Ari Berk - Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI

Professor: Ari Berk

Department: English

College: Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great professor! However, he is very picky on certain things in writing but that will make you a stronger writer. You can revise any of your essays until the last day of class! Very useful outside of class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG328
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

USE OFFICE HOURS! If your class talks a lot and participates well, he will remove the midterm and final exam. However, that makes your journal worth 20% of your grade, and a research paper is worth 80%. Start your paper early, and take it to office hours. He will help you along every single step of your paper. Hours get crammed close to exam week.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENG330
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Berk is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about his work, which makes the class super engaging. The class was once a week for 3 hours, but I was never bored in class. The only grades are from one paper and your final exam, but as long as you bring your paper into office hours he's clear about what he wants and what grade you'll get.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you are not interested in this topic do not take this class!!! The only points are from a paper and final exam but you never know what you got on them because he does not use blackboard. If you love to read, think outside the box, and are interested in myth go for it!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a great professor. All reading is very interesting. You only have one absence to use. You only have 2 grades the entire semester: the final paper and the final itself. Very helpful with final paper. Just go to office hours and he will help you with all aspects. Very understanding of life events and extends office hours at end of semester.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENG328
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's pretentious, but the kindness and humor overlay that and make it merely amusing instead of rude or frustrating. He's very expecting on final papers, but as long as you visit his office hours beforehand, you'll have no trouble at all. Lots of reading, but all of it is fascinating. Overall, would 100% recommend taking any kind of class with him.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG325
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

We weren't given many graded assignments but the class is small and even if he doesn't take attendance he remembers if you show up and participate, it will reflect on your final grade. Funny, enagaging hilarious. You wont want to miss class. Loved his lectures and the movies he showed. Would recommend to anyone who likes to read Top 5 fav

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENG261
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ari Berk is a wonderful professor! You can tell he is passionate about what he is teaching and really does care about if his students learn. He has a great sense of (sometimes dark) humor and really knows his stuff! One of the best professors I've had at CMU!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I loved taking class with Berk. He is a great guy and great teacher. 4 papers the whole semester, and he doesn't waste your time. I took him in a 3 hour block and almost always got out early. Enjoyed coming to class. I'm now minoring in English bc he inspired me and believed in me and my writing. Plus he's a nerd. I would definitely recommend.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG330
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Great professor. Show up. Participate. Respond to the material and actually try and you'll do fine. Berk just wants to see you thinking and responding critically to the material being read and examined in the class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

The class itself was pretty laid back, not much homework other than the 4 papers we wrote throughout the semester. He really works with you to get your writing to improve, and if you don't like a grade on a paper, you can re-write it as many times as you want before the end of the semester to improve the grade.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Apart of his first, English 101 class and he is by far one of the msot intriguing and helpful teachers I ahve ever had. he is now my favorite professor. He allows you to fix mistakes on papers to help you get a better grade and to improve your writing skills.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENG101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

It was his first time teaching a Freshman Comp class, but I can honestly say Ari Berk is the best teacher I have ever had, no matter what subject. He made me, and others, excited to write. I would recommend him to anyone

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I really enjoyed taking his class. We had some really interesting class trips and guest speakers. I found every class worth going to as well as interesting.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Amazing professor--I absolutely loved his Myth class. He's incredibly smart, and a fantastic help for getting through homework. I highly, highly recommend him. However do NOT EVER miss class, you will regret it. Difficult grading, but if you keep going to class you shouldn't have too much of a hard time.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENG360
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took every class I could from him while I was working on my master's degree. Some would think Ari was hard, but he really made his classes easy and fun to attend. He's a brilliant historian as well as a brilliant English professor. It's an honor to know him.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

It was required for my Gen Eds and well I won't regret takeing it. I could have applied myself better but in the end I learned alot in that class and I think everyone should take it. Berk is a great teacher and nothing more to really say.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Ari's class is one I look forward to going to, even with 4 academic weeks left in the semester. The material covered in his Myth class may not be all that interesting, but his lectures make it so because he knows all there is to know about myth. He grades hard, but his classes are so worth it :]

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG362
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I heart Dr. Berk and I think that anyone who is an English major should take him. He may grade "harder" but if you show up, participate and visit office hours, he sees that you are trying which will help your grade.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENG000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of the best professors I ever had. I am a high school English teacher and I use his exam concept of drawing one question out of the hat each year. I think of him every time I teach the hero cycle. He had a gift for making material interesting and applicable. Take his class.