Joanna Norris-Hanks - University of Rhode Island,Kingston, RI

Professor: Joanna Norris-Hanks

Department: Biology

College: University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO341
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Norris is very clear in explaining everything. She tells you exactly what's going to be on the exams while teaching, and she allows you to rack up points with Top Hat, so don't skip class. Study the quiz questions, Top Hat questions, and her practice exam questions with your notes, and you'll be more than prepared for the exams.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO341
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Cell Bio was the hardest class Ive taken besides organic chem. Dr Norris gives online quizzes and an online game to help boost your grade a bit. Exams make up 70% of the grade. Go to class to do the tophat questions. I didnt use the book but Im not sure I would have done much better if I did get the book. Everythings in the lecture slides.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO341
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Norris is a great professor. I did not do well in her class, but that was nobodys fault, but my own. She lays out the material and emphasizes what is important. You really have to put in the effort and not fall behind in lecture, which I did.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO341
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Dr Norris is great. She assigns quizzes online and if you need help she has office hours to help go through the questions with you. The exams are pretty easy as long as you go through the powerpoints and/or go to class and pay attention. There is also a game that is for credit and it's kinda neat.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BCH437
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Wonderful woman and professor, Passionate about the topic. Very willing to meet outside of class to further explain lecture and is very helpful. Expects a lot from her students, attend lectures and study A LOT.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO437
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Question for you. Can you memorize? If the answer is yes you will be in good shape. If it's no you will be in for a long semester. She likes what she teaches but she cover a lot of material with very fine details. The lecture slides are the most important thing in her classes. You will always know where you stand and don't be afraid to ask for help

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO341
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She absolutely loves what she teaches. She's fantastic and funny, at times. She gives great examples and her notes are easy to follow. She stresses what's important and is clear with what she teaches. So far, she has been the best professor I have ever had the pleasure in having. If you can take a class with her I strongly recommend it.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO341
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is very passionate on what she teaches. She is straightforward with the exams. You need to pay attention to every detail on the slides and understand the material. Put in the effort and you will get a good grade. Didn't even use the book, just her lecture slides.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 341
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Norris is a straight forward professor. She clearly lays out the material that she would like you to know. I would recommend attending most lectures, however if you miss a few it won't be the end of the world. Her test questions are thought provoking. Be sure to take time going through each slide and really UNDERSTANDING what she is saying.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO341
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She'll give you the previous year's exams - get the year before also, or else... It was my only hope of passing her multiple choice exams. She literally doesn't know how to write multiple choice exams. Ex. Which of the following is true: (5 super long choices all differing by one or two words). WHAT IS THAT?! Good luck with 40 of those (no joke).

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO341
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Norris is not hard, alot of kids just brush her off in class and can't handle the amount of material she covers. The class isn't accelerated, but it is a class required for alot of grad schools so it is designed to be challenging. Review slides after every class instead of cramming and you'll do fine. the textbook is not used at all.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO341
• 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: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Very good instructor. She is very well organized and is extremely knowledgable. Her class is very hard, however, if you put the work in, this class is manageable.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO437
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Terrible teaching style! Makes you memorize material like crazy rather than teaching concepts and breaking down complicated aspects of molecular biology. Do well on first exams to get a good grade! Study like a slave and memorize every detail on the slides. She wouldn't understand or curve if you had a family matter or whatever. She doesn't care!

Rating # 14

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Nice teacher and all, gives old exams to help students study but offers a very detailed test and questions on material thats could be 1/16th of a slide. She is also very discouraging and has spite against students for some odd reason.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO341
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

It is one of the hardest class I've ever taken at URI. It is not impossible, but there are tremendous amount of material for each test and do not underestimate! Start studying at least a week prior to the exam and know everything on her notes

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BCH453
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Toughest BIO class I've ever taken. Uses power point slides in lecture which is the basis for exams. Professor decided on the first day of class to have essay exams instead of multiple choice. Essay exam consists of 5 questions. Spend only 10 minutes per question or you'll run out of time and use drawings/diagrams to get your point across.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO437
• 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:

Re-enforce topics covered in lecture with the textbook, which is well-written. No surprises on the exams, so if you put in the time & effort you should do very well. Topics covered aren't so much difficult as they are voluminous. Dr Norris is great in lecture and approachable for questions. Very straightforward class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO341
• 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:

Professor Norris expects college students to work like college students. She goes through material at lighting speed. Come test week, you realize the amount of info gathered up. Read the material fairly close to the test day so it is fresh, but prepare and time yourself. Class was interesting, nice lady.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO341
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very hard class you must keep up with her by reading the book and making sure that you understand her notes befor you go to lecture again or you will be totally lost and never figure out what she wanted you to exactly know. Do not miss the lectures ever!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO341
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Quite difficult. Memorize every single bit of information on her powerpoint handouts.