Stephen Whittaker - University of Scranton, Scranton, PA

Professor: Stephen Whittaker

Department: English

College: University of Scranton, Scranton, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL217J
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I got 80s or lower on all the papers (he only counted the highest two and it's not worth your time trying to get an A on these) and a C on the Phaedrus quiz (curve was +24 points) and still got an A in the class. Field notebook is a joke, type in "100 idioms" online and boom you're done. The presentations were very constructive, though. Good luck

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHIL217J
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I thought Trivium was a real let-down. Only 4 one-page papers, and he drops two of them, so I don't see any incentive to try your best since many people do poorly anyways, nor are there many chances to improve. Field notebook: write 100 one-page analyses of interesting uses of language. A few speeches and a test on Phaedrus. Nothing life-changing.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENLT141
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He talks about something every class that's pretty much irrelevant. His lectures are based off of a mini-lecture that a student gives in the beginning of class. He grades pretty tough and pretty randomly. The only perk about this class is that there's no tests.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HON187
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely terrible man. Avoid at all costs. He hates students and talks down to everyone. Your ideas are stupid and pointless to him. He could careless what you have to say. Absolutely hate this man and his stupid accents.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENLT284
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's completely brilliant, just ask him.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHIL217J
• 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's honestly the smartest man I've met in my life. You learn so much in Triv, and although the class seems intimidating at first, it's my favorite class I've ever taken. I can't wait to take him again!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENLT101
• 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:

Stephen Whittaker, quite simply, is a demigod among mere mortals. His intelligence is only surpassed by his capacity for empathy and profound insight into the human condition. An Übermensch's übermensch, Stephen constitutes the next step in human evolution. He's the only professor who's EQ is as high as his IQ, which proves quite an achievement.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: TRIV217J
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Talented professor, but he is extremely arrogant and sexually harasses female students. He is legendary for it...

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: TRIV217J
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Trivium was a great learning experience. Work hard and follow his directions and advice and you'll earn an A. Whittaker is a genius!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL217J
• 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:

Loved triv!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: TRIV217J
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you don't like being wrongly humiliated in front of the class, or if you don't like pompous, arrogant, hairy men, then please do yourself a favor and steer clear from Whittaker. Good teacher..terrible human being. Just thinking about him makes me cringe.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL217J
• 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:

This man will make you a better writer and speaker. Listen to him. The performances were fun, especially the impromptu singing displays. Sure, the field notebook can be a pain in the neck, but just try to write everyday and you'll be fine. Trivium was a real bonding opportunity. I became the best of friends with my Triv class. Have fun!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: TRIVIUM
• 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:

Amazing professor! Truly knows the material and will go above and beyond to better his students' writing skills. Performance days were a lot of fun and the class was not nearly as bad as others made it out to be. I would take Triv again if I had the chance!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENLT225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

While there is no disputing this man's knowledge of his subject matter, Dr. Whittaker fails to keep things in perspective and realize that he is simply teaching English at a small private university in Scranton, PA and NOT at Oxford or Princeton, etc. He needs a reality check and a lecture on humility. Also-keep the liberal BS at home.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENLT244
• 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:

Whittaker is the man. If you're not entirely lazy and apathetic about your school work, take his class. If, however, you seem to be a typical child that attends the U, I reccomend you stay away. He's brilliant, he's arrogant, and you either love him or hate him. If you genuinely want to improve in writing and reading, he's the man to take.

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Extremely brilliant, to the point where he would stand out on the faculty of even the most prestigious universities. He's tough, but in an understanding and truly helpful way. In Trivium, your writing and speaking will improve exponentially if you listen to him. Plus, he's the most quick-witted and funniest person I've ever met.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENGLIT
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I hate people who think they are funny...and they aren't. Has a very high opinion of himself for someone who only teaches college english.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENLT244
• 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:

This is college. In college we work. We work so we can have a nice future. And if our work is hard we do it anyway. Because this is COLLEGE. The man is beyond brilliant. If I knew even 1/8 of what he knows about everything under the sun, I'd probably have an elevated sense of self too. Deal. Professors here do not get much better. TAKE HIM!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENGLISHLIT
• 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:

tough stuff but well worth it in the long run

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENGLISHLIT63
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A few years after graduation, I saw Whit out in a bar, and I, being soused, called him a pompous ass right to his face. I couldn't tell if he was annoyed or amused with me. At times I hated him, other times I wanted to sleep with him. He was a good teacher though--ah, the infamous Whit paper! Do his knees still crack when he jumps around the room?