Steve Johnstone - University of Arizona

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Steve Johnstone - University of Arizona

Professor: Steve Johnstone

Department: History

College: University of Arizona

Rating # 1

Overview:

Course: HIS301
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I like Johnstone, but the one thing I hate was not being able to know your exact grade. It took him FOREVER to grade and give back your papers. Overall, he is funny, passionate and super caring. Would I take his class again? It depends, maybe I would if I knew the rest of the History teachers are horrible, then again, I probably wouldn't.

Rating # 2

Overview:

Course: HIST301
Grade Received: C
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

HIST 301 won't fun course no matter who you take.. unless you love footnotes. Johnstone is a nice dude and wants you to do well. I got a C cause I missed like half of class. If you take 301, he doesn't grade your work, his PHD assistant does. Some students were a little salty over that, but I think that's unique to 301. He has an infectious laugh.

Rating # 3

Overview:

Course: 403A
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I've taken three courses now taught by Johnstone. He is a great guy and his classes are a lot of fun; most of the time in class is spent in group discussions, and he guides the discussions well. He is a tough grader, so showing up and reading the material is important for writing good essays. Your writing will improve because of it.

Rating # 4

Overview:

Course: HIS301
Grade Received: B+
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Johnstone is a good lecturer, but his grading is bizzarre and pretty much just a dice roll. There is also a large disconnect between the work he assigns and what he actually wants from you. Also, group projects were assigned on very short notice.

Rating # 5

Overview:

Course: HIST301
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:

Johnstone was really funny and inspired his students to love all of the work that goes into historical writing. The reason why I would not recommend this class is that grades were never posted and you never really knew what you had in the class. However, material taught in this class was helpful/interesting.

Rating # 6

Overview:

Course: 403A
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Don't take his classes unless you're prepared to spend a lot of time time reading and taking notes on the material, and putting in the work to THOROUGHLY understand what it is that you're reading. If you're really interested in history, can make the time to read the primary sources, and can write, his classes are great. No textbook, lots of books.

Rating # 7

Overview:

Course: 403A
Grade Received: C-
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The hardest class I experience throughout the four years. Don't take his class unless you have no choices

Rating # 8

Overview:

Course: HIST301
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

First half of class is dedicated to navigating databases and the library website, the second to analyzing primary and secondary sources I guess? To be honest the class itself doesn't have a whole lot of substance especially after break. Johnstone is passionate and lively, but he does not post grades and its hard to gauge what he wants.

Rating # 9

Overview:

Course: 403B
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

A lot of writing on primary sources that don't exactly make sense until you discuss them in class. Textbook use is mandatory and you will have readings for every class. You will also have to write roughly a paragraph each class on the readings, not difficult, but just a lot of busy work. Hard to get an A, very easy B

Rating # 10

Overview:

Course: HIS301
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: N/A

Comment:

If you wanna fail and get a F this class is for you..grades were unclear and no one was helpful,making you feel stupid

Rating # 11

Overview:

Course: 403A
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Reading primary sources is enjoyable, but the constant written assignments are returned with no grade or feedback so you have no idea of your class standing. For the three papers, he has a very distinct writing style that he wants and if you vary from it, your grade suffers. Upside, there are no tests.

Rating # 12

Overview:

Course: HIST403B
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Johnstone is one of my favorite teachers at the school. I feel like I did more actual learning in his class than in any others I have taken, and not just about Ptolemaic Egypt, but also in developing my writing and critical thinking skills. Also I love Johnstone's sense of humor. His class wasn't the easiest, but it was one of the most worthwhile.

Rating # 13

Overview:

Course: HIST403C
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:

Professor Johnstone is the best. If you are interested in reading primary texts, this is the class for you. Also a lot of discussion. I loved it. The papers are hard but as long as you improve over the course of the semester you'll get a good grade.

Rating # 14

Overview:

Course: HIST403C
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Johnstone is hands down one of the best professors at the U of A. I learned a huge amount in his class! Just stay on top of your work and show up to class, and you'll do fine. There is a large amount of reading, daily assignments and the papers are difficult, but I'd recommend his classes to anyone.

Rating # 15

Overview:

Course: HIST396A
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

It is the capstone, therefore by definition it is NOT easy. However Johnstone is very helpful and really knows his stuff. He knows almost nothing about Rome, but nobody I've ever met knows as much about Greece as he does!

Rating # 16

Overview:

Course: HIST403A
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:

Not sure why people keep claiming this class is super hard. Professor Johnstone is incredibly chill and very good humored. Yes, you have to do a writing assignment every class period, but it's usually only a paragraph or two. The class is fun and Prof. Johnstone makes sure you're learning and analyzing the text. I definitely recommend him.

Rating # 17

Overview:

Course: HIST301
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hard hard hard class!!! Attendance is mandatory as it counts for a substantial portion of your grade. LOTS of papers throughout the semester, and grading is arbitrary. He is looking for very specific things in the papers and it takes awhile to figure out what he wants. Also two group projects, and a presentation. He's a nice guy, but tough.

Rating # 18

Overview:

Course: HIST403A
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The HARDEST class I have ever taken in my college career. A very interesting professor, but an extremely difficult class. His writing style is very specific and different---No textbooks, only literature (plays and so on and so forth). Barely pulled a B in the class...Very VERY HARD!

Rating # 19

Overview:

Course: HIST403B
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:

He is a very intelligent and interesting professor, but his teaching style is either loved or hated. Some are bored by the freedom of not having lectures, but instead learning straight from historical texts, but it's definitely interesting. He is a hard grader, though, and attendance/participation counts for 20% of the grade. YOU WILL LEARN!

Rating # 20

Overview:

Course: HIST403C
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:

He was kinda funny, but some of his choices for material are a little boring, and the class writings everyday get a little old. Interesting man, though.

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