2.6
Quality3.8
Difficulty31%
Would Retake99
Reviews31%
Would Retake
99
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
11
4
22
3
18
2
26
1
22
What Students Say
“Very informational and knowledgeable, just not great at getting his point across”
ANT100 - 1.0 rating“He is very caring about what he teaches and is always willing to help students outside of class”
ANT100 - 4.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
93%
Textbook Required
0%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.75 avg changeRatings by Course
ANTHRO100
5.0
(1)ANT400
5.0
(1)EQAFRICNCLTRS
4.0
(1)INT2CULTANTH
4.0
(1)ANTHR100
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
ANT
5.0
SOAFRCUL
5.0
INT2CULTANTH
5.0
ANTH232
5.0
NWC113
4.6
Reviews (99)
He is an easy teacher if you do the work..but he talks very proper english and it is hard to follow him sometimes.. I personally did not like the class, but some people did..
His class is very easy. The books are semi interesting and the Journals are a pain to do but not difficult. He likes group discussions so u better like to talk or otherwise the class will sit their silently. It is kind of boring but not horribe :^/
he is ok...i mean the journal writings and many pages to read are just too much, but apart from that...he is ok...he is extremely helpful....and of you don't know your english and grammar, start on it before you take his class...
best professor i've ever had
This man is all over the place. I don't think he even knows what he's saying half the time. He treats his students like children and makes them grade each others papers. He goes off on long tangents and never gets through all the material in each class. Don't bother...
He's a great teacher, trust me you will learn a lot after you finish his class. The workload is heavy and the journal entries are tedious but their not hard. He speaks very proper english and his homework assignments are also done in proper english. pretty easy class if you do the work, Easy A
This man is by far the most pompous jerk I've ever met. His is incapable of illustrating anything without finding something meaningless and condescending to contribute to his students. For an anthropologist you'd think he'd understand that people aren't all alike and there are differences within all
He is a really sweet and passionate guy, I will give him that. But i really think he is on another planet. Like, he beats around the bush so bad. I never knew what the hell he was talking about. i pulled off an A- but it was all BS work and I hated how he made students read each others stuff.
DONT TAKE THIS class. he is really really nice. but its just too much work. By midterm ull hv these essays..nd it was just tough for me. theres a lot of heavy reading load. u have to...have to talk and participate and sit in circle. think abt it. lol
A ton of work, but i learned a lot. If you have the time do all the reading and writing and actually care about learning, you will like it. if you're taking a ton of classes already, this class will probably be too much work for you
He is a very dedicated man, but frankly being compared to a duckling and being forced to 'volunteer'is just nonsensical. There is a heavy reading and writing load. He also tends to go off on tangents. if you are always on top of your work and you love learning go for it. but if you are lazy don't.
This Man SUX!! He's the most **** man I've ever met. He is also extremely cocky and doesn't know what he's talkin about!! He likes to be the only one in the room who's right. A S***load of reading and writing! I swear he thinks he's an english teacher!
This guy is a complete jerk! I can not beleive the university still allows him to teach.He gives tons of work and looses his cool in class,also, you can never speak to him because he is always running somewhere. Do yourself a favor and don't take any classes with this guy.
this class was reallly interesting and you will come out learning a lot from it-he is really nice and wants to get everyone involved-its a lot of discussion on the readings-and there are quite a bit-but it will be worth it if you take him, all the readings you will want to read bc they are interestn
ALOT LOT of reading and writing. TOO much reading. its interesting at first..then like unbearable. this was the class i stressed most about in the first semester. he is very unclear and doesnt answer your questions in human understanding. He really is on another planet. i dunno i prob wouldnt do it again too much stress he expects WAY to much.
I think that this man thinks he is superior to everyone.He thinks that he is the only person in the world who has an education,and has ever opened a book.I counldn't stand him he is obviously a person who comes from a lot of money,and it shows because he talks down to you.I just wished he would have shut up and gotten on with the lesson.
hmm, what is there to say about Whittemore...?The guy thinks this cultural anthropology class is an english class. he reads for grammartical errors more than anything. please please, if you haven't taken the intermediate english classes, don't take whittemore, or you will fail, i repeat YOU WILL FAIL. either than that, know how to talk in class.
Horrible class and teacher. He thinks he is the only educated person at wcsu. If you don't have the same opinion as him he will down grade you. Thinks he is teaching an english class and gives you below a C if you have gram. mistakes. He completely told me my opinion was wrong,how is that poss.? LOTS of reading and stupid assignments. Save yourself
Dr. Whittemore is a smart guy & extremely involved in his work, but he expects people 2 work as hard as he does in an intro class. I managed an A- in his class but it was harder than Organic Chem & Physics put together! It isn't true that he doesn't respect other's opinions though. I talked him out of one once. Graded a lot on grammar. CB
he makes you write about a page double spaced a class, but you can just write anything you want about the topic and he'll pass you. it was a great and interesting class!
way too much work. he expects a lot.
Great person ,Great Professor,brilliant human being!
I love whittemore. he does require alot of reading and preparation for class, but nothing any other professor would, just being prepared and knowing your material. hes very helpful, and is always open to listen to your ideas. he has also lived quite a fascinating life.
Has to be the worst at WCSU, very unclear and will not meet in office hours at anytime, is also very condescending to anybody who he considers to be not as smart as him. Also, he will take points off for grammatical and/or puncuation errors even if he makes the same mistakes. Finally, he expects things from you but does not do them himself.
AWFUL. So hard, I never understood anything. Tests are impossible and so is the final essay. Hated it.
Unlike many courses at this pathetic excuse for a university, you actually have to particiapte and work hard to do well in his class.
Dr. Whittemore is one of the nicest and most helpful profs. on campus. He requires a lot of work but if you keep up it isn't took bad. Slackers beware.
This class isnt a typical WSCU class, in that it requires you to think. I got an A in this class, and learned a lot. Rob also gave me awesome advice about how to transfer the hell out of westconn. He is a sensitive man, and cares about his students. if you are a slacker, dont take the class. you will fail.
Class is A LOT of work. If you miss a lot of classes he will fail you, just for not being there.
worst professor/teacher in my entire school career. dropped his class after midterm. completely discouraging and wrote comments on assignments that really made me feel like i sucked at writing. avoid.
Everyone who complains that he gives too much work should drop out of college. I found the required reading very interesting, and class discussions the best i have ever had at wcsu. i will agree however that his grading is a little wack. if dont have the same opinion as him, he will give you a lower grade. maybe his classes are best as audits.
Excellent professor, but he is a very pretentious and obnoxious person.
let me keep it simple...he is verrrrrryyyyyyyy challenging when it comes to discussions...overall he is an excellent teacher...perfect vocabulary...buut alloooottt offff workkk sooo DO NOT slack! DO HIS ASSIGNMENTS OR U WILL FAIL! p.s- class can be quite interesting sometimes...he really looks deep into the text.
A very dedicated man, which in turn expects you to be just as interested. Hard if you don't like the subjects, and don't want to go into indepth talks about it. Though overall a NICE guy who will help you when needed.
south african cultures: Whittemore is wayyyy too smart to be teaching here. hed probably fit in better as a rocket scientist. expects wayy too much out of u and expects u to be as smart as him which is probably literally impossible. i once asked him a simple question abotu a paper and the guy goes off on a 30 min tangent about politics. beware
I've taken four of of Dr. Whittemore's classes and he is incredible. He gets you so excited for the class, and while he is difficult, he is just so amazingly incredible that the extra effort is worth it. He loves to learn and wants his students to love it as well. Unlike many prof's he encourages you to really think, not just regurgitate info.
Attendance is mandatory, more than 3 classes missed and you lose the 20% of your grade dedicated to participation. He loves writing, and especially process writing, a few essays per semester with one big one. Books NECESSARY to pass, but can be BSed if you're good. Midterms are easy to prepare for. Don't take his class if REALLY nice guy.
Attendance is mandatory, > 3 classes missed&you lose 20% of your grade dedicated to participation. Lots of writing, especially process writing, a few essays per semester w/ one formal. Books NECESSARY to pass, but can be BSed if you're good. Midterms are easy to prepare for. Don't take his class if you aren't a real student. NICE GUY
good guy but his classes are hard as hell....makes you read a lot of books that are not related but tries to make them relate.
Dr. Whittemore is an extremely intelligent but incredibly condescending person. I am a 3.5 student yet graded no higher than a C on all of his papers. This is a philosophy class with too much reading, too much speculation and no matter your thoughts - you are always wrong. Respect the man, but hate the class with a fiery passion.
Intelligent man but I was extremely excited to take this course and was completely disappointed with it. Africa..so much could have been learned and yet it was nothing but class after class of random tangents. I was also in a writing intensive class this semester and received an A on all of my papers. I received a C and B on his!
Painful. Do NOT take this class just to fill your nwc elective. I am a 3.8 senior and have never stressed so much about a class. He is brilliant and I was initially very excited to have such a passionate prof.. didn't last long. If you are studying full-time or work, do not take this class. It consumes your whole life. Always lets us out late too!
You have to read five books that are at least 300 pgs long. He thinks that he is the only one that can be right. If he dosn't agree with your opinion then he will give you a bad grade. The work load is VERY heavy so you must read all the books in order to do well on the papers. Hes a very nice guy but very hard grader.
I was pulling my hair out by the end of the semester. It's not that the course load is difficult. He's just very difficult to understand sometimes. I don't think he leads discussions very well. I was confused by the end of almost every class.
I was very excited to take this class but was in for a rude awakening. He keeps class late and doesn't return papers in a timely fashion. His grading is subjective and the course load for a 10 level course is crazy. it felt more like a 300 level course. This class is a gpa killer.
He is very energetic and he actually spent time in the area he is teaching about so he really knows his stuff. The class requires a lot of reading and two major papers that can be resubmitted as many times as necessary to get a good grade. There is also a lot of formal writing about the text but the class is really interesting.
Whittemore is an excellent teacher. Yes, hard to understand sometimes and the workload is alot(by WestConns standards)but he gets you to think in a way other teachers dont. He engages us so that we really think and wants you to participate. He isnt a gpa killer or a bad teacher, he does exactly what hes supposed to. Teach. Teaches some cool stuff t
Professor Whittemore is a very intelligent man and knows exactly what he's talking about. However, ask a question, and he gives you wishy-washy answers and also gives wishy-washy essay questions but with a little thought put into it, not difficult. If you're a good writer with good comprehensive skills, you will get an A
I used to think he was that bad...he definitely is not that bad, he is great as long as you go to class, participate, and work hard. Dr. Whittemore wants to see you have learned something and he wants to see your effort. Do those two things and you're golden.
I was super excited to take his class, as I've had friends tell me I would love his enthusiasm. He is one of the most intelligent people I've ever met, and I think he liked hearing my opinions. His grading was kind of ridiculous- the more he likes you, the better your grade (so it seems). You HAVE to read a lot and ATTEND.Only take class if u care.
Great professor but gives us a workload of stuff that is expected to be completed on top of that you have other class assignments you have to worry about. If you are working full time, Do not take this course as this class might drain your GPA and will make you stressful. Beware.
I loved Professor Whittemore. He's very into what he does. Be prepared to read, this isn't a class where you don't use the book. You will need all the books for the class. Professor Whittemore also likes participation so be ready to do that. If you do the papers, participate, and do well on the portfolio and writings you will do good.
Professor Whittemore is very passionate about the subject. However, his class is not a introduction class (at least it shouldn't be). The amount of writing assigned is more than most writing classes. There are also 5 books you will need to read and his class is more the practice of anthropology than and introduction.
He really wants you to learn and think critically, which is not a bad thing, but the workload is too heavy for a level 100 class. Often you are assigned 75+ pages of reading within a two day period. Some of the readings are interesting, but unless you are interested in taking the actual class itself instead of fulfilling NWC, I don't recommend him.
This class should be a writing intensive course. So much reading and so much writing. Way too much work for a 100 level course. Nice guy. But if you aren't an anthropology major or interested in this class, don't take it.
Had him for ANT 100, it was not a 100 level course nor an introduction. We had to read 5 different books and write 3 different writing portfolios over the semester along with other side assignments. It should be considered writing intensive. He cares a lot about what he is teaching but do not take this course if youre hoping for an easy elective.
Only take this class if you really have an interest in the material. The course itself isn't difficult, just tedious. He assigns a huge amount of reading for a 100 level class and get's annoyed in class when students don't want to participate. I would recommend another course to fill your NWC
Very interesting and knowledgeable professor, who has a definite passion for cultural and anthropological studies. However, he is extremely unclear with his expectations and assignments. Prompts are worded with very confusing language and run-on sentences, and has a unrealistic expectation for the amount of reading. A bit condescending at times.
He is obviously very passionate about his class but assigns way too much work for a 100 level class. He expected us to read 5 full novels, including one over Thanksgiving Break. He also takes forever to grade work, he took a month to grade our first essay. He is extremely critical of all written work and it is impossible to get a perfect grade.
one of the hardest classes i have taken. the work is very time consuming. He very passionate in his work, very nice and interesting guy. Always willing to help if you ask. Tough grader
This professor is a know it all which can be overwhelming . I would never take his classes ever again and I would never advise someone to take this course with him . Not to mention how hard the class is he is extremely boring !
AMAZING PROFESSOR. I loved going to class. HE is helpful and WANTS to help you learn.
He is a genuine teacher, he really wants to help students succeed. However, he uses really advanced vocabulary that most college students don't understand. He expects students to read between the lines in the five ethnographies (which are so boring but mandatory). The books aren't easy to understand either. 3 portfolios with five essay's each.
Professor Whitmore is a very nice and genuine person however his classes require a minimum of five books each and the material is very difficult to read. His vocabulary is very difficult to comprehend and makes it much harder to answer questions that he gives out. very nice teacher but the material he expects you to cover is too much.
I did not like this class at all. He takes way too long to grade material. He thinks he knows everything, and when he asks a question, and you give him an answer, you're technically always wrong. you have to read like 5 textbooks, which makes no sense, and he is very unclear at times, if you need a NWC class, choose another Prof.
Not an intro course - dropped after a week. Requires long, difficult readings (150 pages due for 2nd class) w/o establishing the basics of the subject, terms to know, etc. He is clearly very knowledgeable but this can get overwhelming fast - once he went on a tangent speaking in some African language. Could be a decent class with another prof. Sad.
Extremely Liberal, know it all. Uses extremely difficult and unneccessary vocabulary which makes the class much harder than it needs to be. If you speak differently from his views he makes it seem as though you are a complete idiot. Not flexible for any time changes despite the fact he left the country for a week of class, but thats only ok for him
At first I was not fond of Dr. Whittemore... that really changed. By the end of my semester I really learned a lot from his class & my opinion changed. He really wants to help you. All you have to do is ask. He may seem a bit extreme at first, but he gets better! He also loves a challenge so don't be afraid to speak up!
This professor means well. He is very educated in the courses that he teaches which makes him an excellent resource if you have questions. His class requires a lot of work, and tons of reading. Like others says he has a huge vocabulary that makes the class even harder to understand. He often goes on rants about his fieldwork that he did in Africa.
The guy means well, yet just very expected. He expects his students to read 100+ pages within a day then come back to class and explain it. The course I took required 5 books. Midterm and Final are absolutely ridiculous. Very informational and knowledgeable, just not great at getting his point across.
Professor Whittemore is a good teacher to have in your first semester of college because it is definitely a wake up call to the work you have to put in to succeed. He is very caring about what he teaches and is always willing to help students outside of class. He will improve your writing and set you up for success for the rest of college.
Professor Whittemore means well. The course involves a lot of reading, and an average amount of writing. In regards to the writing, he allows you to edit your work and resubmit. His stories about his fieldwork are fascinating, but his vocabulary is very off putting.
Love to hear stories about his field work. I feel like the books did not really relate to the class yet were individually interesting. Just come to class with the book and be prepared to discuss the assigned readings. He assigns five or so questions for the midterm and final and you are allowed to pre write them along with open notes and book use.
Whittemore is a real gem to WCSU and it's sad to see so much negativity. The class really is not much work outside of reading the books. Do not wait until the night before to do Portfolios (3 in the semester). After the final exam he took me out of the room alone and I had one of the best conversations I've had with a Prof at WCSU. Good guy.
The class itself can be a bit all over the place in regards with the books. That being said, at the very least skim the chapters before class. He clears a LOT of stuff up in office hours, so take advantage of them. The assignments are mostly easy and he's a fair grader. Very approachable.
He literally wants you to fail. You can do all the work, show up to class, and engage in class but he won't acknowledge that you're trying. He'll ask you to stay after class and basically degrade you and say that you're nothing great. It's the toughest class you'll ever do and he is too passionate for it. You can ask a question but he won't answer
He has you write a lot and you will probably fall asleep if you don't participate. Some of the content was confusing but you learn a lot
There's lots of reading and homework in his class, which might deter some, but all the books are pretty interesting. As long as you participate and do assignments on time it's a pretty easy class. Dr. Whittemore also has some cool stories to share in class about his time in Africa which make lecture more interesting.
Very nice guy, gives very entertaining lectures. Remember to participate! He really cares about participation and if you show you are paying attention he will very much appreciate that. Homework can be confusing but can usually be cleared up with an email.
Horrible class. The books assigned are incredibly boring, he never gets to the point and there is so much work for a level 100 class. He goes on to tell a story that doesn't have anything to do with the class and then starts giving a definition to a vocab word that mid-sentence. I was never able to finish any of the books of how irrelevant they are
I think he has good intentions but it isnt portrayed well. Goes on and on off topic and talks in a way that no one in the class could understand. Midterm and final were ridiculous, have to memorize 70 terms just to recite 8 on the exam. Very reading heavy, usually a full book a week. Nice guy and wants us to succeed but would not take again.
Loved this class. Extremely passionate about teaching, the content, and fostering a creative environment. NOT easy. Very reading, writing, discussion heavy. At least skim readings for that day and try to participate, he values any opinions on the material. Portfolios were biggest part of grading- must be decent at writing. Reach out! Office hours!
Dr. Whittemore is a nice person who is obviously passionate about anthropology, but he is not the most skilled at teaching. He is disorganized with grading things; he never posted anything on blackboard. This class requires you to buy 5 books that go for $20+ each. This class is writing-heavy and definitely should not be labeled as an intro class.
Prof. Whittemore is definitely passionate about anthropology, and seems like a nice guy. However, he gives an excessive amount of work for an introductory class. Expect lots of reading, lots of writing, and expected participation. He also does not use blackboard and does not respond to emails. Workload is comparable to upper level classes.
Dr. Whittemore is an academic's academic, and expects a great deal from his students. This is a double edged sword. On the one hand, he will absolutely support you for making projects your own. On the other hand, the bar for reading, writing, originality, and timeline can occasionally border onto unrealistic.
Not a bad professor, he clearly cares about his students and is genuinely interesting sometimes. He is accommodating if you ask and a nice guy to talk to. However, he is unrealistic in the way that he expects you to learn. The tests are VERY heavy and you are expected to remember at least 60+ vocab terms. Does not explain stuff well sometimes.
Dr. Whittemore is incredibly insightful but his teaching methods are not for all. There is a heavy reading load and the class consist of only open conversation (no real structure). You need to be engaged in order to fully digest the material. I enjoyed hearing his stories as well as the variety of the books we read. Quizzes often!
First class to make me fall asleep since middle school. He outright refuses to use blackboard and most his lectures are hour long rambles that barely relate to the ridiculous amount of reading from the expensive books he assigns. He's "nice" but this class WILL frustrate and bore you. Not sure what I'm even supposed to have learned at the end.
Africa, africa, africa. Blah, blah, blah. He will drone on about topics in the most technical terms possible and never stop to explain them, review, or make clear what you're supposed to take notes on. He WILL however go on and on about his field work 50 YEARS AGO. If you care about your sanity or GPA, don't even bother.
Extremely unclear what is important for notes. Will lecture the whole class but not give much substance. Read a lot of books which are hard to find or expensive. Talks a lot about his personal work which has little to no use in the class. He is a nice person, but expect a difficult class with unrealistic expectations. Closer to a 300 level class.
Horrible. no clear syllabus of assignments, made things up on a whim.Graded nothing, showed no reasoning for his grading, just slaps a grade and that's that. Tries to act as an intellectual, having lived amongst mandinkas of Africa(i doubt they enjoyed his presence).Submitted a paper two weeks early for feedback he promised yet gave nothing.Useless
Very very poor professor. Has no care for personal situations or other things going on in students' lives. Does not follow a syllabus, does not use Blackboard. By far the worst professor I've had at WestConn and one of them was fired in their first year. Don't understand why he thinks we care about his anthropological experience from a century ago.
Professor Whittemore is an outdated professor who doesn't use blackboard or respond to emails. He is unclear with instructions and often assigns work without grading or reviewing it. Furthermore, this prerequisite is more like a level 300 class when it comes to comprehending the material. I would strongly advise against enrolling in his course.
He's a nice guy, but his teaching style is super unorganized and antiquated. Doesn't use Blackboard and will probably not respond to emails. Our class (SOC 330) is discussion-based so participation is HEAVILY required. No tests/quizzes but lots of reading and writing. If you can stay on top of the work and bear his teaching style, he's not bad.
Tries to be intimidating but is just weird. Has no idea how to use technology so don't expect grades, due dates, or assignments on black board. Gives the most confusing work with little to know instruction. Doesn't stop talking about living in a tribe in Africa. I don't think a single person has taken this class willingly. Horrible experience
Professor Whittemore is very passionate about the subject, but his teaching style can be challenging. Expect a heavy workload, including lots of reading, writing, and participation. However, if you engage with the material, you can learn a lot. unstuck study was a helpful study tool alongside the textbook.
Grades VERY FEW things and provides little to no grading criteria (besides cryptic suggestions on what you should and should not do). His expectations are confusing and his lectures go everywhere. The choices of mandatory texts are slightly uncomfortable. Nice person overall, but his class was way more than Gen-Ed,100-level difficulty.
Professor Whittemore class is very hard, he give out a lot of homework and his lecture does not make sense sometime. He does not block anything on blackboard, even our grade. Most of the time his lesson is very hard to understand. I would never take this class again
Doesn't use Blackboard/the internet. Grades 5 things all semester. Grades harshly with unclear explanations. Explains the criteria only after failing you on the assignment. Speaks and writes only in pretentious, over-complicated nonsense. Tries to act powerful and inspirational. Calls lectures "discussions" but it's just him bragging about his life
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
93%
Textbook Required
0%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.75 avg changeRatings by Course
ANTHRO100
5.0
(1)ANT400
5.0
(1)EQAFRICNCLTRS
4.0
(1)INT2CULTANTH
4.0
(1)ANTHR100
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
ANT
5.0
SOAFRCUL
5.0
INT2CULTANTH
5.0
ANTH232
5.0
NWC113
4.6