Janet Steele - George Washington University, Washington, DC

Professor: Janet Steele

Department: Public Affairs

College: George Washington University, Washington, DC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SMPA101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

My favorite teacher at SMPA. She possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience doesnt flaunt it the way so many others in academia feel they need to. Instead, she encourages the student to learn and grow.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SMPA2177
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Steele is a wonderful instructor! Media History is structured around 4 critical essays worth 25% each (or 3 worth 33% each if you choose to opt out of the 4th) and she'll bump your grade up if you participate often in class. Very interest topics and she really understands her students. Definitely take one of her classes!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SMPA3244W
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Steele was the greatest professor I had in all my time at GW. I took both Media History and Narrative Journalism with her. She is one of the nicest, most passionate, and most caring professors at GW and I cannot speak highly enough of her. Her narrative class is particularly amazing. You won't find a better professor anywhere.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SMPA2101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I'm a international student from non-English country, so I was a little bit hesitated to register that class. And her class was awesome, as long as you finish all the readings and be active on class, it's not that difficult to get an A.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: JOURNALISMTHEO
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Good professor, I liked her a lot.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SMPA2101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Had Steele for Journalism Theory. Classes can be dull if you aren't excited by media at all. Class sits in a circle and she wants open discussions, which are always about pretty basic and straightforward theory that you can contribute to without the readings. BUT you'll get an A if you do the readings and go to class to contribute even a little bit

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SMPA2101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very nice, knows a lot about media, esp in Indonesia & Malaysia. Class was a little boring, but not bad. I barely did the readings and my participation in class discussion was limited but I still ended the class with a B. Participation grading is kind of unclear, but her paper grading style is very fair. No tests, quizzes or finals, just 3 papers.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SMPA2101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Steele is brilliant! Classes are so interesting and discussion-based; I learned so much about journalism. She is a fair grader and the assignments are always interesting and challenging (in a good way). Lots of reading, but it's manageable. Best class of my semester.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: SMPA2101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Nice, but knows exactly what she wants and expects from students. Easy assessments - 3 papers, each 3-4 pages (last one counts as the final). Class is discussion based so helpful to do readings though not necessary.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: SMPA2101
• 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:

Professor Steele is incredible. She's very knowledgable and incredibly passionate. She comes off very intimidating at first, but is a fair grader and truly wants her students to succeed.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: SMPA2101
• 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:

She is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Try to read texts and participate in class as much as possible. Even if you don't understand something, she explains texts very clearly and is also very direct about her expectations(she basically tells you what to write). She grades very fairly as well.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SMPA2101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Professor Steele is genuine, helpful, and clearly a very kind person. She is understanding, and really appreciates participation. Her Journalism: Theory and Practice class had very clear expectations - just make some effort to read and contribute and you'll do well.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SMPA10
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

How she grades is extremely unclear (especially participation). Class discussions were interesting, but they're all based on the readings so if you don't do them you can't really participate. Our class was at 8am and a lot of people didn't do the readings and she would call people out.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SMPA101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Decent enough class. A few well-written essays will earn you an A-. Class discussions can get interesting. She's one of those professors who has the class put desks in a circle every class period. Very openly leans far left, expect a few snide comments. Didn't learn a ton, but good enough class to take as an SMPA intro course.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: SMPA1101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Steele is so nice and knows a lot. Her classes were an open discussion where she related the current stories in the Washington Post to the (sometimes extensive) readings. The readings aren't exactly necessary to participate (which you should), just listen to what she says and who she quotes so you'll know what to talk about in your papers.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: SMPA101
• 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:

Prof. Steele is awesome!!!!!! She's so nice, and really knows her stuff. She wants students to attend, but if you miss a few classes she really doesn't mind. You don't necessarily have to read all of the articles and books word for word, because the class is just 3 papers. If you listen to her lecture you will know what you should write about.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SMPA101
• 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:

Wonderful professor. Knows her stuff. Treat the class with respect, pay attention, read the books, and you're on your way to success. Do NOT show up late though. Really lays a foundation for SMPA.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: SMPA101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Steele's a good prof. She tells you very straightforwardly what she wants on the papers (there are only three, and that's all your grade is judged on). So just follow those instructions, write about it, make it a little unique and you're on your way to an A. She's very nice and lectures are more of an open dialog than anything else.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: SMPA101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

SMPA 101 with Steele is pretty interesting but not very substantive; class usually revolves around discussions of how current events in the day's Washington Post are covered, and she tries (sometimes stretches) to apply it to the reading. It was a cool class to take, but I'm not entirely sure what I learned from it.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: SMPA101
• 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:

This teacher is very fair. It is possible to get away without doing the reading, but it helps in the papers which are also graded fairly. The material is based on current events and is discussion driven, so showing up is required.