James Towner - San Diego State University, San Diego, CA

Professor: James Towner

Department: English

College: San Diego State University, San Diego, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: RWS100
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is pretty funny, and he shows you how to write each paper. There are 4 papers and a bunch of short writes, but he does in class activities to help you write the papers and short writes.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: RWS100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not a bad guy, but he's certainly not my favorite. Grade consists of 4 large papers with unclear prompts and a few short writes. We gives you chances to get one-on-one advice about papers but his feedback is hardly useful. Attendance isn't really mandatory unless there's an in class assignment for points, but I found his classes boring/repetitive

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: RWS100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Literally go to the scheduled important classes and follow his templates. I usually get Bs in English classes but I got an A pretty easily in his. 4 tests and he does short writes, but they can be easily done before class(takes like 30min). He may seem boring, but he knows what he's talking about and he'll make you a better writer. Take him.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: RWS100
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Mr. Towner is a supert sweet guy. The lectures can feel a little long and he sometimes gets repetitive, but overall he's a really good teacher. If you really try you can get an A, but if you skim along you can easily get a B. I'd definitely retake this class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: RWS100
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Towner is a very arrogant man, and when he lectures I'm not sure he wants us to answer correctly. He was very exasperated with our class, but also we deserved it. Essay topics and the article readings were interesting . USE THE "THEY SAY I SAY" TEMPLATES !! I hated going to class, but also didn't really need to show up to pass.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: RWS100
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I absolutely loved him!! 4 essays total, all with rough drafts and peer marks due before a final one! lectures can be boring but he will tell you exactly what he wants in the essay. some shortwrites that are graded easily! if you do the work of the promt (bare minimum) youll for sure get a great grade on the essays! go to office hours!!!!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: RWS200
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Boring and somewhat funny at the same time (idk how). Rarely attended class. Never went to his office hours and didn't do 5 HW assignments. I regret both so DO BOTH. Expect to read articles. Constantly ask questions on essays, he's willing to help. Actually learned how to write when i went to class. You just gotta try and you'll be fine.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: RWS305
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is so rude to his students. He is extremely demanding. His lectures are never related to the assignments. He can't make up his mind about what he wants from his students work. One day he'll say something and completely change his mind for the next class about his guidelines for assignments.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: RWS100
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

There are 4 papers that he grades really hard on and doesnt give A's in the class. His classes are really boring but he is accessible to after class hours to get help on the papers! Rarely homework and cancels class all the time!! No midterm or final

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: RWS100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I dread going to this class everyday. He is extremely boring and did not help me with my writing at all. I was really looking forward to improving my writing skills but he doesn't even give you corrections on your essay so you know how to do better next time. I would not recommend this professor.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: RWS305W
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Towner is great; however, you have to work for your grade and go to class. Each class session is 5 points and if you don't attend, you'll fall behind. Go to his office hours! You're guaranteed to do better in his class and understand what he wants from you if you go! Don't BS your essays either - he's a strict grader.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: RWS100
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Took Towner Fall15 and he is a professor that will actually turn you into a better writer. Go to his office hours for help and he will go more in depth with you on better writing techniques. Definitely would take again

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: RWS305W
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This was probably the worst class I've ever taken. The professor doesn't seem to know his own subject: misusing "except" vs "accept," not understanding or fully explaining Oxford commas, etc. His lectures are often repeated. We spent at least 6-8 class periods discussing paraphrasing and another 6-8 on concise writing. Luckily, he's an easy grader.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: RWS100
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He gives good feedback on all assignments. He has office hours and days set up for essay feedback. He discusses all papers and criteria very clearly and multiple times before your final draft is due. He goes give out quite a bit of assignments, but they aren't hard. His essays are a challenge, but doable if you don't procrastinate too badly.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: RWS100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Towner is the man. Yeah his lectures can be kind of pointless to go to but he has a really sarcastic and dry sense of humor which is entertaining. Go to office hours because he's really helpful there. The class consists of 4 essays and no final. He was my favorite professor out of my entire semester.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: RWS100
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Towner is such a nice interesting guy! Though on the other hand his class was my hardest class this semester. Writing essays is difficult for me and english isn't my first language so this class was incredibly hard because he's a perfectionist and has high standards. His lecture's aren't helpful at ALL, he goes off topic but they're interesting!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: RWS100
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Although I am only a first semester freshman, Towner is probably my favorite professor ever. Or any education advocate in general. His readings are not hard, he gives many opportunities to improve your grade and he's funny and down to earth. He reminds me of Sheldon from the big bang theory but nicer.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: RWS100
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor is not very clear when he is giving assignments. Many times is very obnoxious and sarcastic. When people asks questions, he questions them. I Personally do NOT recommend this professor.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: RWS305W
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The class itself should be easy, he only gives you 3 projects the entire semester. He will tell you to change something in your paper and when you do, he will question why you now have that. He is rude, disrespectful and repeats the same thing 5 lectures in a row. His lectures are seriously a joke. You really have to work for you grade.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: RWS100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Towner was a great professor! His class is very simple- follow his directions and you pass! The class consists of four papers. There is no final. You go to class, he lectures for about 20 minutes and class is over. I would highly recommend him for RWS.