Alan Simes - De Anza College, Cupertino, CA

Professor: Alan Simes

Department: English

College: De Anza College, Cupertino, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: EWRT002
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

No matter how hard I tried in this class, I always got let down. My work was never good enough. He was never clear in his assignments. I started this class in love with English, but after taking his class I hate it. Do not take his online class. He always gave negative feedback only never positive.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: EWRT002
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Thoroughly enjoyed my online class with Professor Simes. Not significantly more work than other classes. Professor Simes was very helpful, and when emailed with questions always responded. Definitely have been able to challenge myself in terms of critical thinking skills, and feel my writing significantly improved from taking his class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: EWRT31973
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Alan Simes is a very nice guy if you build a personal relationship with him via email or in person, but if you take his online class and fail to do so you will learn next to nothing and receive very minimal feedback. If you aren't already an exceptionally talented writer, you will not receive an A in his class due to the heavy emphasis on essays.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: EWRT2
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This professor has very high standards which maybe helpful. He cares, but doesn't offer the best delivery methods. When a student didn't know an answer and said they were distracted, he exploded on the entire class. He threw off his glasses and was screaming while using profanity and there was some weird power play. Wouldn't take him again...

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: EWRT002
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

PSA: DO NOT TAKE THIS PROF. the teacher had a goddam melt down in class. he started cursing and throwing things across the room while yelling! Then he started crying and stormed out the door! I am not making this up this actually happened for EWRT2. He is a terrible teacher he teaches like he is teaching english majors in Harvard, not GE in CC.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: EWRT002
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

He was a lot of fun. He taught in an unusual way, which was a welcome change. Nowhere close to the hardest English class I've ever taken, but be prepared for lots of homework quizzes, some of which seem to sneak up on you if you don't pay attention. All in all, worth taking.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: EWRT002
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Prof. Simes is a hard grader instructor. He never satisfied with our work. Lots of readings, you will have a quiz for each reading. 3 short essays and a research paper. He'll remember each of you so don't ever be late or skip his class. Just don't take his class!!! Ever!!!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: EWRT002
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Professor Simes is one of the toughest teachers i have ever had. However if you take his class you will learn how to use many tools and also come out a lot smarter then before. He gives a lot of short quizzes that are easy, but can be fairly tricky at times. All in all he is a solid teacher, but do not take the class if you are not going to work.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG1A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He tells us that in our summary, we should not ONLY have opinions but evidence and facts too. Now I take that as yes it is supposed to have opinions among other things. I turn in my summaries and I get deducted points for having opinions in them. Apparently they are inappropriate. Woah, seriously? I understand that it would but you said it is ok

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: EWRT1A
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Just one of the things that really annoyed me about this professor is that I had his class on Mondays and Wednesdays and he would email us on Saturday telling us, "Oh yeah, write a paper and bring it in on Monday thanks." Maybe a little warning next time because not everyone can spit out a paper in a couple days. I like to spend time to makeit an A

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: EWRT002H
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I took both of his honors courses. Although he is a great teacher and very personable, his class is very difficult. If you are thinking about taking his class, do not overload yourself with too many obligations. You'll need plenty of time to complete homework assignments, essays, and quizzes.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: EWRT1AH
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Great teacher! But definitely a challenge. I've never had to write the same essay five times and still feel like it was not up to par. I've taken the course with other teachers who loved my writing but he was sending me to the tutoring center (who also said my writing was great). Not a bad teacher but we learn in different ways so I had to drop.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: EWRT2
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Best English prof at Deanza. You'll come out of his class feeling dumb and enlightened at the same time. Hardest English class I've ever taken, however, totally worth it. Not an easy A at all but just being in his class and hearing his analyses, thoughts, and ideas, is a treat!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: EWRT2
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Prof Simes is very helpful, especially when it comes to the final essay. He's good at explaining the book concepts and forcing you to ask the right questions. I didn't like his online quizzes because the questions were sometimes tricky, or opinions but they aren't worth too much overall grade. Reading is very important to keep up with class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: EWRT2
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This was not an easy course for me. He wants you to learn and improve, and weighs the grades towards your final papers. If you work hard he is always willing to help. Don't be late or text in class. This is a "value added" class, as the material he chooses is with a motive of developing the whole student. Would take again.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: EWRT2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

If you are looking for an easy A-forget it. If you are looking to challenge yourself and improve your writing immensely, Alan Simes is your guy. I've never learned so much from a professor!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ELITD017
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Professor Simes' classes are intellectually stimulating. And for a teacher to rile up my philosophical side, then he's someone I hold with highest respect. Those who complain about their grades are those who don't try hard enough. They have to remember that they are there to learn, and I certainly learned a lot.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ELITD017
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Professor Simes is highly informed and well-educated but his teaching-methods are decent, at best. The reason I disliked his class was his overall inconsistency with online quiz deadlines. I even spoke to him about it, but that went nowhere. I'd recommend anyone needing to take this class do so with another teacher who's a little more consistent.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: EWRT2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Ratings are very generous. I rarely have issues with teachers/complain, but Very difficult, not helpful, condescending, calls you out if 2min late. I am an above average writer and did poorly due to him. I took the W, class started with 30, then after drop date was down to ~12. I missed a week due to sickness, got a doc note and he didn't care.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: EWRT2ONLINE
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

my reading comprehension and writing ability (IMO) is pretty high, but this class is extremely difficult. work with the teacher, email him questions, visit and show interest and he'll help. even with help though, it's tough! essay topics ranged from internet technology, politics, and racial issues. i'd be happy (and lucky) if i pulled a B.