J. Michael Degener - Boston University, Boston, MA

Professor: J. Michael Degener

Department: Writing

College: Boston University, Boston, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: WR150
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A diamond professor, a real gem. He's a cartoon - zany and crazy - but very intelligent and super funny. He makes an 8am enjoyable. If you put forward an idea that isn't thought out, he'll bat it out, and some find this insulating. He's also a rigorous grader. But all in all, he's one of the most memorable professors you'll have. Take his courses!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: WR150
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He talks AT you and shuts down student's opinions. He talks over you, says your opinions are wrong, requires you to have hour long phone calls where he talks the whole time on off topic rants, he is sexist and a very harsh grader who does not reward for effort.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Some people love him, some people really don't love him. He is very nice and very accessible outside of class, but he is also very opinionated. He tends to take over the class with his own opinions.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: WR150
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

very accessible outside of class and really cares for his students. he is very set in his way so it is hard to write what you want to write because he will negate it. really nice guy and has a lot of energy but sometimes it just is way too much.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Degener is a bit of a wild card. He's a tough grader but allows for revisions and is VERY accessible outside of class, so papers can be redone until they're perfect. Man is a little eccentric and sometimes rants on and on in class, but overall he's a good dude. I enjoyed the class (Coen Brothers ftw) but it was a little stressful from time to time.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CASWR150
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took both WR100 and WR150 with Degener and he is a great guy, but definitely not for everyone. He has a tendency to take over class discussions and force his own opinions, but in turn he's very enthusiastic and more than willing to help anyone. Class was always interesting and the workload wasn't too bad, just be aware that he is a tough gradr

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CASWR150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

good guy 10/10 would take again quick shoutout to the coen brothers

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a passionate guy but will sometimes limit you to his own interpretation of the works. Especially in his Coen Brothers film class. I personally thought it was interesting, but he tends to speak to his students as though they were Film graduate students as opposed to kids just trying to get their writing requirement done. Overall, a fun guy.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Degener is a very passionate Professor, however this is not as good a thing as it may sound. He has VERY specific opinions and is not open to new ones, so if you want a good grade, you'll have to cater to his ideas. On the plus side he is very available to conference with, either in person or over the phone.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is very passionate about the films he shows. It is largely a lecture based class, but your opinion is welcome to be argued. This course teaches you to look at film in a new light, but is not for someone who loves group discussion.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a great professor but very opinionated. He will try to convince you that his opinion is correct. He has very interesting stories. If you make appointments with you he will take care of you.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Degener is a quirky guy who clearly really cares about what he's teaching (Coen brother's movies). He talked a ton during classes and would argue with students opinions if he didn't agree with it (sometimes it was fine but it got annoying). The 2 times a week listervs sucked. Sometimes a rough grader but he gives lots of feedback.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The man is a cartoon. I had the 8 a.m. and while his zany, theatrical tendencies helped me wake up, they also grow old pretty fast. His way is the only way. I actually feel like my writing got worse because of this class. However, my critical thinking skills may have marginally improved. Favorite quote: "It's not you; it's the reality we live in."

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CASWR150
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took The Brothers Coen w Degener to fulfill WR150 because I love Fargo and The Big Lebowski. The course material is so interesting and Degener points out details that I would have missed in the films, but there is minimal class discussion and he is very condescending in his lectures. Lots of reading and twice-weekly posts to class email server.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very passionate, but sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming. He tries to be open-minded, but ultimately he can only see his point-of-view. He talks a lot and gets sidetracked very easily. Very flexible with his office hours. There are a lot of shows to watch but considering that it's entertaining television, it's really not bad at all.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: WR150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dreaded coming to this class. Demanding amount of TV to be watched every week.. can talk for the entire class. Following the bombing at the Boston Marathon, we had a discussion about that which made a fair amount of us uncomfortable (very opinionated statements made by him). That said, he is very available and a fair grader.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: WR150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a really good guy. Very helpful and insightful. Very cool guy. Gets a little lost in class conversations but I would highly recommend the class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: WR150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He was alright. The shows were the best part of the class. He's picky though. Def one of those professors that marks your grade down if you don't agree with him. He rants. A LOT. Go to his office hours. They suck (7-8am), but he's helpful. He likes class participation and can be very excitable and loud in the mornings. Read the assigned articles.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: WR150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Although he is helpful with ideas and edits, class discussions were terrible. He constantly belittles you, making you feel that what you have learned in the past, even past college teachers, is wrong. If you want a good grade, always agree with him. If you don't agree with him, he thinks you are wrong and you won't get a good grade.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He really makes you think about television in new ways. I loved this class and the subject matter, and Professor Degener makes himself available constantly for conferencing. Great guy, great class.