Alan Jacobs - Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL

Professor: Alan Jacobs

Department: English

College: Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG447
• 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 profs I have had, one of the best human beings I have met. I struggled alot last semester, and he was just understanding enough that I felt he cared, but also hard enough that I wanted to please him, despite my difficulties.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENGL364
• 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:

His Modern British Lit class is excellent. Fantastic lecturer, funny, approachable, cares about his students. He does have high standards, but he works with you so that you can meet his standards. A great man and a great professor-a single class with him would make my Wheaton tuition well worth it. In short: Best. Professor. Ever. And I mean ever.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENGL215
• 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:

Dr Jacobs is an absolutely fantastic teacher. He is the best lecturer I have ever heard. He has high expectations for students (which I appreciated), but he is clear about them and eager to assist any student. Take his classes, if you get an opportunity!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: LIT215
• 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:

Jacobs is the best prof I've had at college. If you're an English major you HAVE to take him. His lectures are inspired. He's a strict grader, but he makes himself very available for assistance on assignments. Don't let the more than 5 spelling errors = f reputation turn you off. Just run spell check. Seriously, I can't recommend him highly enough.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENGL215
• 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:

Oh my gosh. Take him. I knew I would hate this class, and I was nervous because I heard he's a hard grader. He showed me that ancient lit can actually be fun (he saved my English major!). He's brilliant, inspiring, funny. I cannot say enough good things about him. (Just don't fill up the last slot in his other classes - I want in to!)

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENGL215
• 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:

One of the best profs I had at Wheaton! He is super intelligent, and he really knows how to communicate important themes. It's a lot of reading, and he's not an easy grader, but he's very interesting and insightful. His class is worth the work!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENGL215
• 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:

Dr. Jacobs was great in the classroom. He makes anything you are covering interesting and enjoyable. However, his expectations for the two essays you write (which basically make up your entire grade) are absurd. You could spend weeks writing a good essay, and he will give low grade simply if he "just doesn't like it". Auditing might be the best.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENGL215
• 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:

Listening to his lectures is a privilege.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: LIT315
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Fascinating to listen to, but if I wrote my papers the way he lectures, I don't think he would give me a very good grade. Needs a more systemic approach.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENGL215
• 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:

Dr. Jacobs is a wonderful professor and brilliant man, but a difficult grader. There were only two papers, 37.5% of your grade each. More than three spelling or grammatical errors was a F. But the lecture portion was so fascinating, humorous and intelligent, that he is worth taking, and he's willing to over your papers before they're due!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENGL215
• 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:

Dr. Jacobs definitely made himself available by giving feedback on papers and being helpful during office hours. The class was definitely not easy, but as an incoming freshman, it has certainly helped build my confidence as a writer. A LOT of reading!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENGL215
• 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:

Dr. Jacobs is quite humorous and nice, and his lectures are incredibly insightful and interesting. He makes you read at a breakneck pace, and while he doesn't take attendance, he gives reading quizzes almost every class. We only had to write two papers, and there was no final, but they were big essays, and rather difficult.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENGL431
• 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:

Though he brings much experience and intelligence to the class, I felt that he did not treat his students with respsect, and cared more about exerting authority than ensuring that his students benefitted from the class. I would not recommend this class to others.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENGL215
• 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:

He's very smart and his lectures are fascinating. Not an easy prof, but a great one.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENGL315
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is an excellent professor, but not much of a teacher. He is definitely someone to audit. His lectures are great, but more like preaching than teaching. I don't think I can say I really had a sufficient command of the material after taking his classes. He was a difficult man to copy. He makes his class read too much (speed over substance).

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Not an easy grader, but he's very willing to take time and offer help. Very intelligent man! Just watch out for Ulysses. If you take this class you WILL have to read it.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Dr Jacobs is the best English prof in the entire state.

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I think he is still teaching this class. At least I hope so. I graduated in 1991 and I still remember this as my favorite class and Dr. Jacobs one of my favorite teachers. Cool to hear he is still playing basketball. I remember those Tue/Thu afternoons..believe it or not, his nickname was money.

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

A great mind and inspiring prof. One of the best. Could use some help on the basketball hardwood, however. . .