John Watkins - University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN

Professor: John Watkins

Department: English

College: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST3652
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is so smart. Makes literally the most boring concepts (in my opinion) funny and engaging. VERY fair grader and loves to help if you ask. Thats honestly all I have to say besides him being SO. SMART. He loves to flex about all the famous English historians he knows, and it's so cute. Could not have cared less about England until this class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3025
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

REALLY interesting lectures. I could listen to this guy talk about stuff forever, engaging and entertaining.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST3652
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Fabulous guy, tough class but a LOT of fun

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST3652
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I absolutely loved Professor Watkins. He talks in a way that could keep you listening for hours and he really knows his stuff. Only two tests (you get a page of notes front and back) and a book review. The lack of power points helped me become a better note taker. I would take him again in a heartbeat. Enjoys to have conversations before class too!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST3652
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Watkins is an excellent lecturer. Attendance is technically not required for your grade but he doesn't use powerpoints so it's necessary to go to do well on the tests. However, he provides really helpful outlines for the lectures so you can focus on what's important. We were only graded on two exams and an essay, but he is a fair grader.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST3652
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This is the second time I've had Prof. Watkins. He's great! I specifically take classes just because he teaches them. You do need to be present for all the lectures but they're so informative you don't mind. He has a fun way of presenting that keeps your attention. Assignments are few but not hard. His grading is extremely fair, if not too easy.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG3007
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Took ENGL3007 many years ago (before I transferred colleges). Professor Watkins is passionate about the material, gives great lectures and his theoretical approach is what could be classified as Historicist (or maybe even New Historicist). Grading was two exams and a paper. Engaging and very dedicated teacher!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3007
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Watkins gives spectacular lectures. He is passionate about the material and you will definitely learn a lot. Not the traditional approach to Shakespeare, he focuses on historical aspects. Grading is only two exams and a paper, but if you go to class and pay attention it will be easy.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3007
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

John Watkins is the best lecturer I've had at the U. I used to dread reading Shakespeare but now I love it. The entire lecture is always super captivating; you are sure to remain thoroughly entertained and interested even if you haven't read the text. Definitely worth taking.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3133
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Professor Watkins may be the best lecturer and discussion leader at UMN. His passion for the material is obvious, and he commands vast knowledge of history and literature that he is capable of discussing at a moment's notice. His class is so engaging you find yourself checking the clock hoping you have more time.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3025
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He very rarely deviates from the topic at hand, and speaks clearly and concisely. Pay attention and take good notes because he will cover a lot of ground during each lecture. If you have a question, raise your hand high and he'll certainly answer it. Grading was tough - 2 tests and a paper. That's it. So pay attention, but have fun.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST3151
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

To be frank, Professor Watkins is a genius. His lectures are so captivating it can be hard to take notes, just because listening is so much fun. You will not regret taking his class, he is an absolute well of knowledge, and I would recommend his classes to all people who love history. My only regret is not being able to take more of his classes.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3007
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Watkins approaches Shakespeare differently as he focuses on the historical & social factors of each play. He lectures with no notes or slides - & he's brilliant. Speaks countless languages & has great stories and likes to make jokes. Class is based only on 2 written tests & 1 writing exercise. Learned a lot - highly recommend.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3020
• 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:

Dr. Watkins is a superb professor and truly inspiring intellectual. His lectures are given without notes, which is really impressive and makes for an engaging learning experience. He encourages questions and discussion. He is also a very prompt grader and is incredibly interesting in office hours. Take if you have the chance.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3007
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Watkin's 3007 is a bit different in that he focuses on historical and cultural aspects of the plays, rather than their literary qualities. If that's what you're interested in, he's quite an engaging lecturer. Grading consisted of two quote identification exams and an exercise that required "editing" an excerpt from King Lear in its original form.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST3151W
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is a very good professor that can lecture without a powerpoint or notes. Sometimes this can make the lecture somewhat dull depending on the topic. He can be, however, very arrogant. Sometimes intentionally or unintentionally. This can make him unapproachable. He requires a heavy amount of work for the course in i.e. writing and reading.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST3151
• 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:

This guy is insanely interesting and probably the smartest person in the world. He knows basically everything about English, history, law, and English law history. He is super funny, and I'm always amused in lecture. He teaches a wide variety of classes and you'd be missing out if you don't take him at some point during your time at the U.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3007
• 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:

Dr. Watkins loves Shakespeare, and it's great to take a class with someone in love with their work. The tests were fair, requiring students to recognize not only material from the plays, but also the context surrounding the text segments. The papers were graded by the TA's, so that was a bit of a letdown.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST3151
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Fascinating lecturer and simply a fun professor just to listen to. I took his English history class and actually looked forward to going every morning at 8 A.M. Yes a college student looking forward to be up early to go to a lecture that's how good he is.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST3652
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Most inspiring Professor at the U. It would be a mistake to not take one of his courses.