William Wrightson - American River College

Professor: William Wrightson

Department: History

College: American River College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST480
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

All tests no homework. Really tough grader. He's a bit intimidating.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST480
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Honestly, he is a brilliant HIST teacher. (-) - very intimidating to ask questions to unless you're a hist nerd. Lectures are lengthy and he changes slides too fast. You need to impressss him to get an A - connect hist essay question to outside hist knowledge. Hard exams! 5 essays within 1 test! 2 midterms. I final 6 essays! Must work HARD!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was the highlight of my day. Bill is hilarious. He is intimidating and he WILL KNOW if you aren't prepared for lecture. He only graded us on the 3 exams and participation. The exams are tough. This class is definitely not for lazy people. This class takes hard work if you want an A, but he is an awesome teacher. Just study A LOT!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He expects you to guess what is going to be on the "short essay/long essay" exams based on weeks of lecture. His exams are all on blue books and if you do not go to class you will automatically fail. He also hates when people are late so if you get there 5 minutes after class started he will lock you out and you will be forced to loose points/ info

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST480
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very difficult class, but well worth it. He gave me my first and only B, which I deserved but was not expecting because I've had so many easy-grader teachers. Take detailed notes, memorize important names and dates, and be sure you THOROUGHLY understand the connections and overarching themes! He expects a lot and you will learn a lot, 10/10

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST302
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Bill was the best teacher I ever had at ARC, and the only reason I was prepared for courses at Cal. He is fascinating, and if you don't like him and his class it's probably because you are lazy or not serious about your studies.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIS300
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I love Bill, he will push you to limits your did not know you could reach and helps you refine your skills as a student. Ignore the negative feedback about him he wants to see you succeed. He is very honest and hilarious. As well as he makes history feel like it should which is intresting and engaging.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIS302
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This professor is really aggressive. You're better off asking your peers questions at the end of class instead of asking him. Use the bathroom before or after class. He hates when people get up to use the restroom. I made the mistake of not asking permission and he called me out in the middle of the lecture.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Wrightson is not for the lazy, weak-minded, or faint of heart. However, if you're transferring to schools like UCLA, Berkeley, UCD, etc.. he will prepare you for the level of work you will encounter there. If you just need the credits, take another professor. He's brilliant and expects university level work. Take him if you're serious about college

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIS302
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a very good teacher. Listen to his lectures and understand the ideas and you will do fine the midterms.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST302
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I had him for wes civ and it was an extremely hard class, do not take unless you have good history knowledge. He expects you to know the answer to everything and asks alooooot of questions and gets very frustrated when you don't answer or answer incorrectly. He can be very rude, don't take this class and expect to pass easily.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIS302
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He got exasparated with questions and would act as though you were asking the same thing he'd just said when in reality he wasn't very clear. Hard to ask questions with his aggression. Although going to office hours is the same treatment it is helpful. I would never take him again. Unless your willing to put in A LOT of work- DO NOT TAKE HIM.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST302
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

He was really rude whenot you answer a question wrong he gets like a angered face and say NO and estates the question he needs very explains why your wrong or not. Also at timesome mies you feel stupid Don't take him!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Bill is one of the best professors I have had here, what he teachers is what many blue book exams are like in upper division courses. GO TO HIS OFFICE HOUR HE WILL HELP YOU, I went after the first exam and went from a 70 on my first exam to an 89 on the second. Don't be afraid of the old walrus he will help you do well in his class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Bill is just an ok professor. He sometimes is not clear enough and confuses you. Grades are based on 3 assignments. 1 midterm, 1 test and the final. Makes you finish his ideas for you and if you do not he makes the whole class wait. Really tough on the grades.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST367
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Wrightson is hard! He grades on three midterms, which are all essay written questions, there is no multiple choice at all. First 40 points for short answer, and 60 points for long question essay. Participation matters, and sometimes you may be even required to share that you've read with the class. Keeps class all 80 minutes!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Learned a ton, didn't do any homework work just came to the lectures engaged, missed about 4 classes, I'm an average to maybe a little above average essay writer, and I think I got a C. I was ok with that because he made the content interesting and I'm don't trip. In his class C's are easy A's are really hard. He grades at a higher standard

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Veterans. Listen to me now. If your just exiting the military like I did, this is the professor you want. Bill keeps it real, he's professional, and a tough grader. He doesn't take BS and his sense of humor is great. The class itself can be challenging. You have to really think. If your not a great writer, I don't recommend it. But you will learn!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: 300
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Bill is a great professor if you like to be an independent student. His lectures make sense, as does the subject he's teaching. Don't expect to hide in the back, participate in the class to get the most out of it. He won't hand you the conclusions, you have to arrive at a lot of them yourself. All tests are essays as well, so know how to write well

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Bill is one of the best teachers I have ever had. As someone who has gone on to the next level, I can say getting a B in Bill's class means A's in many of the future write exams you will have. Bill's expects a lot, and I recommend frequent visits to office hours to further discuss the materials, I went from a B- on my 1st exam to a A- on 2nd.