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The classes are interesting. I love the lectures, there are some dry material, but as long as you study and read the required readings everynight then your grades should stay high. The quizzes are easy and the tests are average easiness. He trys to make it so that everybofy will succeed but you still have to put effort on your behalf.

He is an awesome teacher. Yeah the material is sometimes boring but he puts interesting facts and andecdotes into almost all his lectures. Notes everyday. Tests/Quizzes on notes and reading. I would definitely try to get him. Nice Guy. Tries to make you do your best.

He's a great guy. I highly recommend him. The only catch is the essay questions, he expects you to retain 2 whole pages of notes word for word on your essays. Pay attention and you'll do well.

He is a very funny guy, he's easy to talk to and actually cares. He give very clear notes, which he expects you to know for the tests... especially the essay. The essays are difficult but if you study you should do fine. I would highly recommend him.

Really easy, You don't need to read the book to get a good grade on the tests, but it does help with the essays. He gives you the questions to the essays about a week in advance so you have time to study. Tests are mostly multiple choice, with some essays, but he grades the essays really easily and offers extra credit, take him for an easy a or b

Great Teacher! Be ready to write until your arm falls off. Very interesting class though, I learned a lot.

Mr. Ryder is amazing! Yes, you do have to write a lot of notes, but the class is easy. I'm learning so much and it's reflected on the quizes and tests. Want awesomeness? TAKE THIS CLASS!

Awesome teacher!! Makes history less boring! A lot of notes but all you need for the exam really, don't need to read text. Does give essay questions, they suck, but if study really hard not too bad at all. If you don't miss a class you'll do great. Take him if you can, he really knows what he is talking about!

Mr. Ryder is an awesome guy. All you do in class is take a lot of notes which isn't bad with a computer. The tests aren't bad either except the essays. He gives you the essays beforehand which allows you to memorize them. But even with this you HAVE to make your essays EXTREMELY detailed or you will get a 10 out of 20. I would take him though.

This is a great one--take him. He makes the subject very interesting.

His class was my favorite that I have taken at Radford so far. Attendance isn't mandatory, but his lectures are very helpful. The essay portion of his tests can be rough, and preparation is everything when test time rolls around. I'd glady take one of his classes in the future.

Great professor, teaches all 100 level classes the same. i've had him for 3 classes and every one i've learned a ton but it's never too hard. tests are part multiple choice part essay but he gives you the essay before so you can ask him for help TAKE HIME

Good teacher but far one of the best history teachers i've had. Each test has a multiple choice section and an essay portion. Take his class!!

Take this professor. Ryder is an amazing guy who is very down to earth and is very easy to get along with. The are two easy quizzes and essays, and three exams. The exams are all multiple choice with an essay(the topics are given beforehand and you choose one to write about in class). He is always willing to help and is a great lecturer.

This class was great! Mr. Ryder gives the notes through power point, so everything you need to know is right in front of you. Tests are multiple choice and essay, but you get the topics beforehand so you can prep for the test. I would suggest this class to people who don't really like history; Ryder makes it interesting.

Good teacher and easy class. I got an A no problem. 5 or 6 quizzes, and 3 tests including the final. Essay portion of tests are the only hard part about them, but still easy. You also have 2, two page papers to write which is a breeze. Take him for sure.

Mr. Ryder is a good teacher. He takes attendance but if you go to class he will email you the notes if you ask for them. I would recommend him as a teacher.

Ryder is the best!Ive taken every class he teaches over the past 4yrs at Radford, plus i had him for UNIV 100. Here's a breakdown of how to pass his class: Read the syllabus' calendar. attendance isn't mandatory but if you go you only sit there for about 30-40 mins listen to his stories and lecture and ask him for the notes after. Dont skip essays!

He is the best professor i have ever had. tells great stories and connects well with the class. he is a real person and doesnt buy into games. just be honest if something comes up. this class is an easy A as long as you stay awake during the lecture which is not hard. Great family man and professor.

Tests and quizzes come from the notes and the book and he makes that clear, so there shouldn't be any surprises. Has a lot of knowledge in the topics he speaks about. Very down to earth guy, you'll learn something from him. He also doesn't like students to use phones in his class, just keep them in your pocket.

I didn't go to a lot of classes because he was my 8am but this is what I got out of his class. He's a good professor and approaches history with a business approach. Nice guy with good stories, test and quizzes are a little difficult but not back breaking. I would recommend him but if you don't go to classes the semester will be difficult for you.

Mr. Ryder is not a good teacher. I love history and have a history concentration and my GPA was a 4.0 before having his class. The notes are very unorganized and half of the times are full of nothing but cussing and random words that don't even relate to the topic. I would not recommend this class.

Keeps class very entertaining. I would recommend him! Love the class.

Professor Ryder is AWESOME!!!!! You should take him if you have the chance. His lectures are a little boring at times, but overall pretty good. He sends you the notes if you ask for them. Map tests, essays, and tests are really easy. Describes everything very clearly. Quizes are the hardest part, but just study and youll be fine! TAKE HIM!!!!!

Ryder was a great teacher. He was very helpful. all his test have an essay on it BUT if you write the essay in advanced and take it to him, he will check it and tell you if it's good for the test. I did well in the class and i SUCK at history. It's kinda dry, but he make it interesting by his cool stories.

This man knows his history! (because its HIS-story) I liked that joke he told, anyways! great professor and easy to understand, definitely need to study if you want that A though. Pay attention also, he isn't subtle you will know when you need to do something a certain way to earn the credit.

loved this class and the professor. it was alot of info but he made it totally bearable and i loved his stories. Keep up with him though, he zips through topics so write fast or email for notes. I absolutely enjoyed this class though and his teachings! also, better go into his class knowing where Afghanistan is b/c this man supports his troops

Ryder is a great teacher. Does not have an attendance policy and is very easy to work with. The only thing is, he squeezes alot of information into one class. Talks very fast and hard to keep up with. Lectures are all straight from book, so use it. Quizzes and tests are all pretty easy.

Ryder is an excellent professor. He covers a lot of material in each class but you can use your laptop to take notes if you sign an agreement with him. His lectures are always interesting and I never zone out. Quizzes are hard but tests come straight from quizzes and you have to do an essay. I would highly recommend taking his class!

One of the best teachers I've had for sure. Very fair with his tests and quizzes, and gives you plenty of extra credit opportunity on the tests and quizzes. Always willing to help and answer questions. Makes class very enjoyable, I learned so much!

Take this class! He made me extremely interested in history & the test & quizzes are not hard at all!

Ryder was an awesome history professor. I took him for 112 and then the following semester for 102. He makes the history into an actually story, it's hard to explain but the man knows what he's talking about. Definitely one of my favorite professors at Radford.

Ryder is an excellent teacher. His notes are easy to follow. He talks and moves fast, but if you were in class for that day just shoot him an email afterwards and he'll send you notes. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EMAIL HIM AND ASK WHAT YOUR GRADE IS IN HIS CLASS. He lost some brownie points in my book with his very rude response to that question

Pretty good professor who seems to genuinely care about his students' effort. Go to class, take notes, and follow up on the material in the textbook from time to time and you'll do fine. If possible, don't take his class at 8 AM. He doesn't have an attendance policy which makes it very hard to go sometimes.

Mr Ryder is a superb professor. He has excellent teaching methods and he makes the class very interesting. There are quizzes every Friday, but they aren't hard as long as you study. I highly recommend him for history.

Mr. Ryder is an awesome professor. I took his class at 8am and actually enjoyed going. He makes it interesting and genuinely cares about teaching and his students. He makes assignments very easy because he tells you EXACTLY what he wants done. The quiz/test questions are kind of sneaky but the tests are the quizzes word for word. Take his class!

He always seems so interested in history and is excited to explain it to the class. No attendance policy, but you should go because the notes are what the quizzes are made up of. Tests are just the quizzes re-worded so keep quizzes and study them. He will send you notes if he went too fast.

He's an interesting, funny man and he really loves history. He teaches his lectures like they're stories and is very clear. Attendance isn't mandatory but he will sometimes take attendance for extra points. Lots of easy quizzes and the tests aren't hard as long as you study. There are several essays but they're easy as long as you do your research.

Mr. Ryder is the man. Extremely knowledgable in the field of history, and he presents it in a way that really draws your attention. You can tell his passion for the subject and it shows through is lectures. Tests and quizzes are easy as long as you attend class and do the readings; and the papers are short, just two pages each. Highly recommended

This Professor loves history and can talk along time about it. He makes sure you understand it. if a lot of people miss a question on the quiz then he goes back over it because he wants every body to do well. His test come from the quizzes.

Shows real interest into what he is teaching. Be prepared to take 2-3 notes a day, but his quizzes and tests come straight from his notes. If you miss any notes during the class period if you email him he will send them to you. Tests are just the quizzes rewritten. Love this class !

My absolute favorite professor yet! taken him twice now and plan to take him again! He is so knowledgeable about history and makes you feel excited about it. Loved every class because it is so interesting! You take notes every class and if you just read over your notes, you will do well on the quizzes. The tests are just the quizzes! Take him!

Mr. Ryder is a good professor. He understands that most people are just taking history to fill a requirement so he doesn't make a large class load. It is mostly note taking in class with quizzes and tests and two essays throughout the semester. Easy to get an A as long as you get the notes. I would definitely recommend him.

Professor Ryder is one of the best professors that I have ever had while attending RU. He is engaging and keeps the material interesting. The class isn't hard if you listen and take good notes in class. He cares about his students and helps in anyway that he can.

Great professor for people taking the class as a requirement- not a terrible work load. Must be in class for powerpoint notes, but they are straight forward and all relevant, and he makes class interesting. Quizzes are more difficult than tests but are manageable. Overall, I would highly recommend this class with this professor.

Ryder was a great professor, I am taking him again for hist 111. His lectures are boring and everything is on a slide and goes through fairly quickly. However if you go to every class he will email the notes. Great class? Extra Credit! Cool guy, I recommend him. history is NOT my strong suite!!!

Great professor. A lot of notes, sometimes very hard to keep up with, but if he knows you were in class, he has no problem e-mailing them to you. Quizzes about every other two weeks, a few tests mixed in, and two (VERY EASY) essays. He is very good with office hours and answering questions, but you will need to study and put effort in.

One of the very best humanities lecturers I've had at any school. His best lectures are like engaging novels; his method of communicating the material keeps you hooked and wanting to know what happens next. At his worst, he gives you plenty of interesting information, you just need to put in some effort to pay attention. Study about an hour a week.

This was my 3rd time taking Ryder & unfortunately he doesn't teach any more classes or else I'd take again in a heart beat. Awesome lectures, they're like stories. All grades: 2 quizzes before the tests, tests are the exact ?'s from the quizzes. drops lowest quiz, two 1-2 page essay and 2 map quizzes and drops lowest (easy) No attendance, but go!

Professor Ryder is an amazing history teacher. He has a love for history and making his lectures interesting. Definitely take notes in his class because the majority of his test material comes from it, also read through the chapters and the pages he gives you in class because some of the material comes from there as well.

John Ryder was literally the best professor I have ever had here. He was so nice during office hours and during class and would help with test outlines and would do anything to make you pass his class. His lectures are so good and very interesting. He is a very sweet man and a very good teacher! I would definitely recommend him a lot!!!

I finally get it. I understand why people came here, what they did to survive, how they developed the American attitude. The Founding Fathers were not a cohesive bunch, yet they created something that has stood solid. Ryder's lectures are like short chapters in a continuous narrative. They make sense to me. The best I have had at RU.

Ryder made this class my favorite class of the semester and I plan on taking him for another class. While there is not an attendance policy, he will not send you the notes unless you attend the class, so it's kind of important. Plus, he understands that not everyone is a history major and makes sure everyone can understand what he's lecturing.

Go to class and print the notes and you will be fine.

Amazing teacher! He is so easy to understand and if you go to class, he will send all the lecture notes to you. The questions on the quiz are on the test and the essays are easy. One of my favorite classes this semester!

I've taken Ryder for 2 semesters so far and I love his classes! He's funny and makes the class interesting. As long as you go to class you should do great! If you go class, he'll email you the powerpoint slides.

Mr. Ryder is a very smart and funny teacher. His tests are very easy as long as you read the book as he pulls lots of test questions from there. Very strict on the electronic policy, if he gives you more than one warning, you lose points on the tests. I would recommend taking him if you need informative, yet easy class.

One of my favorite professors I have ever had. There for help if you need it and interesting, short lectures.

Amazing professor, one of my favorites. Will send you the PowerPoint of lectures if you attend class for that day.

I have never really liked History, but this class made my hate for it worse... He has long lectures the majority of the time, but you can email him to send them to you. You have two tests (mc/essay) plus final, two papers, two map tests, and six quizzes. Quizzes and tests contain a lot of info, making it challenging to study/take. Always at office.

No outside of class homework besides studying. As long as you study the class is an easy A.

Awesome professor! His lectures are fast and detailed but he holds your attention. He is so passionate about the material and it shows.

Ryder is a clear and concise lecturer. He makes his expectations known and if you meet them you will succeed. Basic knowledge of the notes is enough to pull a B on any quiz. And his tests come from the quiz material. Helpful, funny, and passionate about teaching. I would highly recommend him

He is very passionate about the material. Everything he lectures on prepares you thoroughly for his tests and quizzes. He does an excellent job of keeping your attention during his lectures. Funny guy, very encouraging. He has a strict electronics policy you do not want to breach. Willing to help you. Would take again in a heartbeat.

Ryder is honestly the best professor Ive ever had and I would definitely take him again. He is very straightforward with what he wants and his rules. Super easy, a couple essays, only three tests, and 7 quizzes but drops the two lowest grades.

Literally a great professor besides the comments he made towards our foreign exchange student in the class that were extremely uncalled for and rude... lectures were the entire class and tests and quizzes were straightforward. Only legitimate complaint is that he did not post grades into the online system so my final grade was a COMPLETE surprise.

He is really straight forward and lectures well, his quizzes aren't hard just study. His tests are hard if you don't study, there is an essay as well on the test. He gives you two options for essay a few days before the test and you pick the topic you know the best. I'm taking him a second time loved his US History, loving his World History class.

Majority of quizzes and tests were based on lectures and not the textbook. He doesnt count attendance, but he will only send you the notes if you were in class that day. Get ready to take a lot of notes though. As long as you take notes and study some, it is an easy A. Gives back quizzes which are almost identical to exams.

I really love this class! He teaches at a very fast pace, but is extremely willing to work with you outside of class so long as he sees that you're trying.

Professor Ryder is one of the best professors I've ever had for any class. The quizzes he gives you will be the exact same answers on the exams. Don't worry if you do bad on a couple of quizzes he will drop your 3 lowest grades except exams. Just prepare to take a lot of notes. Overall Ryder is hilarious, respectful and amazing person in general.

Mr Ryder is amazing. He gives great lectures, he tells you almost what is on the quizzes, and he cares about you. He is one of the few professors who trys to learn everyone's names, and I highly recommend talking with him outside of class time or even asking questions. He is nothing but good things. Highly recommended.

Ryder is a great professor. Even if you don't like history or aren't good at it you'll still get at least a B. He has 6 quizzes, 2 map quizzes, and 1 essay, and out of those grades, he drops 3 of them. Take good notes because he is lecture heavy. Quizzes and tests are based on the notes. He's a funny guy but sometimes moves too fast.

History is one of my worst subjects, but he really helped me pull through! He is honestly my favorite professor so far. I LOVED his class so much! I had him at 8am, which sucked, but it wasn't terrible because he made it enjoyable!

Prof. Ryder is great! His lectures are interesting and he displays the notes while he speaks. You can ask for them after class, too! He drops the 3 lowest grades out of 6 quizzes, 2 tests, and 2 map quizzes. He does NOT use D2L, so if you skip class you will NOT pass! He often lets TR classes out early, but he does take attendance. I recommend!

Ryder was a great teacher. Made me want to come to class and learn.

His lectures are boring but not terrible! Attendance is mandatory but half the time class doesnt go to full time. If you do go to class, email him after and ask for the notes! He sends you his exact copy. For the tests, take the writing portion to him, let him read it and correct it! Grades are only quizzes and tests. Gives extra credit paper

Hes so nice. And hes helpful

8 quizzes but the two lowest are dropped. If you email him after class he will give you the notes and they are helpful for the quizzes. 3 tests and the final is the 3rd test so its not cumulative. Every test has an essay but he gives you the prompts a week before and he will read over it for you and tell you what u need to add. Easy A class

All you do is listen to a lecture as he clicks through a powerpoint, and the stuff that is on the powerpoint is directly on the tests/quizzes. I promise this class is easy.

This class is super fun, and he makes the lectures very interesting. The quizzes and tests are not hard at all as long as you email him for the lecture notes and study those before hand.

Ryder is THE best teacher I have had not just at Radford, but maybe ever. Just listen to what he says, write what's important, and you'll do fine. Really funny and keeps lectures interesting because he tells them as a story versus just reading boring facts. Took him twice because the class was that great! 10/10 professor!

Prof. Ryder is amazing!! I highly recommend him to anyone! However, he doesn't use D2L. He does about 3 text assignments (which are easy just time-consuming). He had 3 map quizzes scheduled into the syllabus but canceled all of them because of COVID. He'll tell you what's on the exams/quizzes and will even give you the lecture notes if you ask.

Professor Ryder is the best professor I have ever had! Im taking him again next semester! He is really good at explaining things and very fair! If he sees you are working hard, he will give you the benefit of the doubt. He makes a conscious effort for each of his students and even gives you an extra point in the grade book if you dont miss class

Honestly my favorite professor at Radford. I wish I could have him for future history courses because his teaching style is very easy to follow. Structures his lectures like a story so that it's more fluid and doesn't feel boring - makes it easy to pay attention and retain information for tests, etc. Really good guy, highly recommend.

Mr. Ryder showed us cool movie clips in class as they were relevant to the topic at hand. He didn't promote any one political view, but presented the pros and cons of both sides in many controversial topics important to American history. He offered extra credit and gave those who showed up a few days' notice of the essay topic to prepare for tests.

Really good professor! He makes his lecture like him telling a story. The quiz is open notes. The test does have an essay on them but if you feel like your grade was unfair, he is willing to look back over it. He is a very understanding teacher and I will 100% take his class again.

John Ryder is incredible. His lectures are every class and it sounds like he is telling a story about his life but in reality he's just making the information more accessible to you. He is always able to give extra credit wherever you deserve it. the tests are open note and the quizzes are very easy.

3 tests. 6 quizzes & 3 txtbk assignments w/three dropped. Seems intimidating at first but I LOVED him, and I'm not a history kid. Attendance is key, show up, take notes, and email him to get you the notes he shows in class, go to office hrs for tests, and do the work. You will get the grade you want/deserve. Don't try to BS him. Highly suggest! :)

Prof Ryder does a ton of lectures and you have to be in class to get all the notes to help you on the test & exam. 3 tests throughout year all graded for 25% of final and last 25% is quizzes (8 quizzes drops two lowest). No outside of class work.

Ryder is a great professor if you get to know his style of teaching and lectures. Sure, his classes can be at a fast pace and lecture heavy, but if you take the time to meet with him during office hours or just stay on top of things, he's always willing to help you.

He is very clear, the 3 tests make up 25% of the grade each for 75% of your total grade, then the average of 6 quiz grades makes up the last 25%. If you test well, this is the class for you; no textbook is required, and there is no homework. loved the class and would take again

Ryder is one of my favorite professors I've had this semester. The tests are really hard because there's an essay at the end of them, but Ryder is a nice guy and he's hilarious. He tells stories about history to make everything more interesting. He also drops our 4 lowest quizzes/map tests/text assignments at the end of the semester which is nice.

Ryder is a good teacher, but he is pretty lecture heavy. I probably take 2-3 full notebook pages of notes every class (50 mins). He's a funny guy, but he doesn't tolerate any BS. Just don't use your phone in class and be respectful, you'll be fine. He also requires a short essay at the end of every test, so just beware of that. Good luck!

Ryder is great. This is the second class I have taken with him. For someone who isn't very History savvy, he makes history easy! He is very lecture forward, but take your notes and study your quizzes and you can easily pass his test. He is very funny but doesn't put up with BS or phones. very lenient attendance policy, but show up to pass

Amazing professor, I have taken 3 classes with him and I plan to take more in the future. The best advice I can give is to show up and pay attention, do your best with taking notes, and if you feel unsatisfied with your notes, email him after class and he will give you the notes. He is also good at honoring CAS accommodations if you have them.

Mr. Ryder is an excellent professor. I cannot recommended him enough! He is extremely organized and helpful; all expectations are clearly stated from the beginning of the course. Ryder's lectures are engaging, relevant, and told in a story fashion. Please come to class! Quizzes and tests are quite reasonable to study for and have relevant topics.

Mr. Ryder was an excellent professor. I'm so sad that he's retiring this year. He gives incredibly funny and entertaining lectures, and makes history enthralling. You get graded on a combined quiz grade with three tests, and the final is non-cumulative. This class and this professor are light-work as long as you GO TO CLASS.

Professor Ryder is engaging, but his class requires diligence. Attend lectures, take thorough notes, and utilize resources like the textbook and Unstuck AI for study prep. The workload is manageable if you stay on top of it. A great choice for history-lovers.