Richard Gaughran - James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Professor: Richard Gaughran

Department: Literature

College: James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG222
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hard gen ed. Have to read every single story to do well. Tests were very difficult. Class averages for the 2 tests we had were in the 60s

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG222
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Read spark notes and you'll be fine. I'd def recommend going to class so you dont miss a pop quiz, especially since they are very easy. No one really wants to take the Literature Gen ed, but gaughran is a good choice. Not much work, so its a nice break from say a major class

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENG222
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Attendance isn't mandatory, but you should still go to class. There are only two tests. Two in class essays which you can use your textbook and notes for. His lectures are kinda boring, but he goes over the readings and it's helpful for your tests. Really nice guy.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG222
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

My class was on Novels in Short Fiction. I never did the readings and always read Sparknotes and did fine for a Gen Ed. 2 tests that are curved, so the average is at least a 75 but they aren't hard tests. 2 in class essays that are open note and book which aren't bad. Random pop quizzes on readings are easy even if you read sparknotes

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG221
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is a super chill dude. He gives a bunch of pop quizzes but only because nobody ever goes to class. Its a very easy B if you somewhat do the readings before class but a difficult A. Actually an interesting class if you're into baseball, and we usually got out 15 minutes early.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENG221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

ENG 221 is Baseball Literature, which may seem like a joke/easy A(which is why I took it.) Turned out not to be so easy, but that was only because I barely did the readings. There is another guy who does the grading, and they are both nice guys. May or may not have hit a couple doobies back in the day. Take this class for a Gen Ed.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG221
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This class is not difficult if you keep up with the readings and show up for lecture. Pop quizzes are straight from the books, test questions are straight from lecture. If you blow it off - of course you'll get a bad grade, welcome to college. He's an old guy who likes to crack jokes, gets a little rambly sometimes but it's bearable.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENG221
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very boring class. lectures are extremely dry. We had 2 tests and 2 in class essays and a ton of pop quizzes. Tests were difficult. Work load is extremely heavy, often reading full novels weekly, which was difficult due to other coarse loads. Attendance is not mandatory, but there are many pop quizzes. would not take again.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GENG247
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This reflects more on the nature of the course. Readings were sizable and hard to get through. I would generally recommend this class be avoided since the reading load was dense at best, untenable at worst. If you're a bookworm, you'll scoot by okay. If not, take something else. Lectures were dry and generally not particularly productive.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG221
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Guaghran is very nice, passionate, and made lots of little jokes. His lectures were sometimes a little boring, but he had powerpoints to guide notes. Class always let out 15 min. early, but you definitely need to attend and take notes if you want to do well on the papers and exams. 2 papers, 2 exams, 25% each, incredibly easy if you go to class!!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Gaughran is not as bad as everyone makes him out to be. Lectures are sometimes boring, but he let our class out 15 minutes early every time. If you go to class and take notes you'll do fine on the tests. I only looked up summaries of the readings and got a B+. He also curved the grade on our test by 10 points.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took 221 with him and it was Baseball Literature. Class was so boring, he just stood up there and lectured the whole time, mostly about things that make no sense. Grade is based on two papers and two exams. Papers are fine, graded easily (Graded by William Lawton) but the tests are difficult. Lots of reading as it's an English class but very boring

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GENG247
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Gaughran rambles on about things and you never know what to write down. 2 essays, 2 multiple choice tests all 25%. No retakes, no extra credit.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GENG247
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Out of my class of 200 people, the average grade on the midterm was a 60%. Office hours and study sessions don't help. Tests are ridiculously hard and are on some things not even covered in class. You need to know every little detail of the passage if you want to do well on the test. He is an awful professor and just rambles. DO NOT take.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG381
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Don't take him unless you're an English major. His film courses were a joke. He doesn't know anything about film itself and teaches it like an English class. I have never done poorly on a paper (especially on film) until this class. He is an insanely tough grader and doesn't grade on content but grammar. Doesn't accept anyone's ideas but his own

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GENG247
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Midterm, Final, and two in-class essays. Very difficult. Avoid at all costs if you are not an english major. Not an easy Gen Ed. Super nice guy though!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG381
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Gaughran's the man. His film courses are a great mix of the classroom text (which he uses enough to warrant buying, but doesn't smother you with), his own educated opinions, and your opinions straight out of your papers. Also with long gray hair, a chill demeanor, and an identical voice, he is a living incarnation of The Dude from The Big Lebowski.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GENG248
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I had him for American Lit II. His class was fascinating and he was very passionate about his subject. Class is very doable as long as you show up, pay attention and read the material. The two tests are honestly not that hard if you read what was assigned. He grades the three essays fairly as well. He is very personable and nice. Take his class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GENG
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

2 exams and 3 in class essays. Grades the essays fairly easily, tests are impossible. I would try and take someone else for this gened. Oh and if you don't go to class you will fail.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GENG248
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Gaughran was a great professor and really knows his stuff. He made lectures funny and insightful, but his tests are very difficult. Most of the questions come from what he says in lecture so take good notes! There's a midterm, final, and three in class essays (graded fairly harsh). Not too tough, but be prepared to work hard in this gen Ed.