Janet McAdams - Kenyon College, Gambier, OH

Professor: Janet McAdams

Department: English

College: Kenyon College, Gambier, OH

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENGL301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Really enjoyed her advanced poetry class and made me see my poetry in new and different ways. She can be a bit boring at times with lectures but overall is very helpful and kind. I really appreciated having her as my professor.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG103
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Im pretty surprised by the reviews on here, because I had a fantastic experience with Professor McAdams. The course readings for Queer Texts, Queer Tales were awesome, discussions were always interesting, and she brought great poets to campus. That being said, shes very busy outside of class and is VERY soft-spoken (some lost interest bc of this)

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: 104M04
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great professor, straightforward and reasonable interpretation of texts. Is really good at listening to multiple viewpoints and being respectful of student opinions. She prefers to explore the text rather than have the answers about it.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENGL301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

When I think back with frustration on some of the dysfunction and unfairness that ruined some of my classes at Kenyon, Janet McAdams comes to mind. Vindictive, unfair, totally unprofessional. She seems very unstable and totally comfortable punishing students if their interests and opinions don't fit in her very narrow field.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG100
• 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:

Loved her class so much! Such a quirky, interesting, and cool lady. She really pushed my writing and introduced me to so many great authors. Yes, she does have a distinct style, but you have nothing to lose and everything to gain in keeping an open mind and listening what she has to say.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENG283
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She seems nice and funny but class is fairly boring. Wants all her students to be Native American like her and can be very condescending. Hard grader: grades based on how much you agree with her, not quality of writing. Mostly easy readings though.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ADVPOET
• 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:

One of the most caring professors I've had -- challenges your poetry while encouraging you to find your own voice. Also encourages experimenting, so it's a great opportunity to try something new. Definitely go to office hours, she's very helpful, even after you've taken her class. Might take a little bit to warm up to her, but it's worth it.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENGA
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor McAdams was the only professor I truly disliked at Kenyon both as a teacher and as a person.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENGL201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She could be very harsh. Also, we didn't do much in class, and there wasn't much homework, so I wasn't really sure what the grade was based on. I was really excited for the class, but overall it was disappointing. If you want to take poetry, take it with someone else.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENGL201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Made two students cry. Threw dictionaries at the class. Incredibly disrespectful and rude. She will only like you if what you write is Native American eco-feminist lesbian poetry. Don't say anything good about Bukowski or Billy Collins if you don't want a half an hour lecture about how she dislikes them.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENGL300
• 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:

We read really interesting short stories and novels. We watched a couple Native American films and even watched Dave Chapelle one day. Only warning: don't offend her. She's very passionate about Native American literature and issues, as well as women's rights. Exercise discretion.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENGL283
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I believe Professor McAdams has a passion for teaching. She is helpful. She can be soft spoken. Her style of teaching is straight forward, and can be boring sometimes. She is connected with many writers, especially Native American writers. She did not discuss some of the material we were required to read.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENG
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Terribly dull. The class seemed to have potential, but it was dry as dust. And she's not a particulary kind person when asked questions.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

McAdams is helpful, introduces new poetic forms to experiment with, and will push you in your writing. Her new seminar sounds really interesting, and is probably the first of its kind at Kenyon.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POETRY
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She's nice and writes comments on poems...but she's emotionally dark. She doesn't like any poem with a pleasant subject matter or happy tone. We studied a lot of native american culture and hardly read each other's poetry aloud. I don't feel my poetry improved during the semester.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG201
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is a wicked person with no heart or soul.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG63
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I had this professor a couple years ago and I think that she is the worst teacher I have ever had in my entire life. She is uncaring and not helpful to her students doesn't deserve to be a professor, at Kenyon or elsewhere.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG270
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

didnt get much out of class...better off with evaluations from other profs.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENGL301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

she's always been supportive of me and my work, and helpful too.