The class is fairly easy as long as you do the readings. attendance is mandatory and you're allowed a cheat sheet on the exams. 3 papers some pop quizzes...not bad at all. nice guy too

a really nice guy who surprisingly learned my name in a big class, A LOT of reading though not all of it is necessary, **USE THE CHEAT SHEET ON THE EXAMS TO ITS FULL POTENTIAL, IT HELPS A LOT**

He's a really nice guy and the material for the class is different since it's different every day. His lectures are sometimes boring but he throws in some really funny jokes on occasion.

I like going over a different subject every day, but I thought Dr. G was very boring.I didn't like some of the smart ass comments he wrote on my papers,that is not constructive criticism, that is just being an ass. I won't take another class with him

brilliant

Lots of work and reading, most unnecessary but a pleasant man. Tests are very specific but allowed a cheat sheet (write tiny and write all notes on it) Papers not too bad once you get the hang of what he wants. This was my first A at Rutgers

SO CUTE!! you might be surprised at how good your grade is at the end. This was great for a summer course, you watch movies twice a week and then take one final exam.. but i think he grades pretty easy, I was sooo scared i'd do bad and ended up with an A

being that i know all of the ta's i can tell you now that they do not have the final say on the grades and the comments are made by an outside grader. easy class and somewhat interesting. cheat sheet is awesome and makes the tests very easy.

Good teacher, easy to talk to and get help from. Not a particularly interesting class with a good deal of pretty disinteresting reading. Req for Amer Stud major/minor. There are worse classes and much worse professors. I'd suggest him for something other than intro.

Good teacher, papers are easy to do, unlike what most people here have rated. The tests arent bad either, except for the Anthology part where you have to match up quotes from authors. That does not go along with the class and is my only criticism.

Sweetest guy. All people do is complain because unfortuantly it is an intro class and some of the kids arent the smartest.Papers can be harsh but he will tell you that the TAs are not the ones that write comments on them.Easy easy class. Definetly take it.

Great teacher

Definitely a class worth taking, regardless if it's part of your major/minor. Comments on papers can be biting, but that's not the TA's fault, they don't write on the papers, it's an independent grader who does that. Paper's aren't hard, and he encourages your own crib sheet for the tests!

Sweetest guy! Class is so easy and on both exams you can use a cheat sheet and put whatever you want on it. Papers are easy and fun and while his outside grader is a little harsh, you still end up with an A. Class is definetly geared toward anyone whether you are a major or not. Take this class!!!

Class is real easy and the professor is great. Very understanding about every issue. You get an extra grade for attending,there are 3 papers that are only 2 1/2 pages and 2 exams that you get to use a cheat sheat on. Oh yeah the TA's are Awsome and do alot for the kids.

Great class if you give it a chance...teacher is very interested in subject matter and his enthusiasm comes across...allows a crib sheet, which is extremely helpful...great teacher

Great class, professor is a very nice guy and very understanding if you have any problems. The TA's can be pretty nice people too. Papers are easy, and very short, and you can have a cheat sheet on both the midterm and final exams.

Angus kicks ass! If you are truly interested in the subjects that he teaches, you will never be bored! Get involved in the Folk Fest, too!

Excellent professor and an even better person. Very intellectual, writes his own books and actively studing and learning while teaching :) Crib sheet for exams makes the tests a breeze. 3 papers that are very easy if you can write and think like a college student should be able to. Great class :)

Loved the class, learned alot! Nice guy..kind of a rough grader for the papers. Take advantage of his crib sheet!!!!

Good, thought provoking lectures and a super sweet fellow, but his cult films are more nearing mainsteam than cult.

EASY A!! Interesting class and the professor is the sweetest man. The TA's are really cool and don't actually put the final grades on the papers. Has an outside grader who can be a little harsh. 3 short 2 pg papers and 2 exams. Easiest class and would def. recommend it.

Dr. Gillespie is a great teacher! He is fair, open-minded and really funny. Take the time to get to know him, he is great!

Class is not very interesting, but Professor Gillespie is one of the most intelligent professors that I've had. He does require you to read a few boring books, but in the end the exams and papers (2 of them) are pretty easy if you put in some effort. I suggest taking this class.

GREAT PROFESSOR! Angus is the best! ! The class is very interesting with a fair midterm and final (crib sheet allowed) plus an extra credit opportunity. All the slides are posted online and everything is explained very well. I highly recommend this class. Easy A if you go to class and do your work. =]

There is a lot of reading for this class but for most of the books you can just skim through and he'll lecture on what you need to know. have to buy 7 books. 2 exams. Lots of movies. Attendance counts. You have to read his book on WTC attacks and he is far from a good writer but he is a great guy. Easy B, Try a little harder for an A. Recommended!

Prof. Gillespie is a good professor. Shows alot of AV which makes class fun. Didn't lecture for an entire period all semester but that was okay. Class was fun, exams a little tough but still a good class nonetheless.

Very nice guy, lectures and guest lectures can be boring sometimes but he shows a lot of good movies/documentaries as well. He's very big on attendance but otherwise, its an easy class.

Gillespie is the man! Everyone that is complaining is ridiculous. There were 7 books...which were big and required SOME effort. As long as you read the book and semi-listened in class you got an A. I love Gillespie...TAKE HIM!!

Had Professor Gillespie for both Intro to American Studies and The Contemporary American. I got an A in his intro course and learned a great deal! 228, however, not so much. It was an okay class and I did learn, but it is so politically slanted that it makes you not want to listen to him spewing out his opinions as fact.

He is a good professor however the class is very politically slanted. On the exams he focuses on the trival information that you wouldnt expect to need to know. That "crib sheet" can be your best friend or your worst enemy...especially if all you have written doesnt help!

I took two classes with this prof. and the amount of research done to support his already impressive hold on the subject matter reaffirmed my suspicion that the man knows his stuff. If you don’t want to read the thoughtfully selected texts or voice your opinion, don’t waste your time taking class with the passionate and articulate Dr. Gillespie.

take this class if you want to know what is really happening in the world you live in, you won't believe some of the stuff in this course. don't be lazy, ur in college to learn so READ. u wont be sorry

I took the first Twin Towers seminar offered. Don't take it if you're looking for conspiracies, etc., this is just about the buildings themselves and effects on NY/NJ and American culture. Gillespies a leading expert on the WTC, bestselling author. Only six weeks long, meets once a week. Half of each class, about, is spent with guest speaker.

Great Professor! Lectures are easy and pleasing to listen to. Genuinely interested in seeing students do well. Some work required, but not too much. One of the more memorable professors of my Rutgers experience.

the only downside about this course is the videos we have to watch. not only are they very dry, some of them are kind of traumatizing. i'd rather not watch a deer/snake/some other animal hunt.

Very helpful teacher. He is friendly and very approachable. Work load is moderate; you have to read about 60 pages a weak. Classes are interesting and filled with video presentations. Overall, an enjoyable experience!

Kind, witty, insightful!

Nice guy, easy class, HARD exams. I took this class because I heard he was easy...which is true to an extent. Basically what you need to do to pass the class is write one hell of a crib sheet. If you dont, expect to fail. Do yourself a favor and dont take 264.

Awesome.

great prof, clear insights!

Folklife definitely had its interesting moments. The chapters on the holidays and the Jersey Devil were particularly awesome. The professor is very passionate about what he teaches, and although exams are challenging, a crib sheet is permitted and there's a curve. Just go to class, try your best, and a B is very possible if not an A. :)

awesome ideas.

easy to listen to. takes attendance. lots of books. calls on you if he knows your name. legal "cheat sheet" for midterm/final. handouts for videos- VERY useful for studying. lots of videos shown. shnazzy dresser :p really appreciates people that are into the same things as he is. a little effort will get you a b+ or a

Awesome teacher. Passionate about the subjects, which makes learning so much easier.

Best and most kind hearted professor ever. He is so helpful and one of the nicest most informative people I have ever met. He makes ANYTHING interesting. Great professor!

He is such a nice guy and is really interested in the topic. The class requires about 5 textbooks but they're not expensive. The exam is not cumulative and is based on study guides from movies & texts. Pretty easy class. Legal Crib Sheet for midterm & final.

Good professor, really cares about what he's teaching and his students. His lectures get very, very repetitive. Tests are easy with the legal crib sheet he allows you. The class is worth taking

American folklife is a good class. Interesting material. Attendance is mandatory, extra credit is available, midterm and final but you're allowed a "crib" sheet-if you include good notes on the reading, the answers to his video study guides, and his powerpoints your crib sheet should be sufficient

Nice guy. Really knowledgeable. You can go upto him and talk. He's cool. Class is difficult in this sense. There is so much stuff to memorize. Lets you to make a cheat sheet for the final but it'll take you a decade to make. Luckily, he curves the grade. If you're not able to devote a lot of study time, you might wanna reconsider taking this class.

Very nice guy and very interested in what he is teaching. Some of the material is very interesting, but his powerepoints can become VERY boring. A crib sheet is allowed on midterm and final, but he asks very specific questions. He does curve, very difficult not to get at least a B.

pretty good professor

Had him for honors maritime, great teacher made the small class fun and interesting. Decent amount of reading, but not really necissary and they are good books like moby **** and jord jim. Only real work is a 10 page term paper you have all semster to write

Professor Gillespie is a world class teacher. I graduated in 2002 and I still remember his classes. They would be packed because he is so awesome and is so passionate about the topics. Wonderful teacher, author and person.

What a great guy and easy to talk with! Got to know you if you participated in class and shared your ideas.Had field trips as part of his Jerseyana class.We were in the crown of the Statue of Liberty together during the first bomb attack on World Trade Center in '93. I thoroughly enjoyed his classes. Thought of changing my major to Am Studies.

Best Professor PERIOD. Always smiling and can pretty much help you out with anything. If I weren't graduating I'd take every single class with him.

1st exam easy if u take notes.2nd harder bc he adds in listening.3rd is the same.Last exam weighted 50%.Its either you get the material or you don't. Curves the exams but not the final grade. Put in a good amount of effort for the 2nd&3rdexams bc they make or break you. Good guy but I wont take him again. Tricky. Find a better class if u can.

Gillespie is hands down my favorite teacher currently. I had no interest in the Middle East conflict, but his lectures are very straight forward and humorous. He smiles constantly and even hands out chocolate occasionally. There is no homework, just reading, and the tests are challenging, but curved well and permit "crib (legal cheat) sheets".

I loved his classes. I've been out of college for 20 years, but I still remember things that he taught and how much I enjoyed him as a professor!

Two exams, one midterm that's 40% of your grade and one final that's 60%. Midterm's way more general and easier than the final. You're allowed a crib sheet for each. Gillespie's always well-prepared for class and teaches using a variety of methods. He's a bit strange but is almost always cheerful. He's passionate about his field.

Very good Professor!!!Kind, cheerful, always does funny comments!Interesting class!Listening to him time flies! I miss his lectures so much! I reeeeealy enjoyed being there! Crib sheet is required for midterm and final! Exams are pretty easy!

AKG is the best! Sometimes he comes off as a bit senile but he's remarkably intelligent and it shows. I want to take all his classes...

He is simply the best. He is just in my Byrne Seminar but still I feel like taking up all his classes. Such professors are less seen : D

And Ya he is the best because he is the most helpful person on earth. I have never seen a person so helpful. He is THE BEST (:

He is the best. He is the most helpful person on earth. OMG He is the BEST.

OMG. this is by far the kindest, best, professor ever. I have taken his class and passed with flying colors. His lectures are clear and easy to understand. he makes you watch movies, but i love movies so that's fine by me!

very good professor. Really enjoyed the class.

I took his class years ago, my freshman year. But I still remember this guy, AMAZING. Makes the topics interesting, and the class fulfilled my SAS criteria. If he's still teaching, you should def. take his class. You get to have a cheat sheet for his exams as well. Take his class. You won't regret it.

He's a nice guy and his class is really easy if you show up and pay attention. He's a boring lecturer, so it's a catch-22. He teaches directly from the PowerPoint slides.

I only have him for my Byrne Seminar that focuses on the WTC and its attacks. The class is highly recommended if you enjoy American History. I will probably take an actual semester-class in American Studies with him. His class is fun, easygoing, and very interesting. Take him, you will have no regrets. At first it's a lil boring, but then so fun!

He is a nice professor and responds to emails quickly. Class consisted of 2 short papers, weekly quizzes, and a few posts in discussion forums. All of the work is very manageable and easy as long as you put in the time to watch lecture videos and read the posted material including the required books.

He's a sweet guy & the beginning of the semester was quite fun & interesting. The lectures are very heavy & that reflects on the exams (midterm/final). I felt underprepared for the midterm as there wasn't enough guidance on what was going to be tested. Crib sheets allowed. Videos in class are inaccessible & he doesn't give answers for study guides.

He's a charming, understanding guy that makes you interested in American stories. However, he needs to keep up with modern ideas of historical teaching. It NEEDS to be updated. On grading, half of your grade is dependent on the midterm and half on the final. However, the course does benefit from class interactions. Talk to your peers!!

There was only a Midterm and Final but they were simple, you get a crib sheet to write anything on both sides and bring it with you. He is very friendly and a lovely professor, and participation is not mandatory, but he loves making discussions about what he is teaching, so don't hesitate to add your opinion or experience that relates to the topic

One of the most thoughtful and encouraging teachers that I've had the privilege of learning from. The course material is relatively easy and interesting (from vampires, to ufos, to Stranger Things even). Only assignments were two exams that were primarily multiple choice. Easy to receive a good grade if you pay attention in class.

A genuinely nice, caring professor. Admittedly up there in age, and as a result not terribly tech-savvy, but a very nice and easy-going educator. Pay attention in class, or just take good notes. I didn't buy the textbook, but there are only two grades for the semester - Midterm and Final, both of which are curved.

Professor Gillespie is very passionate about what he teaches. In this course your grade is based on the mid term and final however the exams are generously curved and you are allowed one page of notes making a good grade very achievable in this course.

Professor Gillespie really loves folklore and the Western culture. He only grades from a midterm, which he lets us use a crib sheet, and the final, same with the crib sheet. He enjoys giving lectures about the West and makes them enjoyable. He is amazing and you will never regret taking him!

This class is an interesting history class that is easy as long as you show up to lectures.

This class only had 2 grades: midterm and final. Pay attention or take good notes, he let us make cheat sheets for both. Not very tech-savvy, but if you have any interest in American history I'd recommend the class. Pretty easy course with both grades curved so everyone in my class passed. Always looked forward to attending the lectures.

I have taken two of his classes and want to take more.His classes can fulfill core requirements. Or if you are like me you can take them out of a combination of interest in the topic and also for a change of pace course that serves as a breather in your schedule. He cares about his students and is passionate about what he teachers. 100% recommend.

he is very kind and passionate about the topics. his classes are lecture heavy and is somewhat boring. only graded on midterm and final but he curves them both so everyone passes. you do have to read books that will be on the exam as well. do recommend for an easy requirement

He is a great professor and is very knowledgeable in folklife. However, his lectures are lengthy and there is lots of information. The course is graded on two exams, the midterm and final. He does curve the grades which is very helpful.

I LOVE Professor Gillespie. He's incredibly kind and passionate about folklore. I found his class very interesting because of his enthusiasm. READ the books as it will be on the exam, he allows cheat sheets for both of the exams too and there's a huge curve. Plus, his classes fulfill core requirements. You should def take him, he's the best :)!!!

Fantastic professor that makes the class very interesting and informative. Tests are strongly curved and cheat sheets are allowed making your grade largely dependant on how much information you can write on the sheet. Would definitely take the class again.

The class was not "heavy" in work with only 2 assignments the whole course being the Midterm and the Final Exam(both curved). I don't think this course intended be heavy though, and more of just a sit back and take notes course on the facets and history of the American West through professor Gillespie.

Just dob the preclass assignment and answer 2-3 questions per lecture, and you'll be fine. If you don't know the answer it's fine he's extremely supportive and understanding even if you get the wrong answer or a miss a class :)

he's the sweetest. the lectures can be very long but you mainly watch documentaries and do study guides on what you watched. The exam isn't that hard either you get to have a cheat sheet but it's a whole lot of stuff to write down but if you write down all the important things the exam is really easy.

Gillespie's AS203 is a chill class with two exams, both curved. The lectures can be dry, but he's passionate about the American West. For study prep, ChatGPT and Unstuck ai's quizzes were a big help. Worth taking if you need an easy elective.