Jeffrey Bortz - Appalachian State University, Boone, NC

Professor: Jeffrey Bortz

Department: History

College: Appalachian State University, Boone, NC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIS2301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He was a very sweet man; however, he was really quiet. Most of the time I could not hear a word he was saying. The lectures were hard to understand, but the exams depended on the lectures mostly. Grades were only based on the midterm, final, and a few assignments which he never told the deadlines to (or at least not where I could hear him).

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIS2301
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

he is a really good professor. he is wicked intelligent and will open your mind to things you've never even thought about before. he doesn't want you to memorize dates or do things like a typical history class; he just wants you to understand why latin america is what it is today. attendance is mandatory w/ super intriguing lectures. very easy A!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIS2301
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He constantly repeats the same concepts over and over and adds new content for about the last 10 minutes of class. He is very demeaning and he's very opinionated. He was quite judgemental of my class and what we wanted to do as careers. Pretty much told us we weren't going to make it with the jobs we wanted. Very quiet spoken, very boring lecture.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIS1501
• 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:

Dr. Bortz is so intelligent about the topics he is teaching. Most people in this class found it dry but if you listen to what he is saying and do your work the class is very easy to pass and will change the way you see the world. He is not one to believe in the regular grading system so if you show up, read the material, and take notes you pass.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIS1501
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Bortz has a very non-conformist approach to teaching. He may come off as dry in his lectures to some but realize he is a pretty old guy and can only talk so loud and energetically. He is extremely intelligent and gives very interesting lectures, particularly on philosophy.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIS2301
• 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:

I took Dr. Bortz for two classes and aced them both. Here are my tips: Forget your preconceived notions of what a history course might be (memorizing dates, names, etc.), listen well, and read the assigned books. Also: I'm a very politically conservative veteran, and I always felt respected in his class; his comments never seemed mean-spirited.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIS2301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Bortz is a great. He speaks quietly and lectures a lot, but he makes them interesting. One thing that stuck with me is that he asks his students a lot of questions and relates it back to the lecture and he's so funny.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIS2301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

material is very dry and he doesn't try much to make it interesting. Mostly just lectures from his desk in a monotone voice. Don't take if you are religious or easily offended, as he tends to bash religion in America among other things. Has a very cynical world view that is often funny but can be too far sometimes. Only 2 tests and they're online

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIS4100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class essentially did next to nothing the entire semester. The objective of the class was to write a paper, and as a result, we almost never had class. This was good in that we had plenty of time to write the paper, but Bortz was very spacey with his feedback, so you never really knew where you stood in the class or with your paper.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIS2301
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not a good teacher. Only ever talked about colonial Latin America once he was done rambling about how America is the worst country every day. Hard to take notes since you could barely hear him. The exams were difficult with ambiguous answers. There were a few bearable classes but I would not recommend him.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIS2301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I loved Dr. Bortz. He understands the world and how things really work. He may only lecture, but he does so in a way that every student can understand what he is trying to say. He makes meaningful connections from the material to the world today. He truly cares about students, and is quite witty, though I think some people misunderstand his humor.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIS2301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

If you are a history major or have a passion for history, you will enjoy him. He isn't for everyone, but he has such a wealth of knowledge and has fascinating perspectives from which he teaches. Somewhat cynical, but he enjoys those in class who respectfully challenge him. If you don't do well, it's because you didn't take notes and ask questions.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIS2301
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Bortz gets a bad rap. He sits behind the desk and lectures off of his own notes. But he really cares about the students and and if theyre understanding the material. Doesnt believe in grades so no papers and only 2 tests- final grades are based on a proportinal system so that is nice too. He is diferent, but I would take him again.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIS2301
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Worst teacher I've had at ASU. He is rude (called the class dumb at one point), puts HIS opinion questions on tests (ex: what is the most important line in The Mission?), and is super boring. There are only 2 tests (midterm and final), you have to read 4 books and watch 2 movies outside of the class. Wouldn't recommend him to my worst enemy.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIS1400
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Bortz is a very interesting professor. He has a wealth of knowledge is willing to share. Definitely should get to know him. He cares about his students and provides lots of feedback. He is for sure a fair grader! Take notes on his lectures and do the reading. His tests come directly from the reading & lectures; there are no surprises.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIS1501
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Sits behind his desk rambling whatever comes to mind. Not only do his lectures want to put you to sleep, his voice will too. He doesn't louder than a librarian in a library, so if you're behind the second row expect to fail. Don't take this class unless you enjoy wasting your time and money.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIS1501
• 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:

Love Dr. Bortz!!! He's definitely opinionated, but he is so knowledgable on his subjects. Only 2 tests basically on his lectures, so take good notes and you'll be fine. He seems gruff, but is super nice if you talk to him!!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIS3528
• 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:

One of my favorite professors at App State. If you are a history major you simply need to take one of his classes. He is very laid back, typically an easy grader, but can also be very challenging. Has high expectations and expects his students to engage with both the text and the class. He will change your worldview and maybe your life.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIS2301
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Bortz has a very monotonous and boring teaching style, and you can barely here him sitting in a small room up front. He is an interesting person, yet you learn merely his opinions and nothing about history. There were two grades the entire year: the midterm and the final. Both had very specific questions that were mainly his opinion.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIS2301
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This guy is a genius. If its about Mexico he knows it. That being said expect him to lecture for about 50 min (even for 75 min classes). He has few to no assignments and his tests are almost all lecture based. He also sometimes talks about drugs and the nature of reality.