Brendan McManus - Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN

Professor: Brendan McManus

Department: History

College: Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST1304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Tough grader - doesn't give clear explanations on what he expects from papers. Lectures the entire time, all homework is on syllabus, and he doesn't remind you about upcoming due dates like most professors. Course is not intended for history majors and is a incoming freshman class, but feels like it should be made specifically for history majors.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST1304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Probably the worst class I have ever taken. His lectures are based off of his PowerPoints which consist mainly of pictures and dates. His essay assignments are a joke. He doesnt explain what he wants in the essays. And most of the time during lectures when you answer a question not to his standards, he makes you feel like youre incompetent.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HST1304
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This was a freshman level class but he teaches it like a Junior level. Asked for a lot in essays, without really telling you what he wants. Surprisingly exams were pretty easy, lets you use your notes, but study guide is very long. He is a nice guy and really knows his stuff, but has trouble teaching it at a lower level.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST1304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Genuinely the worst teacher I have ever had. Lectures do not apply AT ALL to the readings. He will spend 30 minutes on 1 slide that only has dates on it and will not tell you what any of the dates mean. His instructions for all the assignments are incredibly vague and he told the class he would give out F-'s if he could.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HST1304
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He doesn't teach at all. He takes forever to put things on D2L, all he does he go off on rambles during class and doesn't tell you what he wants you to do for assignments. Expects you to have time to read the textbook and know that the class is about. Feels more like a composition class than a history class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HST1304
• 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:

Hes a nice guy and smart, but he doesn't teach the subject very well. but he lets you redo every paper and HW he assigns.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST1304
• 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:

Very difficult class with a professor who isn't there to help you. He lectures all class but makes you rely on the readings for exams. The exams are incredibly difficult and all long answer. I studied for multiple hours a day for weeks and still got D's. I do not recommend.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HST1304
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

For this being a 1000 level class it sure does not seem like it. I am a 3rd year and i still consider this the hardest class i have taken yet. Very few things he talks about in class actually applies to the test. Although he does not take attendance i suggest you show up anyways or else i you will fail. I never missed and still got an F.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST1304
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He knows his material, the lectures are super interesting and it's evident he loves his field of study and his job. He's a wealth of knowledge and brilliant.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST1304
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Lectures consist of a slide with a few names on it and the professor talking the entire class period usually going off on tangents. He expects you to know what he is going to lecture about, and the lectures don't reflect what you are assigned to read outside of class. The tests are all essay and they reflect the outside readings, not lectures.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST2228
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Not a helpful professor AT ALL.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST1304
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He tells you to read a lot of things, but for my class it was not necessarily required for the course. He gives good feedback and he allowed students to rewrite their papers for a higher grade. He was very flexible on the syllabus requirments and offered extra credit assignments.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST1304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Assigned two textbooks, both following different paths. Lectures the entire hour, but does not follow along with either of the books. He expects you to know what he wants to lecture about and if you didn't read it, good luck. Tests are not tests, but essays that you write as an ancient scholar's standpoint. Very difficult class, not recommended.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST1100
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Nice guy but very tough class. Honestly, I looked at this website and decided to take it anyway, but I regret it highly.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HST1304
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He gives out a total of three tests and this makes up your entire grade. As well as an 1000 word paper. And the tests are mostly on the primary sources, which are very hard to understand if you have a low comprehension. YOU NEED THE TEXTBOOKS.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST1304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Does not give clear direction. Very harsh answers to students when you ask questions. Made a lot of students feel dumb. Extremely harsh grader.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST2218
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Class is really tough. He is very smart, but should be teaching at a higher level than at a four year college. He would probably be better suited for teaching at a doctoral level rather than a bachelors level. Lectures have hardly any point or clarity to them. Papers and tests are insanely hard. Does not explain what he wants clearly.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST2218
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are usually pretty dry and he goes over the time a lot. He required 3 textbooks and you won't pass if you don't do the reading. He's a fairly tough grader, but for the class I was in, there were no mark downs for late work and he also made our writing assignments easier since so many people were having trouble.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: 1304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

It literally depend on how you learn. He is a great guy but there is negative as well as positive. His style of teaching may not suit most student. However, as a History Major I fine his classes to be easy.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 1304
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

It literally depend on how you learn. He is a great guy but there is negative as well as positive.