Martine Van Elk - California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA

Professor: Martine Van Elk

Department: English

College: California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENGL363
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The professor is the epitome of a Shakespearean expert. As a bonus, she is a FUN, intellectually stimulating one. I expected the 4-unit class to be daunting, but it was my easiest ENGL class this semester. Read Shmoop summaries for each act/scene and then watch the verbatim BBC plays once you have time, and you'll be set for an A. Smart studying!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG363
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

van Elk is crazy smart, but a horrible teacher. She does not possess pedagogical knowledge to actually teach. She does not write on the margins of papers, but gives a summary. She does Euro standards for grading. Her grading is very finicky no reason to it. She doesn't want success for her students. She is the epitome of institutional education.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: EGNGL363
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Tough on the papers, but fair. Stay current and WATCH THE BBC productions, hearing and seeing helps a lot. She's really well organized--a top tier educator. I'm taking her for Milton (whom I hate) next semester only because she's the best. She's also funny and helps in office hours. Hitting the rest of the plays over the break. Take!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENGL363
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She is definitely passionate about Shakespeare. The class is very interesting even if you are not a Shakespeare or medieval period fan. Do not undermine the readings, you have to read, online sites will not cut it.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG363
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class is very cut and dry which I love. She is a little intimidating at first but she is a great professor. She sticks to her syllabus there are no surprises in her class her grading criteria is very clear. There is a lot of reading but it's a Shakespeare class. I highly recommend taking her I can honestly say I slightly enjoy Shakespeare now

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENGL652
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She enjoys the texts a lot, and she has lots of interesting background and trivia on all of the authors, which is fun. The course organization is frustrating though: you start with boring texts and work up to fun ones. Plus you have to write essays about readings that aren't due yet, meaning you have to read WAY ahead. Even so, I'd take her again.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENGL363
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Van Elk is amazing! She may come across a little intimidating at first--she's strict with her policies and abides strongly by her syllabus--but she really is a very kind and caring individual. Available for help when you need her; having your book is a MUST. For someone who found Shakespeare hard to access, this class was ultimately super fun!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENGL363
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

Professor gives clear-cut directions for assignments and is reasonable with the amount of course work. There is always reading to be done, whether it's from the text or outside sources. She cares a lot about participation (several group assignments, 1 performance, and 1 presentation) but it's manageable. She is super informative!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG653
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I really like Van Elk's teaching style and how she explains difficult text in the classroom. However, she is a very tough grader, so almost promising you won't get an A in her class. She is pretty good at explaining what she wants, but her expectations are incredibly high. I had her for undergrad and an A was pretty much impossible then, too.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: SHAKESPEARE2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Van Elk was amazing! She made Shakespeare so fun and easy. We had a variety of assignments in which she was very clear with her expectations and was willing to help. Loved her, would definitely take her again.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG380
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

LOVE HER! She is extremely specific and very thorough which I thought was wonderful. She gives quizzes, so she'll know if you aren't reading, but she doesn't assign an overwhelming amount. If you aren't good at tests there is still a chance to raise your grade with the papers. However, the final paper will make or break your grade.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: 363
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Excellent professor! Was dreading taking Shakespeare, but she made the class really enjoyable. She's always clear about instructions and does not expect TOO much from students. Very reasonable. 2 papers, (4 options) midterm, final, 2 presentations, quizzes. Always takes roll.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENGL363
• 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:

She's a brilliant Shakespeare scholar and clearly knows her stuff. She gives really interesting lectures and her classes never feel like they drag. However, her assignment grading criteria can be confusing and it's really difficult to get an A, as the criteria can be confusing.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENGL380
• 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:

I dreaded taking tis course because I felt it was a waste of time. But Van Elks guidance made the course tolerable. It is honesty so easy. Just a pain to get through because it is mandatory for all English majors. Anyway, she's pretty good at teaching the material. Certainly got me interested in literary theory!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENGL363
• 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:

I dreaded taking this course, but I am glad I did. Course involves two essays that were super easy. One midterm and final, various quizzes off of Shakespeare's history and plays (that she gives you the questions ahead of time), and a group performance of a scene from one of the plays you read. NOTE: bring our Norton textbook to class every time!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: EGNGL363
• 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:

Van Elk is Shakespeare reincarnated! She knows everything there is to know about him. And her book is like the Holy Grail! She was a great professor. Knows her stuff and is very nice. Grading was not hard at all. Read and do the assignments. It was that simple.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG363
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

A class where you have to work to earn your grade. Do the readings, engage in discussions and you'll be fine

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENGL380
• 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:

DO NOT take her. She sucks at teaching 380. She doesn't explain what exactly she wants and her directions are confusing. She doesn't have power points or anything. She just sits there & talks. She may every once in a while write a name down. You basically needed to study the whole textbook to know the answers for midterm & grades papers difficultly

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENGL363
• 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:

Dr. Van Elk is wonderful. Knows her stuff, and is very helpful. Her class will not be easy, but you will learn a lot and have some fun doing it (at least I did!). Her and Dr. Kermode are my favorite English professors at CSULB...coincidence? ;)

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENGL463
• 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:

Dr. Van Elk is extremely nice and I enjoyed the lecture. However, it's very hard to get an A on assignments because you never really understand what she is looking for.