Scott McLean - University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Professor: Scott McLean

Department: Literature

College: University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: COM120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Interesting guy the first week of class. However he tends to repeat himself. Shockingly closed minded to students' opinions/commentary on readings. He's surprisingly dull. A bit full of himself, like most professors. Made me more cynical out of frustration.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: COM120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

McLean is a one of a kind professor. He is a fresh breeze in the stale environment of the education industry--that is, he is what I thought professors would be like before I came to UC Davis. McLean can fill a class period, but is definitely willing to engage in dialogue with students who are willing to speak up (so speak up, take the initiative!).

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: COM20
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I've had his classes 3x already. He assigns A LOT of reading (5+ texts) but just skimming through them is enough to get you by. There are 2 essays and 1 final. Pretty easy grader, as long as you turn something in you should pass. Lectures are dull and very boring, usually not even on topic. Very unorganized but you just have to keep up w/ due dates

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: NAC140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

McLean is brilliant, kind, and approachable with a hippy-ish, carefree nature. He did use a philosophical approach to teaching Animal Rights so sometimes I felt we were a little off-tangent. However, it makes sense why he would concentrate on the roots of human nature in a class like Animal Rights.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: NAC140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I had really high hopes for this class based on the first couple of weeks. Scott's an interesting guy and has a lot to say...unfortunately, this led him astray from animal rights VERY frequently. Assigned a TON of reading, but it's still an extremely easy class if you keep up with the reading. Overall, I'm left disappointed...

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENL146
• 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:

He's a really cool and understanding professor. Very reasonable and seems to enjoy the subject. By the way, he loves Hölderlin.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: COM168A
• 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:

Scott is a spiritual guy. The first few lectures are very entertaining, but then he becomes quite repetitive. The poetry is beautiful, but he assigns too many poems, so it is difficult to fully understand it. The class itself was not too much work. I would suggest it, if you are taking a heavy load and need an easy lit class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: COM6
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

i find it really hard to focus during lecture because he mumbles and goes off on a lot of tangents. he explains the readings with other poems that no one has even heard of before which just makes things even more confusing. there is also a LOT of difficult reading. the books arent all that interesting in my opinion and they are hard to follow.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: COM20
• 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:

Be prepared for a lot of reading, but no worries if you need to resort to sparknotes fairly often. I took COM20: Man and the Natural World from him and I really enjoyed listening to Scott's ideals and perceptions on life. I suppose he is an 'aquired taste' for most but in his defence, I never fell asleep once in class!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: COM168A
• 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:

he's nice and fairly openminded, easy to talk to but he repeates the same. exact. thing. every. single. freakin. day!! I got so bored and fraustrated eventually 'cause it's all the same crap it's a waste of time. his final was poetry memorization off of 9 books of poetry, I don't even know how you learn by doing that. I wouldn't recommand his class

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: COM120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Scott is the greatest--smart, personable, caring. He knows his subject, but he also knows a lot about life. Listen closely and you will learn more than you can get out of a textbook. An enriching and memorable class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: COM20
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Amazing. Go to his class, you will learn about the books and the world. Great class for pre-meds looking for an easy english class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: COM6
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

EASIEST CLASS IN MY LIFE! Don't go to any of the lectures cuz he talks about NOTHING. It's completely useless. We have two papers. I had an EASY TA. i spent 30 minutes tops on the papers. Don't even bother studying for the midterm or final. There is a lot of reading though, but overall, take this class if you want an easy A.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: COM6
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This guy is horrible. He doesnteven teach. He randomly starts talking about random topics and then SOMEHOW relates them to whatever we're reading. His lectures are irrelevant so you dont even have to go to them but you're required to go to discussion. Get a good TA and you'll pass the class easy. The Prof is awful though.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: COM120COM20
• 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:

Oh, Scott. I've had him 4 times and everything always comes down to love, music, and the Beatles. He's a fascinating guy and comes up with some great connections, but his lectures are disorganized. If you keep up with the readings and are honest/thoughtful in the essays, you'll do well. Write about obscure linkages and interdisciplinary interests.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: COM168A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class was a lot of fun. Prof definitely got into the spirit of Romanticism. Write the papers like you hear lectures; ie, by connecting ideas, making associations, offering random thoughts, and doing so honestly, and you'll do well. Not a class for those who must follow a strict syllabus.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: COM6
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lectures were interesting to listen to, but didn't help you to write the essays. He is very passionate and knowledgeable. I would recommend this course.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: COM
• Grade Received: F
• 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:

I think he's an intelligent and passionate teacher. I learned a lot from him and enjoyed the class. Granted, he does go off on tangents, but I enjoyed them all the while. I definitely recommend his courses.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: COM6
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

In lecture he goes off on tangents a lot, although it seems like he has prepared for his lectures on paper (so it also seems like he's reading off something). When he speaks, it's like he's overemphasizing everything. Sometimes he misquotes things or gets his facts wrong. Though he's not that bad I guess, there are worse.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: COM6
• Grade Received: P
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He rambles in his lectures and doesn't know what he's talking about.