Raymond Mentzer - University of Iowa

Professor: Raymond Mentzer

Department: TBD

College: University of Iowa

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST1250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Mentzer's lectures are very informative; he is very passionate in what he teaches. He tells stories in his class, and even makes jokes to make the class more interesting. He does have a lot of reading that should be read before each lecture. He rarely talks about the reading in class, but there are questions from the readings on exam.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: RELS1250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He posted notes on the lectures but they are REALLY general - you won't be able to figure them out unless you go or borrow a friend's notes. Funny, interesting, sweet dude. I honestly enjoyed the lectures.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: RELS1250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He makes boring subjects more interesting by providing stories from his own life. I enjoyed this class even though there is a lot of work outside of the class. The lectures pretty much cover all of the test material, though, so if you pay attention in class you will do well.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: RELS1225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great professor. Hes engaging, and the subject matter is really interesting. You HAVE to go to all of the lectures, as like 90% of the test is based on what he says in lecture, but tests are fairly easy. You dont need to memorize any dates for this class, which is amazing. 10/10 would take again.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: RELS1250
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I really enjoyed taking Prof Mentzer. In general, I think the subject is relatively boring but he was so passionate about it and very engaging. I suggest sitting towards the front though because he does not have a very loud voice. As long as you attend lecture, a B or higher is easy to achieve.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: RELS1250
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Makes boring stuff fairly interesting. You can tell he is passionate about the content. Tests are pretty hard but they are curved so that helps.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: RELS1250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is passionate and knowledgable, if you sit in the front you might get into lecture but otherwise it's boring. Really boring. If you take notes in lecture it's literally word for word the test. I loved the discussion section readings and papers, they were actually really interesting and it made up for lecture.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: RELS1250
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Mentzer is such a nice guy, but I really disliked this class. The lecture was so boring and hard to keep up with because of it. I also found the content extremely dull.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: RELS3190
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Upper level classes 95%lecture with very little homework. A paper or two along with mid-term and final. Prof is focused on student learning. If you take notes and demonstrate thoughtfulness in paper and tests, you can do well. Have taken prof a couple times, would gladly take again. Especially great if interested in early modern Europe.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: RELS1250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He definitely knows what he's talking about. I would recommend downloading the course notes and using those to study for exams, because his lectures go right off of them. I think that the class would be more interesting if it went into more modern religion (doesn't go past the 18th century) and talked about a religion other than Christianity.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: RELS1425
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Mentzer is amazing, his TAs, not so much. Everything that wasn't controlled by him was a S. L. O. W. process. Do you want your essay back in a couple weeks as promised? The TAs delayed handing them back by two weeks. Do you want to start the test on time? The TAs show up 2 minutes before the test starts. Do not recommend because of the TAs.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MODERNRANDC
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

good professor, exams are right from lectures notes. couple of easy papers to write.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: RELS1250
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The tests were really hard for this class but he curves it a ton to make up for it. His lectures are like stories so it's a little difficult to tell what's important but it makes it much more interesting. The essays are extremely easy to write. There is not one major textbook but you read a lot.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: 032026
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very interesting class. Exams are pretty difficult. TA's are very unhelpful and grade essays pretty harshly. If you have a religious belief and express it, you will receive a lower grade because they grade harder and don't agree.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MODERNRELIGION
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took this class as a gened. Professor Mentzer is very sweet and truly wants his students to succeed. There are 3 essays and 3 thirty question MC tests. The tests can be difficult but if you pay attention in lecture/discussion you can do well. Overall a good gened for historical perspectives

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST1250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Mentzer definitely knows his stuff. Lectures are interesting for the most part. There isn't a textbook, but I would recommend doing the online readings as well as putting effort into the papers you write over the novels read in class. Modern Religion and Culture is a GOOD class, though definitely not excellent.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST85
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

lectures were disorganized. TA was not qualified. Told superfluous info in lectures. Only 4 assignments means you can't screw up on any.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MDRLG035
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I love him! go to lectures and read notes on icon and know 1/2 of the stuff on there and you will get an A. Never thought i'd actually enjoy a history/religion class but he proved me wrong. he's so into it and makes it funny and fun. would love to take another class with him.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: REL026
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

awesome professor! easy exams if you went to class. books in discussion are somewhat boring, but meet with TA and you will score well on essays.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: EARLYCATH
• 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:

Very engaging, you can tell he loves teaching. Crazy stories to accompany lecture. Good grades are attainable if you take notes. Buying/readingthe textbook isn't 100% necessary