Joseph Norman - University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Professor: Joseph Norman

Department: Chemistry

College: University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM142
• 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:

Smart chemist, very poor teacher.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM162
• 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:

Just...Glad he's retired. Not a great prof. His walking around during lecture made him breath real heavy into the mic. His "Bible" was helpful if you looked at it.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Fun teacher and interesting demonstrations. Difficult exams that required a real knowledge of chemistry. All of the information in his course pack was fair game for the exams (which is why so much memorization was essential). If you know the course pack inside and out, you'll probably do well.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Pretty easy 4.0 if you have actually read a chemistry book before and you study the given material in this class. Everybody here whining cause they have only memorized formulas and tricks to get by in previous classes. I know it is a shock, but you have to know actual chemistry to do well in this chemistry class. Sad Prof. Norman (awesome) retired.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM162
• 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 never went to class after the first month. Got a 3.7 by studying course pack and was 1 point away from a 4.0. Grading system sucks. Didnt need a teacher to do well in the class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Terrible class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM162
• 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:

Honestly worst teacher/class I've ever had. He mumbles and throws completely BS questions on tests that are IMPOSSIBLE to study for. It's about how you can memorize and regurgitate the course pack. Literally, he has fill in the blank sentences on tests. If you can switch out and not have him as a teacher for anything, I advice it. Class avg low.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHEM162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Norman is a fine person who is funny and nice. But, as a teacher he is horrible. 1st midterm wasn't too bad but oh god, his 2nd midterm. It was hard. So was the final. I was so determined to succeed in this class. F*ck that determination. His tests will dominate no matter how much perseverance/determination/optimism you have.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEM162
• 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:

He's a sweet, older, Southern gentleman who loves chemistry. His tests can be difficult, but really, this IS college, you actually DO need to study. Attendance isn't mandatory, but it is good to go to class (it'll help with trick test questions) For a science teacher, he's pretty good. And he gives out chocolate.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Some quize questions were totally unexpected. Midterm 2 was harder than Midterm 1 even though the class avg was already low. His powerpoints are basically his coursepack copy pasted with a bigger font size. Well atleast he's retiring.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

terrible terrible prof. mumbles all throughout class and lectures are basically copies of pages from the course pack.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

As with all introductory chemistry classes the average is always about a 3.0, yes, even with his grading scale, which may help or screw you in the end. His course pack is dense, STUDY IT and NOT the book! He is a great teacher and if you know the concepts presented in the course pack backwards and forwards you will do well.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Boring Lecturer but has fun labs and not too difficult of tests.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEM312
• 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:

Norman is probably the worst professor I have had at UW in 4 years. He is unclear, boring, and the only way to pass his class is to memorize the stupid course pack he gives you. Might I add that the course pack is unclear and useless. His tests are inpossible, the lack of curve is ridiculous and his grading is very subjective.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHEM162
• 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:

You really do have to memorize the course pack to do well. Not just general concepts, but every single detail - he will test you one way or another. Overall, I liked Prof. Norman -- he's a really nice guy. For studying, I focused on the course pack, but the textbook does help if you need clarification. He sometimes tests on what he said in lecture.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class was crap. I did really well in Chem 142 and Chem 152 and was expecting to do fairly well in this class. His test is all on the course packet, he tells you on the first day of class he doesn't want to just teach you to be memorizing zombies but that's all the class was. There's also no curve. Over half the class dropped after 1st midterm

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHEM162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is nice, but his tests are difficult, and his lectures are boring. I sat in the front row and couldn't pay attention. His course pack is what he teaches from, study that, and always learn exceptions, every one, and solubility rules, he will test you on it. I didn't like that class because he didn't focus on understanding, he focused on memorizin

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHEM162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Excellent professor. LOOK AT PROF EVALS on myuw.com from the entire class, they are much better than the people that complain here. It is a hard class, but I learned and enjoyed more than 142/152 and all my (studious) friends felt the same. amazingly systematic teaching style. highly recommend for chem majors and all.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHEM162
• 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:

He's a nice, funny guy. His lectures are not hard to pay attention to and his demos are pretty cool. If you take his class - STUDY HIS COURSE PACK. That is the most important thing. If you do that, you'll be fine. He doesn't curve, however he does lower his grading scale so an 85% is a 4.0.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CHEM162
• 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:

Your life would be better if you don't take Norman. He's very knowledgeable but has has great difficulty passing on his knowledge. He doesn't think so tho. But if you end up taking his class, study!!Study hard. briefly read the book, but treat the course pack as your bible. get as much help as you can. go to his office hours. Get a good seat