Extremely thorough, kind, interesting...picks great material and the lectures are insightful and compelling. If you want to bulls**t I'm sure you can, but you'd be missing out.

he's really nice and quiet.... but thats sort of the problem.. he's a little tooo quiet. his voce is a little monotone too which can make it hard to pay attention. just try ure best to listen to his lectures and WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING HE SAYS and u'll do fine.

Good guy, gets a bit drab and monotone with his lecturing sometimes but he's very helpful and more than fair with his grading.

He speaks eloquently. Always available for help. If you go to class, and write down everything he says. You will do well.

Pretty boring, but nice. Easy with grading.

He is just a great professor. It's obvious that he cares about his work and he makes that evident through his enthusiasm in the classroom. His tests are not very har either.

Great class. Just have to write down what he says and you'll do well. Goes over background info in depth as compared to plot.

Gotta love the tie, straight from the 80's. But seriously this is a pretty easy class. If you attend regularly for the most part and take notes you'll do fine. Oh and did I mention he gives multiple choice midterms!?! Also the more questions people ask the further behind you get so that means less material on the test yay

easy enough class, good for a dec requirement. he knows his stuff and if youre interested in it, he will teach you alot. if youre not interested in it, the class is boring. easy reading and mc/tf tests.

genuinely great guy. not a hard class if you JUST GO... don't even really need to do the reading, just listen to what he's got to say. he's really nice.

I really enjoy this class. Sometimes it gets a little slow but this guy really knows his stuff and is really passionate about the things he teaches. I respect him. He's definitely a nice guy. If you just stay for the entire class, really focus on what he's saying and write the notes down you'll do fine.

Very nice prof! Tests are 100 T/F, M/C questions. Very essential to come to every lecture and write down the notes. Don't have to read the books, sparknotes are enough, esp if you pay attention. Must study though. Tends to put his opinions on the T/F part, which makes it sometimes a little hard. But if you try you can still get an A in his class!

Basically you need to ATTEND his CLASS and write all that comes from his saying!!Thats where most of the answers comes from. But he's really a nice nice guy His exam are quite easy if you attend class. If you do all above get you'll get an A

He's a nice guy, but lectures are very boring. He has this monotonous voice and it just makes you sleepy. You don't necessarily need to go to lecture, but it would be very difficult to pass the 2nd midterm [all artwork/visual]. Tests are pretty easy, but some questions are ambiguous. Easy Dec.

Volume Check. Very intelligent, and polite professor. Do the readings and you'll be fine. Some of the test questions can be tricky. No cumulative final. But the class gets realy boring really fast.

You must take this course! He has a very monotonous voice, lectures can be very boring but this professor really knows what he's talking about. He really stands out from other proressors at Stony Brook many of whom are so underqualified. He's truly passionate and has great knowledge of all the materials he teaches. Tests are extremely easy.

This professor is great! You MUST attend the lectures, because that's whats on the test. You need to take good notes, and study them well. Skim through the readings and you should be fine. He likes togive quotes on the test, so make sure you know the characters. Class is easy, and interesting.

This guy is an EXCELLENT professor! As others said, he is very passionate about the subject matter and it shows. Tests are multiple choice and as long as you have read and taken decent notes (some notes were also posted online by the TA), you will do fine. I highly, HIGHLY recommend this as a DEC, as long as you are capable of reading.

Great teacher Loved attending his lectures he was very passionate teaching. Taking another class with him can't wait for an easy A :]

This class is fairly easy if you go to class!! Tests are 100 questions but are based on what he lectures so go to class!! It's really not that bad; he just needs to speak up a bit but overall this is an easy class..plus there's extra credit that can boost your grade up!!

Very knowledgeable and intelligent professor, extremely interesting lectures with lots of details, facts, dates, names, and history. Easy exams if you attend lecture. Very friendly and approachable professor. Even if you don't need the DEC but are interested in the material, I highly, highly recommend the class - you'll learn a lot.

He was the most helpful professor I ever had. The class was pretty east if you do the reading. There are two exams and a final. He also gives you a chance for extra credit. MORE THAN FAIR. He is such a sweet person and I hope to take another one of his classes in the future.

Took him for 201 first and then since I got an A and LOVED him, I took 101. Hes such a sweet man. Hes so passionate about what he does and he really knows what hes talking about. Go to lectures and you will do just fine.

SUCH a great professor, seems kind of dull but is extremely thorough. As long as you go to class there is no problem passing. Very interesting and I honestly cannot wait to take his next class next semester :)

Really easy class if you just follow the reading and attend lectures. And if you miss a lecture there are notes posted online! Great guy overall.

Prof. Westphalen is a very friendly and soft-spoken man that does his best to make the material understood by everyone. The class itself is very easy, with two midterms, a final and an extra credit exam. He doesnt much care for attendance and uploads the lectures. Great if youre looking for an easy DEC.

really nice guy. interesting class. lecture notes online after class. i did none of the readings and im looking at a C. the readings are interesting. easy dec credit.

Very nice prof though often redundant.Def A/A- if you just attend lectures/takenotes/&study his posted notes.Reading req books will only help,not req.(Many books)~You will get B+/B if you study hard only posted notes.You will get B-/C+ if u study last minute.100 questions per exam(3).Extra credit boosts ur rank.2exam consists of music/visual art.

Harvard PhD. This man is brilliant, absolutely brilliant. I'm not really sure why he's here but Stony Brook is lucky to have him. Lectures are packed w/ info but understands that this is a 100lvl DEC course and exams are easy IF you do the readings/sparknotes and attend class. (3) 100 question MC exams and (1) extra credit quiz.

Honestly through a year in this school he has been my favorite teacher. An excellent and engaging speaker, tests are easy (though alot of multiple questions)and extra credit should give a fairly average student enough of a boost to inleast get a B+ or an A-. Other wise your just lazy.

He's absolutely my favorite professor at Stony Brook. He's extremely intelligent. If you sit with your friends in the back, it's easy to lose attention. But this is a super easy DEC; I'm looking at an A and I go to class, take notes, skim through the books and study a few hrs before the exam. Extra credit can boost an exam score by 25 points

An amazing professor who really cares about his students and the material he teaches. His lectures are great and they will definitely help for his tests. He posts his lecture notes on BB and also holds an extra credit quiz. Overall a fairly easy class if you read the materials and study his notes. Recommend this class for everyone for a DEC.

Take this class in spring rather than fall! The class is schedule at noon in spring but at night in fall, which will make you want to skip it, and attendance is kind of important for this class.

Agree with the comment below. I thought that I would do better if the class was in the afternoon or morning.

Love him. Incredibly intelligent. Harvard PhD. Easy A.

Great Professor. The lecture can become a bit dry and boring at times but if you could appreciate how much he knows about European culture and history, you will start falling in love with listening to him talk.

Fantastic lecturer, dwells on important subjects of readings in class, general knowledge of assignments sufficient for at least a B. Took a total of 15-20 pages of notes per exam. Reading is good(if you're into the subject). Puts some notes online. Show up, pay attn, take some notes, read at least the wiki for each book, get A. really a great guy.

Class is not as easy as it seems. There was a lot of info needed to be memorized on tests!

if you read the notes he posts and the sparknotes for each book you'll do great. make sure you do the extra credit quiz and the optional paper at the end of the semester!

Took EUR 101 and 201 with him- possibly the nicest professor I've had at Stony Brook. Course content isn't terribly boring...Just underline the quotes he emphasizes in class, write down the vocab, and read cliffnotes/wikipedia. He also posts notes. --Got an A in both courses.

Intelligent man, but I do not suggest his course if you're looking for an easy A. His tests are considerably difficult for a 100 level DEC!However, he does offer opportunities to boost your grade.

I can't recommend this class as a DEC. It's not an easy A, but it is very easy to get a B/B+ in the class because of the curve and extra credit. Tests can be brutal as the professor does test some material not from the lecture. However, he is really pleasant and really wants his students to do well.

NOT AN EASY A CLASS. The test is 100 MC questions and they are pretty detailed (it covers a lot of material). Don't bother going to his office hours cause he doesn't help you with what is on the test. You work for your grade in this class. Fair class, not easy, not hard.

pay attention.

He's very intelligent and he look's like Ben Franklin. His lectures are interesting, but can drag on sometimes. Reading the material helps. GO TO CLASS AND PAY ATTENTION. you will struggle if you don't. Not an easy DEC, but there is no reason why you can't get an A. There is an extra credit quiz, which helps as well.

Great professor, helped me a lot. Would definitely take any of his classes

First, there is no curve, you get what you get from the test. 100Q multiple choices. no essay, extra score test 25point, memorize the pictures of name. total grade300, 3 test, included final. if you get 60 below, that means fail, like D but if you get 80 thats "B" and very straight forward grader. Use office hours! Write down, or highlight!

I love this teacher. go to office hours he really helps any question you have and will give you specifics before the test that he doesn't tell the class. The lectures are so boring but he means well.

This guy is so passionate about what he teaches. Material is very clear and simple. Take this class!

He is a great professor, He wants all of his students to pass. But be aware, this is not an easy DEC course. You have to read a lot and memorize.

When you have class woth him its so obvious that he knows what he's saying and that he's super passionate about it. Hes such a great guy. The class was kinda weird but I would redo it all just for him. Great guy

The most knowledgable and caring professor ever. I took this class to fulfill an SBC and for my love of literature. You might get tired because his classes are lecture heavy but the tests are exactly his class notes. Tests are pretty easy and straightforward. Just read the books and listen to the major points he makes on lectures and it's an easy A

Everything you need to do good on his tests are in the lectures. Pay attention during the lecture and read the books and you should get an A in this class. He is very passionate about teaching and there is no homework in this class. I would recommend this class to my friends.

Professor Westphalen is a great professor. I would just be cautioned that taking this course requires lots of reading and researching history outside of class because he is a little difficult to understand in class. Other than that this was an interesting course.

Professor Westphalen is one of the best professors I have ever had. He is extremely caring and intelligent. The lectures are definately material heay, but the tests consist of exactly the class notes so make sure you memorize important facts from the notes. I suggest making flash cards. Nicest professor ever.

Most of the information he gives is orally, but it is hard to hear sometimes, even if you do sit in the front. Gives notes on the exams, but only the outline of what he talked about in class. Be prepared to do extra research outside of class or try recording his lectures. Graded by few things, and attendance is mandatory. However, he does care alot

Grading was 100% tests and attendance, with pretty big curves on tests. There's not any physical work outside of the class, but you do have to read quite a bit, and the lectures are very content heavy, so take detailed notes if you can. Very nice about questions and knows what he's talking about, if not a little hard to hear sometimes

Professor Westphalen is one of the nicest professors I have ever met. His classes are lecture heavy and you have to pay attention and actually read. No homework, just readings, and 3 tests. He is always willing to help in any way he possibly can. He's always quick to respond to emails. He truly cares about his students and it shows.

Dr. Westphalen is so smart & interesting - maybe the smartest prof at SBU. You learn a LOT, but class is very difficult. 100 question tests on obscure stuff. Best way to study is to go over class notes & research the works to gain an understanding of the subjects. He gives extra credit & a big curve - really sweet prof that everyone can learn from.

He is very nice and so so knowledgeable. I've learned a lot from him and I truly think he's a wonderful person but he is very test heavy.

Mix between history and literature, so don't expect pure lit analysis. Literally everything you need is in the provided notes. I didn't read a single page of the assigned readings and easily got an A just from the notes. Lectures can be a bit dry, but he clearly knows his stuff and is passionate about the material. Extra credit is available!

He is an expert about Russian literature. A very nice professor. Definitely willing to take again.

Incredible professor. Although the lectures can be incredibly easy to get lost in, the grading scale is super forgiving. Plus, office hours really help a lot! Super sweet and kind!