Clark Closser - Missouri State University, Springfield, MO

Professor: Clark Closser

Department: English

College: Missouri State University, Springfield, MO

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG351
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Closser announced his retirement (for real this time) to our class last night. The university is losing a great instructor. His tests weren't bad if you know how to listen for the cues when he lectured (they were obvious enough). Kind man, excellent teacher--always answered my questions in a timely fashion, often made me chuckle.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG351
• 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:

Dr. Closser was literally the BEST professor I ever had. He was also my advisor, and during a retirement, it was somewhat difficult to reach him, but that is understandable considering the circumstances. You MUST go to almost every class, and once you "figure out" how to take his essay tests, you are golden. AMAZING lectures from an amazing man!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENG351
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's a GREAT lecturer! Unfortunately, he's way off base with what he expects to see on his exams. Doesn't answer emails very well. Hands back exams 5 MINUTES before you take the next one. Impossible to study for his expectations that way. Many lectures are outdated and discuss material that is not in your course packs or text.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG351
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took this i-course in my sophomore year at Missouri State University. I signed up for it not knowing it was an icourse-- I regret it. He was hard to get ahold of and didn't answer questions well. His tests are impossible. I was a dean's list student, but not after this class. Severely disappointed with this class and this professor.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG351
• 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 this class as a telecourse and I loved it. All you have to do is watch the review lecture then study what he says will be on the test. Closser is really understanding and he grades in your favor. The class was enjoyable.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENG351
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Closser was a great professor, and I was sad to see him retire. He made literature interesting, even when it wasn't. If you can, take his telecourses -- they're great.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG351
• 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:

I also had Dr. Closser for ENG 557. He is such a good professor. He undoubtedly knows the subject very well. He has a treasure trove of anecdotes and jokes to keep you laughing all semester. I'm going to miss going to class to hear him lecture.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENG350
• 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:

Dr. Closser is a brilliant professor with an endearing sense of humor. He has a disposition toward melancholy that makes him pensive at times. If you care about American Literature, you will learn a great deal from him. Make sure you attend the review sessions and study the author headnotes.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG350
• 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:

He is the funniest professor I've ever had! His tests are difficult at first, but you just have to write everything you can possibly remember about the authors. I highly recommend him because he takes difficult literature and makes it easier to understand.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG200
• 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:

Found this site by accident. Clark was one of my professors during the late 1980s. To this day, I consider him to be one of the very best. I truly enjoyed his classes and his insights on literature.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG350
• 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:

He is interesting and has a lot to add to the literature, but his tests are difficult and i did poorly on the first two. generally i am an A student, however i will be lucky to get out with a C; even so i highly reccomend him.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG350
• 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:

This guy is great. I don't know what anybody can complain about. Yes, a lot of reading is required (duh!) and he expects you to do it. Unclear on what will be tested? Get real, this is college. You are expected to know it all and be able to speak to whatever sampling he decides upon. I would take any course this man chose to teach. Don't miss him.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENG341
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is unclear about what will be required on the tests. All of his tests are completely essays.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG351
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The class is fun, but the tests are always essay and he doesn't explain what he wants before you take it.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG341
• 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:

He was great the first time...but something has changed in him. His grading scale is not understandable, and he has somehow found a way to average letters. It is unclear what he wants on the tests, and he isn't consistent from student to student. Avoid if possible.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENG350
• 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:

As a requirement I took this class for my major. My only suggestion to anyone taking Closser is that you MUST attend every class if you want to just pass. If you want to actually get a good grade don't worry about the first test too much because he purposely grades bad in order to motivate the class to do better.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG350ENG351
• 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:

Okay, so his class is like eating cold hot dogs. Only the first one is good. Afterward his anecdotes get a little boring, but still; if you know what you're doing, you'll do fine.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG351
• 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:

I took this as a telecourse and was very pleased. He made it easy to watch the lectures. Very entertaining and very knowledgeable. I plan to take another class with him (in person) in the spring.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG350
• 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:

For tests he gave us a quote from each author's works. We then wrote a long paragraph detailing the significance of the quote and giving a little biographical information. You might have known the author personally and provided great insights, but if it isn't what Closser is looking for, you'll still do poorly. Write down what he says in class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENG350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

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