Amy Elman - Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI

Professor: Amy Elman

Department: Political Science

College: Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLS106
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Brilliant, tough, honest, passionate, and committed, only take her course if you regard yourself as someone who shares at least some of the fine qualities of her character. You'll learn quite a bit.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POLS106
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

There's this idea out there that Prof. Elman is really tough but a great professor. That is simply untrue. She is tough and incompetent. She puts no preparation into class and just walks into class and expresses her opinions about whatever she feels like talking about, and none of it ties in with anything you're supposed to learn or know for exams.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLS270
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Does not give out A's. (I think her scale for an A is 97% and up.) Tough classes with lots of reading. Her lectures are quite boring, even when the topic is interesting; she just doesn't know how to lecture. Very intelligent person, but nothing seems to be good enough for her standards.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLS270
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you are expecting to have an easy A then do not take a class with her but if you are passionate about politics you Definitely have to take her class as she is amazing and knows so many stuff! BTW READ THE NEW YORK TIMES this will give you extra credit with her

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: IAS
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Weak lecture organization, crass, contrary, confrontational, arbitrary grader. One of the worst lecturers I had at K.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SEMN
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Elman, although tough, she will make you work hard for your grade. She isn't easy and isn't afraid to tell you that your wrong. She does, however, help your writing style.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLS106
• 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:

Tough Professor and you can't BS the class. Reading is essential and if you're a slacker either get your sh*t together or expect to fail. She seems tough but if you go to her office hours, she is really nice about things but is not afraid to be straight forward with you. I learned so much in class though and if you're up for it, take it. :)

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLS270
• 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're not absolutely, completely passionate about a topic she teaches, I would not take a class with her teaching. She is strict, confusing, and absurdly difficult. You will never know what she expects from you, or what to expect from her. I am more confused about the class topic than I was before I took the class.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POLS106
• 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:

I learned so much from her class. She pushes her students, and expects a lot, but if you put in the work, it will pay off.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLS106
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

All the people saying she grades too hard are full of BS. Professor Elman is the first ever prof to give me the grades I actually deserved on my assignments. When you don't put in the effort she knows and will grade you as such. Also, not nearly as scary as people say, and she's willing to help you if you seek her out.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLS104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Some people say she's just hard, but you learn a lot. This is just utterly wrong. Dr. Dugas is hard, but fair. Amy Elman is hard, but only because her lectures are wildly scattered and her grading arbitrary at best. Only two people got an A in my class. Kzoo people obviously work hard (Esp. those taking an Elman class), so when only two get an A...

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLS106
• 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:

People dislike Elman because she runs her class with an iron fist and is a difficult A. She doesn't tolerate slackers. But her classes teach you how to think. Yes, her lectures can be scattered, but you learn how to make connections. She grades hard, you learn to work harder. If you seek her out, she will help you. I learned so much from her.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: IAS900
• 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:

Some argue Elman is tough and simply demands hard work and critical thinking. The reality is that's only true if you're willing to play-up to her POV. David Barclay is a good contrast... he's tough but fair, and willing to credit compelling work regardless of POV. Contrast his ratings with hers and you'll see the difference.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLS104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Terrible teacher. She is blissfully ignorant. I am a liberal, but even for me her liberal bias which she inserts into almost everything was just ridiculous. I wanted to learn different opinions, not just hers. Also, she only gave two "A"s to our entire class. She thinks she is so smart and if you try to politely argue with her she'll hate you.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POLS360
• 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:

If you came to school to learn you need to take an Elman class. It is invaluable. If you came to school because you didn't want to stay home and you thought you could earn an easy 4.0 forget it. You are wasting your time, her time, and the rest of the class's.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: IAS000
• 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:

Lacked objectivity and inserted her own biases constantly. Had her for International Area Studies Senior seminar, but do not recall section.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Scholar - excellent. Intellectual - among highest at K. Lecturer - interesting, engaging, funny, and thoughtful. Teacher - poorly structured assessment mechanisms, and ultimately uninterested in whether students learn or not.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POLS330
• 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:

when you enter her class for the first time, don't go on any precedent you may have heard from other students, especially anything negative. just listen, take good notes, and ask questions if you don't understand anything. she'll help you out. she knows her stuff like no other. i loved taking class with her.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLS106
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She's one of those professors that's awful if she doesn't like you, not bad if she does. After she ran into me in the library reading the paper before her class, she loved me -- I think she just wants people to be passionate about things.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POLS106
• 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:

Worst teacher I have had at K. Perhaps if she were less bitter and sarcastic she might be able to present the information in a more objective manner. Avoid her if you can.