One of my least favorite classes and professors here. Only the midterm and final counted towards final grade. He asked questions on tiny details mentioned in class. The class is straight memorization. It's taught like a history class and isn't relevant to anything. Would not recommend.
This class is unbearable unless you have an undying interest in geography.Anything that the professor says, will be on the test. For example, he will play music at the start of class and talk about the artists/band that created it. He then will proceed put test questions about this information on the test. The class is only graded by 2 tests (50%)
Graded on two exams. Consisting of 150 multiple-choice questions along with maps. There's a study guide with hundreds of terms, many being random recipes or random factoids he'd include in lecture. Exams were hard to prepare for. Lecture was once a week and 3 hours long. Professor was arrogant, close-minded. Was interesting to listen to in lecture
The class is graded only on 1 midterm and 1 final. Lectures are 3 hours long with no recordings, PowerPoints or notes posted online. The midterm and final is half trivia type questions briefly mentioned in each class and the other half ridiculous maps that need to be memorized Very stressful and NOT worth it unless you want to spend days memorizing
Don’t take this class if you: Don’t have excellent photographic memory, don’t know every trivial detail about all places (and food) in the country. Lectures are 3 hour long and as boring as you can imagine, and they are not recorded. No notes or useful information of any kind is posted online. Couldn’t regret taking this class more.
Dan is a knowledgeable guy but this class is hard for non-US students. Many parts of the class material should be covered in high schools so local students can recall and develop them in class. It's very hard for international students to catch some detailed points yet the study guide is somewhat useless. Graded on mid and final, each is 50%.
Do not take this class, Professor Montello is a cool dude, but his class is extremely unreasonable especially if you are not a geography major. Wild expectations and hard tests, take something else if you need credit.
He assigned his own textbook, so you can be pretty sure they correspond well to lectures. Interesting class, funny dude. My only gripe is the 3 hour class time, but I knew what I was signing on for.
rude and extremely difficult to ask for help.
I was skeptical about this class going in but I really enjoyed every lecture. He is very funny and makes the lectures interesting with his enthusiasm and charisma. Go to class and take notes and tests are straightforward. Highly recommend
It is my second time to take this course with Prof. Montello !! This course is really challenging for non- native speakers, but professor is really approachable outside class. Often go to his office hours to talk with him. He talks a lot of tangents in class, which may be tested lol. It is not that hard if you take good notes and attend lecture!
Took him once for 150, shame on him. Took him twice for 117, shame on me. There are so many amazing Geog professors, pick literally anyone else and youll be happier. Hes an arrogant guy, doesnt post lecture slides, tests are based solely off lectures (his tangent laden ramblings), etc. Hes knowledgeable for sure but trust- avoid at all costs
Hard class. Nice guy when you get to know him, but is very intelligent and makes students feel small. Dry information.
Nice professor, always willing to help. Give study guide a week before the exam.
Write down everything he says. He does give out study guides before tests, but they are huge and take a long time to do, so start early. Don't buy the book, you don't need it. Just pay attention in lecture, to EVERYTHING
Fairly easy course. Do not buy the book or even bother to read it. All questions come from lecture. Remember all the seemingly stupid facts he gives out and you'll be fine. Got an A without much work beside memorizing the study guide
Horrible professor. The class is once a week but it is really hard to sit there for over 2 hours. Didn't like his personality and I almost fell asleep during class. Tests are hard and make sure you write down everything he says. Don't recommend taking this class.
Bring a computer, I have large gaps in my written notes because he doesn't use powerpoint and says everything. His humor isn't for everyone, and my notes read like a fact list, which would be good if I were going on Jeopardy, but I'm not. No lecture notes posted.
Awful instructor, don't recommend it! Semi-interesting topic but excessive and unrelated materials in class and on tests. Not worth your time...
GREAT professor! He keeps USA geography interesting with songs and recipes of the week, and has great humor. Tests are easy if you study the terms on the review sheet he gives you. Test questions can be quite humorous too. Overall, great teacher, very down to earth and more than fair grader! =]
he is a cool dude but tests are pretty much on everything he ever said.
This is a once a week class, but you definitely need to attend that lecture every week. Prof. Montello is a nice guy, but the course is a little boring. The tests are a little difficult but pretty easy to pass. I recommend taking pass/fail or else studying pretty hard.
His lectures are good but the tests are somewhat hard. There's too much to know and I think it would've been better if he broke it down into 3 to 4 tests instead of a midterm and a final.Be prepared to name all the states and their rightful places + their capitals. Also, learn the major cities in the U.S. and Canada that has 1 million + populations
Montello is hilarious, but loves himself. REALLY interesting class. Just took the midterm (W08) and it wasn't bad at all, but would have been brutal if I did not study. I hear alot of kids during lecture hate on this guy. Take him if you're not a **** and learn something. He has so many awesome random facts. 2 exams, GO TO LECTURE!