Howard Spodek - Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

Professor: Howard Spodek

Department: History

College: Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST0872
• 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:

He's really disorganized in all of his lectures and goes from one topic to another in the same sentence. his papers aren't clear and he'll write his feedback which is usually either something small or completely illegible. he's a really nice guy, don't get me wrong, but if you want a teacher that explains things thoroughly, he isn't a good choice

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST0872
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

someone below said that he should've stuck to writing textbooks, and i agree with that. all he does in class is talk about the stuff he wrote in his textbook, and his lectures are all over the place and messy. him and his TA seem to think this class is the most important one in all of temple, and they have strange criteria for formatting papers

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST0872
• 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 papers, but he turned one paper into extra credit due to not having enough time, in addition to the extra credit that he already offered. Our class total points were 90, with 10 points being extra credit. If you do both, you raise your grade by at least 2 fractions. Midterm was tough so you must do the reading. His TA was extremely helpful

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST0872
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Spodek is very unorganized, he never has a lecture prepared and makes classes very difficult. We learned more from the TA the one day that he taught then the entire semester with Spodek.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST0872
• 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:

If you are not a HISTORY major DO NOT take this class. I took it thinking it was a simple gen-ed & he makes it the opposite of simple. He is very vague in every paper thats due & every test he gives. He's an extremely tough grader and the lectures are GOD AWFUL. All he cares about is the textbook HE WROTE & discusses nothing related to the course

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST0872
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Unfortunately for all of his students he decided to continue teaching instead of just writing text books. He wrote the book he is teaching you but, he is some how is unaware of what the goal of the class is. Plainly put I disliked his teaching methods, and in the end him. His reliance upon his ta is possibly the only reason people pass.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST871
• 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:

simply awful. at the last class, he decided to change the final exam from a do at home essay to 3 in class essays with 5 possible topics that might be given. not worth the trouble at all for a gen ed class. more fitted towards history majors. DO NOT TAKE

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST0871
• 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:

The day before the final in the class, he said there PROBABLY will be 3 or 4 essays asked. He then listed 6 extensive topics that MIGHT be on the exam. None of which were ones he told us to study when he spoke of the final exam in class. Very vague on topics of papers, and doesn't like how certain people write. Not a very good teacher at all.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST99
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

his field of study is urbanization or something. all he'll talk about is the emergence ancient cities. his lecture last till the very end of class.he'll tell you how you to write your esssy right before its due, so you write it last minute,write it before hand, but the syllabus is not clear on what he want.boring and annyoing. 5 essays

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST0872
• 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: N/A

Comment:

He's not a very good teacher. His assignments are very vague, and when a few students tried to seek clarity he seemed very confrontational. He's not very helpful, and it seems to me he doesn't have much patience. That being said, he is very intelligent and well traveled with numerous cool experience, however hes still a bad teacher.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST0872
• 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:

I had Spodek in a small classroom, so I can't relate to the comments about big lectures and TA's. We had no tests, just 5-five page papers due throughout the semester. Attendance is not entirely mandatory, but it helps for the papers and he does take notice if you're there or not (but it's not integrated into your grade). Brilliant teacher. SPR 11

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST8090
• 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:

nice guy but he is not really clear on what he expects from essays which are take home. is understanding if you are not caught up with the reading. is helpful if you meet with him during office hours to discuss paper. attendance is mandatory

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST8090
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Intelligent man, I'm not a fan of his text or teachings.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST1702
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I think he is a brilliant guy, and I really share his style of processing historical events. However, he is the prime example of the fact that a great scholar doesn't make a great teacher. I didn't really like his attitude and found him to be unhelpful. His TA, Nancy, was the one who you really had to go to in order to get some kind of help.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST1702
• 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:

He is a good teacher, he tries his best to get everyone invloved. He is very understanding. Make sure you read the textbook (which he wrote) everything comes from that

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HISTCO62
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Lectures were brutal. Had TAs do everything. Talked about how awesome his life was and things he had done, arrogant.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST60
• 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:

he was nice and helpful. covered all material that was on quizzes and tests. plus i had a hot TA

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HISTC061
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Feel like taking a test every Friday? Then sign-up! He teaches to an oversized class, comprised of students that are mostly history majors. The lectures run to the end of class, he is very unclear on what he wants you to write about and is very hard on grading. If you do not work and have a lot of spare time to read HIS text book, take this class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HISTCO61
• 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:

Spodek is a great professor. Does well with large lecture classes. He'll point you out if your'e not paying attention. This semester's T.A. I had was great, enhanced the class. He gives essay exams, he wrote the book...literally! Since the book is authored by him following it closely helps. Tests weekly, 3 papers, extra credit ava...

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MODERNHISTORY
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

this was a really easy class... only 2 papers and you just take the info right from the text. alot of reading and the TA's are boring but an easy class nonetheless