Dana McDaniel - University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME

Professor: Dana McDaniel

Department: Linguistics

College: University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: LIN185
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Honestly Dana changed my life. She is the best professor I've ever had. She cares about her students SO much and will do ANYTHING to help them succeed (Skype you on a Saturday night). Almost all of her quizzes and tests are open-notes. Her classes aren't always easy, but she is so inspirational, funny, and knowledgeable that it's well worth it.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: LIN185
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor McDaniel cares about her students more than any professor I have ever had. She genuily wants to see them succeed. I have never had a professor who responds to emails not just as quickly as Dana but with so much feedback to anything you asked. She's extremly intelligent and amazing at her job. I have so much respect for professir McDaniel

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: LIN313
• 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:

Literally the best Professor that USM has to offer. The only professor that cares enough about her students to skype them at 2:00 AM on a Tuesday to make sure that they understand the material. I LOVE her. The fact that people rate her a low score is not fair. The material is SUPER hard, but if you seek help she's always there to help you.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: EDU561
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This course was the most interesting and challenging graduate course that I've taken. As part of the program of studies for teachers of English as a second language, I feel that this course has given me a solid foundation.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: LIN185
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dana is enthusiastic about what she teaches, which made the class easier to get through. She cares about how her students are doing and wants us to succeed. Dana is good at explaining difficult concepts; she is brilliant and she is actually a good teacher, which is a rare combination. Hardest class ever, but still a good experience.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: LING185
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dana is passionate about linguistics. This class was the hardest I have ever taken. The lectures are hard to sit through. Material is very very very hard to understand. I printed out all of the quizzes and had organized noted for midterm and I did not pass. When you ask for help she is always willing to help. If you miss a class you will not pass.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: LIN185
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dana is seriously one of the worst professors at USM. The readings have nothing to do with quiz or exam questions, and cause you to fail. This course will drop your GPA. If you don't have to take this class, then DON'T, it will be a huge mistake. I highly regret signing up and taking this course.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: LIN185
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

An awesome professor, really knows her stuff! If you have any questions, she writes e-mails back quickly and efficiently! The Course material is difficult for some people but she is willing to help any students with questions!! Loved this class opened up my eyes to a new way of looking at language!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: LIN313
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dana is very, very smart and knows way too much about linguistics. Syntax was a difficult class, but she was always (literally) available if you needed help with the homework or class concepts. There is no skating in this class, you actually have to pay attention, but it is very interesting and will change the way you look at the English language.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: LIN185
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The class is not easy, but this is what real college level work is like. Memorizing won't get you far, you have to understand an apply concepts. The professor is intelligent and very respectable. I regret that I can't take more classes with her. I learned more in her online course than almost all other USM courses combined.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: LIN185
• 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:

Dana is an interesting character. Her jokes take getting used to but her class is pretty boring. The readings take 5 times as long as they should to explain simple concepts. avoid linguistics unless you need it!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: LIN185J
• 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:

Dana took some getting used to at first. I didn't really know how to take her overall demeanor. As the course progressed I found Dana to be one of the most intelligent, helpful and clever instructors i've ever had. I grew to enjoy her class, though it was very challenging, be ready. She really cares & works to help you understand if you ask for it.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: LIN185
• 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:

She is the worst professor that I have ever had. Her class readings and homework have no relation to the material on the test.I had met with tutors, studied with class mates and still I am points away from the grade that I needed and I asked for help, she just told me, sorry your out. This entry level forces students to fail.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: LIN313
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dana is a very passionate professor. The material in itself is difficult to understand, but she makes classes interesting and challenging. You will never feel as perplexed as you do in her classes. Grades fairly and offers extra credit. Always available for help outside of class. Tests are open book. Be prepared to work hard and be rewarded for it.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: LIN185J
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

In my opinion, Dana is teaching at a much higher level than USM's general student body has come to expect. I loved her dearly. She treated me like I actually had gray matter between my auditory receptors, and I learned a tremendous amount from her. This is not a class to take if you are not willing to consider that what you "know" may be wrong!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: LIN185
• 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:

Warning! This is an intro class for students with no experience w/ linguistics, but it's the hardest online class you'll ever take. Exam questions are barely related to the readings/videos. She expects you to apply the concepts, but doesn't teach the concepts in the first place. I don't know if the classroom version is any better.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: LIN311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

took and failed the class 3 times.She knows her stuff, but is not east to understand. I went for 1-1 help every week and still couldnt pass the midterm or final.What she does in class is so different from what she assigns. I ended up being put on academic probation then suspended because of low GPA. Before this class, my gpa was a 3.1

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: LIN311
• 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:

She's one of the more helpful professors I've had, and really knows her material. She's honest when she doesn't know something. But when she does know something she lets you know that you're wrong, so sometimes she's a little intimidating. Ask any question you want in class, but be ready take a rant.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: LIN185
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dana is amazingly responsive and intelligent and knows exactly how to teach the subject to people who are WILLING to learn it. If you are incapable of letting go of what you (incorrectly) think you know about language, you'll be fine. Otherwise, you WILL fail, and it won't be because of Dana.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: LIN185J
• 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 really loved this class. Linguistics is a very complex topic. Many topics seem contradictory to everything you think you know about language. Dana knows her material and takes the time to explain things in simpler terms. I earned an A and recieved 100s on the midterm and final, and I think I was in the same class as the previous post.