Richard Swartz - University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME

Professor: Richard Swartz

Department: English

College: University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He talks A LOT- especially about irrelevant things- you will read articles and write a few papers but there aren't any constructive activities that will help you learn anything. He also doesn't use BB, it's a no electronic class and he is hard of hearing and won't get hearing aids.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG399
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's wonderful and hilarious. He has high expectations but will allow you to rewrite papers as many times as you want. Participating in class is a must, and forget about skipping numerous classes, you're sure to fail. Can go off on tangents sometimes, but they're usually pertinent to the class. Isn't great at responding to emails.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENG230
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Swartz is awesome. He has an intimidating facade, but if you apply yourself and care about excelling in his courses, he'll genuinely value your success. He doesn't put up with BS excuses and lazy students - hand papers in on time and only miss class if it's an emergency.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG140
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Swartz is arrogant and he does not value the thoughts of his students. He teaches literature with his perception of the pieces and does not accept other interpretations.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG100
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This class was hands down the most boring class that I have ever had to attend. And you MUST attend because that is your grade. No tests, and the only quizzes are just to make sure that you did the reading. He swears a lot and makes a lot of gross jokes. This was a disappointing intro to college life.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENG373
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Swartz is my favorite professor at USM. He is funny and engaging and knows his subject matter like the back of his handor possibly better. Better yet, he knows how to talk about it so that it's easily understood. His standards are clear, and if you reach out to him, he will absolutely help you out.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG230
• 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:

Swartz is tough, no question. He told us on the first day that we'd want to shoot him midway through the semester and that was very true. He also told us that we'd be proud when we finished and like him at the end and that was also true. Lots of critical thinking, concepts were often abstract. You'll work HARD for it, but earning an A is possible.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENG245
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The class wasn't bad, if you follow along and actually do what he asks, you'll be fine. His grading of papers is a bit convoluted. Christmas break passed and the next semester started before he posted grades, and he was very stingy with feedback on the final paper and unresponsive over email. Not friendly or helpful.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Literally my favorite professor at USM so far. Incredibly interesting, has a lot to say.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG245
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He made the first class seem as though he was going to be real tough but the class in itself was quite easy. Just do as he says and you'll do great. Do expect quite a few references to Monty Python!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENGROM
• 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:

Grades very hard. Is unclear about what he wants. If you seek help from him, you'll still be confused as to what's expected. I think his grading is based on minimizing grade inflation instead of on student's work. I learned very little about English but I did suffer through many Monty Python quotes.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG373
• 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:

He is incredibly knowledgeable and he has lots of stories to relate to the topic. Lots and lots of focus on close reading and essays. He's kind of squirrelly and he goes off on tangents and paces a LOT which I found distracting. But overall he's cool.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENG100C
• 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:

Professor Swartz is intense. He rambles way too much in class and goes off on random tangents that avoid discussion over readings and homework. Heaviness is on critical thinking and close reading. Pop quizzes daily. He does grade on improvement but he expects perfection in essays. Overall not helpful at all. Never replies to emails. Don't expect it

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG245
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I have take a few courses with him, I have found that he grades hard, but he does look for improvement, he makes you actually work for a good grade. He allows his students to have room for improvement. He does ramble a lot in class. Overall, if you are willing to work hard and can focus well in class, he would be a professor for you!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG100C
• 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:

Richard Swartz is a plus to the University of Southern Maine. He is knowledgeable, extremely entertaining, and cares if you pass the class. He doesn't take to bs kindly, and it won't fly, so don't bother. His class formed me into an essay writer that I never thought I could be. A++ in my book.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENG245
• 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:

Really great professor. Like most dudes who live in the world of literary analysis, he can get a little out there. Discussions of Macbeth would somehow lead him to a dissection of the Transformers movie, or The Wire. I found that to be really cool (though not always helpful). At the end of each class, I wasn't always sure what I had learned.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG377
• 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:

I've had Swartz a lot by now. He grades fairly tough, but he makes you earn an A if you get it. He might surprise people who normally sail through English classes, but the change in paper writing that you will experience will benefit you in all of your classes. Tells a lot of relatable stories in class, etc. He has a good bs. detector so don't try.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very negative man, almost nothing good to say about anything. He simply talks about nothing all class and gives you C's because his way of grading is so different. Worst english class I have ever taken.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG342
• 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:

This man is amazing! His lectures are incredible. Learning about the uncanny, I haven't been able to look at the world again in the same light.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENG
• 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:

Best teacher I have had at USM so far. He is a very cool guy, likes what he does, knows his material, doesn't overload you with work, but gives you assignments that make you feel like your learning. his discussions were always on the topic and followed the syllabus. helpful, funny guy too.. wish all my classes could be with teachers like this.