Nathan Nelson - Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI

Professor: Nathan Nelson

Department: English

College: Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENGL250
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

You have to be a creative writer when it comes to his essays. There are weekly vocab quizzes which can be a pain and inconvenience. He's a very nice professor and is willing to work with you to pass his class. Put in the effort toward studying for his vocab quizzes, and go to his office meetings when you need help and you'll succeed.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Literally only about 2/3 weeks in and I can already tell this class is going to be HARD. Would not recommend taking him if you don't have creativity with writing. He barely gives you any guidelines to follow. Some may see that as an advantage but i personally would like to know what he's really looking for and he doesn't exactly help/tell you.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENG250
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Nelson has an old school approach to teaching that I did not enjoy. His class worked by you reading whatever section of the book, and then you sat in class while he talked at you about the section, during this time he would often voice his opinions (which I did not care for). He is also a super tough essay grader, so you HAVE to do well on vocab

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is a great guy and a great professor. Cares heavily for his students, the class is just challenging. He helped me out in the end with my grade. Study for the weekly vocab quizzes.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG150
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is great teacher and all, but if you just want to pass by and get a B or A DONT TAKE THIS CLASS. His class will require you to try very hard. If you want the challenge then take your shot.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENG150
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a great guy. He has quizzes every Wednesday on 16 vocab words, but my vocabulary expanded greatly and I enjoyed learning it. He is a tough grader of the papers, but just don't be an idiot and you'll do fine.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENGL250
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Yes, the class is hard. The vocab quizzes were the bane of my existence, I averaged 70% on them. I also didn't study, so I didn't expect much better. The papers include some basic guidelines but inspire creativity. Only one did I get less than a 90%, but I did it the night before. The rest I went far beyond the length and source requirements.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENG250
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I am a sophomore taking this class and it was easily my hardest class and I am taking accounting right now. Really nice guy but he makes his class way too hard. The best I did on an essay was a 78 and you have vocab quizzes every week that are really hard and you have to find the Latin root of the words. I wouldn't take him again

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you have a choice to pick a different professor, do so. Vocabulary quizzes are hard, these are the only vocabulary quizzes where it doesn't help to know the definition. Also papers that are assigned doesn't come with specific directions. Wouldn't recommend him as a professor if English isn't your specialty.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG150250
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took his class twice to prove that I could get a better grade for the harder class, but I would not recommend him as a professor. He doesn't really believe in giving out A's. He thinks to get an A you have to surprise him with you paper writing skills.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: END250
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Personally, I struggled to get through the class. The class was not just hard, the professor was very unclear on assignments. I even tried getting help from the professor to see how I could improve, but he wasn't helpful and didn't answer my questions. Even After getting a tutor I still hardly made it through the class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG250
• 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 provides significant amount of feedback if you visit him during his office hours and apply effort. Not a professor for someone who is excuse driven as he expects the same amount of effort as the real world. Quizzes are a great grade booster if you are not a writer.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENGL150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Weekly vocab quizzes make up a good portion of your grade. They are curved, which gives you a great opportunity to earn extra credit. As long as you actually study, they are easy. You read a lot of sections out of the book, but he rarely quizzes over them. They are mostly to help with the essays. I took this class while in high school.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENGL150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is useless when it comes to the conferences. All he told me was "add detail". His quizzes are the worst! They are always different from the last too. From each quiz he takes the most missed questions and puts them on the final.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENGL150
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is really hard to work with, not very understanding AT ALL.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENGL150
• 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:

I learned a lot from this class. Curved vocab quizzes are every Wed. He expects you to study for the quizzes, read short stories/articles out of the textbook, and do four MLA research papers (from a list of prompts). He'll edit your papers during office hours and take questions over the reading and vocab. He's very smart and a fair teacher.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you don't understand you better catch on fast or your in a boat all by yourself. There are 4 papers due which must be seriously done, I received C+ on all of mine. Vocab is mandatory and must get good grades on those quizzes to pass.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Vocab quizzes are too tough... He is a tough grader... Perfect essays to him don't exist! The best I received was a 92%

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG150
• 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:

He is a very smart guy and you will learn something's he just has tough vocab quizzes

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENGL321
• 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:

He gives out weekly vocab quizzes...these help your grade! All of the work you do before your big paper actually has to do with the big paper! Definite plus!