Gregory Mellema - Calvin University

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Gregory Mellema - Calvin University

Professor: Gregory Mellema

Department: Philosophy

College: Calvin University

Rating # 1

Overview:

Course: PHIL153
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Mellema is a very sweet man, but his teaching styles are outdated and hard to pay attention to. He assigns a lot of papers and he grades very hard on them. He explains things well and slowly which was nice, but it was hard to stay awake in his class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

Course: PHIL153
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:

Mellema is a great dude. His class is pretty chill, and his examples are fantastic. He knows his philosophy, and he knows how to connect with students. The other day, he tied Plato in with the 89'-90' Pistons. Gotta love that

Rating # 3

Overview:

Course: PHIL153
Grade Received: B+
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Honestly this class kicked my butt. Mellema brings a really chill vibe to the classroom which makes you feel like he's an easy grader. hecky nah. The midterm practically killed me and if I had not asked for extra credit I would have been screwed. Sweet old man but brutal grader. Just make sure to study your booty off for those tests.

Rating # 4

Overview:

Course: PHI153
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

TAKE THE NIGHT CLASS! His midterm and final are 90% lecture based so if you can take notes for a 3 hour night class, you will do well! There are 3 papers, less than 3 pages each. Few grades, and he is a hard grader. One grammar mistake you are at an A-, and so on. But, he gives u breaks and lets out early. It is not a stress on ur week which helps

Rating # 5

Overview:

Course: PHIL153
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This was one of the easiest core I have taken at Calvin. Each reading is about 5 pages and lectures consist entirely of summaries of the readings. Papers are short, but he can take off points for unnecessary reasons. Test questions are fairly basic, but sometimes don't line up with the review sheet; he takes off a lot of points for small mistakes.

Rating # 6

Overview:

Course: PHI153
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took the night class and I highly recommend it. You don't have to do any of the reading (unless you have a summary/paper due), so it's like having no homework for the entire week sometimes!! However, he is one of the hardest graders I have ever had. I knew every single thing on my midterm study guide and still got a B.

Rating # 7

Overview:

Course: PHIL153
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:

Every day class is fine but exams are brutal. Literally have no know everything he ever said in class. On our midterm, the lowest grade was a 24%. Readings are fine and help you understand because omg his lectures are so boring. Pretty sure this is his last year but if you take him just make sure to get a study buddy for those tests

Rating # 8

Overview:

Course: PHI153
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Regular class days are fine as there are not a lot of reading but come exam time, your ass is going to be whooped. This guy literally wants you to write exactly the same way he said in the class. No explaining in your own ways, no doing some research and coming up with answers saying your perspective, nothing. Short tests, brutal grading.

Rating # 9

Overview:

Course: PHIL171
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Mellema is very kind but definitely past his prime in teaching. Class is mainly lectures except for some exercises done in class but he reads directly out of the books. The three tests, (especially the final!) are generally short and weighted very heavily.

Rating # 10

Overview:

Course: PHILO153
Grade Received: B+
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Mellema was the man. I took him for hilo 153 and it was great. He is chill and laid back from class to class. His homework is easy, and he explains all your readings well the next day in class. As far as the class goes, he's super easy, but his tests were surprisingly difficult. So study well.

Rating # 11

Overview:

Course: PHIL153
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Mellema's enthusiasm for philosophy made his class very interesting and enjoyable. He is a great prof who really cares about his students. If you can get him, take him! He's the best!

Rating # 12

Overview:

Course: PHIL153
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

You don't need to read textbook for his class because he explains all summaries during class. Review study guides which he provides prior to tests. 80% of test questions will be based on his study guides. For international students, if you can understand English well, it is not hard to follow.

Rating # 13

Overview:

Course: PHIL153
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Mellema is very easy. He gives you readings for homework, and then reviews what you read in class the very next day. No quizzes, and on two tests. For review guides, he gives you review problems that will be on the test, so it's very easy. He grades very generously on the papers as well. I highly recommend him for philosophy.

Rating # 14

Overview:

Course: PHIL153
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Good prof. Really easy in terms of effort, but he grades tough on the high end. If you're shooting for a C, you'll have no problem. If you're shooting for an A, good luck... Don't do the readings unless you have to write a paper on it; he talks about all the important parts in class. Take good notes and pay attention in class. Study hard for exams.

Rating # 15

Overview:

Course: PHIL153
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is a very sweet guy. He knows what he's teaching. Asks a lot of questions to the students in class, and makes sure they understand. His assignments are very easy-going. Textbooks aren't much used. But should pay attention and take notes. Exams are not so hard if you go through the notes.

Rating # 16

Overview:

Course: PHIL153
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very sweet guy. Huge food. Man of God. Knows what he is talking about. He can be unclear at times, but he will help.... though very slowly!

Rating # 17

Overview:

Course: PHIL204
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Don't read the textbook, and study like mad for the exams. You should be fine. And don't expect any help from him; he's really really lazy

Rating # 18

Overview:

Course: PHILO153
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

super easy, I got a c- and didnt write one of the papers, but he ended up giving me a b when i went to talk to him. kinda picky about tests, doesnt overload, dont need ot read. I dont really like Philo, so i didnt find it very interesting, but if you like it i heard it was really interesting. Super boring voice tho but hes an exteremly nice guy

Rating # 19

Overview:

Course: PHIL341A
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Non-philosophy majors may like him because his classes are easy, but majors will generally choose to avoid him, on account of rare, boring lectures, a general feeling of in-class and out-of-class despondency, and all-round regret due to the unavoidable feeling that you learned nothing in particular during the semester. Majors, avoid him if you can.

Rating # 20

Overview:

Course: PHIL153
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This class is really easy and does not require much effort. However, Prof. Mellema does not provide incentives to do a good job and you end up under-motivated and as a result your grade may suffer.

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