Professor profile for Thomas Palaima
Student reviews of Thomas Palaima
Review from a student who took CC303
If you like to be lectured about Bob Dylan and other such topics which have VERY little to do about mythology, take this course. He makes the class harder than it actually is by focusing the quiz questions on very minute details of the readings and having a strict grading criteria for the essays. And good luck trying to get help from him on studying for the final exam, you won't get much. This is as much as he'll give: "It isn't rocket science; it's harder. Know everything." He also likes to flood email boxes with emails about things going on outside of class related to (or trying to related it to) mythology, his own op-ed columns that he submits to the Austin American Statesman, and other such emails letting you know what awards/accomplishments he has received. After a while, all these emails gets annoying, but at least he tries to connect with the class.
If you like to be lectured about Bob Dylan and other such topics which have VERY little to do about mythology, take this course. He makes the class harder than it actually is by focusing the quiz questions on very minute details of the readings and having a strict grading criteria for the essays. And good luck trying to get help from him on studying for the final exam, you won't get much. This is as much as he'll give: "It isn't rocket science; it's harder. Know everything." He also likes to flood email boxes with emails about things going on outside of class related to (or trying to related it to) mythology, his own op-ed columns that he submits to the Austin American Statesman, and other such emails letting you know what awards/accomplishments he has received. After a while, all these emails gets annoying, but at least he tries to connect with the class.
Review from a student who took CC 353
Wow. He is awful. Nothing but Bob Dylan. Most people in his class had taken him before for like, three years and were majoring in his kind of stuff.... like mycenean society. He's also kinda an ass... especially to females. He will remember every male, but absolutely no females' names by the end of the semester (out of a class of 10, it should'nt be that hard). He takes nothing a female has to say seriously. He should be fired. I filed a formal complaint against him to his dept for discrimination, and two more girls in my class gave statements... and I am not one of those "female rights" folks either. Yuck.
Wow. He is awful. Nothing but Bob Dylan. Most people in his class had taken him before for like, three years and were majoring in his kind of stuff.... like mycenean society. He's also kinda an ass... especially to females. He will remember every male, but absolutely no females' names by the end of the semester (out of a class of 10, it should'nt be that hard). He takes nothing a female has to say seriously. He should be fired. I filed a formal complaint against him to his dept for discrimination, and two more girls in my class gave statements... and I am not one of those "female rights" folks either. Yuck.
Review from a student who took cc 303
i took cc 303 bcz i wanted to have some knowledge in the ancient texts. however, i did not appreciate his class very much. it was long and (often) boring lectures. you really must keep up to date with the readings and if you dont there is no point at all in attending class. i fell asleep more than once in his lecures. there is a quiz everyother week (a tltal of 9) which are very detailed + a midterm with an EXTREMELY details mc section (covering a LOT of material) + an essay section, which isnt all that bad (but which is hard ofr us to prepare for). the final wasnt too hard if you study well and read all the texts. it is cumulative though and often it is hard to remember in detail what you did so long ago. As a person, he seems really nice, but when i went to his office hours to talk abt my grade, he really was unhelpful. As a result I passed failed his class even though i ended up making a B in it. You really need to read the books and the course packet hoework (there are readings for every lecture). honestly, the ta s grade the essays so it often depends on them. all in all, i wouldnt recommend his class (he often goes very off topic) and we spend lectures listening to bob dylan songs which he thinks are relevant to the course. If you want to learn abt mythology, no need to take his class, simply buy the books and read them.i am sure that they are less boring profs out there. Also, he does bombard your inbox with many mails. be prepared to read a lot if u take his class! even though the books are really interesting.
i took cc 303 bcz i wanted to have some knowledge in the ancient texts. however, i did not appreciate his class very much. it was long and (often) boring lectures. you really must keep up to date with the readings and if you dont there is no point at all in attending class. i fell asleep more than once in his lecures. there is a quiz everyother week (a tltal of 9) which are very detailed + a midterm with an EXTREMELY details mc section (covering a LOT of material) + an essay section, which isnt all that bad (but which is hard ofr us to prepare for). the final wasnt too hard if you study well and read all the texts. it is cumulative though and often it is hard to remember in detail what you did so long ago. As a person, he seems really nice, but when i went to his office hours to talk abt my grade, he really was unhelpful. As a result I passed failed his class even though i ended up making a B in it. You really need to read the books and the course packet hoework (there are readings for every lecture). honestly, the ta s grade the essays so it often depends on them. all in all, i wouldnt recommend his class (he often goes very off topic) and we spend lectures listening to bob dylan songs which he thinks are relevant to the course. If you want to learn abt mythology, no need to take his class, simply buy the books and read them.i am sure that they are less boring profs out there. Also, he does bombard your inbox with many mails. be prepared to read a lot if u take his class! even though the books are really interesting.
Review from a student who took C C 303
This class was not that easy, because the prof. preferred to talk about Bob Dylan rather than going over the reading. This is not neccesarily a bad thing, but then the tests and quizes contained very detailed questions about the readings. I don't reccomend this class unless you are either 1)VERY interested in classical mythology or 2)taking it pass/fail.
This class was not that easy, because the prof. preferred to talk about Bob Dylan rather than going over the reading. This is not neccesarily a bad thing, but then the tests and quizes contained very detailed questions about the readings. I don't reccomend this class unless you are either 1)VERY interested in classical mythology or 2)taking it pass/fail.
Review from a student who took XpWTrbgOpPcwq
I would have agreed the Vietnam War was a waste of lives, cineidsrong we accomplished nothing in a war run by politicians. This is not the case in the War Against Terror, oh pardon me, I forgot that it is not politically correct to say Terror any longer! Hummm ..no terror, guess someone should tell the families of 911 that there is no terror. We are now such friends with the Muslim Community that they will have a Mosque just right off the Twin Towers sight, oh yeah, now when we visit the sight of Ground Zero, we can be watched and mocked by the very people who helped bring down the Towers. So I guess as the song is leaning toward, what a shame that Jimmy died for nothing . Wake up America, this is our sons and daughters dying, don't just give it to them, they will attack again. And yes, for anyone out there that's wondering will this war affect me, I have a son in the Air Force, yes this can affect me.
I would have agreed the Vietnam War was a waste of lives, cineidsrong we accomplished nothing in a war run by politicians. This is not the case in the War Against Terror, oh pardon me, I forgot that it is not politically correct to say Terror any longer! Hummm ..no terror, guess someone should tell the families of 911 that there is no terror. We are now such friends with the Muslim Community that they will have a Mosque just right off the Twin Towers sight, oh yeah, now when we visit the sight of Ground Zero, we can be watched and mocked by the very people who helped bring down the Towers. So I guess as the song is leaning toward, what a shame that Jimmy died for nothing . Wake up America, this is our sons and daughters dying, don't just give it to them, they will attack again. And yes, for anyone out there that's wondering will this war affect me, I have a son in the Air Force, yes this can affect me.
Review from a student who took PuciizBzDtqPdVaTzO
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