Jon Holtzman

School: Western Michigan University
Department: Anthropology
Location:Kalamazoo, MI
Overall Rating
rated by 35 students
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 One of the most boring classes I have taken at WMU. He often rambled about weird things that had nothing to do with what we were supposed to be discussing. Would not recommend at all.
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 His teaching style of standing at the front and talking about anthropology lulls you to sleep. There is two papers which he grades hard. Also iclicker questions everyday and if you haven't read any of the 3 books you will never get them right. I struggled to stay awake every class because of how boring he is.
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 Very, very boring. I would not recommend taking if you do not have to. Lectures whole hour and 15 minutes of class, doesn't stop. Hawk (TA) at the back of the class to watch and see if you're on your phone if you are you'll get a paper slipped to you and you're kicked out. iClicker q's beginning and end of class. 2 papers no midterm or final.
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 Hands down, worst professor I've ever had. Dr. Holtzman always rambles and makes his lectures confusing and honestly... pretty boring. Course is based on iClicker quizzes (65%) and two papers (35%). Attendance isn't mandatory, but iClicker quizzes require you to attend class and you will not pass if constantly gone. Easy A, but don't recommend.
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 This is the worst professor I've ever had. Entire grade is based on attendance and reading books outside of class. There's no tests, iclicker questions at the beginning/end of each class (on the readings) are 70% of your grade. This sounds nice until you realize missing one class period 3 questions wrong on a test. He's boring, rude, and annoying.
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 Lectures are so boring, he does not stop talking the entire time about random stuff that is barely related to the course. Clicker questions are impossible and your only grade in the class besides two papers that won't save your grade.
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 This was the worst class I have ever taken at Western. He made the class way more boring than it had to be. You had 2 iClicker questions a day and that was basically your whole entire grade besides the two papers (which CANNOT save you). There was TA that went around and wrote you up if you were on your phone. DO NOT take this class if you can.
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 He changed the course so you answer 3 iclicker questions every class and then you write 2 papers and that's all your grade is made from. Make sure to read the books when they're assigned because his questions are very specific. Really strict no cell phone use in class.
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 The entire class grade is based on daily iClicker questions. So you need to attend to get those points. Also, reading the books helps, because most of the iClicker questions come from the books. He makes some bad jokes, which make lectures somewhat bearable. Overall, very boring though. I always caught myself counting sheep.
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 Super boring. Makes an hour and fifteen minutes feel like an eternity. The only grades in the class are three papers and an iclicker questions. The iclicker questions are pretty hard and if you dont get them right it hurts your grade. Also there wasnt enough seating in the class so me and a ton of other people had to sit on the floor... not ideal.
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 Oh my goodness. His class was easy in my opinion but thats because its based on 3 papers and a bunch of Iclicker questions. The only reason I said attendance wasnt mandatory is cause he goes on about one thing the whole class. No tests or quizzes. One time he talked about McDonalds all over the world for 30 mins. Wore the same shirt each class.
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 This dude talks.... a lot. You will get assigned 3 books to read and you'll be quizzed based off what you read. It really will do no good to guess on the quizzes, just buy the books. Clears his throat a lot, very monotone. Papers were pretty easy and he gives you a good basis on what he wants. So boring if you don't want to be an anthropologist.
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 Holzman is very boring when it comes to lectures. He takes over 15 mins on one short slide. The papers are 1,000 words on books you read from the class you have to purchase. Also, beware of clicker question. He doesn't have a grading scale on the syllabus so you have to calculate your grade and estimate yourself.
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 This is the most boring class I have ever taken in my life. All we do is listen to the professor lecture on Samburu. I would not recommend ever taking this class.
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 This guy stinks. He's boring. His "Peoples of the World" class is basically all on one people: The Samburu. One of the required readings is his own book, which is pretentious. Half of the tests are on the readings. The lab is super boring (don't schedule an 8am lab if you can avoid it, you'll fall asleep). The tests are hard. Avoid it if you can.
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 This class is easy, but very boring. There is no tests in this class. There are 3 writing assignments (1250 to 1500 words for each) and a 10-15 pages research paper for the final. There's no need to go to class unless you have to turn in your papers on the due date.
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 Holzman gives very boring lectures. A lot of times he takes way too long to go over one short slide. His tests are typically hard and only about 35 questions, not much room for error. LOTS of reading, if you don't do the reading you won't do well. He makes you read a book that he wrote and its he even said it was graduate level.
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 His lectures are long. He spends an obnoxious amount of time talking about the Samburu. There is a lab that goes with this class and it's also pretty boring. There's way too much reading for a lower level gen ed class. The tests are tough. If you get a good TA the class is bearable, but if not, good luck.
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 Long boring lectures in which he talks about one power point slide with 3 bullets for 20 minutes. The class is 50 minutes long.
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 This guy does know what he is talking about but he holds you to the very last second, has lots of reading and has very corny jokes. If you do attend and read the books you'll be fine. but if you can take it with someone else, do it.

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