Ken Simpson - Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC

Professor: Ken Simpson

Department: English

College: Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Unapproachable, doesn't even attempt to hide bias

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3170
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you have any type of personal issues going on in life and expect to have a considerate or compassionate professor, do not take a class with Ken Simpson. He is the single worst professor I have ever experienced in my university career.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENGL110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hard marker, one class he rambled on about Leonard Cohen for half an hour (was actually pretty funny), ambiguous about what he wants. Nice in person but would not recommend

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENGL1100
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ken is a great guy but his lectures are very boring. Marks hard but tells you what he wants to see.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENGL1100
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Ken's an easy grader, and he makes sure you know what you're doing. He tends to ramble but all in all, I'd take another of his classes.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENGL1110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took both engl1100 & 1110 with ken and I'd say 1100 was way better. I personally despise english so having to take a class on fiction was death. Read every story because thats what the final exam is on and you dont wanna be reading everything the week before. If participation mattered I would've done way worse. The lectures are boring and long.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENGL314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I respect Ken as the scholar he is, however, I found him the most difficult out of all my English profs. He is a very tough essay marker and quite opinionated. As a student who receives high marks on papers I for some reason could not reach those grades with Ken. His courses are more philosophical/scientific rather than the creative type I prefer.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3170
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This was an excellent course. Ken has a great sense of humor and is very clear, approachable and kind. The themes and concepts he focuses on in lectures are really interesting and he encourages students to think outside the box. Ken also keeps things on track while encouraging participation - creating a good atmosphere for class discussion.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENGL1100
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Ken is great! He spends all semester giving you the tools necessary to be successful on the big research paper at the end. He recognizes that most of us won't be english majors so he tailors his course to be useful for all fields of study, teaching us useful skills that we can take with us through the next 4+ years. Best english prof ever.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: 1100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Considering I was dreading English the most this semester, Ken made it interesting and kept me interested all semester. I enjoyed his class a lot more than I expected and also learned a lot

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENGLISH1100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Ken SImpson's class was a beacon of hope in a difficult semester. His lectures are clear and concise and he appreciated the effort and passion I put into my essays. Understanding, and a fair grader. I HIGHLY recommend this professor.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG3710
• 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:

Ken is an outstanding teacher. He's a tough marker, but fair, and he gives a ton of feedback on papers. He was always open to discussion and very helpful when I had questions. If you are engaged and do the work, you can do well. He's also pretty funny.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3710
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

There is no questioning Ken's expertise, and he is VERY knowledgeable on the topics he teaches. His lectures are quite dry however, and he expects a lot from your essays. He also seems to have no people skills whatsoever and wasn't very nice as a person. His essay instructions were also frequently unclear.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3170
• 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:

Had him for Science Fiction and again for the Sonnet. A lot of people complain that he's too hard but I personally really like him. If you work hard and put effort into the work, he'll give you the level of respect you deserve. I find him very friendly and helpful, but I guess I can understand why a lot of people find him strict.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I don't recommend you to take your course with him if you are an international student because you will find it so difficult and it will take a lot if your study time to write essays more than 2500 words. I failed in this course :(

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I have a feeling this class would have been interesting with a different professor. In class, we did nothing but listen to him lecture, and we focused more on the context of the readings rather than the readings themselves. We did no group discussion/analyzing of the texts except for the essays, and I think those are important for an English class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3170
• 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:

Ken is definitely knowledgable. Keep in mind he does have very high expectation, so attendance and participation are a must. Don't take his class if you expect an easy mark. However, he pushes you to think about what you read, and if you state your opinion clearly and concisely he will acknowledge the validity of your opinion, even if it is flawed.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENGL219
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Ken is an impossible teacher. He's incredibly rude and does everything he can to discourage students from voicing their own opinion. He expects way too much out of you, so good luck. If you take his science fiction class, expect to read 3 novels and 4 short stories in one week.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2250
• 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:

Has a very dry lecture style. Found him to be opinionated and discourages students who do not agree with him. Expectations of essay writing are very high, so if you are not already a strong writer do not take his class expecting him to be helpful. I would have found it useful for him to connect his lectures with essay topics.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENGLI3000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

clear and fair about expectations. Don't take this course if you want to cruise and get good marks.