Fiona Nelson - University of Calgary, Calgary, AB

Professor: Fiona Nelson

Department: Women's Studies

College: University of Calgary, Calgary, AB

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SOCI403
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The course is designed as a seminar with lots of in-class discussions. The content of the class is very easy to follow as well, although there isnt a lot of it since much of the class is based on discussions. There is quite a bit of writing and a presentation but the class is still relatively easy. Nelson does a great job with this lecture!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SOCI303
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Fiona is very biased. If you don't answer the written portion of the tests in agreement with her opinions, she marks you wrong. You must write her a paragraph discussing your confusion in her grading so she can "look it over" which basically just means you get a printed out paper of answers the class gave that she liked. Not helpful! AVOID!!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SOCI303
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

A lot of cancelled classes or movies - be sure to check your email in the AM. Lectures are open discussion so if its not your thing - skip. If you read the textbook and watch the movies, you'll do fine. Not many notes. This is a progressive class, so if you're new to studying gender - attend. You'll learn a lot and be a better human probably

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SOCI303
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Loved the class discussions and her prompting the class to participate even in a class of 300+. She is respectful to students and straight forward with the material. Short answer questions felt a little too detail oriented and was outside of MAIN concepts. Ex: Question from a movie. Attend class for the videos as they are on the exams.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: SOCI303
• 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 find that Dr. Nelson is very knowledgable in her field and has interesting opinions. The most challenging part of the class is her obscured marking technique. Even if you know the material you will not get a high grade. I don't know if she does't want her students to have good grades or…...

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SOCI471
• 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:

She grades everything subjectively. You only learn what she was expecting on assignments and the exam after you receive your grade. Much of the class is based on her personal opinion. Assignments are more time-consuming than anything. Personally don't find her approachable. Term paper is broad, minimal guidelines. Cross your fingers in this class!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SOCI303
• 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:

Hard class for no reason. Her midterms are far from fair, she docks marks then tells you after the exam what you need to do (don't write in class examples).

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SOCI303
• 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:

TA Brian Hansen is the unfortunate one here, he doesn't know how to mark. Typical evil graduate student TA.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: SOCI303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst prof to actually be considered to teach an interesting topic. She is beyond horrific along with her TA. Their grading scheme is highly unjustified, making the course difficult to get even a mere C+. I would avoid this class or Nelson in general. She is a VERY (can't stress that enough) poor instructor.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: SOCI303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Generally very good at conveying ideas and her lectures are moderately interesting- as some others have mentioned, it's her tests that tend to make people angry. In a 50 minute period with 30MC and 2 written, it is almost impossible to do well one the written portion as (though not stated) the examples used in class are unnacceptable

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: SOCI303
• 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:

There's a difference between getting bad marks because the material is hard, and because the material is marked subjectively. For the first case, you can improve if you put in the effort. However this class is the latter. I've even seen the TA who marks most of the exams, and it doesn't help. I am now getting learning helplessness from this class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SOCI303
• 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:

Very disappointed, like majority of the 300 students in her class. Shouldn't be allowed to mess with students' grades if she's not going to mark fairly, it does significantly affect some of us who want to go into graduate school.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SOCI303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

For our first midterm, Fiona apparently stated not to use inclass examples for the written questions in the midst of the exam. The exam question did not specify this. When the midterms were handed back, she told the class that she docked off marks for those who used inclass examples. More than half of the class were aghast as we were not aware.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SOCI3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is completely unfair in her marking methods and her tests are a joke. 250 students out of 300 fail the written portion- coincidence? I think not. Discussion based lectures, and we go through like 3 slides in like 2 weeks. But she's nice, but her class is bogus.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: SOCI303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Tests are easy, but VERY unfair marking -- will dock you A LOT of marks for using examples that she's already used in class. Requires that you have the creativity that someone majoring in English will have. Lectures aren't lectures, just full on class discussions.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: WMST591
• 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:

Fiona is spectacular. If you have the opportunity to study with her, take it. You will not be disappointed!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SOCI303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Really enjoyed the class. It was slow to start and a few lectures were not super engaging. She uses a lot of videos (and they were really good ones) and has lots of class discussions. Recommend that you do go to all the classes. I enjoyed the input we were able to give during exams on her short answers.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: SOCI303
• 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:

Class was very interesting - Nelson uses lots of films and discussion to explain concepts. The tests and assignments are not easy! She uses big words on M/C and expects a strong analysis on all short answer. I learnt lots but I'm not sure my grade will reflect that. Extremely helpful professor though! I would highly recommend this course.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: SOCI303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class was really boring. The content was okay, one can only say so much about gender relations. Dr. Nelson Likes to use videos and discussions as a way to present material. I'm not the biggest fan of these methods but if yo like movies and class discussion I'd Highly recommend this class with Dr. Nelson

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: SOCI341
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Too much class discussion and no real guideline for the class. Difficult to study for. Assignments & short answers marked extremely hard. Interesting subject matter but too broad. She uses a lot of big words as well which make understanding her somewhat difficult.