Steve Riess - Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL

Professor: Steve Riess

Department: History

College: Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST463
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Demanding class and it is difficult to obtain a high grade without working hard. Riess is a published scholar and his expectations are that you will put in a greater effort than is the case in 90% of other classes at NEIU.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST342
• 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:

Worst professor of my college experience, he actually almost prevented me from graduating, there are three tests in his class and no way to try and improve a grade. He is a ridiculous grader that constantly insults people through his comments, DON'T DO IT!!!!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST392
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Yes he is a tough grader because he expects that your in the class to read, listen, and take notes. I pulled a B off in his class and while it was hard, it can happen. Only 3 chances to earn a grade, but participation counts too. Read then you can participate more and you will be memorable. Make intelligent comments or questions.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST214
• 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:

plain and simple.. DON'T TAKE ANY OF HIS CLASSES. my class was full with students, and a month within.. there was only 15 left. monotone voice,BORING, extremely hard grader, and only three tests (which is the only chance to get a good grade).

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST233
• 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:

dont take him!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST433
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is a far and very helpful Professor ! Great knowledge !

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST334
• 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:

Worse professor ever! RUN DON'T TAKE HIM! He has tons of knowledge but extremely boring! Midterm, Essay, and Final are the only opportunities to earn a grade. He is a hard grader! Lots and lots of reading. He doesn't care about his students he will give you an F. 38 years of teaching in the History department.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST342
• 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:

Riess is everything you don't want in a teacher. He is very dry and monotone. He can not engage his students and to disagree with people, he is not fair in his grading. I am a history major, and have gotten A's in all my classes and am looking at possibly getting a low B or high C. He is NOT a teacher you want to take.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST335
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Riess is quite smart & knowledgeable but a bit dry. He is a hard, hard grader but not unfair. He expects you to be able to write at the college level. His study guides are extremely thorough and helpful - use them! He is very accessible and will make time to talk to you and be of help.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST342
• 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:

Tough but fair. Expects you to keep up with the reading, and there is a LOT of reading. I found his lectures quite interesting - this is college, folks, not a TV show. Essays are not easy *hint* - REALLY study the short answers on the guide and use them as examples and evidence in your essays, that seems to be the formula for a good grade on exams.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST392
• 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:

He's a very good professor and very knowledgable. The books he assigned to read were interesting. I got a B in the class. If I studied for the midterm test I would have gotten an A I bet.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST392
• 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:

took the course in the summer session (6 weeks). did have a lot of reading material, but whatever we were required to read was useful for the tests. study guides were challenging (50+ terms & essay questions) but if you study and take decent notes in class you'll make it. i learned a lot...

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST342
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is everything that is bad about teachers. Knowledgeable, yes, however his execution, demeanor, and rapport is horrendous. He is so incredibly dry and dull and has absolutely no clue on how to engage students and keep them interested. Any one have a bobbie pin? I would gladly use it to poke my eyes out, rather than attend his classes.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIS333
• 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:

Very tough teacher, as many U. of Chicago Phd's are. Very dull and boring. Just bombards you with facts, names, dates, and other useless info that he expects you to remember. Very tough grader.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST1
• 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 teacher ive ever had. i am a straight a student except for one class i took with him. dry. dry. boring. unreasonably hard grader. wait until you crack the book (that he wrote) and you will understand. He just lists stats for everything. If you want history retold through statistics only (in an extremely monotone voice) take his class. DRY.DRY

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST214
• 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:

AWFUL! Does not care whether or not you even understand what he is saying. It will ruin your GPA, dont wait to see how you do on your first test cuz you will lose money by dropping that late. Not worth your breath

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST214
• 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:

not worth it., he ruins your gpa. just dont take him. get out while you still can.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST214
• 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:

MUCH OF THE THINGS HE SAYS IN CLASS ARE USELES,B/C EITHER WAY HE'LL TEST YOU ABOUT EVENTS FROM THE BOOK.FOR THE IDENTITIES HE SAYS HE ONLY WANTS DATE,WHO/WHAT ARE THEY AND WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT,BUT TRUTHFULLY HE WANTS GREAT DETAIL,ANSWER THE 5 W'S AND ADD MORE DETAIL.THE 1ST DAY OF CLASS YOU COULDN'T EVEN GET A SEAT.@ THE END ONLY 15 PPL WERE LEFT

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST392
• 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:

Prof. Reiss is definitely an expert in his field. Perhaps this is what makes him so tough on students. He also tended to answer questions about assignments and tests with a question leaving you more confused sometimes. This class was a ton of work and a real challenge. Success is a possibility, however, with maximum effort.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST392
• 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:

Worst teacher ever. Unless you want a challenge, I rather poke my eye out than to take another class of his. His midterm and finals are brutal 50+ names to know and 9+essays to write about. Don't take him unless there is no other option