Joanne McGurk - Mercyhurst University, Erie, PA

Professor: Joanne McGurk

Department: English

College: Mercyhurst University, Erie, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: COMP120
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. McGurk is fine. Nothing more, nothing less. The class isn't overly difficult but there's a seemingly unnecessary amount of work for a required class. Lots of busy work and a lame book. Definitely wouldn't take for fun, but a relatively easy A. She is nice enough, but the grade scale is confusing and her criteria is all over the place. Average.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG200
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

There's a review on here saying she gave a massive assignment, which just simply wasn't true with my class. I did type out a lengthy paper, but I went above and beyond the requirements because she is so inspirational. You can tell she reads everything. She is simply approachable, not outrageous with assignments, and a gem in class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENG201
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Took her for an elective. Only graded on 4 things (including an 18 page paper and an hour long group presentation) that were all due in the last 4 classes. Boring class and then stressful beyond believe for the last 2 weeks. No explanation for grading.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG101
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Excellent educator. Really nice lady and super dedicated.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 126
• 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:

She goes out of her way to make sure the papers you turn in are of an amazing quality. She is ridiculously funny and every day was a joy to come to English Sem.

Rating # 6

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Don't get me wrong, she's tough. But if you take her class because you're genuinely interested in the subject, you'll love her! She realizes she's not easy and will give you second chances. She really knows her stuff, and is quite funny.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG14088
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

honors class. harshest and most unfair grader I've ever experienced. had her for English seminar and made the mistake of taking her again. does not really help you. each class is her talking about what she wants. no structure. literally impossible to get an A. do not take her

Rating # 8

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

She was one of the teachers I had for my IDST and honestly the whole semester of this class was a drag. Nobody ever knew what she was talking about and for whatever reason she would assign crazy, pointless projects last minute. I will never take an English class with her if I don't have to.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: IDST
• 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:

I have her in my IDST. Every time it is her turn to teach, I dread the class. She just rambles on and no one knows what she is talking about. And then it's always her take on the books. Not a good teacher.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENGCR2
• 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:

As others have said, her class is less about writing and more about philosophy. I didn't care for that. The daily brain teasers were fun, but over the class was pointless. She set the bar way to high in some situations, and too low in others. Not the worst writing teacher, but not the best.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: WCHONO
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Vague. Harsh. She knows what she's talking about, though. Made an English class suck. And I love English. I wish I never took this class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: WCHNRS
• 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:

She asks way too much from a core class. Very vague on her assignments and is not very helpful at all. Very large projects and tears you down on written work. I wish I had never taken this class with her

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENGL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very cool teacher! Her class is never boring. Her assignments make you think a lot. You dont have a lot of paper in her class. 2-3 small projects, one final paper and presentation!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENGL108
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I was excited for this English class, but the class was more about philosophy than literature. McGurk did not give students any sense of her expectations. Some people liked McGurk's free-floating style, but I would've liked a little structure. Class discussions were chaotic. Overall, I learned very little useful information in this course.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: WC107
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She's cute, thought she was nice at first but soon realized she is actually very cold...hard to figure out...She is SOOO vague on what she expects from you, but yet seems to grade quite leniently. I did a presentation that she completely tore apart but yet gave me a 90%. The class seemed to be more about world cultures than literature

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ACADDISC
• 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:

Dr. McGurk really makes you think, but I loved her class. She knows so much about so many things she is just fun to talk to. Sometimes class will get off track but shes not the type of person to try to catch up or cram things in, you get as far and you get and no one worries to much.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ACADEDISC
• 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:

She is an interesting lecturer and really knows what she's talking about. Her assignments can be frustrating because she gives little detail about what she expects. Don't take this class unless you're willing to be flexible and open-minded.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

College Writing 1: Dr. McGurk was the worst teacher I have ever had. Made College Writing 1 into a Philosophy class. She was nice in class, but graded all your assignments which we took week on very unfairly. Only know of 1 girl to get in the A's. Do Not take unless you want to turn College writng into Philsophy

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: WORLDCLSC
• 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:

Dr. McGurk has an interesting way of teaching. Second class with her and it was nothing like the first. Who knows with her, she's pretty sporadic. But hey, it kept the class from being mundane. She grades pretty leniently and if you get involved in class see how much your grade goes up.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENGL102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very Nice! I loved her class and she was a good teacher. Willing to help you if needed. There is a lot of busy work, and presentations, but very easy points.