Christopher Givan - University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK

Professor: Christopher Givan

Department: English

College: University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SHAKESPEARE
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Givan is an amazing teacher! He truly cares about his students and wants them to succeed. He is a literature genius and has read every work of criticism ever written. Be prepared to be blown away by his brilliance! He is a tremendously talented writer and can help you hone your talentinterest. Take him!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CSDY3573
• 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 took Fundamentals of Creative Writing with Givan and all I can say is, you get what you put into that class. Givan is not organized by any standard,and he's not rigours about grading. As long as you do your work, you can pass. If you want to progress as a writer, this class can help you, as long as you put in the effort.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: 4910
• 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:

I am a senior at UCO. I took Mr. Givan's summer class and believe he is the only professor I have been challenged by intellectually. He is full of useful knowledge. By far my favorite professor I have taken thus far in college. If you want to learn something, take his course. If you want a blow off course, do not! His time is to valuable to waste.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: 5123
• 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:

He cant be better. He is the greatest writer and professor in UCO because he is knowledgable, humorous, and creative person. He is not easy, but not so strict. He has ability to inspire students' writing and helps students to the best of his ability. Love him much.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CSDY3573
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

One of the most quirky and dryly hilarious people I've ever met. He definitely knows what he's talking about and has a ton of knowledge. If you're serious about writing, take him.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CSDY3573
• 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:

I took Givan's Creative Writing class and was extremely timid about it because I don't see myself as a creative writer. Yet I loved this class. He will rip your writing to shreds but you will have fun with the discussions and the topics that come up in this class. Dr. Givan is the Einstein of Lit.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CSDY3573
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I loved his class. He was extremely scatter brained, but in a way that suggests genius. He is mostly constructive with his criticism and his class is really great if you are wanting to test out your writing. No tests, but reading and writing almost every day. You have to read your things in front of the class, and you'll use a lot of paper.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BRILLIANT
• 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:

Sure, Givan is scattered and his grading may not ever be something that mere mortals will understand. But he is undoubtedly one of the greatest professors UCO has to offer. His patience and his love for his students make him a saint. The only problem with his classes are students (like myself at one time) who are too lazy to do the work.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG2653
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Givan seems to teach by way of some chaos theory of lecturing: scattered and random. It was pretty disorienting for a super-structured student like me. However, by the end of the semester & once I got used to his method, the class turned out to be a favorite of mine. It class was fun, surprising, & most of all, I learned a lot. I recommend it!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MANYMANY
• 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:

Interesting batch of opinions, here, so I'll add mine. Excellent teacher. Bright, insightful, clear, possessed of an impressive depth of knowledge about his subject matter, genuinely interested in student development and ideas. Open, honest, and probably the best and most interesting professor encountered on my way to an MA.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG4793
• 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:

I went into the class expecting much the same as I've already received from Givan. Unfortunately, he seems to have taken a recent turn for the worse and takes it out on his students. He still picks favorites, but is no longer open to any form of discussion that does not directly coincide with whatever irrelevant drivel he was just talking about.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG400
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Givan was my favorite teacher at UCO! He will shred your papers no matter how good they are, because he wants the best from you, and he wants you to be original. He is bored with our answers, so think of some aspect he hasn't heard before and you'll do fine. He's a mess, but I loved it! And yes, wear your thick skin, you'll need it! :)

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CSDY3573
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher if you're a writer. Always open to discussion and new ideas. Don't come into his class with a self-righteous spree to you though; he'll watch you be shredded by your peers without batting an eye (personally, my favorite trait about him).His notes on your papers are literally incomprehensible. FAVORITE CLASS EVAR!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENGCHAU
• 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:

RUN AWAY!!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CSDY3573
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Givan was amazing. I had a rebellious period right in the middle of the semester and stopped going to class. I spoke to him briefly in his office and he allowed me to make up all of the work I'd missed with no penalties. He's a little biased and picks his favorites, but he passed some of the most asinine writers, so you shouldn't have a problem.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CREAT101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He is my man crush. He likes to hear your stories, so read them. It counts for brownie points. He's a brotha.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CRSD1122
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Good class, crazy guy. Vague and grade was based more on opinion than technicality.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: LIT2653
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

i thought he was ridiculous. the only thing interesting about his class was what tie he was wearing that day. he is very opinionated and grades according to whatever his opinion is. i liked the subject, but he made it horrible for me. i never could make great grades on his essays bc i just didnt agree with him.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: LIT
• 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:

I had 3 or 4 classes with Professor Givan in the early 70's at UCSB, if I hadn't seen that rare spark of intelligence I wouldn't be writing this now.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POETRY
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I had a great time in Dr. Givan's poetry class. Blown away by his insight and commentary and ability to assess and relate student poetry to a wide range of literature. Probably not someone you want to take as an underclassman, however.