James Keenan - Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL

Professor: James Keenan

Department: Classics

College: Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CLST271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class is long and boring. Professor can be confusing and all over the place. Tests are extremely difficult, and you are expected to know every detail of all stories we read. Teacher does not try to help the students when they are struggling, and expects students to know the information like he does. I would not recommend taking his class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CLST272
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class is very useless and long. He gives you an outline for the 3 exams in class, but doesn't explain each section clearly. Lectures are very dry and long. He is also very unorganized, and tends to scramble around. He is a very tough grader, and there is a paper due every week. Definitely would not recommend taking.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CLST271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Keenan definitely does his best to make the course interesting. He gives you a study guide for the exams. The exams all have character, quote, and term id and essay, which he covers in class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CLST271
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He goes off on a lot of tangents and laughs to himself, but it's not that hard to follow what he's saying. He really does try to make the course interesting. Weekly papers aren't that difficult and the amount of reading isn't that bad either. Three exams make up most of the course, and they're tough! But he does give you a study sheet.

Rating # 5

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I wouldnt take him. Going to lecture is just a big waste of time. He scrambles around and often goes nowhere and teaches nothing during his lectures. His test are bluebook and graded very evenly so you really dont know what you are going to get. I would avoid him as a teacher

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CLST
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Weekly papers, but his feedback was confusing and unspecific. Lots of readings. No real lecture style, all over the place and lots of unrelated tangents. I struggled with my health this semester and he was not understanding or approachable AT ALL - the opposite actually. I hated this class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CLST271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I would not recommend this prof. to anyone! Lectures are disorganized, not clear. He mentions exam concepts in a brief convoluted manner. He gets off topic often, not approachable & is all over the place. Talks about readings that are not covered on exam. Loads of readings and EXTREMELY PICKY GRADER. Is not consistent with his form of teaching.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CLST271
• 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:

If I had to describe this class and professor in one word, it would be death. In three, death on wheels.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CLST271
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Please, for the love of God save yourself. I know, I know, you are probably thinking, "This person probably just had a bad experience, it can't be that bad." No. No. No. I got an A -- but this was the worst class of my entire academic career. If you don't believe me, check LOCUS and just sit in on one of his classes. Survey the students. It's bad.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CLST392
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Theories of Myth is an amazing class. He lectures like a pro and as long as you study the night before, you'll be fine. We learned a lot about theory and then applied it during the second half to novels, myths, and fairy tales. Many days were dedicated to watching films. There are 3 exams, 10 mini-essays, and a final paper. Highly recommend!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CLST362
• 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:

Roman Law is a pretty advanced and confusing topic, but Dr Keenan tries to clarify it and make it as interesting as possible. There are weekly mini essays, 3 exams (pretty easy as long as you follow his study guide and go to class), and a writing assignment. Again, the subject matter is VERY dry, but he is pretty funny (laughs like a maniac).

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CLST273
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Although kind of awkward, he is a good teacher and I recommend him. 3 exams all the material is covered in class so you do not even have to really read, and the material is interesting. 10 weekly response papers very easy for a point each you will always get a point. The exams all have character, quote, and term id and essay, which he covered.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CLST388
• 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:

Professor Keenan is an extremely knowledgeable professor, i definitely learned a lot in his class. The tests are ok and you will definitely get an A if you study. The weekly essays are easy and the research paper at the end wasnt too bad. Overall i recommend this class and teacher

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CLST272
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Awesome professor! Really knows the material and is VERY helpful. The class in general, is a lot of work, (read 3 epics, 10 1 page mini essays, 3 quizes, and 3 exams) but if you read the epics the class is a breeze! He's very clear on what he expects on his exams so just go to class and do the work and get an easy A. You will not find an easy heroes and epics class so stop trying to find one. Take this guy and do the work to get the grade you deserve!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CLST271
• 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:

i HATED this class. his lectures were all over the place, really boring. his exams are actually hard and it doesn't help that he's a picky grader. there are plenty of better and easier classical mythology teachers out there

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CLST271
• 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:

Stupid Class, BORING, WASTE of money. He likes to think he's funny when he's not and lets his humor get in the way of teaching. He jumps around a lot. Take someone else that will be more interesting and better use of your money. No way to correct grade b/c each of 3 tests is 30% of final grade.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CLST271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His jokes get in the way of teaching, loses focus. Grading depends on how well he likes you- don?t argue with him. Overall try to find a different teacher.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CLST273
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I loved this class. If you read, go to class, and just study a bit you will get an easy A. I never read the Iliad or Odyssey before and after reading what was assigned it was fine. Nice person, I highly recommend him.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CLST272
• 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:

He likes to think he's funny and I have to admit he sometimes is, however, he lets his humor get in the way of teaching. He jumps around a lot and seems to assume that the student knows the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Aenied. For someone who doesn't know anything about the books, unless this is your only class, you are pretty well scr*wed.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CLST271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Interesting class, made things really easy to understand and when you think about it, similar themes and material are tested throughout each of his exam. final exam really was just another exam. enjoyable professor, definitely recommend, he summarizes & analyzes the text for you, so you really don't need to read the texts unless u missed class