Recent recorded grades — Fall 2020: 3.53 GPA, 73.3% A/AB (n=15 letter grades); Fall 2024: 3.46 GPA, 75.6% A/AB (n=41 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.27 GPA, 71.4% A/AB (n=42 letter grades).
Spring 2027
The Historian's Craft
The Historian's Craft involves conducting original historical research using archival materials, defining questions, analyzing evidence, and presenting conclusions in written and spoken formats.
offering recorded3–4 credits
Summary
1 / 6
Past student reviews · Daniel Stolz
The homework was described as reasonable in scope.
What you’ll be able to do
Ask Questions: develop the habit of asking questions, including questions that may generate new directions for historical research.
Find Sources: learn the logic of footnotes, bibliographies, search engines, libraries, and archives, and consult them to identify and locate source materials.
Evaluate Sources: determine the perspective, credibility, and utility of source materials.
Develop and Present an Argument: use sources appropriately to create, modify, and support tentative conclusions and new questions.
Plan Further Research: draw upon preliminary research to develop a plan for further investigation.
Communicate Findings Effectively: make formal and informal, written and oral presentations tailored to specific audiences.
Source: UW Guide
Grade history
↗ average GPA
5,0835,083 letter grades
A52.0%52.0%
AB25.0%25.0%
B13.7%13.7%
BC4.4%4.4%
C2.4%2.4%
D0.9%0.9%
F1.6%1.6%
All recorded terms · compare terms & instructors
Prerequisites
Course mapSatisfied Communications A. Not open to students with credit forHIST SCI 211.
- Satisfied Communications A
- not eligible with
“Used by” includes alternatives; linked courses may have other requirements. This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.
Prerequisite text tree
- All of
- Satisfied Communications A
- Not eligible with
Professors
Spring 2027DS
Daniel Stolz
About this rating
Raw average: 5.00/5 from 10 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.
For this course: 5.0/5 raw quality · 3.0/5 difficulty · 2 reviews
RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.
Past student reviews · Daniel Stolz
Professor Daniel Stolz taught History 201 as an engaging and interesting course where students found the content relevant. He provided detailed and useful feedback on assignments and was willing to help outside of class. Students noted that he genuinely cared about their learning and was more than willing to answer questions about the work.
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2020: 3.92 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=12 letter grades); Fall 2021: 3.73 GPA, 84.6% A/AB (n=13 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.80 GPA, 90.0% A/AB (n=10 letter grades).
LY
Louise Young
About this rating
Raw average: 4.73/5 from 11 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.
RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2024: 3.54 GPA, 71.1% A/AB (n=38 letter grades); Spring 2025: 3.61 GPA, 78.0% A/AB (n=41 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.50 GPA, 78.6% A/AB (n=42 letter grades).
JH
John Hall
About this rating
Raw average: 4.42/5 from 19 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.
RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2017: 3.58 GPA, 83.3% A/AB (n=12 letter grades); Spring 2024: 3.65 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=13 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.71 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=7 letter grades).
SB
Simon Balto
About this rating
Raw average: 4.21/5 from 19 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.
RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2023: 3.74 GPA, 94.1% A/AB (n=17 letter grades).
CK
Charles Kim
About this rating
Raw average: 4.20/5 from 15 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.
RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2013: 3.44 GPA, 70.6% A/AB (n=34 letter grades); Fall 2014: 3.64 GPA, 82.1% A/AB (n=39 letter grades).
About this rating
Raw average: 4.50/5 from 6 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.
RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2023: 3.27 GPA, 66.7% A/AB (n=15 letter grades); Spring 2024: 3.47 GPA, 80.0% A/AB (n=15 letter grades); Fall 2024: 3.43 GPA, 66.7% A/AB (n=15 letter grades).
About this rating
Raw average: 3.84/5 from 45 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.
RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.
No course-specific feedback yet.
PG
Paul Grant
About this rating
Raw average: 3.38/5 from 13 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.
RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 3.96 GPA, 96.4% A/AB (n=28 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.66 GPA, 86.0% A/AB (n=50 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.75 GPA, 88.7% A/AB (n=53 letter grades).
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2023: 3.53 GPA, 66.7% A/AB (n=15 letter grades); Spring 2025: 3.61 GPA, 85.4% A/AB (n=41 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.71 GPA, 85.7% A/AB (n=42 letter grades).
MH
Mallory Hope
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2024: 3.62 GPA, 75.0% A/AB (n=12 letter grades); Spring 2025: 3.70 GPA, 80.0% A/AB (n=10 letter grades).
No course-specific feedback yet.
No course-specific feedback yet.
Historical instructors & teaching patterns
Past student reviews · Claire Taylor, Paige Pendarvis
Claire Taylor’s lectures were described as passionate but condescending, with students noting a lack of guidance on ancient sources and final essays. In contrast, Paige Pendarvis received mixed feedback: one student found her straightforward teaching and paper feedback highly useful, while others reported that she read from notes and administered 50-question tests in 50 minutes without test reviews.
CHARLES KIM is recorded teaching in Fall 2013, Fall 2014. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
CLAIRE TAYLOR is recorded teaching in Fall 2014, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2020, Spring 2022. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
DANIEL STOLZ is recorded teaching in Fall 2018, Spring 2020, Fall 2021, Spring 2026. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
FRANCINE HIRSCH is recorded teaching in Spring 2014, Spring 2019, Fall 2020, Fall 2024, Fall 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
GEOFFREY DURHAM is recorded teaching in Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
GIULIANA CHAMEDES is recorded teaching in Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2025, Fall 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
JOHN HALL is recorded teaching in Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2024, Spring 2026. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
JOSEPH DENNIS is recorded teaching in Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2023, Spring 2025, Spring 2026. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
KHALED ESSEISSAH is recorded teaching in Fall 2022, Spring 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
LOUISE YOUNG is recorded teaching in Spring 2013, Spring 2016, Spring 2018, Spring 2020, Fall 2021, Spring 2024, Spring 2025, Fall 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
MALLORY HOPE is recorded teaching in Fall 2024, Spring 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
PAIGE PENDARVIS is recorded teaching in Fall 2023, Spring 2024. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
PAUL GRANT is recorded teaching in Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
SARAH THAL is recorded teaching in Fall 2014, Fall 2015, Fall 2017. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
SIMON BALTO is recorded teaching in Spring 2023. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
SUZANNE DESAN is recorded teaching in Fall 2016, Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Spring 2023. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
Calendar & sections
Spring 2027Schedule loads here as you scroll.
| Section | Mode | Enrolled / capacity | Waitlist |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 003 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 45 | 0 |
| LEC 004 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 45 | 0 |
| DIS 308 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| DIS 309 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| LEC 005 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 45 | 0 |
| DIS 310 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| DIS 311 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| DIS 312 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| LEC 006 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| LEC 007 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| LEC 009 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| LEC 010 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 45 | 0 |
| DIS 313 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| DIS 314 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| DIS 315 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| LEC 012 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| LEC 013 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| LEC 001 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| DIS 316 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| DIS 317 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| DIS 318 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| DIS 319 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| LEC 014 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 45 | 0 |
| DIS 320 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| DIS 321 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| DIS 322 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| LEC 015 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 45 | 0 |
| DIS 323 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| DIS 324 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| DIS 325 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| LEC 016 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
| LEC 017 | Classroom Instruction | 0 / 15 | 0 |
Times are Central. Select a meeting for details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections. Enrollment reflects scan time.
Meeting source records
Student experience
the class
Past student reviews · Daniel Stolz
Students found the course fun and engaging, with Professor Stolz making the content seem interesting and relevant.
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 3.69 GPA, 83.5% A/AB (n=363 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.65 GPA, 83.6% A/AB (n=371 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.67 GPA, 86.3% A/AB (n=329 letter grades).
difficulty & workload
Past student reviews · Daniel Stolz
The homework was described as reasonable in scope.
Past student reviews · Daniel Stolz
Professor Stolz provided detailed, useful feedback on assignments and was willing to help answer questions.
Topics
- Archival materials and primary sources
- Formulating historical research questions
- Historical evidence collection and analysis
- Presenting original historical conclusions
Skills
- Defining historical questions, collecting and analyzing evidence, and presenting original conclusions
- Evaluating the perspective, credibility, and utility of source materials
- Developing and supporting arguments using appropriate sources
Grades
Historical instructor
Spring 2027 · Projected
Before grades are releasedApproximate 80% prediction interval
0.04.0
About this estimate
The course’s semester-average GPA, not an individual student’s grade. The center uses 5 same-season terms, weighted toward recent results.
The range uses the finite-sample 80th-percentile rank of absolute errors from earlier same-season forecasts. Each forecast uses only records from earlier terms. At least four forecasts are required; bounds are rounded outward and limited to 0–4. This is an empirical estimate: changing instructors or grading policies can reduce its coverage.
8 earlier forecasts · 0.12 GPA average error.
Grades over time
Through Spring 2027
More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data
Where this course fits relative to
Latest available grades · Spring 2026 · all course levels
Higher than
Course GPAs · red marks this course’s range
More recorded grades than
Typical course in this group:
About this comparison
1280 courses over the same term, each with at least 30 recorded letter grades. Cross-listed courses count once. GPA is not a measure of difficulty or teaching quality. The typical course is the median by recorded grade count; tied values are not counted as lower. Grade counts describe course scale, not unique students or typical section size.
Descriptions compare GPA with this group’s average: at least 0.20 higher or lower; otherwise close to average. Section size uses median recorded enrollment: small up to 30, mid-sized 31–99, large 100+. Lectures and discussion/lab sections are described separately.
Sources & history
UW–Madison
Catalog & offerings
Descriptions, prerequisites, and recorded course offerings.
Catalog observation history
Observations at scan time; dates do not imply when a catalog change took effect.
Selected offering source records
The Historian's Craft
Recorded 2026-10-14Freedom Summer & Civil Rights
Recorded 2026-10-14Global Migrations
Recorded 2026-10-14Japan After 1945
Recorded 2026-10-14Mideast History in the Midwest
Recorded 2026-10-14Hist of Parents' Gen,1970-2000
Recorded 2026-10-14Local Fields, Global Forces
Recorded 2026-10-14Korean War/Cold War Korea
Recorded 2026-10-14Finance, Gambling, and Risk
Recorded 2026-10-14Making Sense of the Holocaust
Recorded 2026-10-14Shanghai Life and Crime
Recorded 2026-10-14Indian Removal
Recorded 2026-10-14Russia and America
Recorded 2026-10-14A History of Money
Recorded 2026-10-14Raw records
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]Rate My Professors
Student reviews
Original comments behind the course and instructor summaries.
Read original reviews
Madgrades
Grade history
Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.
Explore recorded gradesDataset & model
View the dataset on Hugging Face Recorded 2026-10-14
Model outputs & technical records
Qwen/Qwen3.8-27B
LLM outputs across runs
Full model traces
Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.
Model & dataset provenance
{
"model": "Qwen/Qwen3.8-27B",
"model_revision": "1d4bf0f2ff6012fd82039f2fa52739d0dd7c60c0",
"task_version": "17",
"output_id": "610ad5b45968dd1c49efbc639a64007ef64d8286f32897a823857b99f343e815",
"requirements_status": "needs_review",
"dataset_revision": "fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf",
"observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00"
}