James D Alsop - McMaster University, Hamilton, ON

Professor: James D Alsop

Department: History

College: McMaster University, Hamilton, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST2M03
• 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:

without a doubt, the WORST professor i've ever had. lectures were long winded, and lacked any kind of interest. His adamant refusal to adapt to webct or post notes prove that he's ancient. loves the sound of his own voice, and no one elses. I had him his last semester teaching--he won't be missed.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST2M03
• 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:

Completely pompous ass. Loves the sound of his own voice. Needs to realize his course isn't the only one people are taking. Not clear or concise at all, goes off on random topics that don't relate at all. The only time I learned anything was when the TAs lectured. Complete waste of my time and money. Makes me hate a topic I used to be interested in

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HISTO2M03
• 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:

lectures are boring and incomprehensible. i never thought i would hate learning about early modern britain but he has made it possible. and a 5% test on the entire textbook? give me a break. when the TAs lecture you will actually learn something.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST4AA6
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Wonderful, helpful and inspiring, if you do your work and try he will recognize this. If you are another faceless student who comes in late and doesn't give a**** about the class your low expectations will be met with low marks. If you try, you will love the class. Dr. Alsop is wonderful and is a treasure for the history department at Mac.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIS4AA6
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Hands down my favourite prof and course ever. I can't say I was interested in his course at all before attending, but he changed my mind completely! He's clear, extremely helpful, a fair marker, and he obviously loves his line of research! Take 4AA6 if you can, it's a great course with a great prof.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST4AA6
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Sure, he's tough on people who don't care about the material. But if you show an interest, he is extremely helpful, makes time to talk outside of class or by e-mail, and is very friendly. I liked him and his class a lot. He is so fun to listen to and enthusiastic about his topic. I didn't find him mean or rude at all.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIS1A3
• 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:

The absolute worse professor that I know of. I have attended five universities and he is quite frankly the worst. He is rude. He shows no interest in the students. He ignores those who are not his favourites.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HISTHIST
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I feel that he is pompous and rude. I think that he was a terrible professor and I regret having ever taken his class. I think he is an odd little man.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST718
• 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:

Perhaps he is unaware that walking out of the room, reading other material and appearing otherwise disinterested while students are speaking is rude. He knows his material cold and is a good prof for those who work well under his teaching method. "Throw you in - sink or swim". If this method does not work for you don't take a course with him.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY2M03
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

What a terrible prof. He would ramble on about meaningless material that didn't even pertain to the topic. The only time that was valuable was his own. He showed no regard for other students time at all. He was not clear or consise. He was completely unorganized. And I'm sure he didn't complete the required material he was required to teach.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: 1HU3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Alsop tends to live in his own little world. He tends to go on rants in the middle of a lecture. He also is an idalist who does not realize that with all the other work students are facing, its not possible to spend as much time on his course as he would like. I fortunatly was able to drop the course before it seriously damaged my marks.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: INQUIRY1HU3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

awesome class, Dr.Alsop is the nicest guy and one of the best profs I've had so far. He is very approachable and nice. The content of the course is a bit to be desired though.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: 4D06
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

tried to take a seminar with him. Absolutely terrible. he likes listening to the sound of his own voice, goes off on tangents that don't relate to anything of the course and is completely useless. I'm glad i dropped it when i did.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY718
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Good direction in topic choice, research areas

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: 718
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Awesome professor.

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I took a British Social History course with Alsop back in '93, and I never understood why, of all my courses, I performed the worst in his (and I won two scholarships in History). He has some interesting things to say, but, pedagogically, he needs to be clearer about what is required to succeed.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST2P03
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is the inquiry MAN. Throughout the term, it was THE MOST frustrating course. It was always interesting, but sometimes overwhelming, but he was always a fun guy. And now that it's all done, it was one of the best courses ever.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST3L03
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

What a waste of time. Alsop is the single worst prof I have ever had. I'm not sure if I'm upset about the 400 dollars I paid for the class or the 30 hours of my live i'm never getting back!!!! A useless teacher.

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

A waste of time!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: INQ1HU3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I liked him for the inquiry course. I am glad that I had the opportunity to be in his class.