You will learn a lot of history in this course. Or you will fail. Not to sound intimidating... The lectures were really good, extremely well structured, very interesting. At first I thought Phillips had a slow, monotone voice (like the stereotypical college professor you see in all the movies), but this is just so you can type down notes. Since the class covers so much material, every sentence in lecture is crucial information that you may be held accountable for on the tests. So bring a laptop and type notes. If you don't get everything in lecture, the textbook goes over a lot of the same stuff and is a good resource when you go back to review. For the tests, he gives you a study guide with about 30 terms, 8 of which appear on test. You choose to write paragraphs on 5. Basically you have to write down everything presented in lecture and in the textbook, including dates. It's really a lot of information to memorize. So it's best to split up the terms with one or two other people, learn the material, and then test each other. For dates I created a separate date sheet of the terms in chronological order, which helped to put things in context. You also have to write an essay for each exam which should be thought out in advance. Write quickly; you only have an hour. You also have to write two five page essays for the class based on materials from the sourcebook. My essays were 7 and 10 pages and I got A's on both, so more is definitely better than less. Also, cite sources extensively. If you don't you'll be marked down a lot. I found a good approach was to cite the source and then write a few sentences reflecting on it in the next paragraph, then set up for the next quote. The workload is a lot before the tests, but otherwise you really just have to go to lecture. Don't bother to do the discussion readings in advance. Discussion is basically useless, but you have to attend for participation points. TA's do all the grading. Came out knowing a lot more about ancient western history than I ever thought I'd know (or frankly cared to know). Got an A though =)

This class is a good one to take for a GE. Basically, the info isn't that hard, you don't really have to do any of the Oedipus/Epic of Gilgamesh (literature) readings, and I am pulling an A without going to class (the secret: do the western experience and primary source readings)

I don't go to class because I find that Phillips reminds me of the Clear Eyes guy/teacher from Ferris Bueller...that kind of monotonous slow talking style...nothing personal Phillips, but I can't sit through slow talkers. So I just do the reading, show up to my discussion and BS my way through it my volunteering for participation points on the easy stuff (when was Plato around, etc.) and don't make eye contact on the hard stuff (What are some of the literary devices seen in The Apology?)

Great teacher!! Fun class, tests are not that hard, Take him if you can!!

I really liked Professor Phillips. He is very knowledgeable and manages to make his lectures interesting and even funny. He gives three one-hour exams and tells you exactly what will be on it so there are no surprises at all. The readings are pretty much unnecessary if you go to class but helpful in discussion and the papers. Just do the study guide, go to section and write a decent paper and you should get an A.

This is the best class I've taken so far. His lectures make ancient history really interesting! Tests are really easy if you go to every lecture and take notes. He has study guides before each test, and you can basically use your notes to study for it, rather than the reading assigned. For each test, there is a lot of memorization involved, but it's so straightforward. It's a pretty easy GE.

Prof Phillips is GREAT! TAKE THIS CLASS WITH THIS PROFESSOR!!! Lectures are very entertaining, he is very knowledgable, and the material is really straightforward and interesting. This was one class I actually looked forward to attending. Phillips influenced my decision to be a history major. Information is presented well, tests not too difficult, take this class for a GE or just because it interests you!

I thought that Prof. Philips, while dry for time to time, was a really good professor. He trieds his hardest to make the lecture material interesting; I espeically liked the commentary to contemporary events and when he recited works in the anicent text. The class is not too bad, sine he posts study guides for the tests (there are 3 of them) and anything you need to know for the test is on these study guides. There are two papers, but you're given a choice of topics, and I always found at least one of the paper topics interesting. Overall, a good class to take, whether for a GE or for a major.