Thomas Villano - Boston University, Boston, MA

Professor: Thomas Villano

Department: English

College: Boston University, Boston, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: EN141
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Villano is a great teacher and great guy. He loves teaching and if you show up with a positive attitude and participate you will learn and have fun in a relaxed setting.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: EN125
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

His literature class is pretty interesting. Take note of everything he says and talk to him to clarify if there's anything you don't understand, since he he deals with very abstract themes. You'd think the class would be discussion based but it's mostly just understanding what he's talking about and writing papers or responses based on that.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Anyone who likes to participate in class and have a discussion with the professor should avoid this class at all costs. Almost impossible to ask him anything since he cuts you off before you finish your question. Go to his office hours-a must because he requires you to write according to his opinion and not what you actually believe.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He doesn't teach any material that adds value to the class or life in general. Prof. Villano is in his own world and seems to just be talking to himself the entire class. No interactive questions, assignments, or discussions whatsoever. Definitely wouldn't recommend taking his class - you might as well write essays on your own time.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He lives in his own world. Don't even try to answer his questions in class, they are either idiotically obvious or too obscure that whatever you say is not what he wants. Way too much writing and topics are boring and pointless. The grading is supposed to be all about the essays but skipping classes will result in grade penalty. Just pure torture.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: EN141
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I enjoyed taking his English Literature class and did well and found his lectures interesting. was almost twice the age of the other students and am an avid reader so that probably helped. But I would recommend attending ever class and writing a lot of notes during his lectures which will help in writing the required papers for the readings.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Good Prof but a little sporadic. If you go to his office hours he will basically tell you what to write about and give you an outline. One time he tried to write on the blackboard with a battery thinking it was chalk and didn't even realize until someone pointed it out. The class is pretty boring but easy to not pay attention in and still do okay.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He's a pretty nice guy, but this class and BU's writing requirement in general was pointless to me. I passed and got at least an A- on all but one paper without reading any of the novels. If you go to class and regergitate the opinions he shares in your essays, you'll be fine. I didn't agree with most of his interpretations but I sucked it up.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is a really really tough grader. It's kind of impossible to get A in his class, but he is a really nice and intellectual professor. You need to really think hard for writing. Really caring guy, but really really tough grader.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

We only did three papers which was great and the material was interesting. If you're looking for an open discussion class about philosophy, you won't like this class. He talks most of the time which is great and if you actually listen to what he's saying he makes very interesting points. Your writing will get better though, just go to office hours.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CASWR100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great professor! Definitely take him for writing 100. The topic isn't the most interesting, but I surprisingly really enjoyed the class! Villano is a super nice and genuinely cares about his students. No homework and you don't have to participate. You only have to do the self assessment, 3 essays, and a final portfolio.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His one on one session about your essay will be SO helpful! Overall he is super funny, actually cares, and is passionate about what he is teaching.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

GO TO HIS OFFICE HOURS! his guidelines for essays are unclear but if you go to him he will practically spell it out for you, as long as you seem interested he will be there to help not the easiest class but I learned a lot overall he's a great professor!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: WR150
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Heres the deal with villano: you HAVE to go see him before you write an essay. no homework, you don't have to participate, no slideshows, he just talks & you sit there. His directions are really unclear UNTIL you go see him and then he'll outline your essay completely. He scared me at first but it ended up being really easy

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: WR150
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took him for WR150 and it was probably the most boring thing. The subject matter was interesting, but in a class of 13 he taught it like a huge lecture and just spoke with no visual aid for the hour. It due dates fluctuate and he will not remind you at all about them. Assignment guidelines are always unclear.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Villano is one of the most amazing professors in the world. He is extremely intellectual and very interesting to talk to. He is a fair grader - you will have to read a lot and to analyze the material to get a good grade, but he will always help you. Go to his office hours! I wish I could take his class again!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I'd go to his office hours when I had his class because I couldn't read his feedback that he wrote on my paper -- his handwriting is really messy. I would, almost word for word, apply his suggestions and changes to my papers, and he would then scrutinize those particular parts in my paper, despite them being his own suggestions. He's contradictory.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great prof. Make sure to go to his office hours if you don't know what to write about he'll pretty much tell you what to do. Don't try to argue against him, you won't win. Going to class is also key to know what to write about

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: WR100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Villano is very helpful and explicit. Giving him your rough draft, he will give a lot of constructive criticism. Participation is not important. Some find him irritating because of his point of views. But he was fine for me as a writing professor.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: WR100E2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Villano is the greatest writing professor I have ever had at BU! At first, I got confused because I do not know what kind of essay he wants..But finally, when I start to write about the second essay and come to his office hours, he is extremely helpful to help me conveying my own ideas.