Gretchen Comba - Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Professor: Gretchen Comba

Department: English

College: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENGL499
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof Comba truly cares about her students and she wants them to succeed. Yes, you'll have to read a lot, it's an English course. Yes, her attendance is strict, she wants you to gain the most from the course. She sets realistic expectations. She's one of the most caring professors I've had at VCU. If you have any problems, her door is always open

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG215
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Comba is the best English teacher you'll ever have at VCU.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENG215
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

8 books total. Professor Comba penalizes her students for answering questions in class by learning your name and calling you out when no one is answering her questions. Attempting to read her written notes off the board is impossible. Taking quizzes (5 ?s) is annoying because she lets everyone get up and leave whenever which blocks the screen.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENGL215
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This teacher was an absolute bore fest, she puts her main set of notws on the board, but the writing might as well be another language it is so unreadable. However if you do actually read the books it makes it much easier of a class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENGL215
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is a very passionate teacher that truly knows what she is teaching. It is a lot of reading, about a book a week. There is a quiz after each book that is 5 questions and you can pass EASILY. Her attendance policy is whack - if you miss 3 or more classes you automatically fail. Midterm and Final are the hardest tests I have taken in my whole life

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENG215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had professor Comba for ENG 215. She was friendly, however her attendance policy is a bit absurd. You cannot come more than 3 minutes late to class, and if you miss a handful of classes, you automatically fail. I didn't do well, but that is because I struggle academically. Wouldn't be my first choice, but could take her again.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG215
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She grades really tough and the entire group quiz concept is something that I really hated.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENG215
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took her class for Reading Literature was one of the easiest and engaging English class that I have taken. There is a bit of reading but it's nothing extreme and as long as you read the books you will be fine. I enjoyed her lectures even though they went a bit off track but as long as you write the notes on the board you will be SOLID!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENGL353
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Comba was literally one of the best classes I've taken here. She's really interested in what she's teaching in the texts and it shows and makes the student interested as well. The works we read were very versatile and were truly great picks. I would undoubtedly take her class again, I enjoyed the vigor with which she taught and her great opinions.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG215
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I had her for 215 and all we did was read, take a quiz, repeat. We read 8 novels in one semester. It's reading heavy (100 pages a night), but the novels are interesting. She's a tough grader for her quizzes, but the midterm/final are the main portion of your grade. She's very sweet and cares about her students. She takes attendance every day too

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENGL301
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Her grading parameters aren't always up to speed and she doesn't post grades. At all. But she's willing to help you out, you just gotta reach out for it. She's super excited about what she's teaching, even when it's a boring 18th century religious story, and responds to comments pretty well. Somewhat uptight about attendance, but that's abt it.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENGL215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Fast-paced class with lots of reading -- about a novel every other week. You take a quiz after every novel in your group, and though the questions are largely based around class discussions, she is *very* particular in what she expects of your answers. Make sure you read, take good notes during discussions, and don't miss class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENG215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very tough grader on group quizzes. Extremely fast paced class. Only half the readings were on sparknotes so you have to read the book in most cases. She did not have very good control over class discussions. She's very nice but this is not an easy class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG215
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You absolutely must read the books to pass the quizzes. This is a very large part of your grade and you are only given a week or so to finish novels that are mostly 200+ pages. Pay attention to the notes she writes on the board and themes she emphasizes as they are an integral part of the quizzes. If you plan to slack this is not the class for you.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG215
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is a really tough grader and you have to read all of her books or you won't pass the class. The class is very fast paced. All of the quizzes are taken in groups, but don't rely on your group members to help you pass because you won't do well on the exam.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENGL215
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Comba is nice and optimistic, but she is extremely picky when she grades her quizzes. English used to be my favorite subject until I took her class. The texts were interesting. Tests are group tests. You don't get to choose your own groups. It's based on your last name. It's easy to enjoy this class but hard to do well in.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG215
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I dropped class when I discovered quizzes were given as a group project. I need to get a 100% grade not a "C". The people in my group usually didn't bother to read the books. Ms. Comba didn't pick up on primary theme of "Lesson Before Dying"; colorism in the black community in this semi-autobiographical novel. Books req'd were excellent choices

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG215
• 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:

Comba's class is based on group discussion. Her handwriting is difficult to read, so make sure you are sitting close to the front. You are put in groups for quizzes & attendance, and if you are 3 minutes late, then she won't let you into the classroom. Sparknotes/lectures/notes aren't enough. READ the books. She loves her students, so go to OH.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENGL353
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Gretchen always has the perfect book choices that lead to great discussion and a lot of knowledge about the feminism that we are discussing. However, if you don't show up to class, the tests come exactly from what was discussed, so find good notes. I was sick two days, and it was definitely was what brought me grade down. 2 papers, 3 tests.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENG215
• 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:

Professor Comba is an excellent facilitator of discussion and a very intelligent, kind woman. That being said, some of the set up of her classroom is counterproductive. She only calls on the people who frequently participate because she knows their names, so expect to get called out even if you didn't raise your hand. group quizzes.