Deborah DeRosa - Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL

Professor: Deborah DeRosa

Department: English

College: Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG200
• 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:

She was amazing! She is a harder grader and you need to speak up in class but it was a class I actually looked forward to! She makes the things you read interesting and she also helps you understand each one in a way you would have never thought! She is an incredible professor and I highly recommend

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG200
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I absolutely loved this course. There is a lot of homework, but if you spend time and put effort into it you will get a good grade. She made lectures enjoyable and they flew by. She makes an effort to choose readings that are enjoying and she truly cares for her students. After reading RMP I was worried but I ended up loving the course.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENG200
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is an amazing teacher. I have received an A on every homework assignment and test. I did receive a C on an essay portion of a test which is graded separately, but that was completely my fault. If you are having trouble, go in and talk to her. I went in before my first paper and she pretty much gave me a thesis based on my ideas.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG300A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

So much homework. TOUGHEST GRADER EVER. She's old school, very out of touch. Doesn't seem to grade consistently between students, often grades based on opinion. Most stressful class I've had. 40%-50% of your grade occurs in the last few weeks after she's worn you down all semester. Unreasonably hard teacher. Do not take unless you have no choice

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG200
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Don't take this class. You get so little out of it for the work you put in. She refused my disability accommodations which is so wrong and openly mocks her students.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENG200
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

THE toughest grader I have had at NIU. Her MLA assignments will make you want to drop out of school. The class is very dry and you will find yourself looking at the clock waiting to get out. Her grading makes no sense. She expects too much for a 200 level course.

Rating # 7

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I currently am a graduate student, but I had Dr. DeRosa for a special topics course as an undergraduate student. Despite having earned well over 200 credit hours in my lifetime, Dr. DeRosa stands out as one of the best professors I have ever had the pleasure of working with. She pushed me to become a better writer. I am so grateful to have had her!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENGL332
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you want to pass this class, then you need to work for the grade. The class is cut and dry. She helps when needed. Her assignments made me a better writer. People who complain about her want an easy grade. I definitely recommend her.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG332
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This course requires active participation. By active I don't mean a sentence every class. She counts and it impacts grades! Papers are graded roughly, but she will allow you to fix to get a better grade if you ask for her help. Learned a lot and like her teaching style, just tough grader and hate that participation is so STRICT. Final was openbook

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG300A
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Let me be clear, I like Professor De Rosa a lot. She is a great facilitator of discussion, and I generally enjoyed her class because of that. She is, however, a tough grader with very little reasoning. I did well for most of the semester, and now all-of-the sudden my grade dropped about 8% with very little explanation. Also, she is out-of-touch.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENGL110
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

ENGL 110 is a great class to take for a humanity. You have to write blogs about every other week and she is a tough grader on those. Make sure to always cite your work. If you don't read you'll regret it she occasionally makes pop quizzes. Overall fun class if you participate it will make it worth your while.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENGL300A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr D is tough. I won't lie to you but if you get on her good side she will go out of her way to make sure you learn everything she thinks you need to learn. She's tough on papers and has improved my writing 10 fold. she really helped prepare me for grad school. If you want to learn, she'll teach you something.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENGL332
• 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:

Absolutely. Worst. Teacher. Ever. She started the semester by saying,"None of that stuff on RMP is true about me." Yes, it is. I worked my butt off the entire semester and then got tanked at the last minute. Grading is unclear, and she will tear your writing to shreds.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENGL300A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I'm not even done with this class yet and I want it to be over. Her office hours are horrible and will rarely make accommodations. I wanted her to review my paper before I turned it in, so she told me to email it to her. I did and she never reviewed it and gave me a C on what I turned in. She is easily one of the worst professors I've had at NIU.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENGL332
• 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:

De Rosa is a very hard grader. She has no qualms in giving anyone a C for papers that would probably get a B or A in other classes. Proofread everything you turn in, and make sure that your points connect to your topic sentences. Since attendance is mandatory, go to class. It is possible to get an A, you'll just have to work harder.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENGL332
• 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 probably the worst thing that ever happened to NIU. I had a 102% in her class, busted my bum on extra credit, papers, and participation just to have her bottom me out at the last minute and give me a B. After approaching her about my grade through email, she completely ignored me and posted grades anyway. Grading makes no sense. HORRIBLE!!!!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENGL375
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Time for a different perspective--I did well in DeRosa's class, and received an A. However, she is by far the most frustrating professor I've encountered. I didn't have a problem with her paper grading (I don't get B's in any classes, though), but her participation grade baffles me. Inconsistency and narrow-mindedness are her greatest faults.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG300A
• 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:

She is a tough grader- but she spoon feed you everything you need to do it right. For this required writing class, you are given an exact rubric and multiple chances for rewrites, including office time. She expects you to work had and she will make you a better writer.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENGL332
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Terrible. I am an English major that consistently gets high B's or A's on papers and she gave me C-'s. Incapable of facilitating class discussion-she routinely had to have points explained by multiple students to understand. Going to her for help on your paper is only good for the extra credit at the end of the term-has favorites, but they fail too

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENGL332
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The idea that not everyone thinks the same way as her does not seem to enter DeRosa's head. The assignments she thinks are crystal clear are so bogged down in arbitrary rules that they actually stifle creative thought. Thanks to her I now HATE the period of literature covered. I cannot in good conscience recommend her to anyone. Avoid at all costs.