Laurel Brinton - University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Professor: Laurel Brinton

Department: English

College: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENGL324A
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The prof's lectures are very dry with nothing extra from readings. So either attend and don't do reading, or do readings and no need to attend. Write essays with clarity regarding search methods and take her feedback from 1st assignment seriously. Address the feedback in future essays and you'll do fine.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENGL330
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The lectures and textbook cover the exact same content (even the examples used), so class was a bit dry. Lectures weren't particularly engaging, but she does know what she's talking about. The tests are hard, but you can bring a cheatsheet. If you aren't really interested in the content, you won't like this class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENGL318319
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Laurel is a great prof. She's super knowledgeable about English history (she literally wrote the textbook) and you can tell she cares about the subject matter. The best part is that she tells you exactly what will be on every exam, and lets you use a cheat sheet. Makes for a pretty easy A, I only studied for a day or so before each test.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Brinton's lectures are super dry, but she's very caring towards her students. You don't need to go to her lectures to get a good mark. Just study the textbook and do the exercise questions. She tells you exactly what the tests are going to look like & permits a cheat sheet. Make sure you take the online quizzes seriously though! Overall easy A.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENGL331
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Her lectures can be a bit dry, but she picks great examples that fully explain the concepts being covered. She is also very well-informed about everything in the course (she wrote the textbook!). Downside is that she is also a very tough grader, and this course deals with very minute details where small mistakes have big consequences.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENGL321
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very knowledgeable in English as a whole, and it shows in her lectures. I thought the textbook just made things more confusing - just show up and listen to her lectures, and read the powerpoint slides again in your own free time. Content can be confusing and difficult to comprehend, so ask for help when needed.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENGLA
• 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:

She is a wonderful scholar at UBC. She cares about her students. Materials she uses are always well-balanced. She is also very understanding, open-minded and exceptionally knowledgeable. She is very good at telling what you don't understand. If you ever have problems, go and talk to her. I am sure you will learn tons from her wonderful courses!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENGL331
• 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:

Text is the bottleneck: more like awkward reference book. I'll save you trouble: pre-study chaps 7,8 (Syntax, preceding chaps aren't used in THIS course), a month BEFORE taking the course, and do the exercises on the publishers' website. UBC has the e-text: 'The Linguistic Structure of Modern English', Brinton; select chap 7-8. You'll do OK then.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENGL320
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

A really nice prof,and especially helpful during office hours. Warning - her lectures are super boring and it takes her forever to get through a page in the textbook (that she wrote) because of all the stuttering. Everything was pretty much straight out of that book and attendance was low. Take only if necessary.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG329
• 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:

Super nice prof, really hard course. However, if you're an English major, do yourself a favour and take her courses - she literally wrote the book on the structure of modern English. Yep, it's a tough course, but I learnt so much it was worth it.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG329
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I agree that she is a sweet person, and her course is easy, so I feel kinda bad about criticizing her. But I think those of you who are considering her class should be warned that it is PAINFUL. I dreaded going...and ended up skipping a lot. I still finished with a B+, but seriously, don't take it unless you absolutely have to.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENGL320
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She knows the material, but she has zero confidence in her teaching. She stutters and pauses way too often, and it just makes the lectures seem discombobulated. All that aside, she definitely knows all about English and at least doesn't second-guess herself when faced with a question about the material.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENG329
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Laurel is a very helpful and knowledgable teacher. She is genuinely interested in what she teaches and is helpful in making you understand the concepts. If you keep up with your work/readings and do the exercises, you will do well in class. She is very sweet as well :)

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG320
• 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:

Organized and understandable lectures. Clear expectations. Very helpful if you need extra help. You need to read the text and lecture notes. Gives practice exams which are exactly the format of the exam.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENGL329
• 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:

She's been pushing us to the limit, but I learned a lot in this course. I can only recommend her. Some of the comments are way off, i can't believe people can't see that she's one of the most knowledgeable teacher's at the department. She's always got a minute for questions and is super friendly. I can only recommend taking courses with her.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENGL326320
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Nice lady, as mentioned, but not a good prof. She is extremely lacking in confidence when she lectures, and I often thought she resembled a nun. Very soft, and not very clear. Take her class if you only care about marks -- shes not too bad in that respect

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENGL
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Prof Brinton is a nice lady, but should NOT be teaching unless you consider random quotes from the reading and trivial info a good way of lecturing. She shouldn't write texts either. Moreover, she should not be able to grade student papers when she herself lacks preparation and clarity in lectures.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENGLISH320
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Brinton is extremely helpful during office hours and is concerned about the welfare of her students. Be forewarned, English 320 is a lot of work - work load equivalent to a math course. You have to be on top of things and understand every concept in order to well in this class. I wouldn't suggest you take this course for "fun."

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENGL329
• 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:

She's a wonderful prof who really knows what she's talking about. I thoroughly enjoyed her class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENGLISH329
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Laurel is one of the nicest, most understanding, kind hearted people I have encountered. She allows you to argue for points after marking, she gives out practice exams before tests and allows cheat sheets for the tests. Unfortunately, the courses she teaches are IMPOSSIBLE. DO NOT TAKE THEM!