Sarah Borden - Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL

Professor: Sarah Borden

Department: Philosophy

College: Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CORE101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She's so intelligent and knows what she's talking about, blows my mind every class. A little quirky but she's really kind and takes the time to explains things. Not a ton of assignments but papers are bulk of the grade. I had a fantastic Core class with her!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: 447
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Two of the most annoying things about philosophers are their smugness and their incomprehensibility. Borden is the opposite of these: Humble, loving, and presents every philosopher in their most understandable manner. And for your own good go to her office hours: she is the single most helpful and charitable professor I have ever talked to.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Three papers, a few random, easy quizzes, and an essay midterm/final, in addition to a few pages of reading for every class. totally manageable for a semester. She explains things well, but it is philosophy and she expects you to try to reason to answers. For someone uninterested in philosophy, it was a fine class. Dr. Borden is great, though.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHIL447
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The single best professor I had during my time at Wheaton. My entire thought and philosophical focus has been shaped by Dr. Borden's classes, and I will be pursuing post-graduate studies in the fall. I cannot recommend her enough, both for future academics and those who want a gentle introduction to philosophy.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHIL311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

History of Philosophy with Dr. Borden is that than which no harder class can be conceived. History of Philosophy with Dr. Borden is that than which no greater class can be conceived.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHIL312
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

After 2 degrees and many exemplary profs from Wheaton, I rate Dr Borden the best I ever had. Her Hist of Philosophy class is superb. Philosophers are often ambiguous, but Borden is a very clear, prepared lecturer. Those wanting all Wheaton profs to be conservative conformists may be threatened by her intelligence. No one else will be disappointed.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHIL447
• 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:

Phenomenology- one of the best, but hardest, classes I've taken. Borden offers illuminating explanations of difficult texts and also helps craft an appreciation for the relevance of the material in everyday living. Grading is tough; there is no "A for effort," but Borden is impressively skilled at providing clarification and help if asked.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHIL312
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Amazing mind. She was extraordinarily prepared for class and knew the material--the entire history of thought--from back to front. When asked, she said she chose Wheaton for its students. You can tell. When the students are engaged, class is fun. If you don't understand her in class, it's your fault for not asking questions.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHIL311
• 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:

Awesome teacher. She basically teaches as if she was the philosopher in question. I don't know how she keeps everything straight in her head.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHILHIST
• 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:

One of the best professors I have ever had. Every class is totally prepared in lecture and has an impressive skill at answering questions in the midst of lecturing wout skipping a beat

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIL400
• 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:

I'm a guy who took Dr. Borden's feminist philosophy class and she was quite balanced, not a "radical feminist." Those calling her radical do NOT understand what radical feminism is. Alternatively, maybe some boys brainwashed by Piper & company can't handle a female professor who is more intelligent than them.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Not a bad teacher at all. She likes Edith Stein (a minor philosopher at best) a little too much. She's a competent teacher, but I don't think she really believes in Wheaton's overall message. If given an opportunity to leave, she would in a heartbeat (I'm guessing).

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I hate philosophy but this class was enjoyable and interesting. She explained everything well and I left the class feeling like I had actually learned something. I would take her for 101 classes.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHIL311
• 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:

Great teacher... Very articulate and interesting

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very good prof. Will give you a very wide range of philosophers. Fairly easy tests and papers. Some in class essays and pop quizes but noting bad. All-in-all a very high quality prof.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHILPHIL
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I want to respond to the last reviewer (I think I know who he is). As a female student, I can understand how Sarah puts her male students off. She's a very nice teacher, but she really doesn't understand men at all, especially Christian men. She does tend to be a feminist on everything, and for me, as a woman, I find that out of place and awkward.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHILPHIL
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Prof. Borden is very difficult to talk to, particularly if you are a conservative Christian male student. Why she teaches at Wheaton is a mystery. She is clearly a feminist and prefers talking to women and listening to the female perspective. I recommend she teach at some all-girl super liberal college. She's not a mean person, though.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHIL314
• 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:

Excellent teacher

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHIL312
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Borden is an excellent lecturer who clearly presents difficult philosophical concepts. She convincingly answers questions from the presented philosopher's perspective (i.e. marxist for a day). The class covered a large amount of material (the entire history of modern philosophy), but I understand and recall each major system we covered.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Not impressed at all. I found her way too liberal, and the philosophy we studied in class was mostly bull. She's nice as long as you agree with her and aren't the typical (but perfectly justified) Wheaton evangelical conservative. Her fish-out-of-water behavior/attitude made me uneasy.