Paul Budra - Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC

Professor: Paul Budra

Department: English

College: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG105W
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely AMAZING lectures. I was always engrossed in what he had to say. Super nice and thoughtful guy and the only prof that made me want to participate in class discussions. Grading depends solely on TAs. A good grade was fairly easy to obtain just read the books and don't depend on the lectures insights only. Average was B.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENGL115W
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He summarised and explained the assigned books and stories really well. He ensured that the material was interesting. Plus, there was never a dull moment in class. However, all the marking was done by the TA's so I can't really say anything about Paul when it comes to that. He was generous enough to give a 5% bonus to everyone in class though :D

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENGL115W
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

very funny jolly man . very easy and enjoying course. no final exam. 2 writing in class but topics are known in advance. grading for essays are not tough and there is one creative presentation in tutorial. However i didn't enjoy the texts he required :(

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENGL115
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

this was one of my favourite courses. Paul is hilarious, and clearly cares a lot about the subject, therefore the lectures were super enjoyable. His assignments were easy enough if you attended class and read all the books, but there were quite a few books to read. (6 novels and several short stories). I def recommend paul!!!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Paul's lectures were amazing and funny. I actually enjoyed coming to class because of him and he made the material really fun.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENGL115W
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

His lectures covered the reading material super well, I didn't purchase any of the textbooks but attended all lectures and I felt as if I read the actual material. Essay topics were his discussion topics in lecture so overall was easy. Lectures aren't boring and he keeps them fairly interesting. Quite funny too! Doesn't allow laptops in lecture

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Articulate, smart, and genuinely a good guy. Hated Shakespeare in high-school, but it is a completely different experience with Budra. His lectures are very engaging and always well prepared. I've done Engl 313 on Distance Education as well, but it's just not the same, so I highly recommend taking an in-person class with him.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENG115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's well-spoken, engaging and easy to follow. However he is very strict on technology in the classroom (like highschool). Any cellphone use/sound would cause a pop quiz, and there was strictly no laptop use. There were 5 stories/books assigned for the semester, given about 2 weeks per book with at most 300 pages very heavy reading.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG115W
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great guy in and out of the classroom. His lectures are enjoyable to sit through, and are very helpful in getting to understand the material.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG111W
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Paul was a really engaging lecturer and also very witty and funny. He made English class quite fun. I didn't love the books we read, but it was a super easy writing class. Definitely take English 111w with Paul.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG111
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Paul was an amazing professor. He's hilarious and made the class laugh very often. Easy course as well, only read one of the seven books but managed to get an A- through his great explanations of each novel. Would definitely take a class with him again!!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENGL111W
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Best English prof I've had! He is super helpful and engaging. I really hope to have him again! TAKE HIS COURSE FOR SURE :)

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENGL311
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The fact that this is the third class I've taken with him says something about how much I enjoy his class. Make sure to write in your books as much as you can, as all the exams I've taken with him have been open book with notes allowed as long as they're written in the book (you can use post-its too). Marks papers a little on the tougher side.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG111
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Okay Mr. Budra is my main man. There was a super hot guy in my class and if I could, I'd ask Budra give a speech at our wedding. Jokes aside, Budra was one of the most intelligent, HILARIOUS, enthusiastic and most engaging professors I had last sem. He great gave notes for his slides, and did nothing but try to help his students. Wonderful prof.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG111W
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's passionate in what he does but can be to judgemental and rude. There are no assignments but 2 essays and a final.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENGL111W
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Studied 7 books for this class, & he made the lectures incredible! Such an interesting man; makes everything seem so interesting. His choice of TA's was amazing; mine gave the best feedback I've ever received & it was really clear she wanted us to do well. Grading criteria is made very clear & you are taken step-by-step through the writing process.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENGL112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Amazing Prof, he's strict about technology so don't go on your phone or computer. There is only 2 essays and a final so try hard for those. Explains very well and is very enthusiastic about course material. The final exam is open book and you can bring your notebook so be sure to attend classes and take notes! (TA's do all the grading)

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENGL111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Incredible prof. easily one of the best English profs at sfu. Actually makes old English inspiring and very interesting. A bit of a Shakespeare geek too so reading any of those plays are very entertaining. Only thing is no laptops or phones in class, which isn't a big deal, but he enforces it sternly.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENGL205
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Paul made me appreciate early modern literature. That is a feat I never would have thought possible a year ago.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENGL103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Extremely engaging lecturer. 2 essays, 1000 and 1500 words. My TA was a tough marker though. Our tutorial class also had to do a 10 line performance memorized or 50 line reading of the play. Plays he chose were interesting, and if you didn't understand, it was cleared up during lecture. Easy final, open book, a lot of writing though.