Mark Possanza - University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Professor: Mark Possanza

Department: Humanities

College: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST1781
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Roman History was three 50 min non cumulative exams that I study the day of or the day before and got 88-90. Pretty sure I didn't do very well on the last exam but ended up with A, I think partly because I was never absent for a class. I actually learned a lot w/o too much pressure. His lectures are interesting but voice is hypnotic.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: LATIN0010
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Possanza is an amazing professor. Took him for Latin 1, quizzes and tests are easy and easily graded, he breaks a blank into 2 half (which is just an easy A)so even if you don't know anything about it, you get fine grades. lots of extra credits so that you could even not lose any point whole semester. He is so helpful and approachable.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: LATIN0210
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Possanza is really friendly and patient. He makes you feel really comfortable asking questions and he isn't too hard, though you have to work to get a good grade.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST1781
• 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:

He is a great professor. I think he would do better at a 50 minute/3 times a week time slot rather than the hour and fifteen minute class, because by the end of the first hour the class does drag a bit. Don't get me wrong, he and the material are really interesting and you can't beat a guy who gives you the questions and essays beforehand.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CLASS1540
• 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: N/A

Comment:

By far and away my favorite professor in college. I have since graduated but I miss attending Dr. Possanza's lectures and talking to him in the Classics office. Extremely helpful and clearly is passionate about both his subject and teaching.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CLAS1220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Extremely easy class. Unfortunately, it was held in the Cathedral basement, aka, Hell, where it's always 110 degrees and smells of bodies. I quit going after the third lecture, never read the books and still got a B in class. Just study the handouts and the essays. Still, a very nice guy.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ROMANHIST
• 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:

Very good professor! I loved this class. It gets a little boring after a while. But he's so excited about Roman History that you can't help but be interested in what he's saying. Read the Lecture outline, take notes in class (try to pay attention!) and make sure to write the essays before exam day. Do that and you will certainly get an A.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST1781
• 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:

He's a good professor, but the course starts to get a little boring by about 2/3 of the way through the semester. He gives out handouts for each lecture as well as sample questions for the tests. Study those. He also gives you a list of possible essays for the exams. Do those ahead of time, it's a big help. Read the books too, no matter how boring!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CLASS1220
• 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:

Super nice guy - made me laugh a lot. Fairly simple class - especially if you're interested. Tests are multiple choice (study the hand-outs & notes and you are golden) with an essay, & the essay questions are given beforehand. Learned a whole lot of history without a scary amount of work... definitely recommend it.

Rating # 10

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Really easy class with really easy test. Not even that bad to sit through.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST1783
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

A great professor. Easy tests that are on the handouts that he gives youm and he gives you the essays for the tests ahead of time. He is really knowledgeable and throws in humor into his lectures. He really isn't that boring if you're interested in Roman History, but even if you fall asleep it shouldn't be a hard class/

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CLAS1220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This guy's THE man! Yes, class is incredibly easy, but you DO learn a surprisingly large amount. As others have said, just read the notes for multiple choice section, and the material covering the essays, and you're golden. Only complaint is that he can be boring at times. Great class overall.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CLASS1220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Roman history is practically a joke with him. Just attend class and listen to lecture, read notes and you'll be fine. He gives you the essays ahead of time to prepare and the exams are pretty simply multiple choice questions with some really detailed and some you've known before you entered the class - plus extra credit!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CLASS0020
• 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:

I had him for Roman Civ. He was an awsome prof. Very interesting and I really feel like I learned a lot. You would think that learning about a Civalization would be difficult but I got an A...easy.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: LATIN0220
• 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:

Dr. Possanza is one of my favorite professors ever! He really cares about his students appreciating the latin they are learning. Tests are translation based. I learned a lot in this class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Very easy prof. Just have to read and take tests. No other work. Gives you the in-class essay topic before hand. Kinda boring at first, but it gets better. Very nice. Very fair grader. EASY A. Highly rec'd to get rid of history req. I'd take hime again. A++++

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Tests aren't too bad. Class is a little hard to sit through. But all-around good prof.

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Mark is AWESOME. His lectures are interesting and the class is easy. I think that everyone at this university should take at least one class with him, regardless of whether or not you're interested in the subject. (Sulla DOES rule.)

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Mark is the man. He was really funny and interesting. I would recommend him and this class to anyone, even if you have no interest in Roman History. Sulla rules.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Class was interesting and not hard. Possanza reminds me of Al Borland from Home improvement. He likes to mix in interesting useless info that isnt on the test. I liked his dry comments and sarcasm.