Andrew Tonkovich - University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA

Professor: Andrew Tonkovich

Department: Humanities

College: University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: WRITING39C
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Most assignments aren't graded but are required on the eportfolio. Attendance is "mandatory" so you can miss some class, but go before/after essays/e-portfolio are due because he outlines important requirements (once got +5% for in-class essay revisions). He wasn't flexible about his one office hour time. He's picky and haughty but a fast grader.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: 39C
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I loved his class. It was so interesting. All you had to do was read a book, find an issue & write 1 essay identifying the problem and 2nd essay for solution & a final portfolio. Class did not require much writing, it was more re-drafting and peer reviewing in class. I learned a lot from this class. Added more info to my general knowledge.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: WR39C
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Keys to doing well: Go to class. Go to office hours and talk about anything, literally anything. E-mail him your drafts; he will read them really fast, print them out, and write helpful comments! He has a rather abrasive personality, but overall he's an easy grader. Class average was a B to B+ on both papers. Great teacher, he really cares!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: WR39C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

this professor stressed me out way too much for a writing class. he makes you think you're failing the whole quarter. if you go to his office hours he is not very helpful, i would ask specific questions and he'd switch subjects. he's very rude at times or maybe its his personality.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: WR39C
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

he is a tough grader for sure! he will push u beyond ur limit. it was frustrated at first because his expectation is so high and vague. its okay if u dont do well on the first essay because he value ur improvement. Choose ur topic wisely! Be patient and continue to ask him for feedbacks. He grades the portfolio really easy

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: WR39C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Andrew is a tough teacher, but he really cares about the success of his students. He gives great feedback and wants to help you improve. He's definitely a tough grader, but as long as you try and really spend time on your papers, you'll do fine in his class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: WRITING39C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very willing to help students succeed. He holds lots of office throughout the week an is very willig to accomodate your schedule for you. He alsoaccepts calls on the weekends to dicuss your paper. You have to work for the A, it's not an easy class, but it's not like he leaves you to fail. Teaches you how to actually write and research well.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: WR39C
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He was a very very hard teacher. The most stressed i have ever gotten from a class. The thing is they have a certain criteria the Writing Department gives them and I understand we must do these things, it's not his fault. What is his fault is he's very mean with feedback, expects you to know everything about your topic, and can be hard to talk to.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: WR39C
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I would HIGHLY recommend NOT taking Tonkovich. His feedback on each essay would be very vague and would be extra critical on topics he finds "unsuitable to his liking". Was very inconsistent when it comes to deadlines for each assignment (tells us 2 days before). Also if you don't go to his office hours frequently, you will not pass!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: WRITING39C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

take the negative reviews here a lot more seriously than the positive ones, though I think they all have some truth. don't use any argument/topic/anything about culture. it is simply unacceptable to him even though you are writing about social issues. he talks behind students backs about problems with their papers, but never tells the students.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: WRITING39C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Yes you will have to work but he will help you every step along the way AS LONG AS YOU ASK FOR IT. Go to his office hours and let him help you by asking him questions about your topic. He typically knows where to look and what names to use. He also gibes praise to the students who deserve it. You just have to be willing to put in a few extra hours.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: 39C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

YOU WILL HAVE TO WORK IN THIS CLASS! be prepared to do a lot of busy work that doesn't make sense and print way to much. Though tonkovich is pretty hard he did make me a better writer and pushes you to do better. make sure to go to office hours he loves that. oh and be prepared for never ending emails with links that you will never open. good luck.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: WR39C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Take him if you are ready for busy work unrelated to the course text or your essays, love mass emails about politics unrelated to the topic, and fantasize about writing essays only to get less than deserved grades on them. If you love rude self righteous men,then take him for 39 C. I am a good student unafraid of hard work, but just no.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: WRITING39C
• 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:

He is strict, unyielding, opinionated, rude, and most of all, self-righteous. Avoid taking him if you are not confident in your writing skills - he will take your writing and wipe the floor with it. I managed to stay afloat because I have some confidence in my writing, but needless to say I did not like the way he handled teaching this class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: WRITING39C
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took his class about 7 years ago. In hindsight, he was one of the best professors I had at UCI. During his class, I learned more about writing than I had in my previous 20 years of life. He was also able to challenge me and make me prove to myself that I could be a good writer. I owe a lot of professional success to his class. Highly recommended.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: WRITING39C
• 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:

Andrew is a great professor! The class is hard, but he made me think and honestly one of the best professors i've ever had. People probably did not like him because he's straightforward and does not give you an easy A. I ended up with a B in his class, I recommend you take his class!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: WR39C
• 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:

People should know that writing teachers at UCI do NOT write the classes they teach - they are given them and told how to teach them because this is the UC, remember? Don't blame him. It's supposed to be hard. Tonkovich does well with making and helping students learn. It's not a freeskate. I did better in his class than I expected.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: WRITING39C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is a really good and helpful professor. This class is very time consuming and may be hard at times but professor Andrew definitely makes you a better writer. He asks a lot of questions in regards to your paper but only to help guide you. If you are struggling, let him know! He's very understanding and may extend deadlines. Be straightforward!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: WRITING39C
• 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:

What a pain! Avoid him. You feel like you do an amazing job and he will make you feel like you do not know what you are talking about. AVOID him. If you did great he wants you to do better and confuses you with all his assignments. He also mentions things in class that do not relate to the class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: WRITING39C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not necessarily hard, but tedious. Andrew is really into what he teaches and responds quickly to emails. You CANNOT procrastinate. I don't enjoy writing and research in general so this class was a struggle for me, but somehow I got an A-. He gives good advice for writing and if you take it, you'll do well. How much you enjoy it depends on the topic