Irving Rothman - University of Houston, Houston, TX

Professor: Irving Rothman

Department: English

College: University of Houston, Houston, TX

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3312
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

While Professor Rothman was a nice professor, I found his course to be unprepared. The syllabus was a mess, as were the criteria for each assignment. The final exam was a terrible experience, with several pages missing from each students' packet. He does grade on a curve, but I usually find that the best teachers don't have to, not to this extent.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3345
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you want a solid A for this course, it's best to purchase all books required for the course. All his lectures are online and from the 90s. Slightly dull but highly informative for tests and papers!! Grades include: long essay, 2 tests (consists of 2 long essays, 2 short, 75 multi. choice questions), and a research paper.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3324
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took Development of the Novel. The lectures are on youtube, extremely old (10 yrs) , and not very interesting Providing historical/political exposition on the book rather than the novel. 10 (350-500 pg) books. 3 essays. Grades are fair on papers, mainly about grammar, just wants to know you read. would only take if i had to. lots of reading.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: 3324
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Development of the Novel -you will not have a life and may obtain a back injury because let's face it, who reads novels with good posture?? I actually found him to be an easy grader but the work load is insane. Lectures are boring even though I was interested in the subject matter.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 3324
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took Rothman for summer 3324- development of the novel. Extremely high workload, I was assigned over 9 novels, some over 700 pages long. Tests consist of two short essays, 2 long, a hellish research paper and 2 mult. Choice tests. He grades extremely hard for the work load and does not give good feedback. I would not take him again for anything.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3324
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Development of the Novel. We read 10 novels over two and a half months during the summer. The novels are okay, the class is awful. Rothman lectures for hours and only summarizes the novel, he makes no insights. His instructions for assignments are contradictory and unclear. If you're lucky he may get back to you days later. Just don't take him.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3324
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I love Dr. Rothman! I have taken 4 our his courses but this one was online and a little tougher. It consisted of reading 10 novels, basically 1 novel a week. 2 short papers, midterm, 1 10-12 pg paper, and the final. He has videos so follow along and take notes. Keep up with the reading because it is very easy to fall behind.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3324
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Rothman is not a bad professor, he is just tough. If you do not read the assigned novels, do not expect to pass. This course relies on them exclusively. Also, if taking online, make sure to keep track of your due dates!! I personally will not take him again, because his assignments and tests are super tough. But I don't discourage anyone else.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3346
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He assigned 11 books for the course, but you will use all of them. His lectures are prerecorded on YouTube and pretty boring, but he's clear on assignments and actually emails back if you have questions. Fair grader.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3313
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This was not inherently interesting at all. However, prof was very enthusiastic about the material and good at explaining. Attempts to get class participation were not as successful. tests were tough but pretty heavily curved. If you go to class and read, you should be okay. He's not the most organized, but he is very nice and seems really invested

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Be prepared to read... A LOT. This class is the hardest class I've taken at UH, ever. Hard because of the amount of reading required, and because most of it is restoration poetry, which is often inpenetrable. Very difficult midterm and final, but he curves the grades. Easy going and helpful man. His feedback on essays is thorough and helpful.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3324
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I made an A. This class is overkill on the workload. It will take up your other class time, work time, and home time. You must read 10 novels, most over 400 pgs. Lectures are 20 yrs old. To be successful, read 3 books before class starts. Syllabus is online. Go speak with the Professor. Take your papers before they are due. He will go over them.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3324
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took the course online however I also took advantage of office hours. I would recommend utilizing his office hours, he will remember you and it WILL work in your favor. Only 4/5 papers. The final and midterm were MC, 2short essays, 1 long essay, which is good. Moderate grader.B+ in course.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENGLISH3324
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Rothman is an excellent professor, though this was a tough and strenuous class but it was worth it. Dr. Rothman is very approachable and helpful and welcomes students to ask him for help. And he genuinely likes to meet his online students! (: His class takes a lot of time out of your life, so expect to barely have a life. Got an A! Great class!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3345
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This was a tough one. 12 textbooks required. TONS of writing. 12 page paper. Midterm and final exams include 60 multiple choice question, one long essay (about two pages), and two short essays (about a page each). Read two of the 12 books and used SparksNotes for everything else. Ended up with an A-.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3345
• 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:

This class was interesting, but the lectures were not always helpful, and often not engaging, and often seemed to drag on, despite the interesing contents. I did good in the class, but I would not take this professor again.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3312
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Overall, the class was good. Lectures were comprehensive. The exams were intimidating, (sometimes over one hundred MC questions) but the grading was fair. Papers were also graded fairly; he had reasonable standards. He kept office hours regularly and was very approachable when I went to him with questions. Great teacher.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3327
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He is exceptionally supportive. I met him individually for help with my research paper, and he taught me to do research much more effectively. I am taking two more classes with him next semester. Four multiple-choice exams, with each having 120+ questions, and one research paper. The grading was fair. Made an A with no trouble, but had to study.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3345
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I was nervous for this class but after getting use to his online class, it wasn't bad at all. Easy grader on the essays but his mid term and final objective exam is a little difficult but if you study then you should be fine. His video lectures weren't very useful. 4 essays total, 2 exam.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENGLLIT
• 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:

I've taken several of Dr. Rothman's online courses and have found him to be incredibly helpful. He was also great with insuring feedback was given on all the assignments. Dr. Rothman is a very knowledgable professor who enjoys the subject matter. I would recommend his class. For midterm and final you can prepare your essays prior.