William Piston - Missouri State University, Springfield, MO

Professor: William Piston

Department: History

College: Missouri State University, Springfield, MO

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HST315
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Piston is a professional historian. If you are taking a upper level history class you should expect to put out a certain level of effort to attain a high grade. His lectures are only boring if you aren't interested in the topic. His military history course is taught at the survey level. 3 tests, couple of papers, two texts.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HST315
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I do not recommend taking a course with Professor Piston. Actually, avoid it at all costs. This was the most useless class I have ever taken. His lectures are long and boring. There were 2 required books that are even more boring than his lectures. His tests are essays and he grades very hard. I learned nothing from this course.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HST542
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Piston is the consummate teaching professional. He provides clear instruction, gives time on task, and will provide helpful advice for further assignments. He was first a teacher - so he's not just an expert, but actually knows how to teach, unlike other history professors at MSU.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HST315
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Piston is a truly awful professor for the American Military History course. I have always been passionate about military history, yet somehow he managed to turn it into a subject that I despise. He doesn't focus on any of the fun aspects of mil. history like details of battles and heroic actions of our soldiers, but rather the boring, hum-drum.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HST315
• 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:

2 written assignments, 3 tests that are all essay. He give 3 questions and then pick 2 to test over. He took attendance I think it was a piece of the grade, but couldn't tell for sure. Not too impossible sometimes boring but usually interesting.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HST315
• 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:

A very well taught class and very insightful. If you don't do well in his class its the students own fault. He gives you plenty of opportunities to get a good grade. Tests are essay and if you read, even a little and pay attention, you'll do well.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST524
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Piston is the American Civil War specialist. He is very knowledgeable. He has published many good books. But the Prof. does not take criticism of his work to well. He was a Civil War reenactor so has practical experience with what it was like to be a soldier during the time period. He shows signs of burn out.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HST315
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Piston was a good teacher. You don't really have to read the textbook to do well on tests. Just study the slides and you will do fine.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HST121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

The tests are completely essay and he gives you the possible questions before the test. All you have to do to get a good grade is show up to class, read, and be prepared for the essay test question. Interesting, easy, and well taught course.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HST315
• 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:

His military history course is interesting, but only if you love history in the first place. If it wasn't a topic I enjoyed, this probably would have been a terrible class. He is a demanding, but not necessarily a difficult teacher.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HST351
• 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:

I took his military history class. He does these online discussions which are very easy and then three essay tests which can be a bit harder but if you study you will do fine and then an assingnment on chickenhawk. The class was fine if you like military history, I personally don't and have had trouble staying interested and paying attention.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HST315
• 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:

Dr. Piston is very friendly, clear and helpful. He really knows what he's talking about, and yes - he actually has the nerve to teach a course that requires some actual READING and WORK. If actually reading and studying is a problem for you, then why are you in college anyway? Overall, a good class, interesting topic and great professor.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HST315
• 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:

The class is full of assignments. There are two five-page papers, as well as all essay tests. He grades pretty tough, but is good about working with you if you go talk to him. The power points are posted online, and are pretty easy to understand. As long as you are a confident writer, this class should be okay if you attend classes.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST315
• 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:

Mandatory field trip was a pain, but as long as you did the reading and took notes you could do fine.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST121
• 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:

He's very interested in what hes talking about and cracks "old man funny jokes"If you Listen and take notes its not too bad, but the tests are graded pretty hard and the questions are somewhat specific(names of Indian tribes etc.)If you use the online study guide it gives you most of the questions that will be on the test.But it does take studying.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HST121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This was a difficult class, i love history and it is too much for me. He's a very mono-tone, plain prof. He grades his test pretty hard and that's pretty much all the class is based on, 3 tests, a final, and a 5 page essay

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HST121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Horrible Teacher. I took it purely for Gen Ed credits and he made it out to be more like a 300 level course. Graded the Essays too hard. Wanted way too much detail. Friday classes are completely worthless. Do not take him.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HST121
• 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:

The quizes are not bad and either are the multiple choice part of the tests. The hard part is the essay portion. He grades very strict on them and you have to know a lot of details. Overall he is a good teacher tho.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HST121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Didn't open the main book, but did the friday assignment book and separate reading book that we are required to do a paper over. Tests aren't too bad with studying. never fail to fall asleep in lecture, but ppt is on the web as is the text book. Could be much worse I guess.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HST121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Bill understands his job. He expects you to understand yours. Lectures pretty dry, but I didn't crack a book either and got an A. Take notes, study web, easy.