Lisa Shapiro - Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC

Professor: Lisa Shapiro

Department: Philosophy

College: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL356
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Contrary to popular belief, there isn't anything wrong with Lisa Shapiro. Although there isn't really anything particularly "right" about her either. Pretty neutral.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: 356
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Not sure what ppl r saying, she is so far the best phil prof. cares about students trying to make it in phil; tells student what 2 do with the discipline. papers were fun if u attended lecture. she finds other ways for those quiet ppl (who actually do work, but do not speak in lectures) to participate. A lot of readings, but thats philosophy.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL280
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

Material is deeply interesting and she allows for people to share their ideas and participate in class, but knows when to cut people off. I think this is a really great skill for a phil prof to have. Fair marker. Might spend a little too long explaining some ideas, but that could also just be in virtue of the fact that this was a 200lvl class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHIL352
• 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:

Avoid her class if possible.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HISTPHIL
• 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:

There are certain things you just shouldn't do in life. Don't do cocaine, don't drink and drive, don't play in traffic, and don't take a class from Lisa Shapiro.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHIL100W
• Grade Received: 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:

Lecture presentations on class information is very unclear.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHIL100
• 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:

borrrrringg! she was very monotone and i could not pay attention to her at all! and the material was really abstract and weird.. didnt like it at all

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHIL352
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Her "standards" are said to be "high", but actually they are just obscure and qualitatively different from the rest of the department. Those who get the very highest marks in other classes get the worst ones in hers, and people who are mediocre at best in other classes thrive in Shapiro's classes. I asked around. If you are a simpleton, this is you

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHIL100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She knows her stuff. She has high standards, which is refreshing at SFU.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL100
• 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:

one of the worst profs i have ever had! she rambles on and on during lectures and she doesnt seem to relate much of it to the notes. learned more off the slides then i did in class.. avoid if possible.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIL100W
• 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:

oh my god, i really don't know where to start. She is so boring. The things she says in class are pointless! She likes to talk about things you have access to. Talks really slow and doesnt focus on aspects we should know. I think you should just consider this course a distance ed, stay home and read the powerpoints! Waste of a professor!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL100
• 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:

omg, this prof is so boring. I'm pretty sure she's a nice person but still her lectures are so pointless. she repeats for like half an hour. And her TAs are kinda bad too. They're not helpful at all. I think i failed this course. I'm gonna retake with another teacher -_-

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHIL100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Learned more about Philosophy listening to podcasts on the internet during lecture. Entire course is just memorizing a bunch of philosopher's theories.There's better profs and courses to take if you just need the credits.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SPNZA3XX
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

My advice to anyone taking a course from Lisa is to take Richard Pryor's tips on phil papers very seriously (the assumptions about the reader). She's serious about clarity over creativity. Makes sense--she does history of phil, not phil. Classes are funny! It's true she's way out of line in rudeness. So? Suck it up or complain to the dean.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHIL3XX
• 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:

The lectures are actually pretty good. Just don't discredit the complaints on here as being only from idiots who always fail. I assumed that, and took her anyway. I have serious regrets. Marks are 2 full grades lower than my usual, with full effort. Attempts to understand why and improve are met with disrespect bordering on abusive and cruel. Why?

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHILXXX
• 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:

worst. prof. ever. scary, mean and dismissive. hard marker. avoid!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHIL352
• 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:

Her voice and face could curdle fresh milk, and her comments on papers suggested she is incapable of liking anything any student could ever produce.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHIL3XX
• 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:

Aw, c'mon now, Shapiro is hilarious. I laughed a lot in her course. I just wouldn't recommend her if you used to being snuggled through difficult problems. Grow a backbone and really squeeze your mind grapes and it's an easy C. Just kidding. (Not really).

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Lisa is rude. She makes faces when students ask questions and her marking is harsh. She does know her stuff, but I think the fact that she knows what she's talking about has gone to her head and made her unpleasant. She has really offended lots of my classmates with her attitude.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHIL270
• 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:

Honestly, worst teacher I've ever had!