Alan Lessoff - Illinois State University

Professor: Alan Lessoff
Department: History
College: Illinois State University
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: HIS322
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
ATTENTION Lessoff is one of the kindest professors at ISU History majors don't miss your chance to take him I had him my freshman year and he still remembered me. I wasn't the greatest student but so long as you communicate he will give you a fighting chance. His lectures aren't amazing but who cares you still learn Easy grader wants you to succeed
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: HIS322
  • 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 very nice and cares about his students a lot. However, his lectures tend to be somewhat confusing. He goes off on tangents, talks in circles, and answers questions in very round about ways, sometimes. He assigns a lot of papers but also gives a lot of extra credit. If you make sure to focus on lectures and read the books you should be fine.
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: HIS322
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Great teacher with a heart of gold. Hes a bit shy and has a slight speech impediment but he doesn't let that get in the way of delivering stellar lectures.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: HIS135
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
A lot of opportunities for extra credit through the online and in-class quizzes. I went to every class just to hear him speak. He really loves to relate concepts and promote looking at stuff from the perspective of "back in the day." I had all the books, only used 1 and half of another. He's pretty busy so you might not write one of the papers.
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: HIS135
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Very reasonable and nice. Good at prepping for tests & final, tells you what you need to study. Final is not cumulative! Books and papers are a little tough, but gives good feedback and overviews of books in class. Lectures sometimes are boring but need to go because gives pop quizzes focused on lectures.
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: HIS242
  • Grade Received: B+
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
he is a real nice man and a fair grader. he is kind of all over the place though during lecture and can sometimes be dry, but overall a nice man and not a hard class.
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: HIS135
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
If you struggle with history like me, and put in the effort and come to his office hours he can really help you out! Kind of a boring class but hes funny and really cares about his students succeeding.
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: HIS135
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
He is genuinely a very nice guy who seems to love what he does he just rambles a bit. He gives lot's of extra-credit opportunities and is willing to help. The main grading components are the papers and he doesn't seem to grade them that harshly. If you just do your work it shouldn't be that bad. One negative is that he does not update grades.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: HIS135
  • Grade Received: C
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Professor Lessoff is kind of crazy but he is very passionate about what he is teaching. There are a lot of papers and pop quizzes, so make sure you're going to class and take advantage of office hours! He gave me extensions on almost every paper, and he also has review sessions before exams. Easy to pass if you study, go to class and do the papers.
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: HIS135
  • 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:
Lessoff is an alright Professor. He definitely knows what hes talking about, but isn't the best at delivering it. I was personally not a fan and I found it very hard to follow along in his lectures. You will have to buy a $100 bundle of the books to write the papers on or you will not succeed in this course.
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: HIS248
  • Grade Received: B-
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Dr. Lessoff is great, he truly cares about his students and wants them to succeed. His lectures are not the best and he can get off topic or be confusing at times. I feel like he knows so much that he has a difficult time simplifying the material. I would not suggest this class for a non-major. If you are willing to ask for help he will help.
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: HIS322
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Dr. Lessoff is one of the best history professors at ISU. He sometimes gets off topic, but you learn a good amount. There are A LOT of opportunities for extra credit. The class is mostly papers with one test. He gives very clear guidelines for assignments. He is top in his field on urban history, so this class is best with him.
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: HIS135
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Honestly just show up and you'll be fine, the online quizzes are easy you just have to do them, no need to do the "optional" stuff. He really preps you for his tests, lets you know exactly what to study for. Goes on random tangents sometimes, only struggle are the papers but that's all you really need to read for and he doesn't grade too hard.
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: HIS135
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Right off the bat you can tell he is very intellectual, however, sometimes I felt that he could not simplify the information. He often went on tangents unrelated to the topics. The readings are long and so is the homework. He is really good about giving you feedback on papers before you have to turn them in. Hardest class of my semester.
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: HIS135
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
He's a really nice guy but its hard to pay attention in lectures because he uses lots of filler words and goes off on unrelated tangents. Obviously knows what he's talking about and is sometimes hard to follow. A couple papers & he does a lot of explaining for them and has study sessions for tests. If you took HS American History you should be fine
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: HIS131
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Pretty difficult class for a Gen Ed. I took this class because it was required for my major. Lectures were rarely based on his Power Points, he mostly just rambled on for 45 mins. forgetting about the PP behind him. He is a goofy guy but not a hard grader. If you can get through his lectures and attend his review sessions you will do just fine.
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: HIS131
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 1.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Worst class I have taken. Super long and boring lectures that have nothing to do with the book reading. A pretty hard class for a Gen Ed. I would not recommend this class to anyone.
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: HIS131
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Tests and quizzes were based primarily on the reading. Lectures were useful in synthesizing ideas from the reading, making it easier to do the tests. Papers were fairly long and on dry subjects, but Lessoff was very passionate about the subject and it definitely helped.
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: HIST248
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
I only read one of the books (for one of my papers) and still got a B. He expects you to read 5 books but they are not necessary. Lectures are long and boring an gets off topic easily. Surprisingly not too difficult of a class though. 10 page research paper takes a lot of time. Grades the three papers easy. Very passionate but is very wacky.
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: HIS131
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
He rambles on and on in class and will stay on one slide for the entire 50 minutes you are in there. He is also not very specific on reading assignments and quizzes so you have to keep track of that on your own. Theres also usually a quiz every Friday so you have to go to class. I would not take this again!
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