Neil Davison - Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

Professor: Neil Davison

Department: English

College: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Doesn't give a lot of guidance on the paper, but if you use the terminology from class and don't copy from SparkNotes then you will at least get a B+. Make sure to read the stories and give feedback in class because he gets angry if either few, the same, or no one participates.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG318
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

people keep talking about him just wanting you to repeat his ideas....... no....... if you disagree challenge him??????? he loves discussion as long as you can support your view???????? i have no idea what these people are talking about??? do u not know how to support your ideas with the text?

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENG204
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I love this prof- wildly intelligent man. his course quite frankly woke me up and made me work for success, I walked away so proud of what I learned. If you want to slack off and skate by youre gonna walk away calling him an egotistical/arognant ect. bc he will fail you for it. I suggest you engage fully, if you show you care, he'll love you

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG104
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I'm not an English major, but I enjoy reading, so I was hoping this would be a fun bacc core. It wasn't. Davison says he respects different interpretations of the stories, but if you want an A in this class, just show up, memorize his opinions, and parrot them back to him on quizzes and exams, because that's really all he wants to hear.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG330
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Davison has a well-earned reputation for being tough. He expects a lot out of his students, but also gives you the means to succeed. He's very passionate about his classes, and he's always willing to talk in his office hours. Really helpful, and a super nice guy! If you're an English major, you'd be remiss not to take a class from him.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENG204
• 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:

He shouldn't be teaching a 200 level course. He talked above us and made it known that he normally teaches upper division courses. Freshman year I accidentally walked into the door of his class at the wrong time and turned right around when I realized I wasn't in my lecture time and he chewed me out for interrupting his class. Not very friendly.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG313
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Davison might have a rep as a tough prof, but he's fair and genuinely cares about his students' education. He's clear and to the point in lectures and he's really great in office hours. If you want to get everything out of an OSU English degree, take a class with him.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENG208
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Grades you like you're a graduate student and talks to you like it as well. He needs to teach higher level classes, but that might require him to have more content. 4 credit class with only 3 things that determine your grade. Seems a little lazy..

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG313
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

Had I known about this website, I would not have taken this prof's class. He is much too educated to teach this stuff. He should teach the graduate students. They would probably have a hard time too.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG313
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Davison presents himself as a caring professor, and he wants to help. Unfortunately, he cannot carry on a conversation with someone at a normal level of intelligence. He talked over my head, so even going to him for help turned out unfruitful. :(

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG313
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

It's very difficult to follow his lectures and understand his expectations. His grading seems to be harsh considering the instruction provided. I'm definitely not going to consider his courses again.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

While he is a difficult instructor and expects a lot out of you he is also very willing to help you and work with you. I feel that I learned so much in this class and I am very glad that I took a class from him.

Rating # 13

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Smart guy but a total jerk. My grandmother died and I had to leave town for the wake missing two classes. He insisted that I would never be able to catch up and should just drop the class when all I had to do was watch a movie and do the reading assignment. Doesn't translate knowledge well either. Goes on a lot of unnecessary tangents.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG318
• 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:

Dr. Davison is brilliant, and OSU should be honored to have him here. He raises the caliber of this otherwise mediocre state school, and provides an opportunity for an education that truly fosters an internal revolution. He is challenging and holds students to high expectations. One of the best classes of my academic career.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG104
• 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:

I didn't enjoy this class at all. Though he is a nice guy in person, his comments on papers can be brutal rather than constructive. He also seems to often pick stories with sexual plot lines and that made me feel like he was somewhat of a creep. I suggest taking another class unless you want to be graded like as if you're in a higher level class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENG208
• 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:

Professor Davison is a nice guy, but he grades a 200-level class as if it were a 400-level (and he tells you this after he grades exams). He is also prone to tangents unrelated to the topic of the day. Lastly, when I took this course we were more than 4 weeks behind on the syllabus which was extremely frustrating.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG208
• 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:

The problem that I had with Neil Davison was that when he tried to explain a definition to the class he would go on on some long tangent where you would not even be able to get the clear definition in the end. It was a hard class for me because of the way he taught his class. It's not open to different learning styles. He's nice though..

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG318
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a good teacher, but you really do have to work. In order to get a good grade you will need to do the reading and go to class to listen to what he says. He talks a lot, so there are a lot of notes you need to take to know what he's saying. But he's nice and knows what he is talking about.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG104
• 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:

class is hard for a one hundred level class. i'd rather sit in math for another hour and a half.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENG355
• 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:

I know Professor Davison can be intimidating, but I really think he's a great teacher. He pushes his students to learn a lot and is available for extensive discussions of the material outside of class. If you show up, do the reading, and use the text to support your opinions, you have nothing to worry about. He's challenging, but excellent!