Robert Zaretsky - University of Houston

Professor: Robert Zaretsky

Department: TBD

College: University of Houston

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST3352
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I was really excited to take his class my first semester at UH and his class was very actually interesting. BUT as a professor he is the worst I have ever had. He pretends to be understanding and to listen but when asked for advice he beats around the bush and doesnt give actual advice. He is a very harsh grader and pick favorites and you can tell

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENGL4396
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Zaretsky is great at instructiontheres no doubt about that. However, he is one of the rudest and uncaring professors Ive ever had. He will embarrass you in front of the whole class if you say something he doesnt agree with. He puts on a compassionate facade, but dont be fooled; he doesnt care about students or their success.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: FREN3362
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I do not recommend this professor unless you are a History major. He seeks participation but is very condescending and rude if the point is wrong. A lot of reading. Unclear grading criteria. Quizzes are easy if you read. He is an expert in his field! 2 major grade 5 page essays, participation grade, and 1 Final Exam with unclear review material.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HON2101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

A very nice guy- he genuinely wants you to succeed. He was always willing to help and is open to ideas aside from his own. I didn't find him to be a particularly tough grader as long as your writing shows you understood the material and actually tried to analyze it. A very manageable workload for human sit. I'd definitely recommend him.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: WCL2351
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

WOW! What a GREAT professor! He's a freelance journalist (google him,theres tons of speeches). Gives great feedback, his lectures are AMAZING. I took his selected topic class (on French Algeria)Will take him again this fall for his course on terrorism. BE ready to READ, 3 tests, 2 essays(he gives great reviews and topics to pick from) UwontREGRETit

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST3395
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Interesting, fair... you work, you win

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST3352
• 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 love Dr Zaretsky, he wrote the text book that we used and he is very knowledgeable on such an interesting subject. Even though its history he also discussed current events in France. He graded really fairly and as long as you kept up to date with the reading the course wasn't that hard

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST4395
• 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:

If you like to read and discuss then take Zaretsky...you have to be prepared to dissect the readings. He is interesting and offers clarity, yet his methods seem counter productive, he wants high participation but is often condescending. You better know your stuff if you want an A or don't want to look like an idiot in front of the entire class!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST3395
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

took him for history of occupied Europe. Very intelligent individual. At the beginning kinda pretentious but really he isn't. EXTREME Francophile. Really interesting and fun class. reading is mandatory, discussion based. this time we had no paper but he said he would add one in the future. I definitely recommend him.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST3395
• 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:

I had Zaretsky for "Enlightenment Stories." He is extremely knowledgeable and quite the Francophile. At first, I thought he was pretentious, and he is to a certain extent, but I think his attempts at humor just don't always land. There is lots of reading in this class, pretty much on par with Human Sit. Still, it's a great class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HUMANSIT
• 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:

Has good discussions. Very text oriented, and is willing to help you personally if you need essay or other help. He has no attendance policy, but human sit is hard enough already without missing. My one complaint is that he is a very, very tough and picky grader- you need to know what he wants to read.

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Very text oriented. You MUST read the books. However, when you put in the work, he does as well. A very fair grader, and very good at giving both possitive and negative feedback on papers (I really appreciated this, my grades got higher with each paper). Sometimes goes into historical jargin that none gets, but explains it. Definately recomend.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HUM2301
• 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:

I don't quite understand when people say that you have to have the same opinion as him. He's 1 of the tougher paper graders, but i m no writer and i took him both semester. if you like to talk in discussion, rock on!!! i made an A both semester, and i made only 1 A in papers out of 3. I'd recommend him, but you gotta talk in discussion to get the A

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HON2361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Grades heavily based on class discussion. He is very helpful with writing the 2 or 3 required essays. Just show him a couple drafts and work in his suggestions and you will be guaranteed a B. He is harder than other teachers only because he is looking for ideas that follow his own thought process. Once you grasp his thinking, regurgitate.

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Zaretsky tends to favor those who speak up in discussion. If you use his ideas into your essay well enough, he will probably give you a B at least. A's are rare; many students failed at least one essay. I'm not taking him for the Spring, but I don't have a grudge against him. He's definitely one of the harder profs, along with Mikics & Little.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENG2361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Attention: Zaretsky is great if you are a serious History or Political Science major. If you just want to pass this course go: Dimattei, Peebles, or Maya. As per the requisite "regurgitation" reported by other Zaretsky students: In composition he DOES want you to expound on that which interests him but brown nosers will get trampled.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HON2101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Human Sit Instructor. Is hard, but easy. Hard in the grading of Essays, easy in discussions. One point, Human Sit is hard as it is, and Zaretsky sometimes takes it too far. CAUTION! Take Garza or Peebles if you can!

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

You definitely have to work hard in this class, but effort does get rewarded. Zaretsky checks rough drafts for essays and gives feedback. His lectures get confusing, but he encourages you to ask questions and clarifies in discussion. You can make an A if you're willing to put in effort.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HUMANSIT
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This man is the spawn of satan, he is so boring and he likes to throw around his french knowledge daily, He failed french before(but he keeps forgetting to mention that). ANY of his coworkers are a better match for students. If you get to choose do not take him, please, im begging you dont take him

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HUMANSIT
• 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:

He may come across as a tough professor, but he's really not that bad. He's always available during office hours. Sometimes, his lectures are unclear, but if you ask him to explain he will help. If you sign up for him, be willing to work hard.