Frances Pownall - University of Alberta

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Frances Pownall - University of Alberta

Professor: Frances Pownall

Department: History & Classics

College: University of Alberta

Rating # 1

Overview:

Course: CLASS110
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. Pownall is a very kind person, however prof-wise, I didn't enjoy her teaching as it was scattered, which is particularly problematic when the delivery of the course isn't structured well and you're learning over two millennia of ancient history. Again, very nice person, but could not follow her lectures and expectations were not clear at all.

Rating # 2

Overview:

Course: CLASS400
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr Pownall is an amazing professor. Whenever I see that she's teaching a course I have to try to get into it because I love her style of teaching! Attendance is absolutely crucial. She talks fast and gets a lot of information in every class. I always walk away feeling like I learning something awesome. Replies to emails super quick.

Rating # 3

Overview:

Course: CLAS110
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very interesting class and Frances did a great job presenting the class. However, be prepared to write in this class as there was a mini essay and response paragraph due each Friday, two large writing assignments each worth 20%, and a final which was two essay worth 30% total. Overall, the class wasn't hard and was interesting, just time consuming

Rating # 4

Overview:

Course: CLAS110
Grade Received: B+
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great prof, just not my fave.

Rating # 5

Overview:

Course: CLASS280
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Basically a classics writing class. 2 writing assignments (20% each), 5% participation, essay midterm (20%) and final written take home exam (35%). But she's a FAIR marker and it's not hard to get a decent mark if you choose a good topic and know what you're writing about. Kinda chill in class but she can talk fast. Buy both books, you WILL need it

Rating # 6

Overview:

Course: CLAS110
Grade Received: Not sure yet
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She's an incredibly good prof. Her lectures were fun and interesting and always went by quickly. She's very kind and seems to really care about the students in her class. Her marking is fair and her comments on your work really help you improve! I would 100% take a class from her again. and I hope I can!

Rating # 7

Overview:

Course: CLASS110
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The grading criteria for the tests is tough but she is very understanding and will help you out no matter what. Pay attention in class it'll help a load. She is VERY passionate about history and it shows.

Rating # 8

Overview:

Course: CLAS110
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is incredibly passionate about her field and makes the lectures engaging and exciting. The material comes to life with her passion and it is wonderful to see and easy to learn from. She encouraged us to be engaged with the content and explore the materials outside of class. Overall a fantastic person and I would gladly take her class again.

Rating # 9

Overview:

Course: CLASS110
Grade Received: B-
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took Classics 110 with her and I would not take the class again. The exams are overwhelming for a first year course - we were given a list of 77 terms the week of the midterm and told any 8 could show up on the exam. The TA for her class was a very, very hard marker and essays were worth a good portion of your grade.

Rating # 10

Overview:

Course: CLASS110
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A nice lady, but I wouldn't take her class again. Yells a lot with excitement, not good early in the morning. Pop quizzes worth marks. Don't need a textbook but you do need to review the primary sources. Exams are too specific (gives you a list of 77 terms and only 6 show up on tests) and she asks too much of a first year course.

Rating # 11

Overview:

Course: CLAS110
Grade Received: B+
Overall Rating: 2.5
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you're not good at essay writing DO NOT TAKE THIS COURSE! She always asks for the historical significance, just remembering the events is not good enough. There is no multiple choice. I went to every class, but after writing the MT and Final I found out I could have skipped because she posts perfectly fine online notes. Lowest Grade in 3 years

Rating # 12

Overview:

Course: CLASSICS 110
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I wish she gave us a review package or guideline for our midterm. Literally no reviewing of any material. No help, unless you ask. She's a very nice lady but definitely needs to find better ways to teach her classes. Always want to fall asleep in class. And her slideshows are extremely bland.

Rating # 13

Overview:

Course: CLASS280
Grade Received: A+
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Pownall is a fantastic professor! She's very helpful and quick to reply to emails. Her powerpoints are expanded on in lectures which you should attend because she's extremely interesting and dynamic when she lectures. Class outlines are clear so you know what to expect. Definitely would take again!!

Rating # 14

Overview:

Course: 110
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Incredibly helpful and approachable, she's definitely has a passion for classics and this translates into her lectures. She's the professor to sign up for should you want an easy credit. Do the readings and you'll be fine

Rating # 15

Overview:

Course: 110
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I absolutely loved Dr. Pownall. She is the best first year prof out there. The exams were a breeze as long as you take good notes , pay attention, and look at the review list she posts on eclass. She is amazing, nothing was ever out of the question and you could even discuss your marks on an exam and she would change it.

Rating # 16

Overview:

Course: CLASS110
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 2.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

She yells during her lectures and laughs at her own jokes a lot. Passionate about what she does. Overall pretty boring class, but it's easy. Skip class if you want it's not really a big deal even though there's 5% attendance marks (all her notes are online). Easy A.

Rating # 17

Overview:

Course: CLASS110
Grade Received: Not sure yet
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Passionate and fun. Lectures are informative and to the point, and every day she asks us to write a question down to take our attendance; next class she chooses the most relevant ones and answers them. She gives pretty clear guidelinesexpectations. I *have* had little feedback on in class essays which would be useful for final paper...

Rating # 18

Overview:

Course: CLASS354
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Her marking is impossible to understand. I never knew what she wanted on exams and papers. I have never received such a low mark on a paper in my university classics career. She also is not very helpful because I did terrible on the paper despite making the revisions she suggested in the draft. Avoid her!!

Rating # 19

Overview:

Course: CLASS110
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

she is very Knowledgeable and very passionate about her feild. If you attend class and take notes the exams are a breeze

Rating # 20

Overview:

Course: CLASS110
Grade Received: B+
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Pownall is very knowledgable about the topics covered in this course & her passion for Classics is very evident. She gives side-stories that are relevant, funny, interesting, and help break up the note taking from the slides. Get notes online ahead of time, attend class in order to supplement them, and you are guaranteed to do well. Great prof.

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