John Poole - Illinois State University, Normal, IL

Professor: John Poole

Department: Theater

College: Illinois State University, Normal, IL

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Brother Poole is one of the best English teachers I have had. He truly cares about his students and brings the gospel into every lesson. I have taken every English class from him! He gives great feedback and actually makes it possible for you to get an A. His papers are fulfilling and he lets you redo them if you want!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: THE152
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's pretty easy. Usually the tests are taken word for word from the powerpoint, so as long as you go to class and write down the notes, an A shouldn't be hard to get. Your discussion is a smaller class where you go over the lecture. Attendance is taken, so go to lecture and discussion!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: THD152
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

As long as you attend his lectures and take notes you can get an easy A. The majority of points from the midterm and the final, which have a lot of write out and fill in the blank questions. You do some short, online homework which is easy and one paper over a performance you have to see. Overall an easy class as long as you take notes.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: THE152
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Overall, the exam and midterm are very challenging. John Poole is a great person and shows a lot of inspiration in the theater department. Just make sure you attend all classes and lectures and take lots of notes.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: THD152
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

You only attend lecture once a week and then you have a discussion once a week. John Poole is an awesome teacher! He relates everything back to modern times and makes the class interesting! I took this for an easy Gen Ed and it definitely was, so I recommend.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: THE152
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The Lecture is once a week, and John Poole is very passionate about what he teaches. He may or may not go fast on his lecture notes but showing up is extremely important. There is only a midterm and a final and if you study all your notes you take in lecture, you should be fine. The quizzes and reading every week are important too.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: THE152
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

John is a decent professor, his lectures are pretty long though and hard to pay attention to. The good part is that it is only once a week! The breakout sessions are pretty good and easy depending on who your instructor is. I had Michelle Feda and she rounded our midterm 17% so I ended up getting a 100% You are required to see 3 plays which is $25.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: THD152
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

John talks really fast during leaches and it is important to take all the notes that are posted or you might miss something big. He only give a Mid-term and a Final and it is all accumulated tests. It is impotent to study for them.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: THD152
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Poole is very knowledgeable in his field, he does however tend to go off on personal tangents that, while sometimes helpful, are often non sequitur. To be honest, he's only a small percentage of your grade, your breakout instructor will make or break this class for you. If you have an issue with your GA though, he is quick to help resolve it.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: THE152
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are pretty interesting. He tries to make the information relevant to your daily life which is pretty helpful. The class isn't an easy A however, so I wouldn't recommend taking it as a Gen Ed. The online book and the lectures don't correspond well with each other. The midterm and final are both all short answer/fill in the blank.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: THE152
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This proffessor was great. He is the true meaning of a professor. He doesnt hold your hand because youre in college and thats why he assignes you to a small group with your break out instructor which is basically your personal TA/teacher. He is HILARIOUS. Just do the reading and quizzes, study well for the midterm and final, and you'll be fine.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: THD152
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Poole is awesome! Super funny & makes sure that his lectures are enjoyable & interesting. Shows video clips for every lecture so it's easier to understand & provides extra credit! Depending on your breakout instructor, it can really make or break THD 152. I had Colin Trevino-Odell - easy grader & so funny! I suggest it as a fine arts credit!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: THD152
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Worst teacher.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: THD152
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I loved this class! THD was a gen ed for me, but I had so much fun! John's lectures were very animated and I never lost interest. My TA was amazing and we basically played acting games the whole time. The tests were easy as long as you studied. Make sure you go to every class as attendance is a big part of your grade.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: THD152
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

John Poole is a nice guy, but the lectures seem to move quick, so it's hard to take down good notes. The midtermfinals are very strict, so you need good notes to pass. It's not Pool that I have an issue with, it's the breakout instructor. The classes together seem very unorganized, and the two teachers conflict in material they are teaching.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: THD152
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

So John is a cool dude and honestly a really good teacher. You're most likely gonna take this class for a Gen Ed, and he gets that. The TA you receive will help you more than he will though. John literally just speaks at the master lectures. Tests are handwritten so study. IF YOU DON'T STUDY FOR THE FINAL YOU WILL FAIL. I would know ^-^

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: THD152
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

YOU HAVE TO GO TO LECTURE! he takes attendance in the lecture of like 300 people. if you dont go to class you will not pass. Lecture is only once a week the other class is a break out section where you play games and leave early every week. The class is a super easy A if you just show up and do your work. There is 1 midterm,1 final and 10 quizes.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: THD152
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Even though I was required to attend his massive lectures, I enjoyed them. I could tell he put effort into making his lectures. He always found a different way to keep us awake. I didn't like that we had to memorize exams, but easy A.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: 152
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

John Poole taught me nothing. I showed up to class without my backpack half the time and still had the highest grade in my breakout group. The breakout groups are like a lab type deal with a separate instructor. That's where you need to be careful. My instructor was the absolute worst. John has nothing to do with your overall learning though.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: THD152
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is awful. If you don't have a background in theatre I would highly recommend taking a different course... Huge ego, hard midterm and Final. Way more difficult then it needs to be. So happy I'm almost done with it. Oh and btw if you miss 4 or more lectures you move down a letter grade. What a joke.