David Castle - Ohio University: Eastern Campus

Professor: David Castle

Department: TBD

College: Ohio University: Eastern Campus

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY3900
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely awful professor. Incredibly hard grader, but gives NO feedback on what you did wrong. Cares more about grammar, formatting, and word count than actual content. Film choices are boring; claims they're on streaming services, but only found on YouTube with terrible quality. Overall, he seems to be very pretentious and doesn't seem to care.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is worst professor I've ever had at OU for any class. He has an unspoken word count you need to meet in order to get a good grade, but does not make it clear on the syllabus or anywhere else. He never leaves any feedback on your work, nor does he READ anything your write; he only cares about that unspoken word count. DO NOT TAKE HIST 3230.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST3900
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Grades based entirely on format and grammar of essay assignments to a ridiculous extent. Completely inaccesible as well, and unhelpful if you could lure a response. I have straight As english and history double major and this is the only class i have ever nearly failed. Worst experience.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY3900
• 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:

If you want to feel like you're in an English class that is based off of grammar, then go ahead and take this class. I signed up for it excited to learn about history, but the grading took away from any of my excitement for this class because I knew he'd find something to take off for. Also get ready to write in Chicago!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST3030
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He expects you to read 50+ pages every week and then write multiple 1,000 word essays based off of essays. He uses the Chicago style for his paper which is stupid. He also cares more about the grammar than the actual content of the essays which is whack because that's not the point of the class. Overall, 0/10 experience in this class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST3030
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

In a single semester, you are expected to read 1200+ pages worth of material while also writing weekly 1000+ word essays. The exams are essay-based, and in his own words "if you don't take at least an hour and a half, you didn't do enough." All prompts are easily answered in a paragraph or two, so be prepared to fluff.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST3230
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Avoid unless necessary. He does a very poor job of explaining his grading criteria and makes only bare-bones remarks on student work. It is possible that he makes his demands clear in the syllabus, but c'mon! Nobody that I know actually reads their syllabus with any sort of depth. I doubt you do either, dear reader.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST3000
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Do not take one of his online classes unless you absolutely have to. Lots of work every weekend out of poorly organized books and terrible worksheets. The questions can be answered in one or two sentences but he will take points off unless you write well over a hundred words for each question. He does not seem to actually read what you write.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST3900
• 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:

The class is comprised of 7 essays and discussion board, so if you do not like writing summaries on movies, then don't take the class. Dr. Castle also is very strict when it comes to proofreading your easy and grammar as well, so be as stringent as possible and make sure you run spell check on your papers. The movies are really interesting!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Castle is one of the best teachers I've ever been taught by. His courses are difficult, but he is so open to student ideas and viewpoints. All you have to do is show up to class, take notes, and try and you'll do well. I would definitely recommend taking any of his classes.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST3900
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Be ready to write papers! If you get everything turned in on time (not a second later) you will be fine, but mess up once and it will affect your whole grade (especially if it's because of technical difficulties). He gives no grace. He grades more on punctuation and grammar than on content.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST3900
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He graded a lot on grammar and punctuation. The course was very demanding and not as cool as the name would suggest.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST3162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Do not take him. Terrible professor. He grades the class like an English class more than History

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY3162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This was my first experience with Dr. Castle, but it was a good one. I will get right to the point: read the syllabus; make sure you understand the requirements for each assignment; complete them and turn them in on time. It could not be more straight-forward. He *very* clearly detailed his expectations with regards to papers, discussion, and test.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST3162
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do not take any classes with this professor. I just had Him for my last semester. Worst teacher I ever had. He grades your papers based on grammar far more than your understanding of historical material. He is an unbelieveably harsh grader. I was shocked to find him grading my papers' grammar harsher than any English teacher I've ever had.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST3162
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Probably one of the worst professors I have ever had at OU. Never tells you exactly what you did wrong on the numerous papers you do and to him, content doesn't matter, what matters is if you cited APA correctly. Sometimes felt as if he pre-determines grades and just gives random grades because he can. Terrible feedback, too many papers, bad prof.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST3162
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a decent professor overall. I would however, say that his grading is solely based upon how well you fit his formatting. I was never once criticized for my shoddy knowledge of history, but if I dared to make my margins less/more than an inch, miss a comma, or any other minor error I'd feel the wrath of a massive point deduction.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST2OOO
• 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:

In my opinion, Dr. Castle is great. He is passionate and knowledgeable, and willing to help you if you need it. I found his lectures enjoyable, and looked forward to his class. He is big on essay exams, which are a lot of work if you want to do well, but I encourage everyone to take one of Dr. Castle's classes given the opportunity.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST2000
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Loved his lectures. Grade is heavily based on essay exams, for which you must prepare. Grades on essay exams are typically low, but if you put in your best effort you'll be fine.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST6901
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Grades all the papers on grammar and citations. Focus on that, content means nothing. Only problem I have with him is he tells you that your opinion is wrong. Why ask opinion questions then?