What have you heard about this class? I would like to address some of the "good, bad, & ugly" right upfront!

T OR F:
1. This instructor expects a lot from her students. T [But no more than any other good instructor, at any other good university.]

2. This instructor can seem tough at first. T [Students often find that they have not previously been challenged to write in correct MLA format or in an interesting and engaging way. They also sometimes find that "I don't understand" is not an acceptable analysis of the material. You can always understand SOMETHING about the reading (a theme, a symbol, setting, something about a character, etc.). Focus on what you do know, and take it from there. Once you decide to accept the challenge, the material seems a lot more accessible.] 
3. The content of this course is largely geared to the interests of the instructor. T [As true with most English classes, but the overwhelming majority of the material covered is from the textbook. The few exceptions are still regarded as classic literature.]
4. The subject matter discussed is often considered "controversial" by some students. T [This is a college class, and you can expect to openly discuss such topics as love, sex, and sexuality as it applies to the course material.]
5. This instructor is mean and critical. F [Yes, I do critique my students' writing because that is my job, but I am never mean. Theoretically, you are supposed to be here to learn, which means that you always have room for improvement. In a peer editing session, I will use the few minutes I have with you to point out what needs to be improved. Critique should never be taken personally.]
6. The instructor gives grades based on if you agree with her opinions. F [Absolutely false. I can provide you a list of references of students who can easily dispute this if need be :)]
7. The instructor is rude to her students. F [I actually love my students and teaching. However, I do have a strange sense of humor and am sarcastic by nature, which some students misinterpret.]
8. You can't pass this class. F [The overwhelming majority of my students not only pass my class, but they normally do better in the end than they had expected. I challenge my students, but if they do all of the assigned work and try their hardest, they excel in the end. It is VERY rare that a student who has come to class regularly and turned in all assignments will fail... VERY RARE.]
9. The instructor is passionate about literature. T [Yes, I am. I don't expect everyone to be as enthusiastic as I am, but I appreciate an effort.]
10. The instructor is personal about her life. T [I often discuss how I relate the literature to my life in hopes that my students will also apply the literature to their own lives.]
11. The instructor teaches from the web notes. T [The majority of the lectures comes from the website. I have heard students say that this is "boring"; however, the only reason I created the websites in the first place was on the recommendation of my former students who said that it was too hard to keep up with notetaking and that it would be easier to follow notes from an online format. I guess I can't make everyone happy. 50 minutes is simply not long enough to have adequate discussion AND lecture on each work, so I DO MY BEST.]
12. The instructor does not even have a syllabus. F [The syllabus is clearly posted on the first page of the website. It is up to students to print it out if they wish.]
12 1/2. You are supposed to read the notes on the website before you come to class; therefore, the class is pointless. F [Students should NOT read the course notes prior to coming to class. The lecture notes are clarified and explained in lecture format. They should be used as a study guide for exams. You should NOT read the lecture notes before they are discussed in class. Read the literature and attempt to find a meaning on your own.]
13. The assignments for this class are unclear. F [All assignments are clearly spelled out on the website. It is up to students to print them out and look them over multiple times-- just hearing the directions verbally from me once in class is not enough.]
14. The instructor looks at you like you are dumb when you are confused about an assingment. ?? [This may happen UNintentionally... but only when I have repeated the answer to said question multiple times and have it clearly posted on the website. Some students do NOT pay attention in class or bother to access their assignments from the website, and this is frustrating. When this happens, you might be able to read some perplexment on my face, admittedly. However, normally, I go ABOVE AND BEYOND to answer any questions my students may have, including setting up a NING in order to answer questions and respond to comments every single day, even on non-class days!]
15. The instructor expects you to be able to come up with some sort of meaning/analysis for the things you read in class. T [It is expected that college level students can derive SOME meaning from what they read. It is true that I often repeat that my 2nd and 4th graders can do the same. I do not accept when a student says they "don't understand" the poem or story... you may not "fully" understand, but you should certainly be able to point out a plot, a theme, a characteristic of a character in the story/poem, the setting, a symbol... something. I don't accept that college level students CAN'T do this, although they make it clear at times that they WON'T.]
16. You will not learn anything in this class. F [When I see students say this on the course evals, I automatically dismiss the comment. There is NO WAY you can sit in this class each week and not learn SOMETHING. If that is the case, then I think that says more about the student than the instructor ;]
17. This instructor is unapproachable. F [I leave open communication to my students, but it is up to them to use it. The NING is there for you to express your ideas, thoughts, concerns, etc., and I am always available via email. I may come across to certain students this way, but it is not intentional. I truly want the best for each of my students. All students should meet with me prior to dropping the class for fear of earning a failing grade.]
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It is important for students to realize upfront that college should be challenging. An "A" is not given lightly in any "good" college classroom; "A's" are reserved for the BEST work. A hard-earned "C" is just as respectable as any other grade. I have little tolerance for students who want and A but who are not willing to work for the A-- work by my standards, not their own. For some students, this may mean appointments with tutors, Smart Thinking sessions, study guides, etc., and it certainly means attending every class.  It is understood that not everyone has a natural ability to write or think critically about literature, and that is okay... but those students who don't have that ability may indeed have to work harder to get a desired grade. However, I do NOT accept the attitude that "I just can't understand this". There is always something about the reading that you CAN understand. It is okay to make a general observation that you aren't sure is accurate, but dialogue is part of the learning process. Don't come in defeated before you even start. I am willing to work with any student who wishes to set a goal for this class and to help him or her achieve that goal. While I do not have time to edit every student's work prior to it being graded, I will always be here to answer specific questions or to point you toward the right direction. Make NO mistake, I WANT all of my students to succeed... but success isn't always measure by an "A".