Lawrence Foster - Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA

Professor: Lawrence Foster

Department: History

College: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST2111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Fun guy, cares a lot about what he teaches. Reading will be heavy and necessary to pass, as well as lecture notes. He won't allow any cell phone/laptop/tablets in class. He comes across abrasive, but he does care.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST2111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Foster is an old school lecture professor. He assigned four biographies and two textbooks to read over the semester. The reading isn't bad if you keep up with it, but you can't skip a lecture or reading if you want a good grade. He offers four extra credit papers based on the biographies. Do them. Recently, attendance became mandatory.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST2111
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I only took this class because I had to, it was repeat information from high school but more thorough. I spent 20+ hours reading and studying for each test, and there is a lot of content he expects you to know. Attending class and taking notes is necessary. He offers extra credit for each test if you're a few points short of an A, but that's it.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST2111
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Foster's enthusiasm for teaching history was clear, although his lectures can be quite a drag sometimes. But show up to class, read the books he assigns and you have an easy A.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST2111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Always do the extra credit for each unit! You have to read the books anyway for the test and they can make a difference in letter grade. Its not enough to read the material, you have to review the readings, too. If you do really bad but then improve drastically, he'll drop your lowest test. Lectures are boring but try to stay awake and take notes.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST2111
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you have to end up taking his class, start with the essay exam. Don't waste your time with the multiple choice tests. I gave him a negative rating because after seeing him multiple times during office hours asking him for advice throughout the semester on how to improve on tests he still failed me.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST2111
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Foster's lectures are really boring, monotonous, and sleep-inducing (even front row). He convinced me to take his class during the first week, and it has been my biggest regret since I've came to Tech. If you don't like to read historical books don't take this class. If you didn't like history before this class you will not like it after.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST2111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took his class since I'm in a studio-based major and didn't really want to take anything too rigorous. The class itself is pretty easy, and the professor genuinely wants you to succeed. Do the readings and go to class (though if you miss class you can email him for an audio recording of the lecture) and you'll do well.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST2211
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely loved his passion for the subject. It clearly permeated through to me, and hopefully other students as well. Workload is heavy; it includes lots of reading, but if you enjoy history it won't be a chore as the books he chooses are interesting on their own. His final project turned out to be my fav assignment in college so far!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST2111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Foster is a great professor! Lots of reading but very doable. If you read the material properly and understand it (DONT SKIM) then easy A. Tests are essay format and aren't bad at all. Attendance is mandatory with 5 absences being the max, but he is lenient if you have a valid excuse (sickness, etc.). 10/10 would recommend.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST2111
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

You can tell he really cares about the topics he teaches, which makes his class enjoyable even if the lectures are large. Attendance is mandatory (can miss 5 days), but that only serves to help you, and reading is a must if you want to pass the class, but if you put in a little effort, you should be very fine.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST2111
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class is almost entirely based in the readings and the lectures. The only things that go towards your grade are the tests and the extra credit, so you HAVE to do the assigned reading if you want to pass. Foster offers 2 different versions of the test, a multiple choice version and a essay version, so pick whichever you're most comfortable with

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST2111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Foster is really passionate about history and about appealing to the interests of his students. Lectures were extremely long and boring, but take detailed notes and do the readings (there are a lot). Also, do the extra credit assignments and he will be very generous with your grade. I got an 87 which he rounded to an A. Would take again.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST2111
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Excellent professor! Has a passion for the subject and really cares about his students. Assigns a lot of reading so he may not be the best option for someone just looking to satisfy their history requirement. Definitely take the essay version rather than the multiple choice version of the test. It focuses on major ideas rather than minor details.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST2111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very good teacher. Lectures are pertinent to the test. Take notes and do the readings and a light review is all thats needed before each test to get an A. He is very helpful and wants you to succeed. Didn't like history before his class

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST2111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a great teacher. Interested in what he is teaching and getting students to understand. His lectures are wonderful. He focuses on the social and cultural aspects of history which I personally find more interesting. If you're taking the multiple choice tests, just read the textbooks really, really well. Even small, useless details.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST2111
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Foster's class was an easy A if you do the readings. The readings, both the textbook and the other books he assigns, are very required in order to do well. Lecture is also crucial, and definitely take notes. If you read the books and go to class you're gonna get a high B or A on the tests. Final isn't cumulative. Would recommend.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST2111
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are pretty boring but if you put in the effort to take notes, you'll have to study considerably less. He passes around an attendance sheet, so try to go to class. Also, if you keep up with the reading your life will be much easier. I took everyone's advice and opted for free response tests and did better than friends who took MC.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST2111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lots of reading. Also, lectures are pretty dry, but most of the material is covered in the reading anyway.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 53823
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I'm in his summer class right now and am having an amazing time. In high school, I used to hate American History because I was bad at it and it wasn't interesting to me. Dr. Foster has completely changed that! I have always been excited to go to class and to listen to his lectures. He is so passionate for the subject and I admire that. Brilliant!