Western Kentucky University / B / James Baker

James T Baker is a cranky egotistical professor whose retirement from teaching is long overdue. He expects you to read around 150 (sometimes over 200) pages of reading a class. That is not unusual for a 400 level history class, but class is not a word I would use to describe this course. It is more of a discussion group which Baker ineptly leads. You’re supposed to read a lot and discuss the subject material of 3 or 4 biographies, but in class, Baker will talk about the bio and then go off on tangents that have nothing to do with the readings. Then you have two exams (all essay), a book review, and a 15 to 20 minute presentation on yet another biography of your choosing. All of these are graded very hard, but not impossible to pass. Also, this class is very hard at first, but later on it tapers off thanks to the month of only student presentations. However, Baker’s attitude was my biggest problem with the class. The best example of this point is when he berates people who are late to his class. It is one thing to lock the door (to a class which you are paying for), but Baker will literally speak to you as if you were a child and ask you if you understand that when that door is closed, you don’t enter it. I witnessed him do this to a man who was less than a minute late, but it also doesn’t help that on several occasions, he closes the door a minute early.

In conclusion, this class has a lot of reading, a lot of writing, a terrible discussion group, and worst of all, one professor with a very bad attitude. Try to avoid this class if you can, but it is not impossible to pass with a B or even an A.

Dr. Baker is funny and the class wasn't too bad. You do have to read alot though and his quizzes are sometimes hard. He'll usually give you ideas about the essay on the test, but make sure you know alot of information about them. He'll give you a choice between 2 essays and you get to choose 1 to write about. Then you have like 5 things to give info. about.

I hate history. Dr. Baker made learning about it very interesting. He has you read the chapters and take a short quiz before class discussions. I highly recommend finding some study buddies to split up the reading each night before the quizzes; highlighting important parts and sharing each other's highlights. This helps tremendously on the quizzes, leaving less to read for each person.

For the exams, I'd recommend getting with your study buddies and typing out the things that Baker talked about in class. He's a pretty lenient grader, as long as you get the overall jist. Also, if offered, go to the study sessions he tells you about - a great help.

I had this class at 8:00am every tuesday and thursday and it sucked. Plus he's the hardest history teacher out there. But he knows his stuff. He tries to be funny but at 8:00am nothing is funny and if you go to the PASS session, a girl gives you the essay question and gives you multiple ID's that could be on the test and it helps a ton! I strongly suggest going to it. But if you had a choice of taking this class I would not take it at 8:00am but way later. If you don't like reading don't take this class.

I think the only reason he still teaches is to sell his books. For almost every class he teaches he's writen a book. I take that back. He has never actually writen a book, all he does is take parts of othert peoles books, puts it in one and adds a paragraph to explain my he copied it. And you have a book. I can do that!

This class is very informative and interesting. Dr. Baker is very good at relating to the students, answering questions, explaining the material, and teaching it. The tests are essay, but he will tell you everything he is looking for if you read and take notes. Make sure to read the textbook for the quizes because the questions are from the reading material. The book, however, is an easy read. Great class.

If you have to take American History, Baker is the man to take. He's cool in an Alice Cooper "School's Out" kind of way.

Dr. Baker is an excellent professor. He is interesting and fair! I really enjoyed his class. The guy who wrote he is a womanizer and he favors athletes and babes must have failed his class ~ come on, fess up!!! Dr. Baker is awesome and I would recommend his class.

Keep up with notes and study for quizzes and you'll be fine. Dr. Baker is a good guy and motivates you to learn.

Dr. Baker is an interesting man who motivates you to learn, even if you don't like History. His outlines allow you to follow his lectures easily, and he is very easy to get along with. Many chances to make a good grade since your overall grade is divided among many quizzes and tests. Recommended.

He is a cool professor. the test are all essay and can be hard. you do have quizzes, and he gives you a number of terms, of those terms, 5 are on the quiz. I would recommend him. I am taking him again!