2.4
Quality3.7
Difficulty39%
Would Retake91
Reviews39%
Would Retake
91
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
12
4
14
3
9
2
27
1
29
What Students Say
“Avoid taking a class with her”
HIST112 - 1.0 rating“Presented the material in an awful way”
112 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
59%
Textbook Required
55%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
-0.10 avg changeRatings by Course
446
4.0
(1)HST446
4.0
(1)HISTORY446
4.0
(1)HIST446
3.8
(4)247
3.5
(2)Difficulty by Course
HST500
5.0
MEAS480
5.0
HIST347
5.0
112
4.7
HIST
4.5
Reviews (91)
Absolutely horrible
SO structured, she's a bit snobby. But she picks good movies.
Had the most unreasonable expectations of any professor I've ever had. Expected us to complete more than a half-dozen different course components for one class. Also, lectures were BORING.
Unreasonable expectations - spent 5 times the amount of time on this course than any other course just to get a decent grade. However, she's very enthusiastic.
very unreasonable. Too much emphasis on web based course work(35%total mark??)Too obscure with ideas, too much reading ie. 300 pgs a week,
She assumes the class knows things that they don't because they are first years, then stands up and says how she is so dissappointed in them. I don't think she ever stopped to think if it could have been her teaching that caused such low marks.
Ghastly! Web based course work. I undertsand why she is trying to integrate computers in the class room, but not all students have the same level of knowledge. Papers were marked very hard
The amount of reading she assigns is impossible. The web discussion she wants us to participate in is useless, but she demands a lot from it. Snobby and unapprochable. Avoid her at all costs.
Ridiculous amounts of reading assigned. Horrible instructions on papers. Poor speaker, who attempts to link completely abstract ideas. No background knowledge given. Arrogant and snobby. lecture with eyes closed. Avoid!!
Ann's great. The workload's heavy, but worth reading in most cases. A snob? Not at all, I've spoken to her in her office hours on numerous occasions and she's been totally helpful. Web based stuff is marked hard, but if you stay on top of it, easy mar
Alot of reading! Also VERY unclear as to what is expected for papers. And for pete's sake people, she ONLY teaches 2 out of 3 classes per week, because the friday classes are "tutorial time" even though we're all paying for her to teach all 3.
If you do not keep up with the readings, and there are a lot of them, you will do poorly on the tutorial section of the course. 25% of the mark was determined by tutorials. She is a hard but fair marker
This was everything a University course should be, a great deal of work expected and an interesting a free exchange of ideas. Perhaps the low ratings are from people who are not ready for the demands of a University education.
She starts off pretending to be nice but as the course progresses you realize she is moody, unorganized, and unprofessional. The tutorials were a complete waste of our time. She is unclear about assignments and brings her personal problems to class.
Unprepared, readings were unhelpful. The tutorial section of class was a forum of silliness and helped sub-par students get marks for participation. Don't take her class if you think school is for learning-not just sounding off.
This professor was totally unhelpful. The syllabus and they why she assigned marks was not at all congruent. The department went so far as to intervene and change a number of students' marks after to course was completed.
After completing Hist 323 I can say with surity that it was the worst post secondary experience that I have had. I did not mind all the work in fact I thought it was interesting. However, Prof McDougall was clearly out of her element, limited knowledge,inconsistent assignments and marking- Avoid!
There was a lot of readings for this class. If you did them, you would be able to constructively engage in the seminar. You got out of this course what you put into it. I found the professor was generally helpful as long as you ask her specific questions. She has a tendancy to ramble a bit in class.
Although there was a lot of readings and work, you definately got out of it what you put in. This prof's assignments may be a little unclear, but if you take the time to talk with her about them instead of guess, she is very helpful. This class takes a lot of effort, but the pay off is worth it.
Her class was dynamic and interesting--she's always trying to involve everyone and make sure all students contribute to discussion. During office hours she was encouraging and friendly. Makes profs seem human.
Readings are excessive, mostly useless information. Lectures are unnecessary because she summarizes the readings with no additional thoughts. She can't answer general questions in a survey class. Assignments are vague and phrased in a wordy, unhelpful manner.
There is an excessive amount of readings which can be found in a $100 courspack, that you cannot re-sell. The class requires a lot of extra research, done on your own time to understand her lectures and seems rather excessive being a SECOND year introductory history class without a prereq!
Useless. Slow and unresponsive. Scrambled, moody, disorganized. Readings are excessive and pointless. Tutorials are a complete waste of time: instead of her inane ramblings, we get to indulge in the endless redundant mimicry (and sheer idiocy) of our fellow students. Sad - I love Africa.
Her courses are difficult, but you really learn a lot if you apply yourself.
YEH! VERY INTERESTING COURSE, BUT HARD. LOTS OF READING, BUT I LEARNED A LOT
rambles and rambles and rambles...
Her courses are great once you grasp how they work. Doesn't expect you to read everything, just pursue your interests within subject matter. Meet her early to get her guidance on how to approach the course. She challenges you to really think and communicate your ideas (i.e. tutorials). Refreshing. Collection of resources are impressive.
Really quite sweet, in a scattered, can't-remember-if-I-wore-this-yesterday sort of way. Nice thing is that she's not that hard a marker - my impression was that she marks on effort more than merit, so if you act interested and contribute you'll do better than you probably deserve to (I did, anyway). This may not apply to lectures; only seminars.
Well, what can i say about her!Not to knock her off, but she sucked the life out of the class. She enjoys listening to herself talk, and also contradicts herself-for example-The thesis paper- she would state that(This is not a right or wrong answer, this is based on your arguements only)then she kills you will a red pen, giving you her P.O.V.SNAFU.
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Definitly the worst professor Ive ever had.She absolutely never involves the class in any discusion, only gives her view point on contraversial issues. If you like 125 minute classes as opposed to 120minute classes, take this class! The class pretends to have some sort of structure, when really it is the least structured class ive ever taken.AWFUL!
Although she is at times unorganized, it is simply her way of taking in all the aspects and information of the subject and trying to transmit the important parts to the students. You just need to understand the complications of this area of study and show those complications in your work for a good mark.
Just realy bad. Ruined what could have been a great class. The guest lecturers and student presentations were far more interesting than her lectures. She never induces class discussion and made us do a group project with 8 people. Her essay marking is also very interesting, she likes to put herPOV on your essay and her guidlines wernt easy to under
This prof rambles on and on and on... and on. No structure and the HIST paper is based on a NOVEL! No real historical content. Out of four years, this is the prof I liked the least. My advice=avoid!
Not a prof that really feels with students, and does not realize their efforts. It is like she is happy with the devastation of her students. Profs like her do not understand the grief students go through to do her assignments and essays, and they end up losing their degree because of it. Jesus Christ cannot even help me with this. Why? Why?...
Save yourself.Do not let your interest for the middle east and african studies program lure you in, She is just horrible, absolutely horrible, ruined what could have been a profound, thought provoking class and turned it into a self promotion gabb fest. I have learnt more on wikepedia than this god awful course. Do not make my mistake.
Not a very helpful prof. Makes me feel like the straw that broke her back. Just confuses me more when I ask for help.
No Comments
No Comments
Her lectures are interesting, but the lectures are tired and you can tell they're just rote for her now, and you never know quite what she wants. Worse, she's a BULLY and will actually yell at students for the perceived insult of asking a question she felt she already answered. DON'T ENROLL IN HER CLASS.
This prof is the worst! It was like she wanted to teach us how to read. We must have spent the whole class on reading articles and I still have no idea what i was supposed to learn.
Ms McDougall, is very unorganized. Her thoughts are often scattered and she never knows what exactly to say and she know very little about Africa except maybe her field of study, Mauritania. Her classes are boring, and when someone asks a question, she looks at you like "you should know hte answer to that", because she herself doesn't know them.
Not enough time on exams; unorganized; does not let students ask questions. Started out fine, went downhill around midterm. This class is not worth getting screwed over on the exams. Paper was fine, but also unclear instructions on how to approach it. Not a good class.
Appears to be friendly at first but then rips you to shreds when marking papers/exams. Very disorganized and scattered. Her directions are unclear and you have no idea what she wants. Excessively hard and unfair marker considering it is an introductory Hist course with no pre-req. DO NOT Take THIS CLASS IF SHE IS TEACHING IT!
Not sure what everyone's talking about here. I found Prof. McDougal to be anything but a "bully" and always trying to answer questions. A teacher can't be expected to know every obscure fact about an entire continent, especially when they are unrelated to the class discussion. Also, this class was easily the easiest history class I've ever taken.
Nice person, awful professor. Very disorganized when lecturing, in that when discussing a single event will vaguely discuss a number of arguments that do not tie together. I strongly advise avoiding this professor. I did fine in the course, and do not have anything personal against her, however teaching like hers should not be at a university
Never again. The topics were interesting but she was disorganized, unclear and confused words. It is apparent she does not like talking to students.
I was excited for my first Ottoman Empire history course and I was incredibly disappointed. Of a class of 30, 9 showed up every class. Posted all of her notes online and failed to really expand on them. Her assignments were interesting but her marking style was often confusing. She was incredibly contradictory and scattered. Avoid if you can!
By far the most disappointed I have ever been with a prof. Students were bullied for asking questions, her assignments were never clear, and the date of the midterm was changed from 2 weeks away to the coming Friday. Entirely unacceptable for a first year class; I am a 3rd year student and had to calm a student down who Ann had reduced to tears.
Unorganized, not helpful, tough marker, rude, and very unclear on what she expects on tests and assignments. I regret not listening to other rating on Rate my Prof, don't make that mistake and avoid her.
She can be a little bit more helpful. She doesn't give constructive feedback and expectations were not clear at all. Try to take this course with another professor. Expectations are through the roof, considering it is a 100 level class.
Holy man I feel it is my duty to the student population to tell you how awful this prof is. Not only are there countless basic mistakes on her powerpoints, but her expectations are completely unclear. She has a set way of looking at everything and if you don't do it she gives you lower marks. Presented the material in an awful way. So. Bad.
Ann was by far one of the worst profs I have ever had at a University level. There are no clear expectations and she will rip apart any papers you write. PLEASE do not take her class you will regret it! For a first year course this was completely unacceptable. She is extremely rude, I regret dropping the course.
Her expectations of us (a first year course) was just ridiculous. Ann should not be teaching any first year classes if this is how she will treat her students. Marks very hard as mentioned, and she is not clear at all. Avoid her classes at all cost.
Many of her lecture notes are unclear, and when she lectures her thoughts are all over the map. She is not an overly friendly person in class, and does not like it when questions are asked in class. All discussions are left to be had in her office hours. Slow marker as well. Cancels class a lot (in one term 5 different classes were cancelled)
Extremely tough grader, ridiculously hard for a level 100 course. Not worth taking if looking for an easy course. So much work involved.
Cancels a lot. Expects a lot. Marks hard. Extremely boring lectures. Avoid taking a class with her.
Very scattered lectures, she seems to confuse herself at times as well. The "Identify and Give the Significance of..." tests are a joke and her marking scheme is confusing. If you get a 6/15 it is still a C. If she just didn't mark as hard, she wouldn't have to alter the marks like that. AVOID this prof
The course started off tough, but once you learn her grading criteria, it does get easier. She will make you earn your grade because you are expected to know not just the facts, but how to apply and extend them. She was super helpful in office hours, I definitely recommend going before tests. This class was tough, but rewarding.
She expected a lot of information for tests, especially given the very limited amount of time we had for our in class quizzes, as well, her expectations were not clearly defined. She gets off topic frequently, and as a result, tries to play catch up in the last 5-10 minutes, cramming in, and skipping over information, and running over-time. Avoid.
She designed the class to root out skippers. If you skip class you will not do well at all. If you receive a bad mark on a paper, and you're a regular attendee then I advise going to discuss it at her office. She will probably help you out.
I wouldn't hesitate to go to her for advice or a question. Connects her previous lectures so there is great continuity. It is a tough course, and the tests do require lots of details and work, but with some extra time and work you can get a great grade and learn to manage the time for the tests effectively. She is a great prof!
She was sick a lot in the beginning, so after just two weeks we were really behind. Also, her lectures were very scattered. She posted power-points with up to 80 slides, and would in class just talk about ten of them. Her tests were really hard, and she was extremely specific in what she wanted you to write, but she didn't tell us this beforehand.
As someone who is interested in History, HIST112 (The Modern World) really brings world issues into perspective throughout the past 2 centuries. 3 in class tests (just writing) and the final exam. Tests posted a week before so it is easy to study, and half the material given is on each test. Take notes or read the slides and this class will be easy
Ann missed seven classes in the semester. This caused the class to fall behind and made the class difficult and rushed. Easy class to get a B, but a hard class to get an A in due to the fact she is specific with what you need to know to get an A, but does not tell you what that is.
Ann is lovely but lacks organization in thought which can be hard to follow. Friendly and approachable, which I nice.
Ann's classes are always a gem to attend, she makes the lectures interesting, and group discussions are meaningful. While she's a tough grader, it's typically very fair and always in the interest of seeing your writing improve. Make sure you go over expectations of formating and content with her, it's key.
Took Precolonial African history with her, yet half the class was about 'Islam' and slavery, as if the only significant part African culture worth teaching. Also learned a lot about Catholicism (from a very colonial lens) but no native religion. None of our 50+ readings were written by African scholars. Otherwise the class was well organized
Great professor. Expects engagement. Do your readings, attend class, take thorough notes, and go to her office to ask for help before exams and essays. She is very personable and helpful. I liked how she structured the pre-C African history course. Broad subjects need an angle.
Dr. McDougall is kind and easy to listen to, however lectures were so disorganized I often felt really overwhelmed. Two students dominated the discussions all semester, and there was no effort to hear from others. Posts a LOT of slides, but only lectures off of a handful. Assignment expectations and grading criterial are really unclear.
Honestly, she was so sweet the entire semester. Weekly discussion forums 60% of your grade, very interesting and plenty of time to complete. Midterms (for my class at least) were written, somewhat difficult but not overly stressful. She loves her job and I would recommend her.
Her online lectures are always really long and theres usually 2 of them (around 2 hours) and you can't speed them up because she requires you use office. There is a lot of reading and videos to watch as well. She has specific answers in mind for her questions and doesn't grade as well if not answered exactly how she wants. She is nice though.
Weekly discussion are a large % of the grade, discussion of the reading material is the main focus of these meetings so staying current with the readings is required. Overall a good teacher that gives excellent feedback to improve writing and your understanding of the material
Ann is honestly one of my favourite profs at the UofA. She is extremely knowledgeable in her field but is also genuinely interested in what you think and what you can bring to the discussion. She will always make time for any question you have, and gives constructive feedback for assignments. Very respectful and kind.
Wasn't a fan of the forced discussion but that's just me. Dr. McDougall is so sweet and passionate, and she's super approachable. She takes an interest in you as a person which is something you don't get a lot in uni. You can tell she really loves what she teaches and her lectures are easy to follow.
discussion forum participation worth 10-12% every two weeks- pretty easy marks. You can get away with not using the textbook if you don't have the $$. Lectures can be pretty long but if you go to the discussion class (once a week) you get the info you need. 100% recommend her - super sweet and interesting way of teaching.
Really long lectures. did not respect scheduled class times/hours when shifted to online. By this I mean that lectures and weekly one hour discussions often put us over the 3 hours per week scheduled for this class. Not to mention the amount of extra readings and videos required for class discussion every week. Takes forever to mark -like 30 days
Professor McDougall has taken advantage of students during this time of online learning. Unapologetically posts lectures over 3 hours long and then requires you to also show up for an hour of discussion weekly. The course itself was good but the professor has taken advantage of students by going beyond the amount of time slotted for lecture.
Loves class discussion, but is terrible at startting discussion. She will start forum posts with a statement: "I'd like to throw out an idea...". This is not helpful. Zoom meeting consisted for the 6 classmates not understanding or answering the question, then her getting upset and claiming we did not do the readings. I honestly feel defeated.
Instructions for assignments are ambiguous at best, usually two 1-2 hour lectures a week not including a mandatory 1-hour discussion class, and way too much required reading a week. Feels like I'm being taken advantage of. Do not take any classes with her if you value your time. She is very nice but that doesn't mean much compared to all of this.
Instructions confusing and marking very hard
Online lectures on Mondays probably took 2 hours, when the class was only limited to 50 minutes. Discussion classes worth 60% of your grade with little to no direction. Feedback consisted of "sorry, no" and unclear assignments. Avoid this prof.
Its clear professor McDougall really is passionate. The online lectures were 2-3 hours on average and the required readings were at least 1.5 hours a week. Add to that there was a 1 hour discussion per week .Its definitely not an easy A, you'll get a good mark if your assignments are well thought out and you've taken time on it. It was fun!
Class was cancelled on short notice multiple times because she was constantly flying out of the country and getting sick. Often wasn't her fault but it still made for a frustrating, stressful experience. Takes forever to mark. Had to cut out 2 centuries of material because we didn't finish on time. Unclear grading criteria, but semi-helpful 1 on 1
While she seems very nice, Professor McDougall has zero kindness when marking exams. She WILL dock marks over semantics and slight differences in syntax between a question and an answer, and she often says she has no idea what point you're trying to make if you aren't perfectly precise - Exams are 50 min., yet imperfect phrasing is penalized.
I am in my 4th year and have had my fair share of difficult professors. This is by far the most difficult class I have taken. 50 minutes to write a whole essay and she is the hardest marker I have ever experienced. She will crack down on you for not following the question exactly to how she defines it, if English is not your first language RUN
Took this class in my first semester of first year - worst mistake. Prof is so sweet, but SUCH a hard marker, and a lot of the things she covers in class are very briefly discussed on her slides. SO many outside readings and videos that she expects you to watch. 2 midterms, 25% each and 50% final. DO NOT take this class unless it's required.
guys DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. EVER. hardest class I've taken in my three years of uni so far. she's such a tough grader. she'll say stuff in class, and when you reference it in your papers she'll double back on her word. this class absolutely demolished me. please don't take it.
you do not need to take this class under any circumstances, so please do not take this class under any circumstances. I'm never going to be the same again after this class. it changed me, psychologically. don't take it.
Do NOT. Take this class 50% of your grade rests on 50 minute essays its not worth it At all she is the gpa destroyer
This may be the worst mark I've ever gotten in university. I'm borderline a 4.0 student and this class is a GPA destroyer. RUN. Do not take this professor at all costs. Even the other professors in the department know that she is a bad teacher. They pity the students who have to take a class with Dr.McDougall. Also she says some racist things?
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
59%
Textbook Required
55%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
-0.10 avg changeRatings by Course
446
4.0
(1)HST446
4.0
(1)HISTORY446
4.0
(1)HIST446
3.8
(4)247
3.5
(2)Difficulty by Course
HST500
5.0
MEAS480
5.0
HIST347
5.0
112
4.7
HIST
4.5