Jay Dickson - Reed College, Portland, OR

Professor: Jay Dickson

Department: English

College: Reed College, Portland, OR

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG205
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great professor! I'm hoping to thesis with him next year. The most specific feedback I can give is that he is one of the most respectful teachers I've ever had: he really is invested in the wellbeing (physical and emotional) of students, and is incredibly accommodating, making for a very positive and constructive conference.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENGL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Jay is one of those very special instructors who recognizes the value in all of his students. He just wants to see motivation and interest.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENG200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Jay is a VERY easy grader for anyone who knows how to write and has original ideas. He asks a lot of leading questions in class which, in my opinion, leads to a stagnant conversation. He has a lovely personality and is very knowledgeable but rarely (if ever) presents a novel interpretation of the books we read.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HUM110
• 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:

Jay is a friendly and wonderful professor who I had the fortune of taking HUM110 with some years ago. I feel like teaching Hum110 material can get a bit boring for some of the Reed profs but he did it thoroughly and well, and involved everyone in discussion. If you try to dominate discussion be prepared for a polite smackdown. Iris rules!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BLOOM337
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I had Jay for a class over British modernism and was consistently engaged and impressed by his thorough and careful presentation of the material. Jay is funny, sweet, flexible and knowledgeable. He never makes anybody feel unimportant and clearly loves teaching. Take a class with him!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HUM110
• 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:

A great teacher if you can get past his often annoying mannerisms. Smart and engaging, great at getting discussion going and material covered. Will flip if his authority is challenged.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HUM110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

CLAMHEAD, agreed

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENG2000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a real clamhead. But seriously, he does a decent job. Kind of weird when not in the classroom, but whatevs. He's great within it.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HUM110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I felt extremely prepared by being in Jay's conference. He makes sure we go over all the key points but gives us space to discuss our original ideas. He marginalizes paper conferences, just going over what he's already written on the paper rather than discussing it. He's hilarious and sweet in a slightly shallow way.

Rating # 10

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I was less impressed with the over the top.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG333
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Jay is so incredibly amazing.

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Jay is an amazing prof. Smarter than smart is allowed to be - and funny, so very funny.

Rating # 13

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Jay is totally nuts and totally brilliant. Learning about Victorian fiction from him is pretty much the best thing ever.

Rating # 14

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: 2003
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Reed should count its lucky stars to have Jay as a professor. He is beyond a doubt my all-time favorite teacher. Not only is he brilliant and engaging, he is also sweet, caring, and totally lovely. Plus, he likes Buffy.

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I had this professor several years ago when I went to Reed. He is delightful as a professor- really intelligent, really enthusiastic, and is invested in his students.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: LIT
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Jay is the most engaging prof I had at Reed, and that's saying a lot! I wish I had taken more of his classes!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG333
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Jay makes me appreciate all the lit I never thought I would-- the sign of an excellent proff. Never noticed any favoritism though.

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He's a smart guy, but does play favorites and it can become an issue. Generally leads a good conference and gives good feedback, although as earlier noted, can respond to how you can write more like him, as opposed to how you can master your own style. He is in high demand and is a good prof.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HUM110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

jay led a good discussion group. conference was always interesting and generally on-topic. he DID get up on the table. he's very friendly with his students, and he does play favorites, but he's overall a very good professor- better than most for Hum 110!