Robin Barnes - Davidson College, Davidson, NC

Professor: Robin Barnes

Department: History

College: Davidson College, Davidson, NC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIS421
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Barnes's seminar on "Everyday Life" in Early Modern Europe was a great experience. He expects a lot of his students, but he is always more than ready to help and is always encouraging. Lots of high-level readings that inspire great discussions with his help.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIS112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This professor was nice and helpful during office hours, but he was not a very good lecturer, and he confused me so much! He would say things that didn't match up with the book or a previous lecture, and he always made awkward jokes in class. I loved the topic of the class, and thought he was a nice man, but I just didn't enjoy his class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIS112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Barnes is a great lecturer, really interesting. He's also great in office hours, definitely go for help on papers, just to go over material. His quizzes are very detailed, it's really hard to do well on those. But, he must curve and makes a bigger deal out of your papers than the quizzes. You'll need to do the reading, but lectures come from book.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIS112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Barnes is awesome. Gives good lectures and knows his stuff. Class is mostly lecture based, but discussion is encouraged. Workload is relatively light but tests and quizzes are very specific. Office hours are very helpful - he will even give you books off his own shelf for research. Plus, he wants to get to know you. Great guy, great class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST112
• 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:

Started the semester with mildly awkward lectures but he got much better. His reading quizzes are very specific and he wants you to hone in on major and minor details, so be prepared to memorize names, dates, and favorite grocery stores. He is very nice and willing to help. Wants discussion in class, so ask questions. Lots of reading. He 's sweaty.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST321
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This is the second course I've taken from Barnes. He seems to have mellowed some, but he is still quite passionate and interesting. If you like history, you'll like his classes.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIS215
• 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:

Barnes is a pretty passionate, fun teacher and you can tell he enjoys teaching. His magic and witchcraft course was very interesting, but the papers were really hard. He wants you to do well, but was often really critical on each paper. Unlike me, if you are good writer and do the reading then you will succeed in the class

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIS215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Barnes is incredibly nice and wants you to succeed. However, DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. I'm serious. He is not at all a dynamic lecturer, and ran out of material before the class was over. For one homework assignment, he made his students workshop his unpublished article. Nice guy, but an academic, not a teacher. I did not learn anything.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST480
• 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 helpful. He wants you to succeed. He can be tough, but is always fair.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HUM250
• 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:

Really good prof.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Average grades on the 3 tests we had were in the 50s or 60s. He curves near the end but not enough to help unless in top half of the class. Would not recommend unless willing to work your butt off and dedicate the majority of your time to this class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Had him for Early Modern Europe. The title is deceiving it covers the 1500s to the 1800s. Very boring lecturer. Tons of reading each week. Tests are very hard, memorize primary sources and all details including minute dates, publishers, and quotes. Only a paper every Thursday per week. Class=Ok if really interested. If you are not=awful

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST112
• 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:

Getting an A is close to impossible, his lectures are just like the readings, nothing new or really interesting. Grades tough and midterm and finals are hard. He is always ready and willing to help though.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIS112
• 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:

Very passionate about what he does. Don't take him for an 8:30. Grading scale was 4 papers, one final and one quiz. And weekly reading assignments. Not too bad but the final was killer

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: EMEUROPE
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

didnt really know what to expect from the class, but learned a lot and ended up loving it. almost took it pass/fail and ended up with an a-. recommend taking anything with barnes

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIS121
• 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:

Though his lectures can be a bit boring, I'd recommend taking a class. He's smart and willing to talk about papers and assignments and offer help. Not a tough grader either, which is good. He did make me very interested in early modern Europe, so that's got to count for something

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIS112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Avoid taking. Lecture is merely a repetition of the text, research projects tend to be limited and boring. He doesn't seem to have his lectures thoroughly planned, and thus key material is left out.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HST112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Good professor. Really wants his students to do well, so he'll read over papers and helps tons in office hours. Is not an expert on Medieval Europe and is very open about that, but I still learned a lot.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIS321
• 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:

I was excited about the topic, but warned not to take Barnes...but of course I didn't listen. Big mistake! He has unrealistic expectations. He expects you to remember insignificant, little details from the readings (average score on 1st reading "quiz" was 50%). Lectures unstimulating. Structure of class = wierd for a 300 level.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

very hard-working, nice