Jody Swilky - Drake University, Des Moines, IA

Professor: Jody Swilky

Department: English

College: Drake University, Des Moines, IA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG183
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He's by FAR the worst teacher I've ever had!!!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG183
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He's very stilted and annoying, but as long as you do what he says you should get an A.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENG171
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I believe Jody is the easiest teacher at Drake. He's just so boring!!!!!!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG171
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Swilky is an interesting man. Throughout his course, I often felt as though he was berating me (and others) no matter what answers we gave to his questions. I think ultimately his goal is to get you to expand your thinking, but I felt talked down to at times. He definitely knows his stuff, no doubt about that. Grading criteria not always clear.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: FYS011ENG172
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Swilky has a confusing teaching style and often goes off into tangents, but after a while it's easier to follow his thought process. He will push you to think but he'll always try to help you succeed and really values student work. Make sure to print materials for class, and don't take any of his comments during a discussion personally.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: FYS011
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Pretty much what you would expect from an English professor. He can be rather opinionated and you should be prepared not to take it too personally if he tells a joke or two at your expense. He's pretty clear about how you should never regurgitate things in papers and that you need to contribute something new. He makes you think. (Crazy, huh?)

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG171
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very confusing and impatient. Has high expectations but does not tell you what they are and gets upset to the point of yelling when those expectations are not reached. His theorizing is interesting and progressive, but his teaching method is awful. Should not be a teacher at Drake. DO NOT TAKE! You will regret it.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: FYS011
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I didn't like his attitude and constant yelling...

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG171
• 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:

Swilky is an intimidating guy, and he expects a lot out of you, but you will truly be better off for having taken a class with him. He expands your thinking and improves your writing. He's also very available and responds to e-mails well.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: FYS052
• 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:

I had Swilky for my FYS (Rep of American Identity in Film and Fiction). I can safely say that Swilky is my favorite teacher. I feel like I learned more in that class than any other I took last semester. He goes on little rants but gets the information across very well. He loves to joke with students and is always available outside of class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: FYSSECT
• 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:

Swilky is a really cool guy. He is a bit spastic and in his own world a lot of the time, but he actually is a really great teacher. He knows what he's talking about and I found the class to be my favorite of the semester. Swilky will help you, and is especially helpful outside of class. His grading is strict, but you get what you diserve.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG183
• 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:

Good teacher.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENG160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst prof I've ever had. He contradicts himself, directions and lectures very unclear and confusing. If you ask questions, he gets defensive and doesn't give answers. Doesn't explain things well. Singles out students and criticizes (not critiques) work. His classroom is not conducive for curiosity or enthusiasm, just anger and frustration.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POETRYSEMINAR
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took a great class called Writing Literacy and Schooling a couple years ago, and it was challenging and informative.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENGLISH93
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

very impressive teacher-tough, but helpful

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENG091
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: FYS11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A whole hell of a lot of writing, and he also seems to want to twist every class into a graduate level sociology thing from what I have heard. Very difficult, but you feel a sense of achievement after every paper.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENGLISH91
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I learned a lot about critiquing my writing and others'--which is especially helpful since I am now an English teacher.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENG173
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

For at least one of my classes, he was the reason I took the class.