M. David Samson - Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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M. David Samson - Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Professor: M. David Samson

Department: Humanities

College: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Rating # 1

Overview:

Course: AR2114
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He will lecture at you for two straight hours. Which, if you find the material interesting, will make for an exciting class. He does assign a ton of reading, which isn't mandatory but it does help with papers. Fairly easy grader, but your entire grade will be based on tests/papers (no homework/participation) so it balances out in the end.

Rating # 2

Overview:

Course: AR2111
Grade Received: Not sure yet
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His version of notes are slides with pictures of modern art on them, accompanied by little, or more often than not, no text. His lecture style is talking at you for two hours while making no effort to engage the class. The assignment prompts are convoluted, and it is very difficult to understand what he expects from you as a student.

Rating # 3

Overview:

Course: AR1111
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

His lectures often go over time, but that wasn't always a bad thing because it was always pertinent information. He definitely tries to keep the class engaged, but it was almost too easy to fall asleep in class. Only take this class if you have a passion for both art and history.

Rating # 4

Overview:

Course: MODERNART
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Extremely dry lectures. Lecture "notes" are simply slides of pictures without context. Sorry, but I wouldn't take it again; I don't find it engaging enough to bother with. Unless you're already interested in the subject before, don't expect this to be interesting.

Rating # 5

Overview:

Course: AR2114
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Great lectures as long as you like the material. It would get really boring if you didn't. He's a really easy grader. Never got less than an A after a few classes with him. Don't even bother buying the textbooks. Never touched them and I've done well.

Rating # 6

Overview:

Course: AR2114
Grade Received: Not sure yet
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This man has a 300+ powerpoint slide presentation every day.. CLEARLY knows the material but its pointless information. The class itself is absolutely ridiculous I am halfway through the course and have not learned a single thing. If this class wasn't required, i would NR it on purpose because of how ridiculously stupid it is.

Rating # 7

Overview:

Course: AR2111
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

do well on papers and tests and you'll have no problem. Easy class overall. Boring lecturer but nice guy. Knows the material well. Show interest and like i said, write AWESOME papers.

Rating # 8

Overview:

Course: AR2111
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 2.5
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Lectures did not excite for the most part, but he clearly knows a lot. A very hard professor to read. I thought I was doing terribly in his class until I wrote my final paper and took the final exam and got an A on both. The class is very easy to breeze through if you have prior knowledge.

Rating # 9

Overview:

Course: AP1111
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Regularly goes over class time. Constantly asks, what should be, rhetorical questions in class and waits until somebody answers. Often incorrect about historical facts.

Rating # 10

Overview:

Course: AR2114
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Assigns some of the most incomprehensible assignments, that have very little to do with the readings or lectures. Relies heavily on Powerpoint, but doesn't bother to label the images, so you don't know what you're looking at. Regularly goes 10-15 minutes over class time. And he just absolutely refuses to pronounce anything correctly in French.

Rating # 11

Overview:

Course: AR1111
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:

Class can be kind of boring, but if you're new to the material, it can be interesting w/ a lot of new facts and stuff. He assigns occasional (about 3-4) short writing assignments, and is an okay grader. The tests are matching + an essay. He gives the class hints about what to study, etc. for the essay.

Rating # 12

Overview:

Course: AR2013
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Class is so boring...I dropped it, he expects you to learn everyhting from a textbook with out any background information and drones on about slides in class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

Course: AR2113
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Knows a lot of stuff. Shows slides, and will put up a list of slides on myWPI. Can be kind of boring at first, but if you pay attention, you'll learn a lot and he can be interesting. Makes awkward jokes sometimes randomly. Not much hw. But, a lot of reading, writing assignments. You can do well on term paper if you make good use of the texts.

Rating # 14

Overview:

Course: ARTHISTORY
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

VERY smart guy. Loves to wear square ties. If you can stay awake, you'll catch the witty jokes he throws in every once in a while.

Rating # 15

Overview:

Course: LOTSOFAR
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This man is exceptionally intelligent in his knowledge of Art. Classes consist of many slides, can be boring, overall interesting. A lot of reading in general. Usually 2 tests and a Final Paper(8-10 pages). Fairly easier grader. Good option for humanities. Have to admire his preparation & devotion.

Rating # 16

Overview:

Course: AR2113
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.5
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

it would have been a much easier class to handle and im sure i would have learned and understood more if he didnt throw so much into the class. The walk around tours are interesting and a good break. He knows his stuff, but its tough to handle for a couple hours.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Classes can be a tad boring with all the slides but an easy grader if you have even the slightest idea of what you're doing. Knows his stuff very well though. Generally an interesting and fun class, just make sure you get enough sleep the night before.

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Lectures a lot because he really really knows his stuff. Can be a little boring but he's a really easy grader. Also, funny (and sad) when he uses the words "Beef-cake" and "Cheese-cake" to describe artwork (Masculine and Femenine respe

Rating # 19

Overview:

Course: MANYAR
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

His classes were the only classes at WPI that I actually enjoyed. Sometimes boring, but he's very smart. 3000-level Modernism & Mainstream seminar was great, although only like me and another kid actually talked in class, which made things frustrating

Rating # 20

Overview:

Course: INTROARTH
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Did anyone else notice that he looks like an Angry Chipmunk? During one exam, the projector wasn't working and he turned red, spit angry mutterances, and stomped out of the room and slammed the door behind him. Boring class, easy grader.

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