Mitchell Silver - University of Massachusetts - Boston, Boston, MA

Professor: Mitchell Silver

Department: Philosophy

College: University of Massachusetts - Boston, Boston, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL100
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

His class is easy. I never touched the book and still managed to pass. I blanked out a lot during his and managed to pass too. The papers were just graded on completion and you could write about anything. He's just very strict about assignments but is fair to all students. If you don't pass it in on the due date, he will not accept it.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHIL120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I thought it would be an easy A but it wasn't and I didn't care enough to study so I took it pass/fail. Maybe it's easier than a math class if you're bad at math. I can't really say. He's nice though and he goes over stuff a lot in class. Not much homework just a few tests.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: QR114
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

You have to teach yourself or google all the reasoning. I wouldn't take him again if I had to. He did scale final grades though

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHIL210
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Everything in the class is optional. If you attend enough classes you will pass. Final was optional.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHIL108
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He checks out the papers at the end of semester. Do not hand in the same paper twice--definitely can get caught

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHIL108
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

There's an essay of 1200 words due each week along with a commentary of 800 based on another student's 1000 word essay. Class discussions are entertaining and attendance matters because is a huge part of your grade. I turned in the same essay in order like 4 times and got full credit for it. He is easy to trick lol.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHIL215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Long lectures, but interesting and thorough. Respects students' opinions. Midterm, final, attendance, paper and presentation on paper topic. Very well organized. Writes notes on board but good luck on being able to read his handwriting. Very fair grader; offers to regrade if necessary. Text is required but lectures so thorough that you wont need it

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: QR114
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Good class, final was tough. Be ready for homework and unorganized projects

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHIL120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Silver seems to take an interest in Logic at times, but other times he seems bored. The notes and class problems he writes on the blackboard are all over the place and sometimes hard to read. The book currently assigned (Symbolic Logic by Agler) is loaded with typos so beware. Most of the test problems are easier than the problems done in class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL108
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely hated this class. He doesn't care about your opinion in an opinion based class. 4 page weekly essays, but length is the only thing that matters. A joke of a final exam. Attendance is worth 32 pts in a 100 pt system. Easy A, but not worth the torture.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIL108
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Requires a 4pg essay every week for hw even though he's only looking for the pg fulfillment and giving you only 4 points for completing. He does not respect the students work and effort. Has attendance book but refer to his "mental notes" to give you the rightful points. Lectures are confusing from unpreparedness.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL108
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Take him! easiest and most interesting course I have ever taken. Excellent professor.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHIL108
• 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:

Very easy class as long as you attend class and listen/take notes from discussions. Book/readings are not necessary but will show up on the final. Some topics were very interesting. Recommend

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHIL215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I personally loved Pro. Silver's class. You didn't have to do the readings, his lectures were very clear as long as you listened and took detailed notes. He was very clear and will reiterate everything from your prior class in your next class. I absolutely recommend taking a class with him. He is a good teacher, funny, and a decent grader.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHIL217
• 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:

Silver is the man, all you need to do is show up to class and listen to what he says and the midterm and final are easy. He's a pretty easy grader, and gives extra time on the term paper if you want it, but he in turn grades harder the later you turn it in. You'll like this guy.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHIL215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

To be fair, it wasnt the class for me. attendance is mandatory. the class sucked, i was not interesting and he wasnt helping me get interested. very boring, complicated. exams are quite hard, last one open ended. buy the books, do the readings. he was helpful outside of class when I asked for help. Seems to think only his opinion is right sometimes

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHIL208
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's the man. probably favorite. knowledgeable, humorous,easy going. stress free learning environment. top shelf dude. makes me smile.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHIL215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Despite passing around a sign in sheet, he takes his own attendance! Do NOT have a friend sign the sheet for you, he WILL dock the grade, or fail you. Lectures aren't really necessary to do well so it makes it a shame. Skim the reading, show up, and you'll do fine. Pretty easy class otherwise, just a bad lecturer.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHIL215
• 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:

Very nice professor. Reliable, lectures about interesting topics and gives a midterm, term paper, presentation of paper, and final exam. The more points you get, the better it is for you and your grade. Definitely would retake again.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHIL380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Despite his monotone voice, he managed to keep the class interesting. Very interested in the material to begin with, I learned enough to make me want to come back for more. Not necessarily an amazing professor but certainly above average.