Sean Forner

School: Michigan State University
Department: History
Location: East Lansing, MI
Overall Rating
rated by 13 students
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Took ISS 325, his lectures are not engaging and it is hard to keep attention. I would recommend office hours if you want to keep up. Do the reading and try to stay awake and take some notes even though he uses one powerpoint slide.
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Great prof. He knew what he was talking about and if he couldn't answer a question in class, he would research it and give you the answer next class. Very helpful out of class as well. Definitely worth having as a prof.
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only 2 unexcused absences allowed
LARGE amount of reading assigned for each class
class was very boring and consisted of discussing the readings we were assigned
there were 2 assignments and a 12-15 page paper that was due during finals week on a topic of your choice about the class topic
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Pros: The class is made up of attendance, 2 essays, 2 quizzes, and 2 tests (midterm and final). All are easy.
Cons: Can be rather dry
Speaks in very long-winded sentences that makes it difficult to take notes.
There is a lot of reading. Some days there are well over 100 pages of reading to do.
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Pros: easy grader, knows his shit, and he is always open for questions
Cons: not always clear with what he wants, takes a very passive role in class, and the assignments require a lot of work
If you try in this class then you should do well so don't worry too much about grades, although the big 12-15 page essay is about 60%of your grade. because of this i learned a ton about my topic but i really didn't learn that much about the rest of Weimar history. Maybe this is just a personal feeling, but he has to be one of the biggest douchebags in MSU. He has this shit eating smirk on his face at all times and this way of talking that just makes me angry. I was able to do most of the readings in the hour before class, but if i missed it for one reason or another he would be sure to call on me in the middle of class or any other student that made the same mistake. basically, if you can put up with his shit then it's an ok class but i'm not going to recommend him to anyone
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Pros: not the hardest class
can do minimal work and get a decent grade
Cons: EXTREMELY boring class
power points don't help at all
have to go to class if you want any type of notes
Forner is an extremely boring professor. He lectures non-stop and expects everyone to be interested. He gives a list of terms you need to know but doesn't bother putting their definitions on the slides... you have to listen and write everything down. TONS of reading assigned for homework but you can get along without doing it. One second he can seem extremely nice and reasonable and the next he is rude and takes shots at people in the class. I'd definitely avoid this class if I could but if you're stuck in it just show up (easy attendance points) and read occasionally so you can get participation points. 2 map quizzes, 1 midterm that's not too bad and a take home final that consist of two essays
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He is hands down most rude and ignorant man on this earth. He thinks he is this big history hot shot, when in reality, no one even cares nor understands what he is talking about. Sometimes I am actually afraid of him and feel unsafe in class because of his bipolar tendencies. A poor kid had to go to leave class early because he clearly had to go to the doctor, and Forner stopped class and made a dramatic scene and said, "Wow. This is extraordinarily disruptive." I'm pretty sure every student in class wanted to punch him in the face at that moment. Don't take this class. It's a 100 level class - but he doesn't seem to understand that.
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Pros: Forner appears to genuinely care about his students more than almost any other professor I have had at MSU. He also understands what it's like to be a student.He assigns a lot of reading, and he knows it. When he comes to class and it's evident that most (or all) haven't read the assigned readings, he turns his back and asks everyone who read to raise their hand. someone then counts and tells him the number, and he then just continues to lecture like usual. He even usually made jokes about it. You have to come to class outside of normal hours to watch two movies, but he brought popcorn which was nice. He also encourages class discussion, and a percentage of your grade is based on class participation, but he never calls anyone out. I never did a single reading (online or in the book), and I never talked once in class. Even with all of that, that class should have been a easy 3.0, but I messed up and forgot about a easy take home map quiz which murdered my grade when it should have been easy points.
Cons: Forner does tend to mumble and talks in very longwinded sentences which makes it tough to follow his lectures sometimes. He also says umm and like a lot...i mean a lot.
Very nice prof, but he does tend to mumble, so I have to give him 4 stars. Class is made up of 2 4-5 page papers, 2 map quizes (one in class, one take home), one midterm and one final. Should be an easy 3.0.
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Pros: take home final
pretty easy
interesting
Cons: lectures are boring sometimes
A LOT of reading
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Prof. Forner is one of the best instructors I have ever had at State. Some lectures are better than others, and this is coming from a History major, but going to class is never a chore. He makes class fun and teaches/lectures about interesting topics about European history that is usually never acknowledged since all our classes growing pre-college are Americanized. The class is simple and he's a very easy grader for a History teacher. A midterm and final, a map quiz and map take home assignment, 2 papers based on a 2 films (both seen outside of class) and attendance/participation. I never talked in class and showed up every class and got a 93% for attendance/participation. I bet if I had just talked a few times he would've given me a 100%. And another great thing about Forner that I respect is he takes the time to learn all his students names even the one's in the back (and he did learn them all). I respect that because most Profs here don't give a rats ass what your name is. Finally, he's an easy enough grader, but not to much where you can slack off, I def. did not give my best effort on the papers and got what I rightfully deserved. All in all, a great Prof and I am thinking of taking him again for my seminar even if it is at 8:30am.
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his lectures aren't exactly fun but it's history... He keeps it straight to the point and lets you know straight up what you need to know. He's an easy enough grader. ...And he brings popcorn to the movies.
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this class was relaxing and as enjoyable as a history class could get. Basically your entire grade was based on a research paper you worked on all semester.. youd think it would be stressful having your grade be based on a paper, but yforner gives you so much time to work on it and he helps you alot. We sat in a circle and talked every class, it was always really interesting
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Pretty cool class. You sit in a circle and discuss the readings and then have three big papers with other small assignments. If you don't like writing or talking in class you'll hate it but I learned a lot. Forner is pretty easy-going and flexible with the syllabus but demands a lot from the papers.

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