James Palmitessa - Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

Professor: James Palmitessa

Department: History

College: Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST1010
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures aren't too useful. Talks very quickly and goes off topic quite a bit, leaving you having to concentrate hard on writing at 200 WPM and trying to filter out his inane chatter. Assigns 20-40 pages of reading per night, and later tests you on only a few very specific things from the text. Exams are essays, and you need a green/blue book.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST3612
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is a really bad lecturer, often skipped actual course content to go off on tangents about PC culture or formatting. He is also virtually unreachable outside of class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST4495
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I'm in my last semester at Western and Dr. Palmitessa is my second favorite professor that I have had. The content was very interesting as were the readings we had to do, even though it was A LOT. I took him for a bac writing class so it was naturally pretty tough but he makes discussion enjoyable and he's always willing to help if you go to him

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST3030
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I liked Professor Palmitessa a lot. He was extremely helpful and understanding when students needed help. When his expectations were not met by the class, he would take responsibility for possibly not making things clear for us. At the end of the semester, he congratulated many students personally for attending classes and showing improvement.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST3015
• 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:

His lectures are all over the place, I never understood anything he was saying. He talks down to the class with his film expertise, that doesn't seem too extensive to me. His grading is odd, I felt like I was taking a shot in the dark every time I wrote a review or cast script. I would not take another course by him.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST1010
• 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:

Where to begin with this guy... Grades are based on nothing. My friend and I worked on a paper together received full grade differences. I talked to him about it and didnt even want to hear about it. Tells you one thing and expects another. Strays off topic through the whole class. Very inconsistent with lectures and grades.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST1010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not helpful outside of classroom. Even when you schedule time outside of class to visit with him, he shows no intrest in helping you.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST3015
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely horrid class. Film history class, and he barely knew how to work the computer to play the movies. Has a TA pace the lecture to mark students down for cellphone/laptop usage. His knowledge of material is a joke. When asking questions would respond with "read the book, or ask someone who pays attention". Will only talk in office hours.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST2900
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Didn't seem to know what he was doing and scatterbrained. Grades on attendance and participation. Gave us a giant packet and when asked a question usually answered either "its in the packet" or "ask someone who is in the class first." Told me to participate more but then never called on me when I tried.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST2900
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I am currently doing fair in this class, but feel I have lost time and money that can never be repaid. Horrible is the word I use to describe his teaching. Scatterbrained, rude, uncarring(toward students). Simply should not be teaching.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST4495
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I didn't think he was too bad the first time I had him so even though people thought I was crazy, I took him for another class. Ummm...bad idea. He is rude. He babbles on about pointless stuff yet won't answer your questions. He treats you like you're an idiot. Enough said. He is one of the reasons I will not be attending grad school here.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST3612
• 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:

He is honestly one of the worst professors I have ever had. He comes across very rude and arrogant, even if you ask a question. He is also a tough grader and will only talk to you during his office hours. I consider myself lucky that I got a C in his class. Avoid him at all costs!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST1010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you are lazy don't bother taking this class. I found the class quite easy though there is a fair amount of reading. This class was an easy A though I am a math major so take that for what its worth.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST2900
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

The absolute worst professor in the history dept. He was unclear and rude, when u asked him questions. I learned nothing in this course if u are a history major take someone else for Hist 2900. You place the class but the professor isnt worth your time.

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I did not learn a single thing in this class. He is very arrogant and not very effective. I wish I could get my money back. He grades kinda tough and he is a little over-controlling. He talks like he may have a speech impediment. Try to avoid his classes they are a waste of time and money!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST3200
• 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:

Do not take his class!!! His grading is a joke and will not fix an error. He is a control freak and you can only talk to him during office hours (not in class). After the semester numerous students went to the head of the history dept. to complain.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST2900
• 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:

awful. simply awful. lectures were painful, boring and long. grading is questionable, he made an error to the final grading system, so when i though i had a B, i actually had a D/C. now my 3.02 dropped to a 2.94, thanks broseph...

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST1010
• 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:

Hard to understand. Lectures do nothing for you in terms of testes and quizzes, all from the book. Online quizzes are impossible. NEVER get this guy is you dont have to.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST3020
• 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 am a history major and I know a lot about world history to the 1500s, which is what class I took, and I learned nothing. He didn't care at all about events in history and just lectured about theories. His class is pointless and I suggest no one take it if you want to learn anything.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST3020
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you take good notes and read the book, you'll do fine in this class. However, he is a complete control freak. There are assigned seats in a 200 person lecture hall, notes are graded intensively, but tests are not. Also, he's more concerned about how long you stayed while taking a test than anything else; so you have to stay the whole class.