Margaret Thompson - Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

Professor: Margaret Thompson

Department: History

College: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HNR360
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She basically just lectures every class for one hour and twenty minutes, and constantly interrupts what other people say. Her idea of 'devil's advocate' is denouncing anything someone says that doesn't match her opinion. Do your self a favor and pick a different teacher.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HST349
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Thompson is an EXTREMELY tough grader with little to no help outside of class. If you want to do well in this class you need to buy & use the textbooks in sources. She is rude on her critiques of essays & papers including one that can be extremely personal, since you are writing about you're family member.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PSC329
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

MST is a very good professor. Her class is hard and you really have to work for a good grade. The reading is a bit excessive and you need to read to do well. She can be very opinionated, but she does allow you to challenge her (despite the fact she'll say you're wrong afterwards). If you put in the work, you'll turn out ok.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HST349
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Horrible teacher. Extremely condescending and rude-believes she's the center of the feminist world. Extremely unreasonable when it comes to arguments and analyses of the readings. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. She merely wants students to revere her, not to discuss with them. The essays were all about whether you adhered to her own personal views or not.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PSC329
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I started out the semester hating her but she grew on me. She is pretty interesting as a person and as a prof. There are a ton of readings, and you will need them for the papers, but not so much for the midterm. Literally didn't do any of the readings then just read the most important book the day before the midterm and got a 92. Just go to lecture

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HST341
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of the best professors I have had at SU. Class requires hard work through tons of readings and really thinking critically on papers. She is a great storyteller and always keeps the class discussions very interesting. She will call you out on what you say in lecture but in a way that gets everyone thinking harder. 10/10

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HST341
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Your entire grade is in this class is two essays, and in class midterm, and an a take home essay final. She is incredibly mean in grading, and is unspecific and very hard to please. Her TAs do most of the grading. Her lectures are long and boring, and that is the only thing that happens in class. If you don't read you will fail the class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HST349
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

This class had the potential to be so interesting, but she was by far the worst professor I've ever had. She's rude, condescending and pretentious in class and that attitude extends into her grading. Her lectures consist of her sitting up front rattling off facts, which makes it difficult to take notes. Don't know anyone who got above a C on papers

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HST341
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

What everyone is saying here is true. You couldn't come up with reading material more unrelated to your paper assignments if you tried. I almost think she made up the topic for the course, because the modern presidency is really a group of similar details she picked from biographical literature about presidents, only you have to guess which ones.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PSC329
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Thompson is, without question, the best teacher I have ever had. She is intelligent, helpful, interesting, and passionate about the subjects she teaches. Fantastic course.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HST341
• 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:

HORRIBLE.Lectures consist of her listing off history, but then gives papers/tests on things that are all subjective and comes from the 34834348902 readings you have. The class had to GUESS what we thought shed put on the midterm b/c she refused to tell us. Not to mention she is incredibly rude and disregards every student's opinions in her lectures

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HST341
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Horrible teacher.Goes on and on about herself and always shuts down the opinions of people in the class and then gets angry when no one volunteers to talk.Absolutely the worst teacher hands down at Syracuse.If you want to learn about presidents take modern american history with david benett much better option.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HST341
• 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:

Horrible teacher who goes on about unnecessary topics all class. She belittles all the students and lectures in a condescending tone. Do not take this class if you enjoy history and actually want to learn something at Syracuse. Worst professor since being here, hands down.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PSC329
• 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:

Very full of herself and belittles people who comment in class. this is annoying because she gets upset when people do nto participate in class and assumes we haven't read. don't take this class unless you are going to be committed to doing the readings and working hard for a good grade.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HST431
• 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:

Worst professor ever. When she isn't teaching anything (which is often), she is making snarky comments and seemingly belittling the class. She is very full of herself and lecture offers no insight into the course or what you are expected to know. The only good thing about this class is that eventually, it ends.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HST341
• 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:

Horrible... Absolutely horrible. The only person I know that could have destroyed my love of history. I want to forget this class exists, but I am afraid the old saying about forgetting history makes me shudder at the fear of repeating this course. Avoid at all costs.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: WGS349
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She is very nice, but in no way an easy professor. She does not provide you with notes so you MUST attend lecture. There is a lot of reading and writing. All of my papers have been graded by the TA who grades extremely hard! good luck.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HST341
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I seriously think that all of her glowing reviews on here were written by her. She is extremely rude, unprofessional, and unnecessarily condescending. She must think that this is the only course that students are taking because of the ridiculous amount of reading she assigns. She spends the entire class lecturing AT the students.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PSC329
• 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:

History of Modern Presidency - BEST CLASS I HAVE EVER TAKEN AT SU. As a senior PSC major, I've seen a lot of good professors but NONE as great at MST! Incredibly engaging and intensely interesting, her "no bull" attitude means she puts up with nothing less than pure deidcation and effort from students. I learned SO MUCH! Amazing class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HST341
• 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:

This class will is not only fascinating, but it will also dramatically improve your writing ability. Great readings, interesting lectures. Thompson is not a professor that hands out easy A's, but you will definitely feel that you earned whatever grade you get. Highly recommend this professor and class. One of the best at SU.