Solid prof. She swears occasionaly, which made me like her more. If you attend all the lectures, you will have no problem getting an A in this class.

I really enjoyed her class...no notes or anything given and she just lectures but it is really easy to follow and understand. I would def take another class with her! Markings were fair (although the small quizes were useless)

Very good lectures, reasonable workload. One-on-one can be very helpful, but she has negative outlook on life, so keep her on topic!

One of the best classics profs at carleton. Makes history interesting by involving a great sense of humour and focusing on the fun parts (sex, violence, drinking, etc.)

She's kind of funny and incredibly smart

the lectures so were so theatric, that it intrigued the people in class. never thought of getting into greek civ but after that class it was sooooo interesting. highly suggested.

Best language and history teacher of the department! Good-humored and fair to everyone. If you work hard, you learn from her more than you expected and some more on top of that!

The best class in my life. No one else can read ancient Greek with such angst and expression. The text came alive. Forced to work hard, I advanced immensely in my knowledge of the language. Prof.Downie is the perfect teacher, extremely fair, patient and knowledgeable.

Scary at times XD. Great prof though, so into what she teaches.

awesome

Very interesting class. She is excellent at explaining things and she knows her stuff. I found the essays very difficult considering it was a first year class.

she makes the material very interesting and is a good lecturer, with fair (sometimes challenging) tests and great review sheets. sometimes cancels classes with no notice or posts review 2 days before tests tho. i was annoyed she refuses to use a mic even when the classroom is large. enjoyed this class though.

amazing lecturer. She made class fun. One of my favorite profs ever. She really knew what she was talking about and her tests were very fair.

Very good prof. Great lecturer. Do the readings before class or you might be confused. If you go to an after school lecture or activity she might give you bonus points

Best lecturer ever! Best prof i've had

Very funny teacher, love her classes.

By far one of the most helpful profs. She'll stay after class til forever to help, and she'll correct mistakes on tests if you hash it out with her. She's a great lecturer and makes boring things like the Greek Dark Ages intensely interesting. An Amazing prof, and a seize the day kind of lady. reminds me of the magic school bus lady but more badass

Not my favorite prof. She wasn't too bad, but the material was really dry. I was really excited to take the class but it ended up being a lot more boring than I expected (I'm not a history or classics major, but I enjoyed Rome much more). Her tests include essays, commentary passages, and terms. Her assignments are pretty easy though.

Pretty awesome teacher, she made it interesting and the fact that she used modern technology is a big plus haha.

I have had this prof many times over the years and I have learnt how she lectures and how she marks. Basically, get down everything she talks about because I guarantee you that the little gritty details will get you the bonus marks you need! Awesome Prof

Super important to go to her classes, but if you do you could get an A without cracking the textbook. Really approachable and passionate about what she teaches. I would take her class again for sure!

Great professor she makes you want to go to class. She makes things available online and is extremely approachable. Great professor to have.

Wouldn't take this class again. Not her fault. I just am not as interested in her class as much as I would be. She clearly is passionate about what she teaches and I respect that but lectures CAN be a bore at times. I wish she would engage students a bit more. She is, however, at times, funny.

Great prof, has extra credit opportunities too

Susan is an awesome prof and so hilarious, totally recommend this class to someone who needs a good mark. She does recommend you buy the textbook but the readings are never referenced in class and don't need to be read! She gives out "list of terms' before midterms and exams which basically gives you everything you need for the tests. Great class!!

Great class. Load of information and plenty of reading, but if you enjoy the historical Greek culture, this class is for you. Professor Downie knows what she is talking about, and is willing to help out and answer questions. Great course content, great lectures.

Very knowledgeable about topics, can answer any question. Very hard exams. Be prepared, tough marker. Need to attend every class and doing the readings is essential.. Marks don't comes easy.

Honestly this was my favourite class, she was hilarious and a great prof. I would love to take another course that was taught by her. She's the kind of prof that makes you love a subject you like, or like a subject you hate. Take this course if you're willing to put the effort in, because it's worth it.

Really tough grader, but is also very clear about what she wants on an assignment. The lectures were very interesting, but you need to go and take notes because she does not post the notes online. She was very good at answering questions, she is very knowledgeable about her subject, and she is funny I would totally take a course with her again.

Prof. Downie loves classical history and it shows. Must show up and take lots of notes. She does post study guides for the exam but they are very brief. Straight forward, crystal clear - just the way I like it.

Took this class as a bird course, and as long as you show up to class, take notes, and study a decent amount for the tests and quizzes, you should get a good mark. Was enthusiastic about the material and very knowledgeable.

I stopped using the textbook before the midterm, didn't need it. Take detailed lecture notes, she will bold keywords that you actually need to know for the tests and final exam. Objectives were clear cut, and everything you need to put in an answer on the test will be taught in class. She really knows the material, and makes it interesting.

This teacher has real experience in Greece as a historian and studying archaeology. If you show genuine interest and talk to her after class, she really will like you and make an effort to remember your name. She is a wonderful and inspirational teacher both in and out of class.

Her lectures were really fun and I enjoyed this class a lot! You need to go to class and do the readings because she relies really heavily on them for the tests. When she taught me we had 1 test, 1 midterm and 1 final and no papers which was awesome.

Prof. Downie is lowkey terrifying but she's stern, not mean. Good at what she does. She makes you work for your grade, but if you study and follow the guidelines you should do ok. There is a textbook for this course but it isn't needed. Attendance isn't mandatory but good luck passing the midterm and exam if you skip more than a couple classes.

At first she seems intimidating but as the semester goes on she actually becomes super kind and really funny! She really knows her stuff when it comes to Greece and her lectures are really interesting! Theres a 15% quiz, 35% midterm and 50% final. She doesnt post lecture slides so go to class. The readings are Greek poems and plays (read them!!)

Easily one of my favourite profs ever. She's a bit tough, but if you go to class and pay attention you'll be able to do fine. Definitely try to go to every class though, because the exams rely heavily on her lectures. Her lectures are really easy to understand, and she important information clear.

Not sure why so many bad reviews - Professor Downie has very clear instructions for every assignment and marks very fairly. Lectures are lengthy but are entertaining and provide great information. If you dont want to put any work in, then yeah, of course your grade will reflect this. Would definitely take a class with her again!

Had CLCV 2902 and later for CLCV 3400 the following year. She is an AMAZING professor. If you don't do your readings, write bad essays, or don't show up to class don't expect good marks. It seem a lot of complainers are science students who expect humanities classes to be easy... sorry to say they're usually more work. Downie is my favourite prof!

If you do your readings and take good notes her class is easy. She was fantastic to deal with when it came to issues writing tests. Very helpful and genuinely seemed to care. Lectures can be rather long.

Very interesting material, it can be a lot. STUDY! There is a lot of memorization involved, but if you do your work it isn't too much of an overload. She is very nice and accommodating, but the class is tough so be ready to work if you are taking this class. I believe the hard work is worth it to learn something great.

I found the citation style extremely confusing as it is not Chicago/MLA or anything used elsewhere. There was a heavy focus on plagiarism which I felt was kinda unnecessary but overall I enjoyed the class content although the assignments were not terribly engaging. If you don't study for the tests you won't do well. Overall it was good

This professor is always well prepared and clear. If you do the work and follow her guidelines, you will do well.

Prof. Downie makes Greek accessible and genuinely cares for her students. Her classes, although sometimes dense, were always fun. Besides, her knowledge of Greek society adds a lot of interesting context to the lectures. Although she might seem intimidating, Prof. Downie is very funny and always willing to help students in any way she can.

Prof. Downie is a stellar instructor of Ancient Greek. She's incredibly knowledgeable about the language, but her focus is primarily on reading and translation, not linguistics (for the better!). Her grading criteria is clear and often generous. Though she may seem intimidating, she's very willing to help you better understand the material.

Prof. Downie may seem intimidating, but she is very willing to help you and provide opportunities to improve your mark. She gives very clear grading instructions and makes lectures entertaining! Work load is heavy and material is hard, but it is easy to do well if you put in the work and ask for help. Truly a talented and dedicated Professor!

Prof. Downie is knowledgeable in her field and encourages you to listen, learn, and apply class material in tests and assignments. She is highly accessible, humorous, and a compassionate person. Although her classes won't be an easy A, she truly wishes for her students' success. Don't be afraid to reach out and get to know her, you won't regret it!

Has taught me several times for several types of classes. Is she a tough grader? Sure. Are her lectures dense? Sure. Are her tests not easy? Sure. I would say this isn't out of spite but because she expects a lot and believes in her students. Ask her for help and she'll give it. Give her respect and you'll get it back, twofold. She loves her job.

I have taken 3 courses with Professor Downie and she is one of the most knowledgeable, supportive, and encouraging professors I have ever had. Her passion for the topic makes the lectures clear and interesting and she is always happy to answer all questions. If you show up to the lectures and take notes, you will understand the content.

Prof. Downie may seem intimidating, but she's a dedicated and talented instructor who makes Greek accessible. The workload is heavy, but she provides clear guidance and opportunities to improve. unstuck ai was a lifesaver for study prep.

Good prof but unclear assignment instructions and three projects being piled on in the space of 48 hours in response to a TA grading issue mean that one who needs a high GPA cannot afford to take this class. Well-taught classes on fascinating subjects are often bogged by assignments with vague instructions that often only tell you what not to do.

Definitely sets you up for success. Tests have lots of choice, nothing is unexpected, and she grades fairly. This class isn't about knowing everything about a topic or even the most important aspects, it's just about showing that you know enough relevant information. Just make sure u attend all lectures, if you do then you're set.