John McHale - Salem State University, Salem, MA

Professor: John McHale

Department: English

College: Salem State University, Salem, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENL458
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Nice, funny guy, but he is a tough grader.He knows everything there is to know about Kerouac. You will learn a lot but doesn't really give higher than C grades.He is unclear about what he wants you to know about tests and asks trick questions on them.Attendance is mandatory, but not a stressful class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENL458
• 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:

Took his class on Kerouac. Loved every minute of it. I was blown away by how many other students seemed to blame their low quiz grades on him when we all know it was because they didn't do the reading and didn't participate in class discussions. A very fair, very charismatic man but not for people who take themselves too seriously. Phenomenal.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENL461
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Tough, tough grader. He is so unclear in class that you are unprepared for tests. Puts trick questions in quizzes almost as if he wants you to fail. Digresses a lot. Boring.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENL331
• 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:

He's a smart guy but nothing is easy with him. Quiz every class on a short story (if you take Short Story), which is 10-20 pages long, not too bad. Quiz questions are tough. My first half average on them was 70, but second half average was a 90 and I finished with a B-. It takes a few weeks to figure out what he is looking for. Midterm + final too.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG705
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

McHale taught me more than any other professor at Salem. His teaching and insight has propelled me to be a good teacher myself. Whoever said earlier that he demands traditional scholarship is right on the money. This won't be the "student-led classroom." If you want someone to leave an "indellable thumbprint" of knowledge on you, here's your guy.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENG292
• 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've never had a professor I disliked more than him - he's mean, treats people like dirt and talks down to them. His class is nearly impossible as well he'll tell you a random fact with NO relation to the class material and then put a question about it on one of his quizes. Good luck with him.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG725
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not my cup of tea. He seems like he's more interested in catching MLA errors than covering material. Oh, well.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENG486
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

McHale had an axe to grind in his class on Kerouac. He was fair in the sense that he listened to students but was unclear in his teaching methods. One of my class mates said that the reason he teaches the beats is because he wanted to teach Irish poetry but was told by a colleague he was not an expert. Just a rumor but explains his axe grinding

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG486
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

when I took him the first time, I swore I would never take him again. He is the only one who teaches Kerouac and the Beats so I sucked it up. Once you adjust to his style of teaching and how he may comes across, he is an amazing professor who knows what he is talking about. He may be tough sometimes but so worth it. Give him a chance

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG486
• 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:

MISERABLE TEACHER. He rambles on and makes an interesting subject boring. He seems almost senile absolutely miserable. I would not advise anyone to take his classes. The sooner he retires the better.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG297
• 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:

His short story class is really difficult, unless you are a English major or really into Literature. He talks with a monotone voice and is very hard to understand at most times. He has discussion which he usually likes to "tease" you and give you false information then tests you on the right information he didnt go over. You have a quiz every class

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG292
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hard but fair. Works to make the student think outside the box. One of the best English teacher I had there.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENG831
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

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Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG225
• 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:

Very meticulous grader, pays extreme attention to detail on papers and tests. He can be intimidating in class, raising his voice when no one responds to him. Other than that he is a wealth of knowledge in terms of the literature. Basically it's a lot of hard work but it's worth it for all that you get out of the class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Unless your name is Nick, avoid this guy. He is very difficult to understand as far as what he expects from you. He will 'help' you if you go for extra help, but it wont be reflected in your grade at all. Unless you are an English major, try someone else.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENG000
• 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:

I'm so shocked at the negative comments about McHale. He's probably the best, most helpful prof I've had-or right up there anyway. He's also super interesting, not too tough-although he expects you to think and discuss your opinion about the material, etc. He loves lit and knows a ton. I strongly recomend his classes to everyone.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG298A
• 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:

AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!! ITS AMAZING THIS GUY WILL MAKE FUN OF YOU AND CRITISIZE YOU UNTIL YOU TELL HIM TO STOP!!!LOSER- HE IS MEAN AND HE DOESNT TEACH AT ALL LEARN AT YOUR OWN WILL! 1 PERSON PASSED IN MY CLASS OUT OF 23-- YOU MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICE!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MODER700
• 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:

He is a pompous egocentric misogynist who cannot interpret literature. He is an embarrassment to graduate professors and should not be allowed to teach grad students. Pathetic.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: LIT1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

WORST teacher I have ever encountered! First day of class he walks in and tells everyone who isn't an eng. major to leave because he doesn't "teach this class to the general public." my whole class got up and dropped the class 10 minutes in. He had no advice as to what we do or why no one informed us about him or the class choice. STAY AWAY!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENGLISHLIT
• 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:

One of the best professors ever for those interested in learning alot about literature. He knows his stuff and makes what seems boring at first completely interesting. Also, he's a great guy and will help a student to do well if you go to him for extra help.