William Henry McDonald - University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

Professor: William Henry McDonald

Department: English

College: University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2413
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very sweet old man. He assigns reading every night but you can get by in class without reading, quizzes/tests are a different story. You get to use outlines/notes on quizzes/tests. Can get boring of him just lecturing the whole class, but overall he is very sweet. Went in depth with stories.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2413
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Hes an okay professor. Hes very knowledgeable about what hes teaching, but he tends to think his opinions surpass everyone elses. There are very few assignments and he grades them harshly. If you attend class and take notes of his opinions, you shouldnt have a problem in the class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2773
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Mind-numbingly boring but such an easy class. No need to do the readings because he gives you the prompts in advance. You have to actively try to not get an A in this class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2883
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He does not use Canvas, so you don't have a great idea what your grade is. He has a tendency to think his conclusions are more valid than others, so it's better to just attend lecture and write down his thoughts and repeat those on an exam. The only C I got was on a paper that I did not just repeat his thoughts in my answer. Avoid at all costs.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2773
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Nice guy, very knowledgeable. You HAVE TO DO THE READINGS.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2883
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

McDonald is a decent professor. He is very knowledgeable, but likes to ramble in class. Assignments are easy if you have previous knowledge of how to write. He has no definite rubric but gives out paper and quiz prompts beforehand.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2883
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This is a great class, especially if you love literature. He really knows what he is talking about and his tests are very easy. He provides you with the prompts before hand so you have plenty of time to prepare. Loved this class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2773
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great guy! You can tell he knows his American Literature. Would totally take his class again, already taken him twice. Favorite professor at OU. Lays out what he wants from you, expects you to back yourself up. Just read and pay attention to what he says. He's old fashion, but in a good way.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2413
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Good class if you like English.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2773
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He focuses on more on the political aspect of English Literature instead of literary tools, devices, and the novels themselves. Its very frustrating. But for his quizzes/exams he gives you topic ahead of time to plan an outline.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2773
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. McDonald is an extremely smart guy with a great sense of humor. The one downside is that because everyone has to present his class is mostly students teaching instead of himself. Tests are fair and easy if you've read the material and he even gives the essay questions in advance so you have no excuse! Great professor! Would gladly take again!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2413
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

McDonald is an intelligent professor, but his lack of a rubric/expectations on his tests and his ramblings (lectures) made the class one of the worst I've had. He seems to be getting too old to handle teaching and provided no explanation for his system of grading. Complain and he'll raise your grade. Not good for those who actually want to learn.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2883
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. McDonald knows what he's talking about. He always offers help if you seek it outside of class. He expects that YOU will make the effort to make an A, as most college professors do. Overall, he's really an interesting guy and you will learn a lot from him if you pay attention to the lectures.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2883
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He assigns lectures/presentations to students but provides input for every reading. Nearly all readings were interesting & sparked good discussion. His commentary can be pretty funny. Tests are essay based but he goes over questions beforehand. One 8-10pg paper at the end of the semester. Overall, I really enjoyed his teaching and the class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2773
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He doesn't get off topic, but his lectures don't follow a clear outline. Having students present the readings really helped with understanding them because its presented from a student's perspective. I failed the first quiz because I didn't read the passages but I ended up with a B in the class! It was interesting to me.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: 2773
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Doesn't keep on topic. Most lectures are done by students. Lots of reading to do for the class. Class is very boring. Class can be difficult to understand.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: 2773
• 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:

he gets off topic quite a bit. he's a really nice man and if you need help he will help you. the lectures makes me want to fall asleep and its not easy to take notes. he isn't that clear during lecture, but he does get into what he's talking about

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENGL4833
• 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:

He has been, by far, the worst professor I've had at OU! I though I would give him a chance since the last few comments were so positive, but he is ridiculous! He gets off point easily so you never really learn anything, and he grades too hard. I will never take another class with this professor.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2883
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I also disagree with the negative comments, he's a kind and knowledgeable professor and leads his class in a way that everyone gets to participate. He gives lots of advance notice before exams and quizzes and really gives students all the resources they need to make an A. If you are easily bored and don't want to try, this class is not for you.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2773
• 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:

I was also surprised by the comments. This is one of my favorite classes. I find it very easy, but interesting. He picks good stories to read.