Todd Duncan - Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

Professor: Todd Duncan

Department: English

College: Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG3130
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Duncan is clearly passionate about what he teaches, but this doesn't necessarily transfer into being a good teacher. He emphasizes discussion, but tends to spend a lot of class talking himself about one or two topics. A lot of assigned reading, but no big papers or anything. Weekly quizzes but the final uses the same questions.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG3140
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

There is a 15 question Quiz every week and we have ten minutes to finish. We are only required to answer five but the questions cover up to five poems that are many pages long, books, and pages about the authors. We have multiple stories two times a week to read and retain every little bit of information. Every class runs over at least five min.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENG3140
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The weekly quizzes contain questions like "name and date this poem." There is an exorbitant amount of reading which will prove difficult for most people with jobs and full time student status. The lectures are disjointed and hard to follow. The pace is disgustingly slow. I respect Dr. Duncan, but I believe it's time for him to retire.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG2310
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Todd Duncan is my reason for pursuing a graduate degree. He has such a passion for his work. I had him in undergrad, African American Literature. I go back to Wayne periodically to visit. He once called me to perform an assignment that we had to do long ago. He would see things in the texts that I never saw, until I was able to interpret as he did

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG3140
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Sweetheart. But challenging. Reading took over 5 hrs a week. Quiz everyday. half of the questions were dates you have to remember. So no matter how much I tried to understand the poems in depth he found a way to switch it up. But he definitely knows his stuff. Pretty monotoned almost fell asleep.I'd put a whole day aside for this class a week.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENG3140
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class is an easy A. If you show up and read the material there will be no problems. Professor Duncan is a sweetheart. He knows the material and the history behind it very well and cares about his students. Give it a chance.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG3130
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

AVOID. He seriously thinks its the only class a person is taking. Readings that took me two hours. Make sure to understand the reading in depth as well. Pop quizzes every single class. They weren't easy!some essay quiz questions and final and midterm was all writing and questions. I hated this class so much and I'm surprised i got a C.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENG2390
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Worst professor I've ever had. The lectures were long and irrelevant to the books we were reading. He was an easy grader but was very rude and did not give good feedback on what was wrong with the paper. BE WARE OF POP QUIZES because that's basically your entire grade.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG2390
• 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:

The class will seem like hell at first. but if your a student who can think critically and keep up with readings, you will do absolutely fine. especially if you participate in class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG3140
• 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:

10 quizzes, only 6 count. Easy grades there if you read. Two presentations given with unclear directions but if you don't do what he expects, you'll lose points even if you didn't know. Midterm and final are combos of old quizzes and new open book essays. If you read the material and stay awake through his droning lectures you will do fine.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG2390
• 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:

Very boring. The class was very unorganized we were always behind on the syllabus. We repeated things like vocab to the point where it became annoying. Professor is a good teacher just not the most exciting.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG5140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Mr. Duncan is a good teacher, but his assignments are very polytechnical and analytical. There is no simplicity in this course and the load is heavy; so is the reading. He is manageable, but I would take this class by itself, but not with one or two other courses. This course needs a lot of attention and if you have to work I feel sorry for you.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENG5480
• 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:

From reading some comments, one would be hesitant to take his course. He was lenient with deadlines, meaning he would work with you if you put forth effort and showed you really cared about the assignments. There were pop quizes, but he told what to study for. No final, just a paper - which is easier if you asked me. I learned alot.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG2390
• 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:

I really appreciated this class as well as Professor Duncan. He approached all texts with an open mind, allowing for student interpretation. He was never condescending (something I found very refreshing) and he was very easy-going as far as grading and attendance. I highly reccomend.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG5480
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The class itself is not hard but it is really boring. The syllabus is changed around weekly and there is a ton of reading. There is a field trip and you must do two personal interviews with a native of Detroit outside the classroom. As long as you do the work you'll be fine. He is friendly and tries to be helpful but his instruction is confusing.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENG5480
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

* This rater suggests not taking this Prof. for any course. * What a disappointment. Perhaps if this class had been taught by another Prof., more would have been learned in the course. Be prepared to do tons of work outside of the classroom. See comments from other raters as well.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG2390
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Professor Duncan is one of the worst instructors I have ever had. He is not very helpful when it comes to one on one meetings. He does not agree with any of your ideas if they are not his own. He grades very hard and is very confusing when it comes to assignments and it is hard to stay awake in his class because he talks very slow.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG2390
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Professor Duncan is useless his office hours are of no help because he rambles on and shoots down any new idea you bring with you, it is impossible to pay attention in class due to his monotone voice and his inability to stay on topic, i would never suggest him to anyone, he is rude, and does not know how to beneficially interact with his student

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG2390
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Reviews concerned me, but once I got the chance to know him, I was able to appreciate his teaching style. Yes, his voice is monotone, but if you can get over that, you will learn a lot. I enjoyed his reading selections and I feel I did some of my best writing in his class. It was not an easy class, but it's not ridiculously hard either. I got an A.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENG2390
• 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:

Doesn't follow the syllabus, you barely know what you are going to be doing. Uninspired, repetitive, and monotonous. Loves dictionaries and page numbers. You may become his responsibility to help with the overhead projector (still uses it) and operating anything else, as he cannot do it himself, yet cannot have an assistant do so.