical presentation, i thought i did better than i did, but she disagreed, i like history but she was a bit too hard

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She is a great prof. who knows what she is talking about, but she is an unbelievably hard marker.... i was going to have history as a minor, but i'm seriously considering switching already, i've done two history courses and did great in them, but this one just makes me hate history all together.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• 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:

One of the clearest and most articulate speakers I have ever listened to. I loved her sense of humour and the dead-simple weekly quizzes. But she is a very hard marker for a 101 class, and the textbook has way too much information for, again, a 101 class. Awful book, IMO, but Messamore is still a good teacher to have.