Historical instructor

MICHAEL THORNTON

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 3.17/5 from 18 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.

What students say

Original student reviews · all captured dates

AFROAMER 673
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
One of the best professors I've ever had. Very thought provoking discussions. Be ready to challenge your beliefs.
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AA151 · course not matched
Quality 2/5Difficulty 3/5
His class is important, and the topics discussed are meaningful, but he is very unorganized. It's hard to know what's expected of you, and he doesn't update Canvas with grades. His grading seems arbitrary and instructions for papers are unclear and vague. Would recommend a different course for sure.
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AFRO151 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
he doesn't deserve this bad reviews. jesus. AA151 is the best class i've ever taken. he's really passionate about everything he talks about, which is why people say his lectures are intense. there's an okay amount of writing- about 1-1 1/2 pages single spaced per week, then 2 big ones in the middle and end of the semester. don't procrastinate.
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AFRO151 · course not matched
Quality 1/5Difficulty 4/5
Do not take this class. Wait a semester, if you cannot find any other ethnic studies class. Professor Thornton teaches absolutely no material and just keeps yapping in lecture about the same stuff - (whites are worst, blacks are best). There is too much work involved (manual labour mostly) for the class. Again, for your own sake, skip it.
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AFRO151 · course not matched
Quality 1/5Difficulty 4/5
While Professor Thornton Had some interesting content Afro 151, I would not recommend taking it. It is far too much work for a three credit course once you factor in the biweekly papers, larger writing assignments, readings, and volunteer work. His directions are frequently unclear too, and don't expect a response to your emails.
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AFRO151 · course not matched
Quality 4/5Difficulty 2/5
This class requires a lot of work. However, it is extremely eye opening especially for many of the people of Madison who come from primarily white neighborhoods. Professor Thornton exposes real life struggles of minorities and is very passionate. Not difficult to do well in this class as long as you go to lecture and put thought into your writing.
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with MICHAEL THORNTON

AFROAMER 151

Introduction to Contemporary African American Society

3–4 credits

Survey of the characteristics and problems of African Americans in contemporary society.

No offering record · Spring 2020

with this instructor · course overall, matching historical terms

Michael Thornton

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2015–Spring 2020
AFROAMER 673

Selected Topics in African American Society

3 credits

AFROAMER 673 provides an intensive analysis of specific societal themes within African Americans' experiences.

No offering record · Spring 2020

with this instructor · course overall, matching historical terms

Michael Thornton

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2016–Spring 2019 · limited sample

Recorded teaching history

Distinct courses recorded per term

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Spring 2020AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Spring 2020AFROAMER 673Selected Topics in African American Society
Fall 2019AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Spring 2019AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Spring 2019AFROAMER 673Selected Topics in African American Society
Spring 2019AFROAMER 699Directed Study in Afro-american Studies
Spring 2019AFROAMER 790Research and Thesis
Fall 2018AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Fall 2018AFROAMER 673Selected Topics in African American Society
Spring 2018AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Spring 2018AFROAMER 790Research and Thesis
Fall 2017AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Fall 2017AFROAMER 673Selected Topics in African American Society
Fall 2017AFROAMER 790Research and Thesis
Spring 2017AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Spring 2017AFROAMER 699Directed Study in Afro-american Studies
Spring 2017AFROAMER 790Research and Thesis
Fall 2016AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Fall 2016AFROAMER 673Selected Topics in African American Society
Fall 2016AFROAMER 790Research and Thesis
Spring 2016AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Spring 2016AFROAMER 673Selected Topics in African American Society
Fall 2015AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Fall 2015AFROAMER 699Directed Study in Afro-american Studies
Spring 2015AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Spring 2015AFROAMER 673Selected Topics in African American Society
Spring 2015AFROAMER 699Directed Study in Afro-american Studies
Fall 2014AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Fall 2014AFROAMER 699Directed Study in Afro-american Studies
Spring 2014AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Spring 2014AFROAMER 673Selected Topics in African American Society
Fall 2013AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Spring 2013AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Spring 2013AFROAMER 673Selected Topics in African American Society
Fall 2012AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Spring 2012AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Spring 2012AFROAMER 673Selected Topics in African American Society
Spring 2012AFROAMER 699Directed Study in Afro-american Studies
Fall 2011AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Fall 2011AFROAMER 199Directed Study
Spring 2011AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Spring 2011AFROAMER 199Directed Study
Spring 2011AFROAMER 673Selected Topics in African American Society
Fall 2010AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Spring 2010AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Fall 2009AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Spring 2009AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Spring 2009AFROAMER 699Directed Study in Afro-american Studies
Spring 2009AFROAMER 790Research and Thesis
Fall 2008AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Spring 2008AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Spring 2008AFROAMER 199Directed Study
Fall 2007AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Fall 2007AFROAMER 199Directed Study
Spring 2007AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Spring 2007AFROAMER 199Directed Study
Spring 2007AFROAMER 699Directed Study in Afro-american Studies
Fall 2006AFROAMER 151Introduction to Contemporary African American Society
Fall 2006AFROAMER 199Directed Study

Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.

Instructor identity & provenance 
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