2.6
Quality4.0
Difficulty50%
Would Retake87
Reviews50%
Would Retake
87
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
9
4
25
3
10
2
23
1
20
What Students Say
“I do not understand why Tunnell is getting such bad reviews”
HIST332 - 5.0 rating“He was very pompous and arrogant”
HIST - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
67%
Textbook Required
90%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
C+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
-0.03 avg changeRatings by Course
HIST384
5.0
(1)HISTORY
5.0
(1)HISTORYCLASSES
5.0
(1)HIST105
5.0
(1)104
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
HISTORYINFILM
5.0
HIST101
5.0
HIS395
5.0
HIST43
5.0
HIST1301
5.0
Reviews (87)
He was very pompous and arrogant.
No Comments
He is a pretty hard teacher. Requires a lot of writing
Easy class if you read and take notes.
he expects you to know everything he tells you, so take good notes and study like a mofo and you should be alright
He's alright, his exams are terrible all paragraphs(8) and essays (1-2 pgs each) and MAYBE a multiple choice section that is not worth much, study everything and everybody and do your readings!
he knows his info... very anal though about tardiness and cell phones.. avoid being late because he stares and writes down names! 8 paragraphs and 2-3 essays.. tough stuff.. the study sessions help..take good notes and do the readings.. youll be ok.
pretty hard class. tests are not very fair -- lots of info to choose from for only a few essays. tests are 100% essay.
Very hard with his essays. Test are all essay and take some serious study. Doesnt give too much of break on the lil stuff either. Final exam was extremely anal.
He is definitely very anal, but he does know his stuff. Lots of writing on the final. Midterm and final were easier than the 4 quizes. TAKE GOOD NOTES AND READ. I missed 2 classes and studied A LOT before quizes...managed to get an A. Demanding, but a good teacher if you do your part.
He is a weird guy. Hard to talk with and does not make exceptions. His exams have a lot of writing and he asks for details. I don't recommend this teacher at all! He is one professor you ask yourself, "How did this guy ever make it this far as a teacher." 2 thumbs down!!
I thought it was a great class. Alot of book to read but he really knows and cares about the subject. Take very good notes and dont get up to pee. I liked him alot though.
Astronomically arrogant and unhappy person. Tests in form of essays give him power to grade whatever he wants to his personal liking. If you enjoy being respected, avoid him.
He is completely in love with himself. He enjoys reading to the class from slaveowners journals the horrific details for way too long. He is completely insensitive and unhelpful.
WORST TEACHER EVER!!
This class made me change my major! He's very un-friendly! I thought his test were very hard, he asked vague questions, but had very specific answers in mind. He makes you buy very expensive books that you rarely use. Just not a very nice guy, kind of arrogant!
arrogant, knowledgeable, tough;greatly admired him in undergraduate, but lost most of my respect for him in graduate school (can't explain why on this board)
i really don't why people don't like him. I found that his class is clear and interesting. Just make sure you read, and you'll do fine =]
This guy is the most pompus, arrogant, full-of-himself, concieted guy I have ever had. He does know what he is talking about, HOWEVER, his method of explaining is very hard to understand and near impossible to decern from his generally stuck up attitude. Do not take!! Avoid!!
I actually thought his pompous attitude was just an act....turns out, he actually is a bitter, self-centered ****. Refuses to admit if he's made a mistake (but he makes quite a few). Oh yeah, and he talks about students to other students, so obviously, not extremely professional.
NO -NO - NO! AVOID! Life is so much better without this dude in it!
No Comments
If you love pain take this guy's class. You get to hear about violence and torture, and wish it was inflicted upon you, or him. You'll wish that anything was happening other than you sitting in his class.
I can see why people dislike him, but he wasn't afraid to create challenging situations, read official documentation of the time and be what a real college prof. is supposed to be. As long as you keep up with readings, it isn't that hard to manage the material. I am a slacker and got a B. He is just not willing to baby people, which is what VCU students need.
This prof was tough as nails! Thank God I w/drew from his class as early as I could b/c I was def failin'. I was shocked b/c I usually do good in History. I can't believe how picky he was. I was pretty much doin' everythin' he told me to do (i.e.- take notes, read assignments, study for quizzes, etc), but that still didn't satisfy him. Luckily, I don't have to take a Hist class since I'm a Spanish major.
He was a great teacher. Yes, he expected a lot from his students - but isn't that what college is for? I learned so much from his classes, and I had never found history interesting before.
arrogant jerk who delights in butchering students papers before entire class, obviously frustrated by student use of vocabulary he does not know. absolutely the worst excuse for an educator on thte vcu faculty. if i'd had him my first semester i would have most likely left school again. this is not the rant of a slacker.i have a 3.78 gpa
this class was difficult as hell. i chose not to withdrawl or drop the class but unfortunately wound up failing it. he's not interested in teaching history, just wants to show how smart he is. he is an arrogant little**** and his class should be avoided at all costs!
Professor Tunnell's class is very difficult but I made an A so it is possible to do well if you study hard, ATTEND EVERY LECTURE, and do all your readings. If you fall asleep in class and don't read you will most likely fail. He is a very intelligent man and I learned a lot about American History.
hes very entertaing but he expects a lot. the tests he gave were all essay tests so you really have to be knowledgable, you cant just study facts. you have to know the importance and the influence and be able to describe and explain as well as putting it in the right context. not so bad but its a lot of studying.
This guy was insanely into History...I hardly went to class, never read really and didn't do too much studying, I got a C.
amazing professor. extremely knowledgable and clear. the essay exams seem difficult at first, but its all cut and dry. Highly reccomended
He is verrry into what he does. The class isn't half bad, but the tests are all essay, about 8 of them. It seems bad, but it's not. Do the reading and show up for class the majority of the time and you will be fine.
Easiness..he's easy if you come to class, take notes, don't talk and read..the reading is really not that bad. I want to take more of his classes, whereas at the beginning of the semester, first day, I asked my friend if he wanted to drop the class with me, ha. But I am really glad I stayed. :-)
very tough class. he's very smart but his class is better for history majors. the reading is interesting but the lectures are mostly filler.He likes to hear himself talk..a lot. 8 essays per exam, average exam grade for the class was 65%.in a class of about 250 people (nearly all showed up for tests) thats pretty sad.
great class.
this professor is very smart but he needs to come down off his high horse. he's the hist. dept. chair, so i'm not sure if he really gives a damn about wether his students understand the subject. he does like to hear himself talk. his exam are ridiculous, 8 essays per exam. i advise not to take this teacher, choose someone else. your be better off!!
eh the guy can be quite the idiot and pretends he is a distinguished englishman, while really from texas, tries to be an **** and scare you all semester long. Exams are loong essays, final exam took 3 hrs, buuut that being said it is realllly easy, got a 105 in that class after extra credit, if you have patience its reallly easy, otherwise go on
This guy was such a jerk. STAY AWAY!!
He went on and on about history, and most of the time would change dates on you. His lectures are for the most part boring. He also doesn't have a textbook, which I feel was needed, to understand what was going on.
This teacher is really hard I'd advice people to stay away especially if you don't like history. He only has 3 test grades and those make up your grade for the semester he didnt give us any extra credit. All his tests consist of long essays. Choose another prof if you can!!
This guy just talks and talks. He recently changed from giving all those essays when everyone did bad. But still tough. Need to read books in depth and get clear understanding and you should do fine. You don't need to even come everyday just read and you should be fine. But he is kind of helpful when you attend class.
His tests were not so bad. But the final ruined my grade and I am so sorry he didnt have EC. I had B's on the tests but it didnt matter I ended with a C. If you are a super test taker then knock yourself out! He is interesting but his personality is aloof and he is not very personable.
his class is boring. i like history and didn't like this class. we had two tests which were each 25% of our grade and the final which is 50% so that sucked cause you had nothing else but the tests aren't that bad. the final is what hurt me.
Tunnell talks a lot, so make sure to take good notes, it will serve you well on the tests. The reading assignments are CRITICAL to passing the tests. He gives essays on his test and the reading is imperative. The final test is 50% of your grade. Overall the class is a challenge, but work hard and you'll succeed. I finished the class with an A.
STAY AWAY. HORRIBLE TEACHER. very unclear. talks about stuff not on the quizes and tests, doesnt teach a thing. does not encourage to do better, but puts you down. very pompous. not sure if this guy is a real teacher. the worst. GPA KILLER.
There are only three grades and no extra credit. The final is 50% and the other two tests are each 25%. GO TO SI! The tests aren't bad at all. He gives you study guides with the EXACT essay questions for the tests. In SI all the essays are covered (so go). The final is really hard but has no essays. A really boring class but not that bad.
Total waste of credit hours. Lectures/class material IRRELEVANT to passing the class. Total grade comes from exams only, which are based on reading only. Lectures are boring, pointless, and painful. This guy will destroy your GPA. One of those who thinks being a harsh grader is the measure of good teaching. STAY AWAY AT ALL COSTS!!!!
Hard hard hard. Did I say hard? Oh yea, he's hard. Textbooks consist of five different books to read.. which are pretty much the exams. No notes or powerpoints, he only lectures for forever and lectures are boring and fast. He also has a weird accent which can sometimes be hard to understand. Exams/tests consist of multiple choice and 4-5 essays.
Professor Tunnell is the poorest instructor I've ever had. His lectures rarely pertained to the subject at hand. He assigned copious amounts of medium-to-difficult readings and barely mentioned them in class. He provided no kind of notes or study guides whatsoever when it came to exams - it was a total crapshoot when it came to his tests. I would n
Very, very liberal. First 3 exams were essay and final exam was multiple choice. Not too hard. Just have to take notes in class and read the readings assigned. Wasn't that bad, made a B.
Crazy
Professor Tunnell is the WORST professor I've ever had. There are only about four tests all semester, and they consist of four or five essays. That's it. No multiple choice (except on the final, but there's still essays on that, too). He is SO boring and makes hardly any sense. I do NOT recommend taking him!!!
Really good teacher if you can get into his lectures, he really has a passion for his subject. His tests are almost all essay, but SI sessions and study guides are offered and the pre-test ones are VERY helpful. Doesn't go by a text book, so it's important to take notes during lectures and read additional reading assignments.
extra credit-is that what i am reading-who gives extra credit in college-go back to taking your edu classes for those who are complaining; a great lecturer, demanding but once you become familiar with him a pretty good instructor.
good teacher...took 104 in a 3 week summer school course. it was tough...had all A's until his course...just couldn't keep up until the very end, it was a short period to learn all the material- but I did well...don't believe the hype, Tunnell's a good dude.
Don't do it! No. Really!
No words could describe this professor
This guy should retire already! He is a real jerk and needs to get off his high horse.
Stare at a blank sheet of paper for two hours and then go to this guy's class. You'll find both equally acadmically stimulating.
The man gets a bum rap. He's not too bad at all. He comes off as a bit pompous, but his lectures are interesting and he has a real passion for the material. I get the impression that many of the negative ratings are from students that did poorly. Attend class, take good notes, and study the material detailed on the study guides. Easy as that.
WARNING:do not take this class.He will laugh in your face, force you to buy HIS book(so he profits from you) pretends it's a poli sci class, lectures are all selfish banter,POP QUIZZES: 5essays in 5mins? ANAL grading.LATENESS COUNTS AS ABSENSE(if you are 10 seconds late, you are counted absent)& I'm not lazy,my 400 lvl classes are easier than this!
Professor Tunnel is a great Teacher. VCU should be proud to have him. He is a note worthy author and he really knows his stuff! If anyone complains (ex.the blond girl in class today who told the class to rate him)its b/c they dont do the work, come to class, and are overall whiny. Take Tunnel if you want to learn, not if you want to slack off.
Tunnel is well researched professor. For the person who says that if you are 10 seconds late you are counted absent. That is not true, he doesnt even send the roll around until 5 mins after the class starts, pop quizzes are pretty standard, (we are in college now) however Tunnel does give warning, if you didnt hear it, you arent paying attention.
The roll goes out at exactly the minute of class. well, at least my class. your essays can be perfect and you will never get full credit. i think he just doesnt like to give A's. Im not lazy and ive never gotten below an A before him. the lectures are unorganized and this class is more american biographies than anything. the poor TA.
Pretty tough for a 100 lvl class. Grades really harsh. I would agree you learn a lot in this class but you'll find getting a good grade to be difficult.
Someone already mentioned this, but if you simply take good notes, attend class, and study the material specified in his outlines, you'll do fine. I did that, and got an A; if you can't do decent in this class, you are not ready for college. Simple as that.
He REALLY knows his stuff! I am glad I had him as a teacher. ALL you have to do is read and follow the outlines and study guides. People who fail his quizzes and exams are just plain lazy... He tells you exactly what you need to know and study!
Read the material! If you don't read AND get a clear understanding from the beginning YOU WILL BE LOST!Very pompous and arrogant!I called and left messages on his phone and emailed him on numerous times and NEVER got a response. Never done bad in a class before this one. I really don't recommend. Retire already!
lectures were unclear and biased, reading is required, quizzes and tests were off topic of study guides, if you're committed to this 100 level class as you are to your 300 levels class, take it. if not, steer clear. and tunnell has a phony accent he breaks out now and again...it was annoying as hell.
Tunnel requires way too much for a 100-level class. You have to read all the books, and know EVERYTHING. Plus, its impossible to contact him-he uses his assistant, who is socially awkward, for everything. Doesn't offer much help, requires you to know too much information for such a little amount of time, & his lectures are extremely boring. beware
Comment 9/14/05 is all you need to know.
Some things never change! I had (then) Mr. Tunnell as a teacher's assistant in California History at Berkeley in 1975. He has not changed a bit. Good luck to you all.
His class is definitely not the easiest one, but what he expects out of you is clear. You can tell he has a passion for the subject. Keep up with the reading and take tons of notes and you will do fine. If you are the type of person that doesn't go to class or take notes then I don't recommend this class. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed his class.
I think he is a great professor because he sticks with the facts and doesn't waste your time. Do the readings and take notes and his class is easy (and interesting).
Not a good class. Very difficult for 104. Not respectful to students. Does nothing to help you learn. T.A. practically incompetent. You have to read a lot. Don't take him, please save yourself the headache. You can't use laptops!!! Egomaniac. His book was really bad too.
this teacher was the worst thing to ever happen to vcu. he is all about himself and talks to himself. the only happy moment in that class was when i saw him fall down the stairs.
His class was so beyond boring. He's obsessed with himself, and to be honest, he has no reason to be. Probably one of the most unhelpful and lame classes I've taken at VCU.
He's not the best history teacher. He plugs his own book at every turn and keeps trashing anything "southern." He has no problem trashing the whole class. Not the best teacher if you want to actually learn about US history.
I do not understand why Tunnell is getting such bad reviews. I just took him for a three week summer course and he was a really nice guy. If you come to class, and do the reading, you will get a good grade. He is upfront about whats expected. If your lazy then you probably will not do well.
UGHHH. Teacher is boring and rambles about nothing that is useful. Expects you to listen to get notes because does not use slides yet he rambles about nothing.
Not helpful, expects you to know what to read without telling you or having information online, tests are confusing and hard to know what information will be on there.
Tunnell is a great lecturer and he makes things very interesting. However, be prepared for lots of reading and difficult tests. He is extremely picky on essays. His grading for my class was based on 3 exams and 1 quiz. 25%,25%,40%, and 10% respectively. I got an A, but it was hard won. Overall I enjoyed the class.
If you have a bad memory or are a slow writer, beware! No electronic devices allowed in this class! Go to class, even if you are sick- miss more than two without a note or excuse, you fail. Also, lots of information and the quizzes are a lot of writing. midterm is mostly essays.
Lectures are almost completely mandatory and tough to sit through. I probably fell asleep about three times per class period.
Ted was my US History prof at San Francisco State Univ. 1979. One of the best history classes I have taken. He was able to inspire me to move to New Orleans in order to experience some of what he has written about the South. The Red River stories covering Reconstruction are truly gems. The man deserves your respect. Robin Lancaster
The most boring thing I have ever done. Will fall asleep. His lectures are terrible and you will leave not knowing anything.
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
67%
Textbook Required
90%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
C+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
-0.03 avg changeRatings by Course
HIST384
5.0
(1)HISTORY
5.0
(1)HISTORYCLASSES
5.0
(1)HIST105
5.0
(1)104
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
HISTORYINFILM
5.0
HIST101
5.0
HIS395
5.0
HIST43
5.0
HIST1301
5.0