COOPER W (HIST)

This experience with Cooper was far better than HIST 7959, mainly because it was more engaging, and the readings were interesting. About 12 papers (3-5 pages) per semester, due roughly one per week, on readings covering the Antebellum Period through the Gilded Age. He was still a tad vague about paper expectations, but "Spreading the Word" by Richard John was the highlight of the class.

HIST 7959 varies among the professors teaching it. Cooper's course required one to write a 20+ page paper on a state's secessionist literature. While Cooper is very knowledgeable and passionate about his subject, the guidelines for the final paper were vague at best, and his handwriting is difficult to decipher, like many in the history department. This class experience helped me realize I made a mistake going into history.

Cooper is a pretty fun professor. He is really into what he teaches and gets pretty excited during his lectures. Sometimes the material can be quite boring though. He requires that you read seven books through the semester, including one that he wrote, which I thought was a bit arrogant. There are three exams... each consisting of ID's, book questions, an essay, and a map. Not too bad. Also, if you don't take the first exam, he lets the second count twice, and if you miss the second, then you're final counts twice. He claims that if you make a D on the first test, a C on the second, but an A on the final, you'll get an A because he "grades on improvement".