Sue Lawrence - Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY

Professor: Sue Lawrence

Department: Communication

College: Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MDIA120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lawrence makes this basic film class so much harder than it needs to be. Majority of the class are not film majors and she expects that everyone has some prior knowledge in film. You have to get the textbook because she assigns long reading every week that you discuss in class. 3 exams and final and you have to prepare because the exams are hard.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: COM300
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had Dr. Lawrence as a teacher back in the early 90s. And I learned and retained more from her than all other Marist teachers combined. She opened my eyes to view film in completely new ways. She is a hard grader but the actual education that you receive will be far superior to just about any other teacher or professor that I have ever had.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MDIA120
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She is an expert when it comes to film, but she needs to back off the harsh grading and strict policy. What she fails to realize is that 85% of students essentially saw movie class as a fine art elective and chose it. Its fun and the lectures are immersive, but she treats this class like a graduate school final thesis class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MDIA120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Completely unreasonable for a 100 level art of film class. Treats the students as if we devote our lives to film, even though 95% of the class is simply taking the class for the fine art requirement. Only feedback on a paper I got a relatively low grade on was see more.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MDIA120
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Im a film major & I have a hard time on her tests. You have to really really know the material in order to get even a decent grade (B-). She asks you to go into depth on the most irrelevant film terms. She will ask you to be more clear when writing papers but won't be clear in the feedback she gives you. Somewhat condescending which isn't pleasant.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MDIA322
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She is a very tough grader, but more than makes up for it with a truly engaging and enjoyable class experience. While it may not be the easiest class you take, there is not a ton of work (paper + two tests) and the overall class is very enjoyable. You need to read the textbook because though she goes over the readings, she does not hit everything.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MDIA335
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

If you think the nickname C+ Sue fits, it's because you never came to class and didn't hand in any work. One of the easiest and most interesting classes Marist has to offer. You just watch movies every week. As far as work, you just have to answer a few forum questions & write a midterm and final paper. Sue is awesome.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: FILMTHEORY
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Was expecting this class to be impossible but it was not as bad as I expected, I had a very strong foundation from Sue's Art of Film class so that helped. 2 tests & an extensive term paper, but when you understand the concepts of the different theories it's interesting. It can seem daunting at times & some of the films are strange, but it's doable

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MDIA241
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

One of the most unfair graders I have ever had! Her classes all focus on feminism even though that is not the topic. She has the name C+ Sue for a reason! She lives up to the grading scale and does nothing to help you avoid it! She is not easy to understand either.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MDIA335
• 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:

Sue really knows her stuff and creates a laid-back atmosphere. Don't worry about the C+ Sue nonsense. Show up to every class. Take very good notes. Choose paper topics you're genuinely interested in, then put an average amount of effort into them. Do all the readings. Trust me, do the work and you'll learn a lot and have a good time.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: COM186L
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I had C+ Sue for 2 classes, and to be honest, the name rang true for me. But! I learned the most in those two classes in my 4 years at Marist. She's so nice and funny in an odd way, and we watch some really great movies. Race + Ethnicity in film was a great class. Stop by her office, I can tell she actually cares about her students and teaching.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: COM186L
• 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:

I have always loved to watch and discuss movies, and I looked forward to Art of Film despite what I'd heard about C+ Sue. I didn't do very well on the first exam, but I studied really hard for the last two exams and worked a lot on the term paper. I ended up with an A! We watched some pretty good films too. Study hard and you should be fine.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: COM487
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This was the hardest class I have ever taken. It was so stressful and that class ruined my semester. I really don't know why students call her "C+ Sue" but for me, I did not get C+'s or even C's in general on any of my essays. She is nice, but she was a bit rude sometimes, especially in her emails. Those one page essays were not necessary at all.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: COM487
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

There were three 5-7 page essays, but not only that, there were one page essays in between the essays we had to write, so it was hard to focus on the actual essays. We had to do a presentation for the three essays; there was reading, and a final, where we had to write two essays about a show we watched in class during the time of the final exam.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: COM385
• Grade Received: N/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:

"C+ Sue"? Nah. Show up, join in class discussions, and write like a college student, and you will do well.Women's film was one of my fav classes!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: COMM287
• 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:

She's...interesting. Really loves film and thinks the way students do. Watch a lot of great films, and she has fun with it. She's C+ Sue for a reason, but if you have prior film classes you can get an A or B

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: COM286
• 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:

Take her!Classes are so fun.She's incredibly funny and smart, and I learned a LOT from this course.You enjoy one movie per week, plus analysis (you'll be a film critic in no time!) Three tests, one paper&presentation, and class participation. We watched everything from Good Fellas to Do The Right Thing. So sad this class is ending. She's wonderful!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: COMM203
• 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:

Looking back on my time at Marist, (I'm 5 years out and still working in film production) she's the only professor that I remember.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: COM286
• 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 was really scared to take this class after looking at the ratings on this website but once I got into the class and started doing the work and studying I realized C+ Sue is a total misnomer. If you study for the tests and actually read into the film clips you will be fine. I really liked Sue as well, study and read. It's all you need for an A.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: COM286L
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Loved the class. She's so helpful. If you need to see her at any point to discuss anything, she's more than willing. As long as you keep up with the reading - which isn't too bad (one chapter per week) - it's not hard at all. Tests are fill in the blank vocab from the chapters you've covered so far and a movie clip that you have to analyze.