Benjamin Bertram - University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME

Professor: Benjamin Bertram

Department: English

College: University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG341
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Only a few people get A's in his class. He may seem like a nice person, but he is brutal when it comes to grading. It's the most text-heavy class ever and most of the papers he gives you back are low grades. He only allows one rewrite. He also would forget to mention an extra critical detail in class until you need it when you start your test.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG361
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of my favorite professors at USM. He would often take time after class to continue class discussions with me. There were occasions where I interpreted texts differently but never felt like I had to see it his way to get a good grade, rather he encouraged me to dig into the text to validate my ideas. He has a great sense of humor too!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENG361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Think your papers don't need criticism? Don't take his class. Can't handle someone disagreeing with you? Don't take his class. But if you want to be challenged, if you're interested in the material, and if you want to learn something new, take his class. Bertram treats students with the respect he expects they deserve. USM needs more of that.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG145
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His class consists of pop quizzes on the reading. He lets you know exactly how many quizzes there will be total but in my class he only ever announced two of the quizzes. His final is barely even about English, there's a whole section for remembering dates. Another section is identifying the speaker of quotes from the books and giving context.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG100
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is filled with essays and journals, but on the bright side there are no exams, not even a final. You write three drafts of an essay, he corrects each one and after handing in the final draft he types up a whole page of feedback. if you do not do well on an essay, he gives you the chance to rewrite it for a better grade.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENG145
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I am not an English major and took this class as an elective. After reading my first essay gave it an F and insulted my department and pitied me because they have no idea how to critically analyze a paper (I have a 3.7 GPA). Also admitted that his expectations are to teach us his point of view then have us leave having adapted the same.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I found myself repeating questions in class and sending the same e-mail over and over with no clear feedback. Many questions, few answers. On the plus side, no tests.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENG100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great professor. Course was not too challenging, but you need to put in some effort. Papers are graded in a timely manner and feedback is very individualized.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG100
• 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:

He's a great teacher. I hate writing pointless papers, but it really wasn't that bad. He can be a little awkward at times which is funny. Be prepared to write high quality essays for an A, and expect to produce multiple drafts before you get that A.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG100C
• 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:

He is great. Knows and loves what he teaches. He can be strict at times, but is always fair; if you put in the effort, he will put in the effort. Has got me thinking about adding an English major to my plans for the future. Great guy.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG245
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I liked this professor. However, his teaching style didn't work for me. He LOVES Shakespeare...I don't. He grades extremely tough. My concentration is English and I normally do very well, but this class was a huge struggle for me. I was lucky to get a C. Probably wouldn't take a class with him again unless there were no other choices.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG315
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class was insufferable, boring and random. Prof Bertram never let us think freely we always had to tailor essay directly to his ridiculous unfounded theses. Classes are a waste of time he'll cover specific themes in class then make up his own theme and maybe a word or two then have you write on his made up themes and words. AVOID at all Costs!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENG245
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Horrible teacher. When students spoke up he put them down; making them seem they were wrong to think different things from his thoughts. I re-wrote a paper numerous times and he hated it every time. Extremely unhelpful...avoid him if possible. Too bad there aren't many good English teachers here.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG341
• 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:

His grading rubric is absurd. He doesn't work in any opportunity for drafts and/or rewrites. I personally think his Theory class should be for English majors ONLY. His grading also seems to become stricter as the semester continues which makes it very difficult to ascertain whether or not to drop the course. In short I recommend to avoid!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG100C
• 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:

A complete waste of time. When he wasn't spreading his opinion as fact he wasted my time with middle school grammar exercises.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENG360
• 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:

a gifted teacher

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG245
• 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:

This course is work intensive. You will write and read alot. If you cannot take critisms then I would suggest you pick another professor. BB is VERY intelligent and you WILL learn in this class. If you're having trouble seek him out he WILL help. Overall expect to work hard but be graded fairly, although tough.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG264
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Maybe he has a point about grade inflation @ USM but I'll trust 3 & 1/2 years of consistent A/B papers over his grading. I saw him about one of my papers. Beyond mechanical errors, he could not give me a reason as to why I got the grade I did. Be prepared to be marked down for trivial things, granted they were errors. He does not praise good ideas.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG363
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very understanding and caring. Pretty Easy. Has a wealth of knowlege about renaissance and sexuality.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENG101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I think his class was very hard for Eng 101 i dont think i would take his class! he is helpful but it comes only when its to late hes a good guy but i would not take his class!