John Swift - Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA

Professor: John Swift

Department: English

College: Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CSP9
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Read and write decently. You won't get an A bc he's really hard on you. He lectures for hours just really boring lectures.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CSP9
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Read and you'll be fine.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENGL159
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Swift is a nice guy, but his lectures always go off tangent and confusing. He does grade papers tough, since he is very specific with what he wants.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CSP16
• 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:

Swift is a nice guy but his lectures were unbearably repetitive and boring. Very difficult essay grader, but it's possible to do well especially if you meet with him outside of class. He also assigned way more work than any other CSP. We had 5 papers and 2 midterm papers as well as a group presentation.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CSP9
• 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:

Reading is essential, though with his book choice, it isn't difficult at all to keep up. Midterms were a breeze. I didn't study at all and I got A's on the tests. His essay grading is slightly more difficult though.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CSP9
• 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:

Success in Swift's class is necessitated by reading according to the schedule. You cannot fall behind. I love his willingness to explain things until you understand him (which, sadly, may not be the first time he tries). He also shows extreme interest and openness to hearing what you have to say. His value of your opinion makes the class engaging.

Rating # 7

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He helped me when I could neither shut up nor speak appropriately. His patience helped make me an English teacher.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ECLS355
• 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:

Swift is awesome. I really enjoyed his class and the literature we read. He leads interesting discussions and the workload is very manageable. Reasonable grader and always willing to help in office hours. He's a funny guy too and he makes class entertaining.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ECLS351
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I think prof. Swift has written all of the previous comments, because he is not worth all the hype. He is BORING, picky, and disorganized. He also tests on insignificant material that he never discussed. Probably the worst in the department.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MOSTOFTHEM
• 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:

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE HIM!!!

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Found the class difficult but I don't much care for contemporary lit anyway, so that may have more to do with me than with him. Swift is a good guy, though, and is approachable in office hours and offers all the help he can. Very kind, too.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CSP
• 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:

Amazing, amazing teacherâ€"one of the most influential I've ever had. He really helped me with my writing and brought it up to college level, helping me every step of the way. He also has bottomless reserves of patience for his students. I've never seen a prof. so patient and understanding. His gentle guidance almost makes him a father figure. GREAT.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CSP56
• 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:

By far the best prof I have had. His lectures are clear, he is always open to questions, his grading is fair, and he is a funny man. I love his class. He is very helpful with papers and it seems as though he truly cares about his student. I think everyone who has the chance should take his class!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ECLS210
• 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 most brilliant people I have ever known and I am very glad that I was fortunate enough to have taken one of his classes and had the opportunity to meet him and be influenced by his wisdom. They should all be like him!

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Professor Swift had a profound effect on my time at Oxy. He is very willing to help with understanding the material. Most importantly, he is open to new interpretations of the literature. A great man and a great professor

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ECLS210
• 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:

His lectures are great, he's very helpful, and he's adorable. You simply can't be an ECLS major without at least one Swift class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ECLS310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

BORING

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ECLS210
• 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:

Extremely helpful, intelligent. Fantastic lectures. Some might say they're boring; I think they're fabulously organized and eloquent. Requirements are clearly stated, and grading seemed consistant. Pushes for slightly higher standards as semester progress

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ECLS350
• 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:

His class is AMAZING. He makes it so you want to do the homework and truly understand the material. He teaches you how to write well.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ECLS
• 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:

Professor Swift is an amazing professor. He is extremely helpful and very intelligent. He is also compassionate (I was going through some personal issues and missed several classes). I highly recommend him. Take his classes ~ From a former ECLS alum