James Davis - Brigham Young University

Professor: James Davis

Department: TBD

College: Brigham Young University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GEO130
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Davis was a good teacher. He was just extremely boring. He didn't seem like he loved to teach. He seemed uninspired by life. But, he was a nice guy and his class was fair.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GEO130
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I think this could be a really interesting class because the subject is interesting. The only problem is Professor Davis's voice is monotone so it put me to sleep almost every day. It's hard to do well in a class you can't stay awake in. Other than that, he's a nice guy who loves his work and will work with you.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GEOG130
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The lectures were sometimes cool, but more often boring. He often calls on random people to answer random questions. His tests are hard and sometimes include random things that may or may not have been mentioned once in class. The essay questions weren't too hard though. It's an okay class; not super enjoyable but not terrible either.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: GEOG130
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His teaching style might work for some, but it didn't for me. He and the TA are hard to reach outside of class and never gave timely answers to my questions. I was never sure what would be on a test, and he grades the tests arbitrarily. The papers aren't too bad, and the reading quizzes are easy if you read the book. Go to class or you won't pass.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GEOG130
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

You read the chapter, take an in-class quiz on it. He lectures, you take notes. There are 4 fairly easy papers and 3 exams. I enjoyed the class, but wasn't always sure what I needed to know for exams. It's a fun class though.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GEOG130
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The class is interesting, but hes unapproachable. He randomly calls on people to answer questions on things he hasnt covered. Its hard to tell what hes going test on, since the tests include random statistics that he only mentioned once. He publically criticizes people when they come in late. He allows for paper re-writes, which is nice.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GEOG272
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's one of my least favorite professors at BYU. These will be your grades on your papers: A95, -A92, +B89, B85. You'll never get anything in between or above 95 (not even 95.5). In your exams, you will get 0 credit for not knowing a term's significance (whatever that means) even if you can accurately define it and provide examples.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GEO130
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a good professor, and obviously cares a lot about his subject. He does kind of ramble though, and his voice has almost put me to sleep a few times. If you read the book you'll be okay with the ideas and grades and stuff. Be careful with the papers though, they can easily ruin your grade if you don't do it well. Don't procrastinate!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GEO130
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His class is not too difficult if you do the reading and take excellent notes. You got to rewrite your first three papers to get a better grade, but he doesnt ever give anyone full points so you have to do well on the quizzes and tests. Like I said, If you do the reading on time and take good notes his teaching style works in your favor.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GEO130
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Davis really knows his stuff. He is not afraid to tell it like it is and he often calls on students at random and asks them what they think about the lecture material. His lectures are interesting. Assignments, while difficult, serve a purpose in the class. No busywork! Plus for three out of the four papers assigned he lets you rewrite them.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GEO130
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Nobody answers his questions in class because he frequently tells students they are downright WRONG. About 25% of test questions come specifically from lectures. Tests are difficult w/ very debatable questions. 3 papers, 6-8 pages. Quizzes at beginning of each chapter. I did find the material interesting but am not a big fan of Dr. Davis.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GEOG130
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Total garbage. Worst professor I've ever taken a class from. He throws tantrums if you use your phone, only teaches from a textbook. He's from a podank town in Idaho and is incredibly old school in his teaching methods and subsequently lacks any connection with his students despite his desperate attempts to get them to participate.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: 348
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Liked the lectures but that was it. Tests are rough, memorize the slides and you might get a decent grade. Instructions for papers are vague. Highest assignment grade I have seen is like 92 or 95. Avoiding him like the plague.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GEOG347
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Davis is awesome! He's a little rough around the edges and comes off pretty tough, but if you participate in class and stop by his office hours he will help you out a TON! He grades pretty hard and sometimes the assignments seem vague, but stop by his office hours and you will do fine! I would recommend this class and professor!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GEOG130
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took it in the summer and ended up LOVING IT He NEVER lost my attention during class. He made the lectures extremely interesting. The papers were pretty easy to write on and he let me redo 2 of the 3. You do have to read a lot. The tests aren't very easy but they aren't too difficult either. I would recommend it.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GEO378
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class made me regret switching to tourism. I still have one more class with him, but I would take it from someone else in a heartbeat. Lots of memorization (of outdated lists), little learning. He has favorites, and if you are not one, he will actually watch the clock while you comment. I stopped commenting.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GEOG272
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Overall poor quality of teaching. His East Asia class was a recap of the time he spent in Japan and that was the extent of it, other than a regional map quiz. Unclear on expectations for assignments and frustratingly ambiguous test questions.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GEOG348
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Pure memorization and book reports. Include many examples in book reports.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GEO130
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Tests are impossible to prepare for, multiple choice questions have multiple right answers, essays can only get 95 max. even if its perfect (happened to me on 3), everything is graded by TA, expect not to get an A. The lectures are boring, his questions are misleading. To be honest, looking back, he is an awful teacher. DONT TAKE THIS TEACHER

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GEO130
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are boring, he puts students on the spot and challenges all answers, his tests are extremely difficult and unpredictable because the TA only helps with the obvious questions everyone already knows. I would not recommend this class/teacher to anyone, worst class at BYU so far, pretty impossible to get a solid A.