David Zimmerman - University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI

Professor: David Zimmerman

Department: Literature

College: University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG145
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you are not an English major, avoid this professor at all cost. Lectures are mandatory, incredibly boring, and pointless since you're not allowed to use lecture ideas on the papers. I had to spend more time out of class on this introductory literature course than I did for courses that I actually cared about in my major.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG145
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Lectures were mandatory and boring. The class heavily focused on "originality," which made students unable to write about topics from lecture or discussion. The focus on originality made the essays seem arbitrary. The grading was very tough, and the expectations were extremely high. The class contradicted what I learned in other lit classes.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENG145
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Professor Zimmerman is awesome. However, this class is not the easiest if you are looking for an intro level lit credit. It is really hard to get an A on a paper in this class but the class is interesting

Rating # 4

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

The class is lecture-heavy, so it's important to attend class. If you miss one reading (there are many), you'll fall completely behind. Lectures are engaging and give perspective that students might not recognize upon a first reading, but that sometimes makes lecture hard to follow. Overall, Prof. Zimmerman genuinely cares about students, though.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG145
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lecture is entirely notetaking and he fails to let the reader interpret what they think the book is about. There is not a wide variety of themes to the books we read-- class rank and race make an appearance in almost every book. As a 100 level class, it is unnecessarily difficult. I wouldn't take it if you're not into literary analysis.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENG145
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

lots of reading, insane expectations for an intro level lit class. He's passionate about the reading, however I did not agree with half of what he said, and frankly was just annoyed by him. He was a nice guy though who takes genuine interest in students!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG360
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Zimmerman is brilliant. His discussions are incredibly insightful and well done, and his passion for the material is infectious. He cares about his students more than any prof. I have had: he will give 3 pages of detailed feedback on a 2 page essay. HOWEVER: his class is HARD. You will have your essays torn to shreds, but it WILL improve you.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: 168
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One of the best, most engaging professors in English. Makes you work to engage with the material and become a better writer-seems tough at first but not difficult to do well if you try. Cares a lot about students and the material and is always helpful. Would take all of his classes.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 1302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do NOT take if you don't like reading or lots of homework. Grades HARSH

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG168
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Zimmerman is one of those teachers who's very interested in the subject he teaches and wants you to do your best. He's good at making a large class feel small. That being said, the course is way too hard for an intro level. Papers were harshly graded. Lectures were useless because you can't use them in your paper. Do not take to fulfill lit req.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: 168
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Papers: If you want an A in the essay, have a thesis not discussed by professor. Explain and connect quotes, not just putting them in. Lectures: there will be many moments of what the heck. Reading: a lot of reading. Finals: doable and easier than essays if prepared well. Take a different class if for requirement.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: 168
• 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:

The grading is very difficult, but his enthusiasm for the subject is very apparent. Some of the most rewarding lectures you'll attend. He really makes you think, but be prepared for him to give away the endings to a lot of the books.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENG168
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This course is graded too harshly for a 100 level course. After going to numerous TA office hours to get essay help, I still somehow got C's on them, even after making changes to my essays that the TA herself recommended. If you're just trying to fulfill a lit requirement, AVOID this course.

Rating # 14

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Papers are graded very harshly. Otherwise, an enjoyable class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG168
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

One of the hardest classes I've taken, which makes no sense considering it's an entry level class. I attended all lectures and discussions and still got C's on my papers. If you want to fulfill a lit requirement, don't take this class, plain and simple.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: 168
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took this class in Spring 2014 for the literature requirement. The class was graded way too harshly. I would not take this class again. To get As on the essays you must be perfect, which is ridiculous for an introductory course. Somehow I must have done bad enough on the final (even though I studied for 7 hours) to get a final grade of a B.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENGLISH168
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I loved Professor Zimmerman. His lecture style is captivating and interesting. However, if you're looking for an easy literature credit, DON'T take this class. Grades are based on 3 essays and a final and the essays are graded pretty tough. It's important to note, however, that the bulk of your grade is determined by your TA.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: 168
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Zimmerman is great! He is really engaging in lectures. However, there is a lot of reading involved, so if you don't like that, this is not the class for you.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG168
• 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 a great professor and I enjoyed going to lecture. But the class is a lot of fast paced reading that I would not recommend for those who are taking heavy course loads or other reading intensive classes because once you get behind it is hard to catch up.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENGLISH167
• 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:

If you're just trying to fulfill a Literature requirement I would avoid this class. TAs seemed to grade pretty harshly for a intro course.