Mark Vessey - University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Professor: Mark Vessey

Department: English

College: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENGL347K
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Mark is a bit of an odd ball but he means well. He is an absolute genius in English studies - Engl 347 was the Elizabethan Era - but he can go on tangents. Be patient with him. He may not offer help outright but if you ask for it - or even call him out for not being clear enough (as I had to do) - he will come to the rescue. Not a prof for everyone

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG502
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This man is the worst prof I've ever had. He is horribly unclear and seems to be suffering from delusions of grandeur. He is David Letterman trying to act the part of an English teacher. Don't let his farcical intellectual bit fool you. If you can't understand him it's because he does not make sense! Beware.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENGL220
• 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:

A wonderful prof.

Rating # 4

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

oddly perverse. I mean if i have to hear him go on in his office about golden "showers" in maiden's laps (wink wink) I'm going to hurl- he's so repetitive with everything

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENGL501
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

mean, bully, snob... nice to those in his clique. Cruel to those outside it.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENG500
• 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:

INTERESTED IN HELPING HIS STUDENTS

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENGL368
• 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:

very sweet man. has his head up in the clouds but i like that. he is a little intimidating because he is so brilliant. really strives to help out his students even if they are lowly undergrads. recommended for those who want their monies' worth.

Rating # 8

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Regardless of my final grade, I can honestly say that this was an enriching and stimulating class. Sometimes I admit the lectures and readings were dry and the discussion got a bit...um...heated, but the class was great overall. But Vessey is awesome, really kind and helpful and gives good feedback on assignments. Very lenient with due dates too.

Rating # 9

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I have it in writing that Derrida was impressed by Vessey. The man knows his stuff, is brilliant to listen to, and wonderfully generous with his expertise. The trick is to return his show of respect. As his syllabus warns, his is "the class to take, or avoid, at all costs!"

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BOOKHISTORY
• 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:

most of the comments here demonstrate an utter lack of academic enthusiasm symptomatic of ubc's english BAs. you guys didn't like him because you're in the wrong field-- anyone who enjoys the study of literature would love the digressions, the turns of phrase and the richness of the course material. i recommend vessey to any serious lit students.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENGL419
• 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:

An engaging and thoughtful prof with a vested interest in your work. Put in the effort in this class, visit in office hours, discuss your work with Vessey and he will reward you with good marks and even better conversation regarding all things English, theory, and academia.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: 368
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I think most of these reviews were given by the same person!

Rating # 13

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I don't understand alot of these reviews. Yes, much of what he says can be over our heads but he is brilliant and, like, we're not. It's not an easy class to take but at the same time I think he has a British style that we aren't used to here. In Britain he would be lauded as a splendid prof.

Rating # 14

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I can't believe that I paid money to take a class with this guy. Horrible Prof. The "watching paint dry" comment says it all.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENGL368
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Mystifying yet intensely enjoyable. Where ELSE could you find the phrase "exfoliating library?" Love it. Looks enough like David Letterman that I was expecting a pencil thrown out into the class any second. Delightful prof.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENG
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Most books were extremely and enlightening (Kafka-The Trial, Eco-The Name of the Rose, King-Green Grass, Running Water, Rushdie-Satanic Verses, Borges-Ficciones). Gave me creative/intellectual freedom. Enjoyed class, but HARD and,yes,lots of digressions.

Rating # 17

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:

He may be smart, but he is awful at conveying his thoughts to the class (ie. TEACHING). Digression after digression, he ends the class 1000 digressions later on a completely unrelated and useless subject every time without fail. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Horrible prof. Unclear, uninteresting. Choose to watch paint dry instead of taking any of his classes. You wont regret it.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG
• 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 class I have ever taken by far. Boring, boring lectures that have nothing to do with the subject that he claims to be "teaching". He is unintelligent and and extremely pretentious.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENG110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I didn't have to go to any of his lectures because they had absolutely nothing to do with the class or the books...BORING AS HELL...avoid at all costs