Willard Pate - Furman University, Greenville, SC

Professor: Willard Pate

Department: English

College: Furman University, Greenville, SC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: FYW1193
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Pate's class can be great if you put in the effort to participate and be engaged. If not it will drag on and on. She is a tough grader, but if you go to her for help, she'll lead you to how to write the best paper on the topic you want to. She actually cares for her students, so go to her office to talk about class and life.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: FYW1193
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

One of the WORST experiences I've ever had in the classroom. Beware of this course if you know you want to become a more effective writer. Pate is a savage when it comes to grading papers and will not hesitate to fail you if your writing doesn't meet her impossible standards. She provides little guidance and direction, so there's no way to improve

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENG150
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You will work for your grade. Go see her during office hours and listen to her advice- you will do fine if you follow what she says. Don't wait to bring your rough draft to her, start coming several weeks before a paper is due, especially if you want to do well. If you write your papers at the last minute I would suggest changing your habits.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG111
• 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:

DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS! She does not teach you anything. But the worst part is she will not give you an A. I worked six days straight perfecting a take home test and got a B- on it. (All my friends got Cs or Ds). PLEASE DO NOT TAKE!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG4XX
• 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:

Dr. Pate is a really fun professor. However, if you can't handle unstructured, don't take her. She won't babysit you; you have to take responsibility for asking questions, having out of class meetings, reading/writing, etc. However, she's not too demanding if you just keep up with the work. P.S. If you get a chance, go look at her office.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: FYW1193
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Pate provides little guidance towards what she expects from a paper, and then tears it apart. If you become a better writer in this class, it's only because you will re-write every paper over and over. Unless you have a serious pursuit of English and perfecting your writing skills to her impossible standards, you won't learn anything from her.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: FLKNR1
• 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:

Dr. Pate- wow. She's awesome. All the naysayers on this site have a hard time with her because she calls people on their****. When they don't work, don't read, write crappy papers and won't learn from her, they don't like her. NO WAY. Who would have thought? She is the bomb, knows her stuff, and is a fun teacher if you put in a little work.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: FYWS1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

ON PAIN OF DEATH DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. She is flat out mean to her students, extremely unwilling to help and the most ridiculous grader at Furman. No matter how hard you try and how many meetings you have, she will still give you a poor grade and tear your paper apart, even if she practically wrote it.DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: FYW1161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Pate is what I expected out of a college professor. She doesn't spoon-feed you the answers, but is willing to point you in the right direction. She sat down with me to discuss a paper and ended up convincing me to be an English major. Be ready to work and have your papers torn apart, but improve a LOT. Probably my favorite professor at Furman.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

You will not make a good grade in this class no matter how hard you try. I met with her all the time and all she did was change what she wanted from my papers so that I spent hours doing useless work. Class is even worse. She routinely reads the book aloud; its a flashback to 1st grade. I hope she gets lost in the disaster area that is her office.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Honestly the worst experience I've had in a classroom. I love to write, but she made me feel worthless. I could go on and on, but I don't want to relive the anger.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Don't take this class. Pate's not helpful at all. The only positive thing I can say about this class is that attendance isn't mandatory. However, this is far outweighed by her refusal to give anyone a good grade. No matter how much help you try to get, or how many of her suggestions you implement in your papers, she's not going to reward your efforts

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENGL11
• 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:

Making an A in her class is NOT impossible. If you meet with her on a regular basis (i.e not the day before the due date) and show interest in the material then she will help you. She wants you to write college-level papers. Those who stick to their high school writing style will get low grades. Follow her writing suggestions and you will get an A

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I loved this class until I got in it. She is willing to help, but her advice is unclear and often contradictory. Don't go in her class thinking you could win a Pulitzer, she will cut you down hard and fast.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG11
• 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:

She will improve your writing, if you listen.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENG11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Impossible to make an A. I went back to her several times for each paper trying to see what i needed to make an A. At the end of the term she flat out told me that I would be unable to write an A paper. Not a very good teacher, had no clue what she wanted me to write on or what to do to improve the paper.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I suppose I understand the negative ratings, but, Dr. Pate is far from a bad teacher. Sure, she is slightly curt, and does enjoy the occasional insulting of her students, but she is an intelligent woman who definitely helped me improve as a writer. However, I wouldn't reccomend if you have very little interest in English.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You will be fine as long as you do as she asks. However she is extremely confusing and unclear about what she wants in a paper. Also she is a very difficult grader. You can make all her suggested corrections and still not end up with the grade you want. On the plus side you rarely have to go to class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENGLISH11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Pate is one of the most penetratingly intelligent people I've ever known, and she will help you improve your writing as long as you're willing to work at it. Don't expect a handout or an easy grade--she knows what she's doing and won't accept mediocrity. Get to know her and put forth effort and you'll learn.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENG11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She has no desire to work with or help freshman unless the are absolutely in love with english. I learned nothing.