It is difficult to follow her lectures as she is so passionate about the subject that she goes on tangents about a topic that is actually not very useful to gaining knowledge that would help you in the class. Read or you won't follow. However, she is very passionate and willing to help and makes clear what she is looking for with study guides.

She rambles A LOT in lectures. Also, I literally quoted something she said from lecture in an exam, and she circled it and put a question mark (and I assume marks points off), which is annoying. This is not the class to take for an easy A. 7 reading responses (2-500 words), in-person midterm w/ study guide, 5-pg paper, and an in-person final.

I feel like a lot of these ratings on her teaching style are unfair, I thoroughly enjoyed her class and she has an obvious passion for teaching. I would recommend using her office hours as she will help you shape your essays and is clear with what she wants. I would definitely take her again given the opportunity, but a lot of writing and readings.

She's very enthusiastic about the class topic, but I'd say she's TOO enthusiastic. She gets so excited about the topic that she rambles and mumbles and gets lost herself. Her lectures are boring and don't help you pass, you'll have to really read the books (one book for lecture and another for the section). BUT she's really sweet and accessible.

Blumenthal is a nice person, and is very knowledgeable about history, but a terrible lecturer. Lectures are a waste of time, and Blumenthal will often talk herself in circles. Reads off a piece of paper the majority of lecture. The class itself isn't too difficult, 2 papers, 1 midterm and final that are IDs and essay(s).

She is a great person and passionate about the subject but her lectures are so pointless. She discusses unnecessary material for most of her lectures. Her class is easy if you do the outside reading and do the papers. Tests aren't terrible. She's decent overall. P.S she gets too excited about maps.