Travis Butler - Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Professor: Travis Butler

Department: Philosophy

College: Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL230
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Attendance isn't mandatory but if you don't get notes from his lectures you won't pass. This guy is as bland as dry toast.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHIL230
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The most important thing for this class is to attend lecture. Professor Butler gives you everything you need to know for each quiz and exam. Also, make sure you do the reading from the textbook, even though it's really (and I mean really) boring. If you can answer his in class questions on the reading you will end up getting extra credit points.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL230
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

In order to do well in this class, you need to go to class. He provides very detailed notes, and these are EXTREMELY helpful for the in-class writing assignments as well as the exams. He provides opportunities for extra credit at random times, which is nice. Monotone voice, but is pretty funny sometimes.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHIL230
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a little bit of a hard grader, especially when it comes to written assignments. However, he is more than accommodating if you need to move a test because of an academic conflict. He is always available during office hours and is more than happy to help. He has a monotone voice but cracks some pretty funny jokes sometimes.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHIL230
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took PHI230 to fill an elective. If you arent majoring in Philosophy, do not take this class. As a student from another major, I had a hard time understanding how to understand how people from the past understood things. On a test, I responded to a long answer question and was literally given a 0/10 for the answer. Not 1 or 2/10, a stinking 0.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHIL230
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He explains the content very well and goes through the notes at a good pace. The tests are fine as long as you review your notes. His voice is also very monotone, but he's a pretty chill guy. I personally thought that the class was interesting and he always let us out at least 5-10 min early.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHIL230
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Does a pretty good job teaching the necessary material. Test questions are tricky sometimes . He is stiff at first but after a few weeks of class he loosens up.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHIL230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The graders are terrible. On every test/writing assignment, my friends and I would put the same thing and one would miss points and the other wouldn't. If you go to Butler about it, he won't do anything. You pretty much have to see into the future for the writing assignments and figure out the specific word you need to use or you'll miss points.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHIL230
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Show up and copy the notes and you'll do fine. He offers extra credit opportunities and study sessions before every exam. He's really good about answering questions and making sure students understand. He's an easier grader if he knows you, so participate by asking questions or answering questions in class. Dry sense of humor but very laid back.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL230
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He was a really good teacher! At first he seems blocked off, and reserved, but once he starts lecturing hes actually pretty funny. I liked his lectures becase it clarified what I did not understand from the reading. Literally everything on the test was from the notes so make sure you study your notes.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIL230
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dry sense of humor which is always nice. He clearly explains the generally outline of the course and it is 100% accurate. No homework, everything is in class and guided (besides exams). Philosophy goes in a big circle but he fills in all the gaps and gives you a good grasp on the ins and out of the class. Great instructor for sure.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL230
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Butler is a solid professor. Pretty laid back and funny. However, his material and teaching style is a little dry. He lays out his notes very clearly so take good ones and you'll be set on the test. He begins each class with a review of the previous so if you skip its not the end of the world. Didn't use the textbook very much

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHIL230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Found him to be a great teacher who really understands the things he was teaching. Will crack a few jokes in class and the only assignments are a few group writings on Fridays. I found the essays on the exams to be tough sometimes because it seemed he was searching for you to say a specific word, so make sure to understand the topic.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHIL230
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

LOVED this professor. His class had no homework besides a few readings and he made things very easy to understand. No papers, clear lectures, study guides and tons of extra credit. I will be trying to take more of his classes in the future.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHIL230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Solid at explaining things, throws in the occasional joke. As long as you go to the lectures, write down all of his notes, and pay attention, it should be an easy class. He makes it interesting enough where you won't space off too often. Enjoyed taking the class with him!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHIL230
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Travis is an awesome philosophy teacher. I struggled at the start of the semester, but talking to him early on really helped me understand how he structures his lecture notes and gets his ideas across. He has an extremely dry sense of humor and it can be hilarious at times but cringy at other times. Do not skip the lectures if you want to get an A.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHIL230
• 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 is a great teacher. He explains the material for the class well, he also has a dry sense of humor which makes him hilarious. I would highly recommend him for a professor, especially for this class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHIL230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I really enjoyed him! he has a dry sense a humor which lightens up the class a bit! Make sure you go to class and take nots, if you do that, you will be set for his tests. Readings are not necessary to get .

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHIL230
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

GO TO CLASS! The tests are straight from the lecture, so take good notes. Exams are pretty straight forward and he will give a review sheet. Make flashcards to memorize the concepts. He provides some opportunitie to gain extra credit. Get the extra credit (Grand slam) out of the way early. Its 10 points of true extra credit. 200 points in the class

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHIL230
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He was a very easy to understand, and he is very good at reviewing in class. His class was one of my easiest classes I've ever taken at Iowa State. He is an amazing lecturer because he understands the material. He explains the concepts in different ways to help everyone understand, GO TO THE REVIEW SESSIONS! If its at 8am though, good luck.