Expository Writing: Emotion(S)
3.0
creditsAverage Course Rating
“Expos” is designed to introduce more confident student writers to the elements of academic argument. Students learn to apply “The Fundamental Structure of Academic Argument” in academic essays of their own. Classes are capped at 15 students and organized around three major essay assignments. Each course guides students’ practice through pre-writing, drafting, and revising, and includes discussions, workshops, and tutorials with the instructor. In addition to its central focus on the elements of academic argument, each “Expos” course teaches students to document sources correctly and provides its own topic or theme to engage students’ writing and thinking. Please see the following list of individual course descriptions to decide which sections of “Expos” will most interest you. “Expos” courses are available to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, and to seniors by special permission.
Fall 2012
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Fall 2013
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Fall 2014
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Fall 2012
Professor: Benjamin Parris
The best aspects of this course included the analytical readings, exciting class discussions, and different writing topics. The worst aspects of the course included the challenging work load and readings. Students also felt that the grading system was somewhat harsh and vague. The course would improve if the students had more conferences and meetings with the professor to discuss analytical essay writing. Prospective students should know that this course is writing and reading heavy, but will leave them knowing how to write well-structured essays.
Fall 2012
Professor: David Schley
The best aspects of this course included the analytical readings, exciting class discussions, and different writing topics. The worst aspects of the course included the challenging work load and readings. Students also felt that the grading system was somewhat harsh and vague. The course would improve if the students had more conferences and meetings with the professor to discuss analytical essay writing. Prospective students should know that this course is writing and reading heavy, but will leave them knowing how to write well-structured essays.
Fall 2012
Professor: Amanda Zecca
113 Students said the course greatly improved their writing skills, especially the discussions and the writing conferences with the professor. The negative aspects were that the peer reviews were not very useful, and some students thought the professor did not give enough flexibility with the paper guidelines. Suggestions for improvement included giving students more liberty on the style of their essays and more feedback before papers were due. Students should be prepared to spend a lot of time reading, writing, and revising. It also helps to have some interest in American Gothic literature.
Fall 2012
Professor: Roger Maioli dos Santos
The best aspects of the course included the extremely helpful professor and the useful feedback students received on their work. Students felt that their writing improved significantly by taking this course. The worst aspects of the course included the lengthy essay papers and final essay because students felt somewhat rushed to do the assignments in a short amount of time. The course would improve if the number of required essays were reduced so that students could spend more time on the three main essays. Prospective students should know that this course involves a substantial amount of reading and writing, but will definitely help them improve their writing if they put forth an effort.
Fall 2012
Professor: Jacob Chilton
The best aspects of the course included the smal , friendly class atmosphere and the stimulating discussions. The worst aspects of the course included the lack of prompt responses, as well as feedback on the essays. Students never got their essays back before the next ones were due, which left them with no feedback on how to improve on their writing. The course would improve if students had more time between each assignment and if the student essays were returned more promptly. Prospective students should endeavor to keep up with al the essays and expect an amazing, discussion-filled class.
Fall 2012
Professor: John Matsui
The best aspects of this course included the one-on-one meetings with the professor and the history lessons students received. However, students felt they did not learn as much as they had hoped about improving their writing. The classes were unhelpful and students said the feedback on their assignments was often not constructive. The course would improve if everything was restructured with more focused lessons and assignments that were geared to helping students with their writing. Prospective students
Fall 2012
Professor: George Oppel
The best aspect of the course was the knowledgeable professor who was extremely attentive and caring of the students. He provided students with lots of helpful feedback on their writing and effectively engaged students in the reading and writing material. The worst aspects of the course included the restrictive and tedious essays, as well as the overall level of difficulty of the course. The course would improve if students had more time to do the essay assignments, and if the class sessions were more interactive. Prospective students should know that this course involves a hefty amount of writing and that the grading system is somewhat tough, but if they put forth effort, they will gain a lot from the course.
Fall 2012
Professor: Maria Libina
The best aspects of the course included the helpful conferences with the professor and the lessons on visual analysis through pieces of art. The students learned how to discuss artwork and found the classes very enjoyable. The worst aspects of the course included the lack of clarity in some of the essay assignments, as wel as the inconsistent feedback students received on their papers. The course would improve if there were more art pieces analyzed in the course, opposed to just one, and if clearer guidelines were given for the essays. Prospective students should expect lots of weekly writing and occasional mandatory meetings with the professor to help them improve on their writing.
Fall 2012
Professor: Adam Maskevich
The best aspects of this course were learning important essay-writing skills and the topic of the class, which covered some interesting historical and archaeological material. A negative aspect was that some of the readings were very dry or too academic. Students suggested that the course would be improved by getting more feedback on papers from the professor and having more one-on-one meetings. Students should know that the course is reading and writing intensive. Students with an interest in Near Eastern history or archaeology will enjoy the class, but if you are not interested in the topic you may find
Fall 2012
Professor: Grant Shreve
The best aspects of this course included the interactive class discussions, fascinating readings and the writing lessons. The worst aspect of the course was the onslaught of essays. Students had some difficulty adjusting to and understanding the different essay assignments. The course would improve if the syllabus was more organized and if the students had a better outline explaining the essay expectations. Prospective students should prepare for lots of written assignments and interesting class sessions where they wil be doing lots critical thinking and analysis.
Fall 2012
Professor: Matthew Flaherty
The best aspects of this course included the variety of reading materials, from novels to poetry, as well as the professor, who was extremely engaged with the students and always provided help. Students found that the expected writing level was rather high for a 100-level course. Also, there was sometimes an overload of reading assigned, which was difficult to keep up with. Suggestions for improvement included spending more time going over papers and receiving critical feedback. Prospective students should have a decent background in writing, and enjoy reading to avoid being overwhelmed by the workload.
Fall 2012
Professor: Nan Zhang
116 The best aspect of the course was the fun and stimulating class discussions where students got to analyze classics like James Joyce's "Dubliners." The worst aspect of the course was the lack of speedy feedback on papers which made it difficult for students to improve their writing for the following papers. Also, the class discussions were at times unmotivated and dul because not al students participated. The course would improve if there were more assignments and readings to make the class more interactive. It would also improve if class participation were made mandatory in order to make the discussions livelier. Prospective students should be prepared to think critically and analytically in order to complete the reading assignments and the four essays in this class.
Fall 2012
Professor: John Waterman
The best aspects of this course were the great professor, the interesting material, and the helpful feedback the professor gave on students’ papers. A negative aspects was the classes disorganization, with due dates often changing or unclear. Students also said that it took a long time to get feedback on assignments. Suggestions for improvement included more interactive activities and more background information for some of the readings on cognitive science. Students should be prepared to do a lot of
Fall 2012
Professor: Robert Higney
The best aspects of this course included the interesting course topics and writing prompts. The worst aspects of this course included the lengthy and sometimes overwhelming readings. Also, the students would have liked to have more feedback in a timelier fashion. The course would improve if the class sessions were more engaging and if students received more feedback on their writing assignments. Prospective students should know that this course involves four essays and lots of reading.
Fall 2012
Professor: Robert Webber
The best aspects of the course included the interesting topic with relevance to current events, the professor’s helpful feedback on writing, and his approachability. As for negative aspects, the workload was very heavy at the end of the semester, and some students said they did not ful y understand the paper expectations until midway through the course. Students suggested spending more time explaining the expository writing style and spreading the work out more evenly. Students should know that the course teaches a different style of writing than they are used to, so it will be challenging, but the professor is very willing to help.
Fall 2012
Professor: Anthony Wexler
The best aspects of this course included the engaging lectures and class discussions, as well as the draft conferences where students received guidance on how to make their final drafts better. Students were also given freedom to develop and write their own ideas. The worst aspects of the course included the lengthy essays and the tight deadlines to complete them. The course would improve if the assignments were more spaced out so that students had enough time to complete each one. Prospective students should prepare to challenge themselves through essay assignments in this fantastic and manageable course.
Fall 2012
Professor: Anne-Elizabeth Brodsky
The best aspects of the course included the helpful professor and the excellent feedback on students’ writing. Students enjoyed the conferences with the professor and felt their writing significantly improved by taking this course. The worst aspects of the course included the awkward classroom, repetitive materialm and the heavy workload. The course would improve if more time were spent discussing and analyzing the readings. Prospective students should be prepared to do lots of reading in this course that is sure to help them improve their writing.
Fall 2012
Professor: Andrew Sisson
The best aspects of this course included the helpful feedback students received on their papers and the Hitchcock films students were able to see. The professor gave engaging lectures and was always clear about his expectations. The worst aspect of the course was the workshop sessions, as many students found them unhelpful. The course would improve if more time was spent on discussion and the different essay topics to help students’ performance. Prospective students should know that this course involves a fair amount of writing that will help them with their writing skills and interpretation of films.
Fall 2012
Professor: Jonathon Hricko
Students noted that the professor was dedicated to helping students learn and gave very helpful feedback on their writing. They said the challenging course improved their writing abilities. Some students said that they got bored with the topic after writing so numerous essays. Students suggested having more varied readings and writing assignments. Students should know that the course is very writing intensive. They should be prepared to accept criticism and use it to improve their writing. 114
Fall 2012
Professor: Jessica Valdez
The best aspects of the course included the workshops, debates, and thought-provoking class discussions. Students received helpful feedback from fel ow students and the professor, which helped them improve their writing. The worst aspect of the course was the dul and lengthy readings. The course would improve if there were opportunities for more individual conferences and more focus on writing principles. Prospective students should know that there is a lot of analytical reading and writing
Fall 2013
Professor: Jonathon Hricko
The best aspects of this course included the well-organized structure of the course and the detailed instructions provided for each writing assignment. However, some students felt that they were being told what to write. Suggestions for improvement included expanding the topic list or al owing students to make their own arguments. Prospective students should enjoy the topic, and expect a fairly heavy workload.
Fall 2013
Professor: Katarina O’Briain
The best aspects of this course included the highly engaging materials used to explore themes throughout literature and popular media—“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” was a particular hit in class. However, students felt that due to the extensive analysis needed for each assignment, deadlines could be tight and unforgiving. Suggestions for improvement included the possibility of adding more reading materials, such as a novel, to provide additional themes and topics to analyze in essays. Prospective students who enjoy science fiction and fantasy are highly encouraged to take this class. They should be prepared for extensive writing and reading and to fully develop their analysis of the source materials.
Fall 2013
Professor: John Waterman
The best aspects of this course included the challenging and interesting topic for the class, as well as the professor’s enthusiasm. Students liked the workshop setting where they could speak with their peers about the topic. Suggestions for improvement included providing more assigned readings and to make them shorter as well as providing students more in-depth feedback on essays. Prospective students should be prepared for a reading-intensive, mentally stimulating class with moderate writing assignments.
Fall 2013
Professor: Andrew Sisson
The best aspects of this course included watching and analyzing Alfred Hitchcock films, and then breaking into class discussion to talk about the subtleties of his films. Students found these discussions very helpful, especial y when writing response essays. Suggestions for improvement included additional movies to watch and analyze to provide further topics for analysis. Students also found it difficult to incorporate feedback into later essays because it took so long to receive this feedback, so a faster turnaround time for grading is suggested. Prospective students should be interested in Hitchcock’s films, and be prepared to write four essays with deep analysis of his works.
Fall 2013
Professor: John Sampson
The best aspects of this class included the course topic and the detailed feedback that students received on their essays. Students found that meeting in individual conferences with the professor helped them improve their writing and understand the structure of effective essays. Suggestions for improvement included providing more time to digest the materials, as well as more short articles to provide additional source materials for the essays. Prospective students should be interested in learning more about Baltimore, and be prepared to do extensive writing and reading.
Fall 2013
Professor: Expository Writing
The best aspects of this course included the in-class discussion topics that were engaging and thought-provoking. Students also found the peer-review workshops and feedback from the professor to be extremely helpful during their revision process. Suggestions for improvement included changing the schedule to al ow more time to complete assignments, as students often felt rushed when doing their work. Other students would have liked a smaller class size to allow more active group discussions in which the professor also took part. Prospective students should go in with a strong writing background, and a wil ingness to do the work assigned when it is assigned in order to stay on schedule. The work will be challenging and writing intensive but students enjoyed the class.
Fall 2013
Professor: Kel an Anfison
The best aspects of this course included the ample and detailed feedback students received on their writings, which they felt helped them improve. Students also enjoyed the different techniques the professor used to analyze media effectively. Suggestions for improvement included discussion about essay topics before they are assigned to help students prepare what they wil write. Students also wanted more freedom in topic choices. Prospective students should be prepared for extensive writing and participating in class discussions and want to improve their writing abilities.
Fall 2013
Professor: Jacob Chilton
The best aspects of this course included the materials students read for class, as well as the way the materials were analyzed during discussions. However, students found the professor to be disorganized, and that the class strayed from the schedule. Suggestions for improvement involve altering the schedule so that assignments are returned in a timely manner and that the feedback provided is more prompt and detailed. Prospective students should have a basic background knowledge of Shakespeare and be wil ing to commit a large amount of time to complete the work on time.
Fall 2013
Professor: Kevin Roberts
The best aspects of this course included the small class size, which allowed for more discussions. Students also found the detailed feedback and conferences with the professor real y helped improve their writing skills. Suggestions for improvement included altering the schedule to allow more time to complete the assignments, and refraining from guiding the discussions too much. Prospective students should love to write, already have a basic understanding of how to write well, and be prepared to discuss ideas in class.
Fall 2013
Professor: William Miller
The best aspects of the class included the engaging topics and materials covered throughout the semester. However, students found that the course lacked instruction on how to write, and that class discussions were often stilted and forced. Suggested improvements included more consistent feedback and more structured lesson plans to encourage more student participation and discussion. Prospective students should have a strong writing ability and be prepared to write often. They should keep on top of their work so that the workload is manageable and consistent.
Fall 2013
Professor: Elisabeth Campbel
The best aspects of this course included the feedback received on essays, which students felt significantly helped them improve their writing skills. Suggestions for improvement included allowing more flexibility in the writing style and structure, as some students felt that the essays felt formulaic, and that more time could be spent on the overal structure of an essay. Prospective students should expect to put in a fair amount of work on their essays but that they wil receive ample feedback to help their writing improve.
Fall 2013
Professor: Rebecca Buckham
The best aspects of this course included the professor and her enthusiasm for the material. Students found her very easy to approach with questions, and feedback to be insightful when revising works. Suggestions for improvement included changing the schedule, as students felt rushed through many of the works and did not feel as though they had a firm grasp of concepts. They also felt that the grading could be harsh at times. Prospective students must be wil ing to commit time to read and write before class in order to successfully participate in class discussions.
Fall 2013
Professor: Nora Lambrecht
The best aspects of this course included the small class size that permitted engaging discussions. Students also found the professor’s enthusiasm and wil ingness to help them develop their own writing styles to be particularly satisfying and helpful in improving their writing skills. Suggestions for improvement included providing more time for the final essay, which students felt was rushed. Students also wanted a more thorough review of the rubrics used to score essays, as grading was sometimes confusing. Prospective students do not need to be English majors or like writing to enjoy this class. They should be prepared to write often and extensively and be willing to ask the professor for assistance if they want help improving their writing.
Fall 2013
Professor: George Oppel
The best aspects of this class included the variety of interesting topics and readings. Students found that meeting with the professor and receiving feedback on their works really helped their writing improve. However, they did find that his grading system was strict with little opportunity to revise. Suggestions for improvement included having move lively discussions during the class to review the readings, and spending less time on the structural aspects of writing. Prospective students should love writing and be interested in the course topic, enough to discuss their views during class. They should also be prepared to keep up with the assignments, which will keep the workload manageable.
Fall 2013
Professor: Maria Libina
The best aspects of this course included the art history topic, which students found interesting and engaging. Students felt that the professor’s feedback and wil ingness to work with them on a one-to-one basis really helped them improve their writing abilities. However, students often found that class discussions were weakest when people had not done the readings and that the lack of prompt grading made it difficult to assess their standing in the class. Suggestions for improvement included receiving consistent feedback in a timely manner and grading on the content of the essays rather than how well they were written. Prospective students do not need a background in art, but they do need to be interested in visual arts in general. They should be prepared to write essays that are meant to engage the reader and to form and support persuasive arguments or ideas within their works.
Fall 2013
Professor: Aliza Watters
The best aspects of this course included the in-class discussion topics that were engaging and thought-provoking. Students also found the peer-review workshops and feedback from the professor to be extremely helpful during their revision process. Suggestions for improvement included changing the schedule to al ow more time to complete assignments, as students often felt rushed when doing their work. Other students would have liked a smaller class size to allow more active group discussions in which the professor also took part. Prospective students should go in with a strong writing background, and a wil ingness to do the work assigned when it is assigned in order to stay on schedule. The work will be challenging and writing intensive but students enjoyed the class.
Fall 2013
Professor: Anthony Wexler
The best aspects of this course included the professor, who chal enged students to think about the topic in a way that interested and engaged students. Students enjoyed the one-on-one sessions with the professor to discuss their works, although they found some of the feedback to contradict the final grading remarks. Suggestions for improvement included expanding the topic and sources list so that students have more freedom in writing their assignments. Prospective students should be aware that this is a writing and reading intensive course, but the workload is manageable if they stay organized and on schedule.
Fall 2013
Professor: ENGLISH
The best aspects of this course included the topic, which students found very interesting, and the in-class discussions where students related real-world issues to the topic. Students found the professor to be engaging and the work manageable. Suggestions for improvement included providing a brief history of the topic to provide background context, as wel as teaching more about the structure and workings of an essay. Students also wanted more time to complete each assignment. Prospective students should be prepared to read and write extensively, and to be able to support their arguments and opinions during class discussions.
Fall 2013
Professor: Bican Polat
The best aspects of this course included learning how to write academic papers at a college level, which students felt was useful for any and every major. However, students found that it was difficult to keep up with the work, as the professor would assign or send out materials the night before it was due. Suggestions for improvement included sending out materials at the end of the class before it was due (usual y a Thursday), or extending the time in which the work is due to give students more time to complete it. Prospective students should be prepared to work hard and meet with the professor to discuss questions or concerns about their writing.
Fall 2013
Professor: Tim Hanafin
The best aspects of this course included the personalized feedback students receive on their works. Students found that feedback was very helpful when writing and revising their works. Suggested improvements included altering the schedule to better space out topics and due dates, as students felt that too much time was spent on one topic and not enough time was given to complete assignments. Some students also felt that a brief introduction to economic terms, patterns, and history at the beginning of the course would have been helpful. Prospective students should have a basic understanding of economics and recent current events to ful y understand the topic as it is discussed. They should be prepared for an extensive reading and writing schedule, which can become overwhelming if students delay on assignments.
Fall 2013
Professor: Joseph Haley
The best aspects of this class included the extensive feedback that students received, as well as the one-on-one conferences with the professor to review students’ works. Students found the coursework to be intensive and time consuming, and that it took a long time for them to receive feedback on their works. Suggestions for improvement included speeding up the feedback process, and spending more time discussing the structure of an essay in group discussions. Prospective students should have an interest in Bioethics and improving their writing. They should be prepared for extensive reading and writing, and to al ot enough time to complete their work.
Fall 2013
Professor: Robert Higney
The best aspects of this course included the relaxed atmosphere of the class, which encouraged class participation during the discussions. Students found the professor very wil ing to meet with them one-on-one, which gave them helpful feedback when revising their essays. Suggestions for improvement included more flexibility in the topics, as well as some additional guidance in what an ‘A’ grade paper would entail. Prospective students should be interested in conservation issues and building arguments. They should also be willing to keep to the strict schedule in order to stay on top of the reading and writing assignments.
Fall 2014
Professor: Nicholas Bujak
Students gave high praise to the feedback from the professor, one-on-one attention, and the in-class discussions. Many students were thril ed to read Jane Austin and were impressed by their knowledge of her by the end of the semester. The worst aspects of the course included the delayed return of grades, the cramped timing of due dates and rushed in-class discussions. Students thought the course could be improved if there was more time between assignment and due date and if there were fewer in-class workshops. Prospective students should know that keeping up with the drafting was crucial. A background in Jane Austin is not needed, but if you are not interested in her writing you wil not enjoy this class. This professor was highly recommended.
Fall 2014
Professor: Douglas Tye
The highlights of this course included the professor, the subject matter, and the feedback on writing. Students gave the professors knowledge, encouragement, and teaching style very high praise. Some negative aspects of the course included slow grading turnaround and discussions that sometimes went in circles. A more even distribution of work, more timely feedback, and additional in class workshops were suggested improvements to the course. Prospective students wil get to read some exciting detective stories and will see their writing improve.
Fall 2014
Professor: Robert Webber
Interesting readings, individual attention, and the small class size were highlights of this course. The professor received the highest praise for his knowledge, willingness to be flexible, and availability. Though it was difficult for many to find fault with the course, a few thought the readings were occasionally dry. Offering the course on Tuesday/Thursday and more in-class discussions were suggestions to improve the course. Prospective students should know this course greatly improved their writing. This professor was highly recommended.
Fall 2014
Professor: Jacob Chilton
This course was highlighted by the small size, new perspectives on Shakespeare, and feedback in one-on-one and peer conferences. The professor is knowledgeable and kept discussions interesting. Grading was slow and assignments were repetitive. Suggested improvements included returning graded work faster and keeping lectures better organized. Prospective students should know the course was excellent for those interested in Shakespeare and improves students’ analytical writing.
Fall 2014
Professor: Joseph Haley
129High praise was given to the subject material presented in this class, the various writing techniques introduced, and the feedback for each step of the writing process. Negatives of the class included confusing in-class discussions, late feedback on work, and assignment instructions which were difficult to understand. Better organization of the course, more time for each essay, and faster feedback were all suggested improvements to the course. Prospective students should know that the course required a good deal of work and the grading can be harsh; however, the course will improve your analysis skills.
Fall 2014
Professor: Maria Libina
The best aspects of this course included the material covered, the attentiveness of the professor, and the in-class discussions. The professor was given high praise for her individualized feedback on work and her wil ingness to go above and beyond to help the students. Negative aspects of the class included a harsh grading system and slow turnaround on graded work. More time for the final essay, additional one on one meeting time, and more freedom to choose essay topics were suggestions to improve the course. Prospective students do not need to have a background in art, but should have an interest in the subject. Students found the course had a manageable workload and the class improved their analytical writing abilities.
Fall 2014
Professor: Jennie Hann
Highlights from this course included the feedback on drafts, small class size and instruction on close analytical reading. The rushed due dates and low participation were the worst aspects of the course. More group participation and additional time between assignments could improve this course. Students interested in this course should know that keeping up with regular assignments was very important, there was a great deal of writing expected, and the readings could be interesting.
Fall 2014
Professor: ENGLISH
This course was highlighted by interesting concepts and topics in the readings and meaningful feedback from the professor. Students found the one-on-one conferences useful. However, slow grading and repetitive workshops were negatives of the course. Better use of class time, faster turnaround on grades, and more open class discussions were al suggested as possible improvements to the course. Prospective students should know that this class was a typical expository writing class.
Fall 2014
Professor: Robert Day
This class was highlighted by the feedback from the professor and one-on-one meetings where students felt encouraged and supported by the professor. The in-class discussions and variety of readings were also high points. Regular writing assignments and a lack of creative freedom were negative aspects of the course. Two common changes suggested were having more one-on-one conferences and more in-127class analysis of the readings. Prospective students should be aware that the course had a lot of assigned reading and students needed to be familiar with MLA style. The course will greatly improve your writing skills.
Fall 2014
Professor: Andrew Sisson
Watching Hitchcock, discussing the films, and the small class size were some of the best aspects of this course. The professor was highly praised for his knowledge of the material and feedback given in one-on-one conferences. Slow grading, low in class participation, and short deadlines were all cited as negative aspects of the course. Suggested improvements to the course included faster turnaround time on grades and more time between due dates. Prospective students were encouraged to take this course and this professor. Students found the course didn’t require students to have prior knowledge of Hitchcock or a strong background in writing.
Fall 2014
Professor: Donald Berger
Feedback from peers and the professor, along with several drafts of each essay were some of the high points in this course. Additional y, the readings were interesting and engaging and class discussion was insightful. Continuous due dates and changes to the schedule were the worst aspects of the course. Suggestions for improvement included giving more time to work on each essay and more instruction on 130writing the body of the essay. Prospective students should be prepared to critique short stories and be sure to avoid procrastination.
Fall 2014
Professor: John Brandau
The best aspects of this course included the guidance provided from the professor, the intellectual challenge of the readings, and the in-class discussions. Additional y, the peer-review sessions and conferences with the professor gave students confidence in their writing. Students also found that some of the reading topics weren’t enjoyable with some students finding them too erudite. More writing styles and techniques should be taught in the class. Prospective students should have some interest in philosophy and take advantage of office hours.
Fall 2014
Professor: Kara Wedekind
The best aspects of this course included the smal class size, one on one instruction, and consistent feedback over various drafts. While the feedback from the professor was useful, many gave low marks to the time it took to receive graded essays. Additional y, some students did not think the course matched the description. Suggestions to improve the course included returning grades faster, more interesting readings, and staying true to the description of the course. Prospective students should be prepared for close, critical reading and significant writing assignments.
Fall 2014
Professor: Amanda Zecca
Students gave their highest praise to the reading material, the availability of the professor, and the focus on consistently revising to improve writing. The professor’s availability and knowledge of the subject was also given high marks by the students. The worst aspect of the course was the heavy workload, which though expected was still frustrating. Areas of improvement include doing more in-class writing and having additional one-on-one conferences. Prospective students should know that the focus of the class is learning to write effective essays rather than American gothic. The class and professor are highly recommended.
Fall 2014
Professor: John Hoffmann
This class was praised for the helpful feedback from the professor, informative and engaging in class discussions, and interesting readings. The professor in particular was given high praise for his encouragement and individualized attention. The heavy reading schedule and tough grading were the worst aspects of the course. Students thought that additional workshops and more time for the final essay would improve the course. Prospective students should know that the course requires regular and consistent work, but the professor makes the class enjoyable.
Fall 2014
Professor: Elisabeth Campbel
The best aspects of this course were the one-on-one conferences and individual attention, being able to write and revise original works and the feedback on assignments. Students dislike that at times the class discussions went off topic and some of the readings were uninteresting. Additional time to work on the drafts and more teacher-led discussions were common suggestions to improve the class. Prospective students should know the topics weren’t always interesting and the style of the essays was repetitive. However, the workload was manageable and students found their writing improved.
Fall 2014
Professor: Roger Maioli dos Santos
The best aspects of this course were the engaging and attentive professor and the thought provoking material. In class discussions were fun and useful when analyzing the readings. Overlapping assignments and constant due dates were the worst aspect of the class. Suggested improvements include giving more time for the final essay and moving the deadline from noon on Saturday. Students interested in this course should be prepared for consistent writing, but know all the smaller assignments build to the longer essays. The professor was highly recommended.
Fall 2014
Professor: ENGLISH
The overwhelming praise for this course went to the professor, whom students found engaging, approachable, and effective. Work was manageable and consistent feedback ensured that students knew how to improve their work. The short time between assignment and due date was rated the worst aspect of the course. Suggestions for improvement included more time for the final essay and additional in class workshop time. Prospective students should know students found that the work was all structured to improve students’ writing abilities. The professor was highly recommended.
Fall 2014
Professor: Johannes Schade
Individual conferences, an enthusiastic professor, and the choice of movies were the best aspects of the class. Many students commented on the usefulness of the professor’s feedback, and thought the smal class size made class discussions more effective. Having to watch movies out of class and the professor’s disorganization were the worst aspects of the class. Suggestions to improve the class include watching important scenes in class and eliminating the in class worksheets. Prospective students should follow the feedback provided by the professor in revisions to get the highest grade possible.