Dr. Alves, is an awesome professor that cares about his students and his classes are very interesting.

Dr Alves cracks me up. Plus, he really knows his stuff.

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The most intelligent professor I've ever had. I advise against taking his classes as a Freshman though.

Dr. Alves is an amazing person who actually cares about his subject, his students, and the world around him. I took his class during a very...stupid time in my life. I definitely regret not getting more out of it than I did. Why is this guy in Muncie&#

Dr. Alves is my all time favorite professor. I took a high level class with him when I was a freshman -- it was very challenging but I got so much out of it. I think with him, you need to put in a lot of work but you don't regret it.

I was unexcited about taking this core class, but Dr. Alves made it really interesting. And he's such a friendly guy - it's been 3 years since I took the class, but he still remembers my name and says hi to me on the street. Not every prof does that.

I took the course expecting the worst, but Dr. Alves made the material so interesting and he's always willing to help you out in whatever way he can. He's enthusiastic and generally a cool guy. No complaints here!

I hated this class, but luckily passed and didn't have to retake it! The material is fairly difficult.

Great prof, really helpful. The lecture are not the most clear. free flowing lecture, does not follow outline, but a small blemish on a great teacher.

I throughly enjoyed taking this class during the Spring Semester of '04. Dr. Alves is one of the more intelligent I have ever come across. If you are a Social Studies/History Major, you should definitely take one of his courses...

Dr. Alves is the greatest professor that I have ever had. He is kind, caring, and an all around genuine person. He is one amazing human being and I am glad I got the chance to meet such an intelligent man.

Excellent Teacher, enjoyed his class immensely, full of knowledge about subject, pretty close to knowing everyonthing, awesome guy

Dr. Alves was one of THE most enthusiastic professors I've ever met. He is incredibly intelligent and also very caring for his students, always making time to talk after class and answering any questions students may have. And his book collection rocks!

Alves rocks!

Dr Alves is awesome. His class is one of my favorites. He is a good teacher. No matter what some people think.

Excellent lectures. Appears many times to know everything. Open and friendly to students.

This is a great class..... Get ready to work your Butt off.... He does not Give out A's....

Great prof! I really enjoyed having him. Difficult class, but I think he taught well.

This class absolutely rocks! I love having Alves as a professor. I have never done so well in a history class before. I definitely recommend this one.

He is awesome teacher! Knows alot about the subject! Willing to help out whenever needed.

Fun class, kinda tough for people like me who don't like to read. Only real problem: the inside jokes he has with many students makes me feel kinda awkward. I've never seen students laugh so hard and awful jokes. Then again, they're history majors...

For those of you that don't know Abel was on trail for taking pictures of a pig farm. What a rebel.

Awsome teacher!

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Know's his history like the back of his hand! Class was kind of boring and the tests seemed to be more from the book than the lecture...but I enjoyed it.

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I had Alves for one of the most dreaded History classes, and even though the class content lived up to the negative stereotype, Alves was very approachable and after class spent most of the time answering questions and discussing interesting side notes wit

I like him, Hard, i hate tru and false test... But i still enjoyed his class a lot..

Alves is excellent! Show up to class, take notes, and learn the material and you should have no problem. He doesn't change anything or do anything unexpected, he tells you how it is, and makes no exceptions but doesn't pull out any loopholes, either. I really enjoyed his class...great professor.

Very hard tests! If you are there every day and take VERY good notes, you should get at least a C. He knows what he is talking about

Dr. Alves is an example of what a teacher should be. He knows his stuff and does anything he can to help his students.

he's the nicest professor ive ever had!

I don't like history, but Abel made it fun and enjoyable to learn. The tests weren't that hard. They are all true/false. He gives you space to justify your answer so you can earn partial credit.

He was awesome! One of the smartest people I've ever known.

"Chimpanzees!"

He is an excellent professor. However, I must mention on this site that he has an assortment of silly hats. He will wear a different one every day in the summer, which is quite amusing. He has worn a helmet, a russian fur hat, and a British army officers hat. I'm not kidding.

The best at Ball State.

Simply put, he's a bad-a**!! I have had several classes with Dr. Alves, and I never ceased to be amazed. He knows his stuff, has fun while doing it, and develops good, sound relationships with his repeat-offender students. He makes HILARIOUS jokes all the time! His hats rock and his love for the environment makes my heart happy! :) One of my faves.

He was one of the absolute best core professors I have had at Ball State. Interesting, engaging, and an all around fun great guy! He definitely knows his subject and can relate it to modern students. He enjoys his students and really seems to love teaching. I highly recommend Alves, especially if you like chimps!!! *wink*

He's a pretty good teacher, but the SI sessions are were it's at.

Simply one of the best professors there is. He knows his stuff and has fun teaching it.

He is amazing. He genuinely loves what he is teaching, and he encourages his students to love history just as much as he does. He's more knowledgeable than any other professor I've met. He's a whiz at all Spanish history, and he chooses interesting topics to talk about.

Abel is an awesome teacher, particularly if you're a history buff like me. If you go to class and pay attention, you won't need your book. Take notes to read through before the tests. He's a cool guy to talk to and cares about his students. He loves it when you ask questions, but be careful. He likes to go off on tangents.

This class was ridiculous. All test and quizzes are true and false. His lectures are impossible to understand. He's honestly a good teacher but the class is ridiculous. The information you learn about is nothing like any other HIST 150 class.

Pretty smart guy. Class isn't hard however you still have to work hard for your grade. He's more than willing to help. Be careful he grades his papers hard, but overall hes a good professor and is fair.

A great lecture teacher. I highly recommend trying to be there everyday just because it's very easy to miss something. His quizzes are modified true or false so even if you get it wrong, it's possible to get some credit if you show some knowledge about the information.

NOTES NOTES NOTES. You WILL NEED a laptop or some form of quicker writing to handle this class. This is the definition of a lecture class; he gives light notes but you must listen to what he says & write it, Also, go to the review sessions. Great speaker, but thats all he does.

He is great and knows his topic.

GREAT GREAT TEACHER, A LITTLE BORING AT TIMES BUT HE'LL NEVER TEST YOU OVER SOMETHING HE'S NEVER TAUGHT ABOUT. GREAT MAN IN GERNEAL

Alves is a passionate teacher who really knows his stuff. The class wasn't always that interesting but it wasnt hard. I didnt read a book all semester and did well on the papers. I got a B+ and hardly read at all.

Dr. Alves was a great professor! Even if you usually don't enjoy history, he is so knowledgeable you will probably enjoy it somewhat. He is a passionate teacher that is concerned about his students.

He was a very knowledgeable teacher who gives great lectures and keeps you interested. If you have trouble or questions, he will help. My advice - take prof Alves if you get the chance.

GREAT prof, very knowledgeable and passionate. you will have to be in class every day because he gives extensive notes but there are often study sessions with a grad student multiple times a week to help. tests are fairly easy and very fair as long as you have paid attention and taken notes.

I loved this class

The book was really not needed for this class. He covers everything that he wants you to know the for tests. I didn't purchase the book. The tests were pretty difficult, but not impossible. We did no homework in this class. The only points towards your grade are your test scores.

His class is difficult but he is a fair professor overall. Attendance is mandatory because the class is all lecture. tests are challenging but its all true/false statements. Review your notes and pay attention in class and it's not that difficult to get an A. Also if you ever have questions, ask! he loves to help his students!

Is a great professor! His class is very interesting! He is almost stupid intelligent (if that exist) but he is very passionate about history and you will learn! Just make sure you go to class and take detailed notes! Worth it in the end! And the text book is not necessary

Talks for the whole class, follows his slides, note taking is CRUCIAL to your survival. Study hard and stay awake and you'll be fine. He is super nice.

Made the class a bit more interesting than I imagined it would be, he has a very dramatic way of telling the events that you study. Just make sure you stay on top of your papers and read the other books for the class.

Pros- Alves is the man. He is into history and he kept my attention. The beginning of the class was a drag because I didn't care for the time era we were studying, but as the class went on, I enjoy it more. Alves wants to his students' names and does a great job! He lectures a lot, but he does in a way to keep your interest. Cons- The book is okay

Great Guy, he is super nice and flexible. Lecture can be long and sometimes boring. He is funny in a dry-humor sort of way and paper writing is easy in the class. He loves trying to use accents which is cute and is into star-trek. My book was not often used but still did alright on the tests as long as you read his power-points that he puts on BB.

I took his Animals in the Atlantic World class. He is very passionate about this topic. The lecture could get a little bit boring at times, but he teaches it enthusiastically. Dr. Alves is incredibly friendly and helpful.

AMAZING professor! I loved this class. If you go to every class you will get a good grade. He explains things clearly and if you have any questions he is more than willing to answer! You DON'T need the book and there isn't any homework and there aren't any papers. Just 4 quizzes, a midterm, and a final, which are fairly simple!

It's simple: show up to class, take notes, ask questions, ATTEND SI SESSIONS! Do not get on your computer unless you're taking notes No need for the book, just pay attention to details. If you are prone to sleep sit in the front, I promise if you are engaged you'll do fine (at least a B) He's great! Wants you to do well

Literally the first professor I have ever had in College and I was blown away by every single thing he said, I didn't attend all the classes, but the amount of Information this guy knows is enough to write about. Not only was I completely brought into the history he delved into the deeper aspects of his class.

He's obviously a very, very smart guy. Alves can answer nearly any question that you throw at him. Sometimes he would go on tangents, but overall he was an extremely knowledgable professor. Class sometimes seemed a little bit lengthyboring, but I'm also not a huge history fan. I was constantly amazed by how smart he is. It made it easy to listen.

Lectures are long, have coffee to fuel yourself through. Alves is very intelligent, and the only issue is occasional tangent. Best way to pass - show up to class, take good notes, attend SI Sessions, and ask questions. Really not much need for the book. 5 grades: 3 quizzes, midterm, final. True and False, can argue reasoning for more points.

Professor Alves gives looonnnngggg lectures, but attempt to take notes when he tells you to, and use his powerpoints as sticky notes for the section he's covering in the book.

Kind and brilliant

Very nice person. Absolutely brilliant. Gives amazing lectures. Gives very helpful and insightful feedback. Not a breeze but college isn't supposed to be. If you don't succeed in his class, it is probably your own fault.

Excellent professor!! He's friendly, interesting, and brilliant! His lectures do ramble but if you listen closely, take good notes, and ask clarification questions you should be fine. He makes a genuine attempt to learn as many names as possible even in a 200+ people lecture class. Book not necessary

The lectures are long and he gives an incredible amount of information during them. Really try to pay attention/take good notes and you shouldn't have a problem with the class. He is ready to help and really into his subject, which is nice to see. Definitely would take again.

Prof. Alves is one of the most intelligent people I've ever met & he really cares about his students & treats us respectfully. Your grade is 5 tests/quizzes & they are all true/false. Study up. His lectures get super boring unless you're really into history. He also never posts to Blackboard so you'll never be quite sure how you're doing.

He has a great deal of knowledge about his subject. When he lectures, you can see the excitement in his eyes about the topic. He is a good teacher that goes in depth about the subject matter. It comes down to the student being interested to soak up all the material.

Lectures were long but the man is brilliant. Always willing to answer questions and genuinely cares about his students and his class.

Dr. Alves is the man! He is an amazing prof and is by far the best I have had at Ball State. He is passionate about every subject covered in class and passes on that passion to his students. He assigns a ton of reading but its a 400-level class and you can get away without doing the majority of it. Take a class with him if you can; he's awesome!

Almost all of class was him lecturing, but I can genuinely say that these lectures were fascinating. He genuinely loves his jobs and his students. He even learned my name within the first few days of class (in a huge lecture hall). I got a 98% in the class and didn't read the textbook. But you absolutely have to go to class to pass the tests.

All his tests are true and false, two of them have essays. They are really easy as long as you attend the classes

Abel is the smartest man I know. He is really passionate and cares about his students. In a class of 200 people he still managed to know everyones name even if you had never participated in class. it is pretty hard, so attend class, take notes, and go to the study sessions you should pass. Also so the Pathways to successful learnings its worth 500.

Incredibly intelligent guy, beyond qualified. Be warned though, he says A LOT, and very little of it is in his powerpoints, so listen closely! A lot of people say you can't pass without going to the study sessions, but I never went, and I managed a C+. The only grades are quizzes and tests, all True/False and essay questions.

Abel can throw a lot of information out that you have never thought about and he also seems to know something about everything, even little details, worth a good conversation for sure. Interesting online course - HIST150

While the class is very lecture heavy, Professor Alves knows how to make it fun. He goes above and beyond to get to know his students and is by far my favorite professor I've had here at Ball State.

Dr. Alves is incredibly intelligent and has lots of interesting historical tidbits to share. His lectures can get long if you aren't interested in the topic for that day. He gives lots of guidance when it comes to papers, quizzes, and exams. I was in a class of 70 students and I think he knew all of our names. Don't waste money on the textbook.

He is truly one of the best professors I've had at BSU. His lectures were always interesting, and Dr. Alves is really resourceful, providing music or showing literature/items relating to the topic. This was a class of of about 80 or so students, and Dr. Alves knew all of our names fast enough. He knows his history and does a great job teaching it.

Dr. Alves was an outstanding professor! He is very passionate about history! While he will often get sidetracked if asked a question, he makes sure to answer in depth! Tests are all True or False and are often pretty easy if you review. As long as you read the powerpoints and review, the class is very easy! TAKE HIM!!!

Class of 50 and knew all of our names, as well as cared about all of our opinions. Very interesting and knowledgeable, clearly passionate. Lectures could get long if tired or distracted. Tests aren't hard, but if you skip you will miss a lot. I don't use the book unless I do skip a class. Not too much work, only 2 papers of 2 pages long. TAKE HIM!!

Dr. Alves is the head of the history department, so prepare yourself for some extremely long and detailed lectures. Notes can be hard to keep up with because of how much detail he goes into. I would recommend Alves if you really love history and don't mind long, intense lectures but if you struggle to keep up you might want to stay away.

He is very passionate for what he teaches and learns everyones names. He is very knowledgable and will answer any questions you have.

Dr. Alves was my favorite prof this semester. He is so caring and truly passionate about history. His lectures seem very long if you're tired. His tests are extremely easy if you study a little bit. Two papers and some tests but that's it. If you have to take Hist 151, TAKE HIM!!!!! He is an amazing professor and he cares about everyone in class.

Dr. Alves is one of the best professors in the history department. His passion for his work shines through in his lectures, which are always fascinating. He is so encouraging of students engaging with the whole of history, including all the elements that might have been overlooked or labeled as more obvious by other historians. 10/10 recommend.

A professor who really cares about his students. Always willing to talk about class or things outside of class work. I cannot say enough good things about this man, TAKE HIS CLASSES

Alves is a phenomenal professor who genuinely cares about his students. He is very clearly passionate about what he does and is more than willing to help those that want help. There are only a few things worth points throughout the semester, so it is important you show up for his lectures to have the knowledge for quizzes and exams.

Great person and teacher. Class was very lecture heavy and often felt boring, but that is the nature of this course. Very kind and respectful person, and always willing to help where he can.

Quizzes are 100% lecture based. I advise ONLY buying the additional readings for the class (the textbook is not worth it). Graded with 3 quizzes (all of which offering partial credit for every answer) and a few papers based on the additional readings. Great. I would 100% take Dr Alves' classes again.

Excellent teacher who cares about his students and shows passion for his subject. Although the class is graded by three quizzes, two group discussions, and two essays, the assignments are easy. Quiz material comes straight from the lectures. If you have to do HIST 151, do it with Alves.

My favorite professor from this past semester, so passionate about his craft. He truly wants all of his students to succeed, just talk to him. His class is textbook optional, and you're graded on 2 essays and 3 test. All tests are modified true false, where you can explain your reasoning and get credit back if you are wrong.

I really enjoyed having Prof. Alves. His lectures are super engaging and made what I thought would be a boring class actually very interesting. While attendance isn't mandatory, he teaches exactly what's on the text and gives more context than just what's on slides so it's worth it to attend class. I thought it was relatively easy, would take again

Professor Alves brings a lot of passion to this class. While his lengthy lectures can be tough to keep up with, attending is worth it to get the full context beyond just the textbook. Unstuckstudy and study sessions helped me prepare well for the easy tests and essays.

Dr. Alves is a great lecturer & I learned a lot from his course. Participation is mandatory, for HIST 470. 5 points every time you add to the discussion, for a total of 50 points. You are graded on a few things, mainly papers. He offers to read drafts of your papers. Grading is straightforward and he is lenient. Dr. Alves is so caring & respected!

Dr. Alves is always willing to help and is extremely useful to have in your corner as a history student. Throughout the entire dept I have yet to meet another prof that cares so much about us as students and as people. Highly recommend

I LOVE ABEL ALVES SO KAWAII. HIS LECTURES ARE SO ENGAGING AND FUN HE IS SUCH A SILLY GUY LOVE YOU DR. ALVES

GOOD PROFESSOR! ENGAGING LESSONS! REMEMBERED WHO I WAS AFTER ONLY A WEEK OF CLASSES! LIFE CHANGING!

While Professor Alves is a very sweet and caring teacher! He is very passionate in what he talks about and can get a bit off track, but still keeps the class engaged!