3.7
Quality2.7
Difficulty74%
Would Retake183
Reviews74%
Would Retake
183
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
61
4
58
3
34
2
22
1
8
What Students Say
“its a shame that he's married is all that i have to say”
PHIL101 - 5.0 rating“Trocchia is an amazing professor”
GPHIL101 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
44%
Textbook Required
29%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
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+0.40 avg changeRatings by Course
PHIL285
4.5
(8)PHIL101
3.9
(126)GPHIL120
3.8
(9)GPHIL101
3.3
(33)101
2.3
(7)Difficulty by Course
101
3.6
PHIL285
2.9
GPHIL101
2.7
PHIL101
2.7
GPHIL120
2.2
Reviews (183)
This prof. is one cool cat. He is a very interesting teacher who doesn't make anything to difficult. I have had his class now for a couple weeks and the tests he gives are multiple choice/true or false. He gives papers but they contain lots of information to write about. Listen in class and take notes and you will do well.
This class is very interesting, and it isn't difficult if you pay attention. The quizzes and papers aren't difficult.
He is a beast. You know what to study before quizes cause he puts the notes up online. If you do the minimal work, youll get a good grade. The essays are decent, but he grades leniently. If a spot is open and you dont take it, your an idot.
love this guy. he knows what he's talking about and has a dry sense of humor. class is very interesting. there are 7 quizzes or so but are extremely simple if you just listen in class. reading is not really mandatory unless it's the first reading about Socrates. 3 papers. not too harsh of a grader. very easy B.
By far the most boring man i have ever encountered at madison.
Meh. This guy looks like adam brody's little brother. Also, if you close your eyes while he's talking, he kinda sounds like adam sandler. His mother should have named him adam.
easy b, but takes some work to get an a. i didn't learn anything in this class. sitting through over an hour of it was nearly torture. pick a different teacher.
Trocchia is a pretty good professor. Class is boring, he never lets you out early and assigns a lot of readings, but the tests are extremely simple and although he's kind of dry he seems like a genuinely nice and knowledgeable guy. Easy A if you put in minimal effort. Attendance policy is harsh but the ease of the tests makes up for the negatives.
SUCH A BORING CLASS! and attendance is mandatory so basically dont choose him. Other than that pretty easy. I swear he's smoking reefer out back before class though because he just trails off in his own little world which makes him very difficult to follow...
Professor Trocchia is a really nice guy; his 4 tests throughout the semester are really simple, they consist of 20 MCQ's. As long as you take notes you'll do well. His lecture style will not be everyone's favorite and his attendance policy is terrible, but if you do what he tells you to, you can get an A.
Very nice guy, however, if this is offered at 8 AM is very difficult to stay awake. He is not easy to keep engaged with and can be a little dry at times. Tests are pretty easy if you study and pay attention. Pop quizzes on readings, but they aren't worth a whole lot overall. No textbook required and attendance is not taken.
Attendance not taken but test questions come directly from notes. All this class consists of is readings on BB which are usually about 5 pages long, showing up to class, and listening to him talk and taking down the notes he writes on the board. Laptops are allowed and as long as you take notes and study before each test you should be fine(4 tests)
This guy really means well. He seems nice, but doesn't come off as super approachable. He is sometimes unclear abowut what he wants, but the tests come directly from the notes. This is a hard class to take as an 8am so try to avoid that.
Great Prof, but his lecture are the most boring lecture I've ever attend, but you have to go to get the materials on the the Exam since it comes right out of the powerpoint or his talk. 5 Pop quiz for the readings everyday. Very boring class, at least He's HOT so be prepare to get distracted by that!
If you do the readings and pay attention in class that's all you have to do. 3 pop quizzes, 2 paper, a midterm and final. But plenty of opportunities for extra credit! And if you just ask him for clarity on some stuff he'll definitely do the best he can to make sure you understand everything. Tests are a tad difficult so study for those!
I love him, he's why I changed my major, he's interesting, requires no textbook and he's funny. Just enjoy yourself in there and the A is easy
He seems like a nice guy but I have a hard time focusing big time! he speaks in a monotone that makes lectures feel like they take forever! Very much unclear about things at times and handwriting is terrible on the board which makes note taking difficult... not my favorite
The class itself is pretty easy. If you read the readings (yeah no textbook!) and listen in class, you will pass. Tests are not difficult at all. Skipping class is not recommended. He is a really good guy and is willing to help when asked!
nice guy. lectures are really monotone and kind of boring. He talks really softly so if you sit in the back, you won't hear him well. Pop quizzes happen, but skipping class isn't a big deal.
He gives two papers, three exams, and three pop quizzes. No textbook, but you need to read all of the assigned readings if you want to pass. Tests are easy if you study hard, and each test is cumulative. Make sure you sit in the front because he does not speak loudly. I personally enjoy the class but many people don't because of the subject matter
This class is not hard, but it is so boring that you will have trouble paying attention. All of lectures are discussion based; no PowerPoints at all. For me, the point of his lectures were never clear. He is incredibly unorganized as well. There is a ton of reading required for this class, but no textbook, so you have to print everything.
Do not take this professor. Lectures are extremely long and boring, his voice in monotoned and he does not use power points or anything he just reads aloud. Tests aren't too bad if you stay on top of the reading, a lot of questions repeat on the next tests. 2 papers which are graded pretty easily. 3 pop quizzes.
SO boring and dry and he literally whispers, but actually insanely nice and if you go to office hours once he loves you. I got an A by doing nothing- he curves the final allowing me to get a 97 on it by barely studying. He's cool and I like feel bad for him because he just can't teach a lecture
Couldnt ever hear him, he's quiet and has no expressionemotion. He's hot but seems arrogant and rude, isn't passionate and not at all approachable. Doesnt take attendance, I skipped a lot and still did okay. 4 multi choice exams, easy if you study. Read and take notes to do well. I wouldn't take him again. Material is boring and irrelevant.
He is a really nice and funny guy, I really liked him. There are two easy papers and a couple tests but they aren't that hard if you study your notes. But his lectures are confusing so you have to pay attention and take good notes. He is passionate about philosophy and I definitely recommend him. You have to go to class to get the notes though.
Class was kindaa boring, but if you attend class and take notes you'll get a B or B+ with almost no effort. No textbook but a lot of printed readings. He loves philosophy, extremely easy text questions, an easy grader. There are 3 pop quizzes &he grades participation, but you can get away with skipping sometimes. Overall I would take it again
Philosophy has never been my strong suit, but I thoroughly enjoyed this class. Make sure you sit near the front (he speaks softly) and do the readings so the lectures make sense. He posts all the readings online. If you continuously participate he remembers your name and really cares about your success. You get out what you put in. Loved him.
Good to look at, monotone talker.
Nice guy, but voice is super boring, which makes it hard to pay attention. 5 announced quizzes and 3 cumulative exams. Have to read and take notes to pass the quizzes, but all text is online (no textbook). Also have to go to a Philosophy-related event and write on it and write one paper. Not the easiest class but not the hardest.
Professor Trocchia is a good professor, but the field of philosophy bores most students to tears. He did his best to make a dry subject interesting, though. The class consists of three cumulative tests, four announced quizzes and a paper. He's a wonderfully nice guy, but don't expect philosophical fireworks. Fairly easy B (or A) if you stay awake.
I grew to love this class! He's soft spoken, so sit at the front. There is a lot of reading so make sure to keep up with it. Participation is really important to him, and it helps with understanding the material. Go to office hours, he lets you review old test. Test questions r easy if u went to lecture, I would take this class again! Loved him
He just about has the driest sense of humor and you take notes on a stupid power point the entire class. His jokes make everyone uncomfortable and people hardly ever go to class because they can't stand these lectures.
The coolest thing about this class for me was that there wasn't a textbook (all the readings are online). He's also really nice to look at. But, the lectures were pretty boring and most of the concepts were difficult to grasp unless you're a philosophically thinking person. There's 3 tests, 4 quizzes, and 2 papers.
Prof. Trocchia is a cool guy, and he loves philosophy, but sometimes his explanations come across as unclear. Tests and quizzes are way too hard for a 101 class. Reading is essential to passing them and a lot of the material is dry. Listening to him lecture can get boring.
I really liked Professor Trocchia. I'm not very interested in the subject and the lectures could be long at times, but I never read and only take notes from the powerpoint and still got a B. Minimal effort for a decent grade. 4 quizzes and 3 exams plus the final. Keep the quizzes and remember the answers because the tests are cumulative.
Mr. Trocchia is an amazing professor. To any of the people here complaining about him, it's because you didn't open your small minds enough to get something out of his class that could teach you a thing or two about how to live life to its fullest. Exams and quizzes are all multiple choice, you can't get any easier than that. Take him he's great.
His lectures can be long and boring, but he shows a genuine interest in the subject. He's a very nice guy if you participate in class discussion or talk to him before or after class. 3 tests, all very easy. He doesn't post his power points online so you'll be lost if you skip class.
The class tends to feel really long, but I thought it was really beneficial to go to class because he clearly explains the homework readings. The tests and quizzes were really easy if you go to class/study a little beforehand. Also there's no textbook, so that's nice.
I'm taking this class to fulfill my B.A. requirement. This class is hard. There are three tests that are worth 65% of the final grade. So if you fail one test you essentially fail the class.
For one, Trocchia is good looking. That was my motivating factor to go to class. I honestly skipped more than I went, and never did the readings - still ended up with an A-. If you study for the tests using your lecture notes and go over the readings, you're guaranteed an A. Quizzes are also simple if you study, and he gives extra credit questions.
Professor Trocchia is very passionate about philosophy and is able to make a dense subject more understandable. If philosophy isn't your thing, it can be hard to focus on. I had this as an evening class and it was sometimes tough to sit through, but he does make his lectures engaging and intriguing. Tests/quizzes are based on his powerpoints.
Trocchia is a great professor, he really is passionate about Philosophy and does a great job at explaining it. If you aren't interested in philosophy, don't take it, because it will only put you to sleep. Also, stay focused in class, it is easy to get lost. Study for the quizzes and tests and you'll do fine!
This is everything a gen ed should be. He tells you enough to keep it interesting and gives easy exams. He loves philosophy and wants you to enjoy it too. Any negative review is probably from someone who hasn't realized yet that you actually need to show up to class to do well. Can't recommend him enough.
He loves to know what his students are thinking, and gives a lot of extra credit/curves his tests (I've gotten A's on all of them so far). He tells you everything he wants you to know about the readings in class, so I found it helpful to just skim over the readings before and then use HIS notes to study. Best phil professor by far! TAKE TROCCHIA
He obviously loves philosophy and keeps his lectures interesting. He is clear about all assignments and is a fair grader. Definitely take him.
Such a beautiful individual. The class is easy to get an A in if you take notes in class & understand the readings (i barely read them but we talked about them in class so i understood them).
Trocchia was an ok lecturer but I had him at 330 in memorial, so I never went. You don't have a textbook and the tests are easy if you go to class. Tests are just recognizing what he says in class. There are 4 quizzes, 3 tests and 2 papers. I still got A's on both the creative project and event reflection so you can pass even if you know nothing.
Trocchia is a fantastic professor, and the best choice for Philosophy. He doesn't take attendance, but if you plan on passing you should come to class. Tests and quizzes are all on material covered in lectures, and if you pay attention you'll do fine. He is passionate about philosophy, engaging, chill, funny, and attractive too. Trocchia Forever.
Great professor, great GEN-ED, and great guy. Assigns readings every class, but you can get by on skimming them and going to lectures (those are normally what's on the test). Pay attention, study for the tests, you'll be fine.
He's a very nice guy, loves what he teaches. I personally didn't enjoy philosophy whatsoever but the class was bearable. His lectures were really dense and included a lot of information, and the tests were pretty much lecture based. Creative project and event reflection were a breeze. Overall a good guy, just not my tatse.
BEST professor you can possibly take for phil101, he tells you absolutely everything you need to know in class. You have readings, but I learned after the first test that you really only need to take notes on the things he actually says about them, so just take notes and you'll be fine. The easiest, most enjoyable phil class you'll ever take here(:
Honestly overall a great dude. Philosophy is not a fun topic (for most people) but he tries to make it enjoyable. The class is boring but if you show up and take notes you will get a good grade. The 2 "papers" are very short and are super easy. Tests are straight from the lecture slides. Only negative I have is he is a slow grader (for the papers)
Very nice guy who cares about all of his students, he tries to get to know everyone's name by the end of the semester even though the class size is pretty decent. Tests are easy as long as you go to class and take notes.
Trocchia is the man. All assignment grades are fair and the quizzes are easy if you go to class every day. Attendance is not mandatory, but you should go if you want a good grade-- he does not put up powerpoint slides on canvas and the exam questions are straight off of them.
Michael was a great option for philosophy 101. He was one of the most caring professors I've had and truly was accessible, flexible, funny, and made things interesting. While lecture can sometimes be dry and tiring, he makes it interesting by the effort and passion he puts into it. Make sure to talk to him after class even if its not about phil101!
He's a really great professor. Philosophy is not the most interesting subject but he loves what he teaches and tries to make it enjoyable for everyone. If you just show up and take notes it's easy. He gives readings but I stopped reading them because he just goes over them in class. There are 4 quizzes, 3 tests, and 2 papers.
Philosophy itself isn't really my thing, but Michael Trocchia is a cool guy and pretty good professor. The class was extremely lecture-heavy, but overall wasn't too much to keep up with as long as you showed up to class. Ask questions and make sure to go to his office hours to look over your mistakes from past tests! Also, do the extra credit.
this man tries to be the next plato and he thinks hes funny when in reality is dead I have to fight to stay awake every class boooooooooo
I put off taking phil because everyone said it's so difficult but with this professor it's a breeze! If you're good at comprehending readings you don't have to go to class, and if you're not good at reading just studying the lecture you'll pass! lecture slides not online but sitting through class is really interesting. TAKE HIM you won't regret it!
Show up to class and write down everything that's in the powerpoints because that is EXACTLY what will be on exams. He assigns a lot of reading but you don't have to do them at all; I didn't read once and I got an A-. Lecture is super boring, but the class is relatively an easy A if you take good notes and study.
its a shame that he's married is all that i have to say
show up to class, do the readings, review your tests with him (he uses the same questions from previous tests) and you will be fine. boring at times but he is super passionate about it and funny during lectures. really easy for a gen ed. gives good extra credit IN CLASS ONLY and has pop quizzes so dont skip class. hes the man, enjoy
Easy class with 3 tests, 3 pop quizzes, 3 announced quizzes, and 1 paper. Quizzes are based off homework readings and tests are based off the quizzes and lectures. Attendance isn't mandatory, but you may miss the pop quizzes and he doesn't post his slides online. If you do the readings, show up to class, and review each test you'll get an A.
Class is difficult and the tests are based off previous tests and what he says in lecture. He goes fast in class so make sure your ready to write down everything. Pop quizzes and announced quizzes are based off homework readings. Basically attendance isn't mandatory but mandatory ----also everyone says he's hot but he gets boring quickly
I guess the class itself is pretty easy; show up to class, take notes, review them, and take the multiple choice exams. But he himself is just not very interesting. Weird participation policy (who grades participation in a 80+ person class?). A good choice if you just want to get through a mandatory philosophy class.
I thought I would hate taking philosophy again. He is an amazing professor, seems to really enjoy what he's teaching us. People who say he's a difficult professor need to check what they're doing. 3/4 exams and 5 quizzes (3 pop). Really simple stuff if you actually attempt to study. His lectures make sense and he seems like a genuine guy.
He seems like a nice guy, however all of his exams are cumulative and he does not post his slides online. So if you do not attend class or have a friend who doesnt attend you will not do well. Exams are easy if you pay attention, but it is very difficult to do so if you dont care about philosophy
Hard material but good professor
he's a great professor and makes it very easy to succeed, you will do well as long as you do the readings, which do not take very long. The tests and quizzes are really easy if you read at all and go to class. you can tell he's really into what he's teaching and he makes the material very interesting, I've learned a lot from his class
Tests are cumulative, so each one builds off the previous. You dont have to buy a textbook cause the only readings are online, but theyre hard to understand. Attendance isnt mandatory, but you have 3 pop quizzes and 2 announced quizzes in the semester based off of the readings. Hes passionate about phil, but if you arent... the class is so boring
He is young and hasn't gotten lectures down just yet but they are still easily able to be followed, you just have to stay awake which is easy if you're iterested in Phil. All the reading is given to you so you dont have to buy any exspensive books. he generally is fasinated with his study and it helps
You get 5 quizzes (where 3 are pop and 2 are announced), 4 exams (1 final and 3 exams), and an event reflection ( 1 page) due towards the end of the semester. His exams and quizzes arent that hard if you take good notes and pay attention. He doesnt make me want to fall asleep in class which is a plus. I recommend if you need PHIL101 for gen ed.
He's a nice guy and knows how to relate to college students. Beware the tests. Each exam, including the final, is cumulative! Also, there are lots of readings so be prepared for that.
Trocchia was a great choice for Phil 101!!!! Gave 5 quizzes, 3 tests, and a final. As long as you go to class, take good notes, and study you will do just fine! One of my favorite professors this semester.
He is literally one of the brightness professors at JMU, I really wish I would have taken his class more seriously.!!!! he is so nice and cute hahah but literally there's 4 test and some pop quizzes and quizzes but literally if u know everything from the lectures and make a quizlet you got it!
This guy is awesome. He's a cool dude to listen to and his class is so organized. I definitely had to put in a lot of work to get a good grade, but he also helps you get a good grade. He curved 2/4 of our exams a full 5%. He's the best.
Trocchia means well and he really likes the material he's teaching. I didn't have any interest at all in this class and I thought it was the worst drag ever. It feels completely pointless to go to class but you have to in order to take notes because the tests are completely from the powerpoint and he doesn't post them online.
I didn't think he ever explained things very well, he gives pop quizzes, doesn't post powerpoints online, even if he did I don't think they would help, overall was pretty boring
Class is pretty boring if you're not into philosophy. Gives a good amount of readings. Participation is a part of your grade but if you don't talk in class you can just reply to discussion prompts on Canvas instead. Attendance isn't mandatory but he doesn't post PowerPoints online. There's also a handful of pop quizzes on the readings.
Michael Trocchia is a solid choice for a PHIL 101 professor. The tests are straight from the lectures (which are NOT posted online), so you have to go to class in order to pass. The content is relatively interesting, and easy to understand. I went to every class, and studied about 1 hour for each test and got an A+, so it isn't too difficult.
Grades are 4 tests and a total of 5 quizzes (three are pop quizzes) The class is run by reading an excerpt from a book at home that is on canvas, and then he dissects it in class. Powerpoint are not online, so you have to be able to write really fast to get everything down that will be on the exam. Not my fav but nothing against him/the class
He is a good professor, if you take notes the tests are not hard. They are all cumulative but have a lot of the same questions. Quiz questions are on the exams. You can go to his office hours are look at past exams and see all the answers. Not a hard class.
Professor Trocchia is a big dork that is passionate about what he teaches and wants you to be too. For Phil-101, he didn't require a textbook and would assign readings online. He has 5 quizzes total on those readings, two announced and three pop-quizzes. His exams are based solely on his lectures, as long as you take good notes, you'll pass.
This professor is kind, energetic and passionate about what he teaches. He is available to help and while his tests are cumulative they are easy, just take good notes because questions come STRAIGHT out of the lecture. Beware of pop quizzes on the readings that he provides you. Easy class, nice guy.
AMAZING guy who is clearly passionate about his subject. Though your grade comes from four cumulative tests and a few pop quizzes, they're not hard to do well on if you read the articles carefully and pay attention in class. By the final, you've seen almost the whole test before. He's also more than willing to help during his office hours!
mike is a solid choice if you need to take phil. Maybe it was the content, but I thought the class was really boring. He does well explaining the material for the test and quizzes.
He doesn't take attendance, but he does give 5 pop quizzes during the semester. There aren't a lot of assignments, but you have to read a lot to understand what he is talking about. The pop quizzes are solely based off of the readings, so even though they are SUPER time consuming, reading is the only way you will pass, Office hours are a must.
Michael is one of the most genuine professors at JMU. He truly cares about the topic and does the most he can to make the class relatable to students through his lectures.
Really great professor and willing to help you if you're struggling with the material. The readings assigned aren't too lengthy and the tests can be hard but as long as you pay attention in class you'll do fine. Definitely one of the best professors I've had.
Mike makes the class interesting in the class discussions, and he generally explains concepts in a clear, concise, and passionate fashion. However, the out of class readings are very difficult to understand, and even though I spent a lot of time trying to understand the readings, I still found the quizzes difficult. The tests weren't bad though.
took Phil 101 with him and it was the best class I've ever taken, I recommend him to everyone. if you put in a minimal amount of effort you will do fine. I actually enjoyed listening to the lectures and doing the readings, this class really makes you think, and it changes your perspective. pretty easy A and learned a lot.
Mr. Trocchia is one of my favorite professors I've ever had. His lectures are always interesting, funny, and he usually relates philosophy to the modern world.
Mike is so cool! Lectures can be long, but pretty easy to follow. Quizzes are pulled straight from lectures and reading, and his tests reuse quiz and previous test questions. He even lets you come in during office hours to look at your old tests. There's a participation grade, so make sure you do discussion posts. Easy A if you pay attention!
He is the best professor I have had so far at JMU. His lectures are long but he is funny and easy to follow. All assignments are so easy if you just take notes and go to class, it's pretty simple. Not to mention he's also attractive (had to say it)
Trocchia a super nice guy and he's very passionate about what he's teaching which makes lectures more interesting. Definitely do the readings, but don't stress if you don't understand them easily. Pay attention and take notes for lectures and it will be much easier to comprehend the material. Tests are easy & cumulative so often use old questions
Great, understanding prof. Allows revision after each exam, GO because exam questions are recycled. Show up for lecture because helps clarify readings and he does pop quizzes. I valued him going asynchronous and adjusting the syllabus to our quarantine system.
Literally show up to lectures and write the notes off the slides. Review 45 minutes before exams and you will get an A. I found his class very interesting and he always tried to keep it interesting. Solid choice for this gen ed.
Go to class, he has pop quizzes sometimes. He gets mad if you show up late for class even if it's by 2 minutes. There are "readings" but if you just skim them you'll be fine other than that there is no real homework.
Michael is hands down the BEST professor I've had at JMU thus far. He cares deeply about his students and wants them to succeed and he is always just an email away. He tries to make his lectures fun and they are usually really discussion filled. Tests and quizzes are basically straight from lecture notes, so take notes & you'll be fine! I love him!
Mike is a great professor. He is very detailed in his lectures and is willing to help any student at any time. He engages in meaningful discussion with students and quizzes and tests are definitely fair when you attend the lectures. He is very knowledgeable and passionate about philosophy and is a great choice!
Great prof and class for a gen-ed. Weekly quizzes on the content, two 1pg. single-spaced essays, and a final. Definitely try to make friends in the class which he refers to as a "buddy system" so that they can help you (i know mine did). He shows off his cats in lectures sometimes, and a lot of people seem to really like that.
Best professor ever. Very caring and considerate. Easy & manageable gen-ed to take . Take this class!
This class is made unnecessarily hard for no reason to be a 100 level gen ed. It is ridiculous how many weird deadlines he gives and expects you to remember. I'm doing better in my major classes than this gen ed. He also mumbles and doesn't speak clearly which is annoying. If you attend on zoom, you sometimes don't hear what he is saying.
Michael Trocchia is a nice guy, that's for sure. But, to me, this class was extremely boring. We only did one group activity, and that was the most interaction we had in the class. This class was too lecture heavy, but at least the exams and quizzes were open note.
Nice guy, I'm not a Phil major so it was pretty slow.
Dr. Trocchia is an amazing professor. He cares about his students, and puts lots of effort and time into his lectures to make them interesting. His quizzes are open notes, his assignments are very manageable, and he is just a kind individual. He also hosts coffee hours at local restaurants where students can hang out and chat, super fun.
BEST professor! If you have the chance to take him, DO IT! Exams and quizzes are straight forward from the power points. He's very open to help everyone out if you're struggling!
While Professor Trocchia cares a lot about his students and the class, sometimes it seems as though even her does not know what he is teaching. Don't take this class for intellectual credit. However, it is an easy A as long as you show up and take notes.
He is an amazing professor that made me enjoy philosophy. He wants to make sure you do well in class and will answer any questions you have. His quizzes and exams were open note and straight from lectures, and did reviews for exams. There were weekly quizzes (but gave us all on one 100 since it was on a break day), three exams, and two short essays
The exams and quizzes came straight from the powerpoints and lectures and they were open note. Michael makes himself accessible during biweekly coffee hours he hosts outside of class. He is very insightful and will explain any concepts you are having difficulty with if you ask him.
Easy teacher but his pop quizzes screwed me over.
He is boring and the pop quizzes are stupid. Also posts nothing online and makes you attend one of his boring events for an essay.
Tests are straight from the lecture, online, open note. There are three pop quizzes and three planned. There is also a one page essay at the end of the semester. Overall its an easy course but it can be pretty boring and pop quizzes can definitely hurt your grade.
He was a great professor. Very passionate about what he teaches and I found the lectures interesting. He does assign readings though. You have to do them most of the time because he can give random pop quizzes on them and a lot of it is involved in the exams. If you aren't good with readings, I don't suggest taking this class. Still a good class.
Best professor at jmu. Cares about his students and offers tons of extra credit. Quizzes were sometimes hard but never weighed your grade down too much. Exams were all at home and super easy. We need more professors like Mike at jmu, Most down to earth chill guy Ive ever met. Take him at any chance you get
If you're looking for a professor to make philosophy interesting, Michael is your guy. Although you have to read for every class, he gives handouts that breaks down the content and posts slides online so you don't have to rush to take notes. He does fun projects like a staged reading and an art project. He also does review sessions for exams.
Professor Trocchia is a really great professor who clearly cares about his students and philosophy. The class isn't that hard and is mostly based around class discussions and an art project. If you show up, participate, and take notes you'll do well
I love Mike! His lectures can be a little dry and his quizzes can be tough, but he gives so much extra credit to those who go to class. Make sure you go to class to get the extra credit! I got extra credit on an exam and a quiz. This class is interesting for a gened!
By far my favorite class/professor at JMU. There is a lot of information and sometimes lengthy readings, but as long as you show up to class you'll be fine. Exams are online and there is a lot of room for extra credit.
Such a cool professor that keeps you engaged in the lecture. Lots of readings, 6 quizzes, and 3 online open-note exams. A super interesting class that I actually wanted to go to. Make sure you take notes and go to class so when exams come you have the material needed to pass.
I never went to class except for quiz days, he gave a lot of extra credit if you went to class. take him
Great professor and great class! His passion for the subject really shows in his teaching, making it an enjoyable class. The class was really interactive and an A is attainable if you show up and put in the work
all of his tests are online and you have a couple 5 question quizzes in class. If you go to class and take notes you will ace the test. Super easy
Trocchia is a good prof overall! I'm not into philosophy so I didn't enjoy the class, but he's the best option. He has good examples and stories, and is very knowledgeable about the content. The tests were hard due to the time, but were doable with really good notes. 6 quizzes, 3 exams, short essay. Easy-ish A if you show up and put in work!
Super easy class, you have like 10 quizzes on readings, but they are only 5 questions. All of the test are online and open notes. The lecture are boring, but if you show up he randomly gives credit for coming to class. So easy
I personally dislike philosophy so I did not enjoy this class, however, he is a great choice! He offers extra credit on the quizzes if you show up for all the classes, every test is open notes, and he tries to make class interesting with stories and dialogues. I will say lecture is extremely lengthy and he does not post any of the notes.
Professor Trocchia is such a great guy. Even though the class is almost always lectures, his passion for philosophy makes them even better! Random extra credit on quizzes. Great choice for a gen ed!!!
Prof Trocchia is a very caring guy. His lecture could be somewhat boring at times, but it also is philosophy. You have 6 quizzes which are 4% each of your grade. You do have 3 exams and 2 of them are cumulative but overall, just go to class and do the readings he assigns, and you will be fine.
I loved Mikes class!! His quizzes can screw over your grade if you dont know the material really well, but he gives extra credit on quizzes and tests for coming to class. He assigns a lot of reading, but if you dont read you wont get a good grade. Mike is a super nice and fun person and you can tell hes really passionate about philosophy
Prof Trocchia was awesome! He's very passionate about philosophy and interacts with the class a lot. The lecture is boring, but he gives out extra credit on the quizzes if you're in class. Tests are online, and there are 6 in-person quizzes with 5 questions each.
He makes the class easy. If you go to class and take notes, you are set. He gives extra credit on quizzes just for showing up and his tests are online and open note. He is very accommodating if you need to make up a quiz and will go the extra mile to help you out if you ask him. The material is a little tough and there is a lot of reading.
Super lax guy, not a tough grader. Classes were always more of a big conversation than a lecture. Lots of readings but they're all slight. Good to take alongside really tough classes, it's a nice break. Final paper was kind of a brick, 5 pages single-spaced, but other than that, great guy would defiantly recommend.
This class is ALL lectures. I really liked Mike, but I struggled in his class. I went to almost every class, and he gives extra credit to those who attend which SAVED my grade. There's 6 total quizzes which some were easy some were difficult and 3 exams including the final. The lectures are boring and there's no assignments.
Great professor. Lots of extra credit opportunities, especially for showing up to class. I would show up to class anyway because his lectures are great and a lot of fun to be in. This guy has a real passion for the subject and is a lot of fun to learn from. 3 Exams, 7 quizzes, and a one-page essay which is due at the end of the semester.
Michael is a great professor. 101 with him is prob the best option for the gen ed cluster. It is very lecture heavy, he does "require" readings before class to connect with the lecture that day (It's not graded). Quizzes were in person but tests were online F22. He gives extra credit every now and then for just showing up. Easy gen ed to take.
Professor Trocchia was actually a pretty solid professor. You can tell he loves teaching and makes his lectures very enjoyable. There are alot of readings and does quiz you on them (Some were easy, some were hard) but his exams weren't that hard and were open note. He also gives ALOT of extra credit opportunities.
This class was very laid back in terms of having to do any work. You could easily breeze by in this class by writing down what is on the slides and not having to read anything he posts. On top of this 5 question quizzes are announced so study and all exams are online including the FINAL. He gives extra credit and their is one, one page paper.
Trocchia is a very good lecturer and great professor overall. Lots of readings, 5 question quizzes on them and lecture, some were easy some hard, you can definitely pass without doing the readings though. Attendance not mandatory but gives lots of extra credit on all quizzes/exams if you come to class. Quizzes were in person, all exams were online.
Mike is a really great prof, he's very passionate. LOTS of readings, quite a few in class quizzes, some easy some hard, but you can get away with not reading. Online exams, lots of extra credit for attending class. One essay where you attend an event and relate it to the class, not graded super harsh. Overall loved the class, take him!
I was nervous at the beginning but turned out to be easy! do most of the readings and go to class and you'll do great. quizzes can be tricky but exams are open-note and straight from the lecture. and participate!!! (gives extra points just for going to class)
I honestly thought the topic was boring which is the main reason why I gave a weaker rating. His lectures are very boring, his slides are unorganized and hard to follow. Quizzes were tricky because there were 5 questions asked that could have been from lecture material and two or three readings. Does give lots of EC if you show up to class though.
hes hot
A lot of reading necessary for a good grade, but not to pass. Just show up to class- attendance is not mandatory but he will give extra credit opportunities a few times per semester for the people who actually show up.
Trocchia is fantastic; I've rarely had bad experiences in the Philosophy department, but he is easily one of my favorite profs I've had. PHIL 285 is such an inspiring class, and Trocchia is so inspired by the authors and artists that we read in a way that is totally infectious - you can't help but be fascinated with the material. Goat.
I loved his class! He was such an amazing professor who actually made philosophy easy and fun to learn. Even though it can be a bit reading-heavy, he goes over the material concisely and you can ask any question. He is nice and patient. I do recommend taking a morning class as some of his material can be a bit overwhelming after a full schedule.
Gives eight 5-question quizzes. Very biased toward theatre students. If he thinks you don't understand his view of philosophy then he will condescendingly speak to you since he thinks you're too dumb to realize. Most test questions don't come from the lecture but instead come from obscure parts of the readings or on things we haven't learned.
Trocchia is great. Nearly every lecture is interesting and engaging. There is a lot of supplemental reading, but he provides all of it in Canvas (and half of the time you don't need to read as long as you pay attention). Quizzes are only five questions long, but as long as you pay attention in class they are easy. Tests are open note.
He is NOT accommodating to anything, even if you have a 504 plan. The 5-question quizzes were heavily weighted + hard. He grades on participation so if you're shy he will grade you harshly. If you won't miss a single class, + go to the outside-of-class meet-ups with him, then you'll be fine. But if not you won't get above an A, unless he likes you.
Trocchia is a good professor. Lectures can be boring and note-heavy at times, but overall, he is a great guy. I enjoyed his class. There were quizzes maybe once every 2 weeks that were 5 questions and difficult. You MUST read. The tests are very difficult as well, but taken online.
Attendance might as well be mandatory because you probably won't pass if you don't get the extra credit points he gives out. Quizzes are at least 20% of your grade and most are difficult. Study. Doesn't post notes or slides on Canvas. I never read anything (he assigned a lot) but I did attend every class which helped a ton. Made me hate philosophy.
He isn't the ideal philosophy teacher. Although he means well, he does not elaborate on concepts very well and is fond of big words. Personally, I found his lectures to be quite boring and he seems to feed off of celebrity energy because girls find him attractive. The homework is about 15-30 pages long and quizzes/tests are hard. Not an easy class
he is so handsome makes the class worth it.
Lots of reading (do them for the quizzes) but he explains the material well- if you don't take good notes youre screwed because he does not post slides or allow you to take pictures. GO TO CLASS since the extra credit will be a good boost when you mess up a quiz (20% of grade) or exam. Exams are online and open note. Paper is pretty much completion
Trocchia is VERY passionate about what he teaches. His lectures do get very boring at times, but it's all just discussing the readings that were done the previous night. if you didn't understand the homework, he elaborates on it in class. Also tests/exams are pen and paper. so do the readings!!
Prof. Trocchia is very knowledgeable and passionate about the content he teaches. Although philosophy can be content heavy, he does an amazing job of delivering the material and lectures can be quite interesting. You have to put in the work, do the readings and take detailed notes during lectures. Overall a very wise and caring professor.
Ridiculously hard for a gen ed class. Quizzes have about 5 questions and make up a huge percentage of your grade. It's all tests and quizzes and showing up to class will not guarantee that you get a good grade, you actually have to do reading for this gen ed.
Professor Trocchia's class is challenging but rewarding. Quizzes and exams require solid preparation, but he makes complex topics engaging. Attending class and using resources like unstuck AI can really help. Overall, a worthwhile philosophy credit.
Lectures are boring and pretentious. Grades are determined by 4 tests, attendance, and 4 FIVE-QUESTION quizzes, which cover specific info from 30+ pages of readings. Forget one thing = 80%. This class tests your ability to memorize, not knowledge of philosophy. It is way too hard for a gen-ed - I study similarly for my more rigorous major classes.
Ridiculously hard for a gen ed. Not an understanding professor. It is graded solely by tests and quizzes. The quizzes are too short (5 questions) and the tests are too long ~70 questions.
This is definitely not an easy gen ed, but if you actually try, take good notes, go to class, and study hard for the exams then you'll be fine. The only things you're graded on are quizzes and exams which makes it hard to get a good grade, but it's doable. He does offer extra credit and he's a nice guy.
Cool guy, but if you don't read everything or take notes on every lecture you're gonna be lost. 4 quizzes, 4 exams which are weighted heavily and very specific to the readings. A lot more difficult for a 100 level pre-req. Philosophy boring in general, class makes it pretty hard to enjoy anymore. Cool guy tho.
IGNORE ALL OTHER RATINGS BEFORE 2024- he changed the class structure! There's only 8 grades in the grade book (4 quizzes, all 5 questions) and 4 exams (all MCQ). Bomb one, you're screwed. Do the readings, find a study group, and get ready to CRAM. Offers some EC opportunites- TAKE THEM. His lectures are confusing. Great guy and loves philosophy tho
Trocchia is one of the most pretentious professors I have had the misfortune to experience during my time here. This class is less of a philosophy class and more of a memory challenge. Attendance is mandatory and class is graded on 9 things, 4 quizzes, 4 tests, and attendance. Class is miserable and terribly boring. If you can, find someone else.
Michael is a good professor. He is very passionate about Philosophy, but everything was HEAVILY based on readings and in class lectures. I highly recommend to pay attention to his lectures and take notes. The exams are cumulative but luckily he allows you to review your exams and takes notes on it.
Homework is readings which he covers during the lectures. Lectures can be a bit boring, but if you take detailed notes, tests should be easier for you. Five quizzes in class, only allowed three missed classes, four exams which are all cumulative. All questions from previous units, were sleeted from previous exams, he lets you review previous exams.
too little things to be graded from just make sure to READ and MEMORIZE as much as you can. Few extra credit, TAKE ALL! you will need it.
Not a fun class. There is so much to read and memorize. Quizzes are on the readings and relatively easy, but exams are on anything and everything from the course and are all cumulative. Attendance is taken occasionally, but you have to show up to get the lectures/notes. Trocchia himself is pretty nice, but definitely a weird guy.
All exams were based on what was talked about in class, so taking notes is a must. He also really cares about participation. Honestly, I just didn't like how the course didn't feel like a philosophy course and more like an artsy course. Not too hard if you just need the phil credit tbh
Trocchia is clearly passionate about what he teaches, but he does it in such a lackluster and bland manner that I could not be payed to ever listen to him speak for over an hour. He didn't grade a single assignment before the end of the semester and never provided any guidelines for anything, so it's impossible to know what he expects. Don't do it.
You can tell he's passionate, however the class itself is confusing and hard. Our grades consisted of 4 quizzes and 4 tests, he does provide extra credit but it's off campus. His lectures are overall pretty boring, his test are cumulative too.
This class was extremely confusing for being a Gen Ed. The material felt harder than it needed to be, and the way it was explained often made things more unclear. Our entire grade was based on just 4 quizzes and 4 tests, so there wasn't much room for error. He does offer extra credit, but it's off campus, which isn't always practical.
PHIL 120: Class is 3/4 lecture, 1/4 discussion. Homework isn't required but helps for tests, which are online in class and fair if you keep up. Biggest thing: 6 random pop quizzes worth 0 if missed. Attendance matters for quizzes and sometimes bonus points.
Spare yourself and don't take him. Overcomplicates an already complex class and is the least helpful professor I've ever encountered. He talks so much without saying anything at all.
Only grades in the class are from exams and pop quizzes. Despite being called pop quizzes, he would tell us about them ahead of time. There is a reading that gives context to the lecture that is meant to be read before hand, and in the first half of the semester, these readings came with study questions. No reading was longer than 20 pages max.
Pretty straight forward class. He teaches straight from the textbook and the tests are easy if you study. Attendance is not mandatory but there are pop quizzes throughout the semester and if you miss one you get a zero and it hurts your participation grade. Overall easy class and a solid professor.
Pretty chill/kinda funny guy, it Philosophy so lectures can get boring some days but the test are based on his lectures so come to class and you will be fine. There are 5 "pop" quizzes but hints at them so much you can tell when they are coming lol. There are 4 cumulative tests that aren't super hard but he does throw some subtle stuff on them.
He is the oddest professor I've ever had. He talks so quietly and is so monotone; he seems like a nice guy but is so strange. Attendance is taken based on who is there when he gives a pop quiz. The first half of the class is fairly simple, but the ending portion makes no sense. He gave no rubric for the essay that was 35% of our grade.
Don't take this class if you're not a test taker. I found the content to be interesting, but you'll get the same content from any another philosophy professor. Your grade will be determined through multiple choice tests and pop quizzes.
Relatively easy course once you get the hang of things. There are many readings, but I got by from simply watching YouTube videos on the readings and having ChatGPT summarize. Grade was based on 4 exams, all cumulative, and 5 pop quizzes. Sounds harder than it actually is as he reuses questions and opens up prior exams for review.
Im in an entirely unrelated major and i GENUINELY enjoyed attending class. be prepared to actually show up to his lectures bc no slides are posted online but his lectures are actually interesting Pop quizzes are given but short and related to the readings and lecture. Tests arent terrible, lengthy but if you consistently go to class its an easy A.
I thought I'd be bored of this class but he makes class interesting and enjoyable. A lot of reading but it helps so much in the end. 4 exams and 5 pop quizzes. Exams were quite long and he takes questions off the last exam onto the next. Pop quizzes are 5 questions and easy. You'll have an event reflection and he gives extra credit sometimes.
Lectures are interesting if you enjoy philosophy. Attendance is not graded, but you cannot make up any pop quizzes (5) or unit exams. Easy event reflection paper is due at the end of the semester. Many questions from previous exams are recycled. Show up, pay attention, and review for exams and you will enjoy this class.
He is a nice guy, but DO NOT take this class to fulfill a gened credit. You will be graded on a total of around 10 assignments the whole year, much of which is very backloaded. It is incredibly boring unless you love philosophy. You have no access to the material outside of the class, so itd pretty difficult to know what's tested due to this. DONT
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