Deborah Wanamaker - University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Professor: Deborah Wanamaker

Department: Communication

College: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: COMM0520
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Wannamaker is a little crazy. She talks about herself and her health problems way too much for my taste. She takes attendance every class and refuses to use courseweb. Knowing your grade is really difficult. We did get most Fridays off though so that was nice Don't waste money on the book.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: COMMRC1109
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Took her for nonverbal, pretty easy and interesting (bit dull). buy the book and highlighted what she talked about in lecture -study that, skim the book, and youll get Bs. short hws, 3 exams, 1 final paper with presentation. shell talk a lot about her personal life (is a total mom), sometimes bakes for us, is overall very fair and nice.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: COMMRC1114
• 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:

Professor Wanamaker is a bit quirky, but she KNOWS what she's talking about. I had her for Freedom of Speech and Press and I am so glad I did. She knows this topic backwards and forwards and inside out and upside down. It's not hard subject matter; just show up, read the text, study before exams, you'll do fine.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: COMMRC1109
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If I had to pick one word to describe Prof Wanamaker it would be "neurotic". I didn't learn much at all in this class, because her "lectures" are super disorganized and off-topic. She spends far too much time talking about her personal life, which might sound like a good waste of time, but trust me it gets real old real quick. Would not recommend.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: COMMRC1114
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great topic; awful professor. Talked about herself all the time and made uncomfortable comments. Exams required exact memorization of constitutional sections. Don't buy the textbook... or take any class with her...

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: COMM1114
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

An interesting subject ruined by terrible teaching. Poorly organized, uncomfortable lectures, and all around off-putting personality. Tests are difficult and require rote memorization. Find a different Comm class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: COMMRC1109
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Easily the least interesting class I've ever taken, taught by the worst instructor I've ever had. I don't think she ever had a lesson plan; she'd start a monologue and continue until the class left. These monologues were uncomfortably personal and totally irrelevant. Topics seems like common knowledge, yet tests are very specific. Definitely skip.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: COMMRC1114
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very informative professor who tries everything she can to teach you. The biggest problem I had with Dr. Wanamaker is she's an extremely tough grader. She runs every upper level class like a law school course. Do not take this class if you're not good at memorization because if you don't say it the ways she would, you're wrong.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: COMMRC1109
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She's a good person all around and passing shouldn't be an issue if you show up. I had her like four times or something crazy since I failed two classes of hers, but she was always respectful and helpful, and never tried to make me feel bad for failingwithdrawing. She'll be honest with you if you should withdraw, which is rare but helps GPA.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: COMMR0520
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

As long as you do everything Ms Wanamaker's way you will be ok. She talks a million miles a minute and too much about her personal life.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: COMMR520
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

AMAZING professor!!! Had her for public speaking. Class is incredibly easy, all you have to do is show up and deliver 5 speeches over the course of the semester, pretty easy A! She's incredibly nice and understanding! Class gets cancelled a good amount! Makes the course REALLY interesting and fun! Even if you're not into public speaking, TAKE HER!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: COMMR0520
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I LOVE Dr. Wanamaker!!! She is so sweet and understanding. The class was a breeze, and she explains everything well. Most of the class is self-guided with writing outlines and preparing for speeches, but she will aid you in all you will need to succeed in the class. She also sometimes bakes for the class :) Highly recommended!

Rating # 13

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

take her for public speaking! she tells you to buy the text but it is not really needed at all! fair grader on speeches and keeps class enjoyable. class is also canceled a lot to give you time in between speeches.

Rating # 14

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I agree that you don't need the text. Class is organized and fun, especially if you have a good group of students.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: COMMR0520
• 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:

Had her for public speaking. The class was a lot of fun and she checks your outlines before so that you know you're doing everything right. Don't buy the book... there's absolutely no reason to have it. All in all though, great teacher!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: COMRC520
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

DONT BUY THE BOOK! she grades extremely easily...no one got below an 88 all year... from the beginning she cancels class 14 times.. btu cancels a lot more during the year for "work days" but you dont ever have work to do... you can do the speech the night before and get an A.. i definitely suggest taking her!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: COMMR1114
• 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:

The exams are very hard. Some of the information is interesting but Prof Wannamaker's teaching of it far outweighs the interest. She talks a million miles a minute and makes students feel like they don't want to ask questions because it's her way or no way. She is very scattered as well.

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Had her for two classes: public speaking, freedom of speech and press. The textbook for Public Speaking is a waste of 90 bucks- don't buy it, you'll never use it! As a professor, she's wonderful .. she gets to know everyone's name no matter the class size, she's easy to talk to, and will probably remind you of your mum - she reminded me of mine!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: COMMR0520
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Wanamaker can be shrill and moralizing, and she hit the TMI point about her personal life early and often during the class. But she realizes that Public Speaking is, essentially, a blowoff class (practice your speeches beforehand and you'll be fine), so she gets points for not having delusions of grandeur about the material.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: COMM0520
• 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:

Excellent professor. Generally cares about students and their progress. I highly recommend taking her class.