Fred Tabor - Whatcom Community College, Bellingham, WA

Professor: Fred Tabor

Department: Philosophy

College: Whatcom Community College, Bellingham, WA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL130
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Was not a fan of Fred, although I did enjoy the material he gave us for the readings each night. His grading was awful either full credit or none at all on quizzes and the midterm is hard. He also has a slight speech impediment while there is nothing wrong with that, it can be difficult to understand or hear him. He also won't tell you your grade.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHIL130
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Fred is an amazing teacher. He is funny, challenging, and very intelligent. If you show up to class and read, you will do fine on the tests. 40% of the grade is the quizzes he gives each class, which if you read at all, are extremely easy and open ended. He says at the beginning of the quarter what he expects of the students and he sticks by that.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I really enjoy Fred's class. The information I have learned has changed the way I look and live my life!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PH132
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you talk in class and have side conversations he will write it down and take two quiz grades off for every warning he gives you. He doesn't let you make up anything even if you have a legit reason. Requires you to read every day. Challenges your opinions. Grades extremely hard. Doesn't give you a heads up on what he will grade your midterm on.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHILO200
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His midterm and Final were two of the hardest test/essays I've ever done. You essentially have to hundreds dozens of ideas from around a dozen philosophers, and regurgitate 1/3 of them, while ignoring 2/3 of the ideas you spent hours memorizing.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHIL130
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

midterm was open ended (no rubric) and therefore a little difficult. quizzes and reading are easy once you get the hang of them. don't take him too seriously! when he challenges your beliefs he's trying to get you to expand on your ideas, not tell you you're wrong. he is witty and sardonic, quick grader, loved him as a teacher!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHIL200
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Easily one of my top favorites, but be prepared to work. You must do the readings every day, and you will get a quiz first thing every day. Do this. be articulate with your ideas, verbal or written, and you'll have a great time if you want to evolve your ideas. Tabor's hilarious, witty, cutting, aloof, and caffeinated. Need help? Ask, but work.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHIL200
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Just read and take the quiz

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PH132
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He has a laid back personality, and it pretty funny at times. For some he might challenge beliefs (but it is philosophy so get used to it). The class consists of reading material (which isn't too long), and then taking a mini quiz almost every day on it. These are not hard, but the mid-term and final essay, you must put in a lot of effort.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL200
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you're taking this class to have fun or challenge your beliefs, I say take it. Tabor is funny most days,& WILL challenge every idea thrown at him. If you're taking the class to fill credits & keep grades up, don't. There is a quiz every day on reading that even he doesn't clearly understand sometimes, & the exams are even harder.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIL132
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class was certainly engaging. Being a firm believer in God, I found my beliefs constantly being challenged, usually in a respectful manner, but sometimes not. If you don't want to debate, don't stick your neck out there. Reading before class is important for the quizzes and tests, but the daily class discussions only vaguely relate.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL132
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Be prepared: To get called on randomly. To have a quiz on the reading every day. To not express YOUR opinion in anyway for tests or homework. Heavy grading. Somewhat unfair grading. Long lecturesdiscussions. Tests will be on 3 VERY broad topics so be prepared to read and understand everything. The philosophy was interesting. The class was not.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHI132
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Fred is a joy to listen to, he throws many jokes into his lectures, whether you catch them or not usually depends on how hard you listen to those lectures. He tends to ramble a bit before he asks his class questions, making it difficult to understand the question clearly. Class is a discussion, join in and understand the authors, quote them often.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHIL200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not effect at all. He doesn't really teach. 20% he lectures and the rest 80% he starts off the class with a hot topic and the impressionable student go off rantingdebating and he just leans back in his chair and enjoys the show. Basically: he doesn't control classroom discussion. Also, textbook teaches you, not him. Expect to get a C on the exam.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHIL132
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of my least favorite instructors.. His discussions always end up off topic and he asks really personal questions in front of the class. Readings are boring and he expects you to remember everything you've read for the midterm and final.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHIL132
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I loved this course. The readings (especially for the first half of the semester) take some effort, but are nevertheless interesting. Tabor is funny and very smart, and often brings scientific studies to class. The exams require quite a bit of studying. My only complaint is that he never introduced himself, so I don't know what to call him.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHIL132
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Stuipidly hard class. The highest grade anyone got on the midterm was a C-, and I had no idea what he was talking about in any of his lectures. He also seemingly lost track of most of the daily quizzes I turned in and did not give me credit for them. Nice dude but a bad teacher in my opinion.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHIL130
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you don't want your beliefs challenged don't take this class. Also when he tells you that you can write up what you believe are the answers for the 1st exam and he will read them and let you know. you better start reading all the topics because if you give it to him 6 days before the exam he will laugh in your face and tell you it's too late!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHIL
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

People who complain it is a hard class don't even listen to him on the first day. He say it is a hard class, and the readings are hard, and requires you to read it a lot. The reason he wants you to understand the authors view is because how can you talk about something someone said without actually understanding what he said? Love his classes.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHIL132
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is hilarious! One of my favorite teachers. Apparently a lot of people don't like him, but I think that is because he actually expects you to read and know the material. He even says that his class is hard, but it really isn't if just you do the readings. He is the best at challenging ideas and views, a lot of people don't like that either.