Brenda Powell - University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN

Professor: Brenda Powell

Department: English

College: University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENGLISH203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I was a little concerned about taking a class with Dr. Powell, after hearing some things from a fellow student. There is quite a bit of reading and group stuff and her papers may seem very hard at first. However, you MUST visit her during office hours. She was such a great help, not telling me exactly what to write, but prodding me towards it

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENGL203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Powell was a difficult teacher and had high expectations, but was helpful when you need assistance, and truly cares about her students understanding the material. Read many books, and keeping up with the readings is important to do well in her class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENGL121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is a nice person and very knowledgeable. I enjoyed reading the texts she chose for this class. However, it takes a while to understand what she really wants in her papers. I would recommend going to her office hours more than once when working on a paper and being open to do significant revising. You must work hard in this class to do well.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENGL218
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Her classes are difficult but you will learn a lot! I find myself being able to speak more intelligently about certain literary and historical topics because of her classes.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENGL203
• 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:

Hated her as a prof. Never looked forward to going to this class. Did my readings, participated in class often, and the course was still difficult. Also, in your papers, if your opinion does not match up with hers, expect a bad grade.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENGLISH121
• 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:

Extremely tough grader. Grades come from your papers and how she feels, so they are extremely subjective to whether she likes you or not. Stay away unless you are an amazing writer, but even if you are she will probably say its wrong.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENGL121
• 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:

By far the most helpful teacher I have ever had. She is picky, but if you let her help you, you will be fine. Very entertaining class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENGL121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She is terrible with feedback. You will be told to slow down no matter how good your paper is. There is a lot of writing, and it is the only grade you get in the course. Her grades are subjective. If she disagrees, you do poorly. She is known for telling you your paper is wrong the night before it is due. She won't give any constructive advice.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENGL121
• 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:

Her class requires effort, but overall if you are willing to work & try your best you will get your deserved grade. She is very willing to help you during office hours. It is crucial you do not give up on your papers if she does not like them initially. Keep editing and revising and she will appreciate and recognize the energy you put into them.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENGL121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Best english teacher i've ever had. Very helpful, but difficult if you're a bad writer. TAKE HER and learn!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great professor but extremely difficult. Your opinion means squat if she doesn't agree. Her papers are nearly impossible to understand. Offers office hour help on them and when you get it back, it's still not right. She overanalyzes everything and makes it extremely difficult to get a good grade.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENGL121
• 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:

Extremely unclear in essay prompts and expectations. Willing to meet with any student that needs help but don't expect to get much out of it. Entered class enjoying both reading and writing and left absolutely despising both.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENGL380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Powell is an excellent professor. She is tough-rightfully so. Her 380 class is difficult: she has high standards. I learned more from this one class than the other three I took. She must like you to do well: be prepared, participate, follow instructions. Her speciality is feminist theory-but I did not encounter any discrimination based on sex

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENGL218
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took Dr. Powell for Literature by Women. Although the class was based on readings from the textbook and class discussion/participation, Dr. Powell made it interesting and I learned a vast amount on women writers. However, she does hold her students to high standards; especially in regards to their writing. Nonetheless, take her!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG252
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do not take it unless you are a FANTASTIC paper writer. I can't dump enough praise on her as a person and a teacher, but I'm a good writer and am suffering miserably.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENGL190
• 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:

She is a very hard grader and I did not find her helpful at all. Class is really boring also, and you don't discuss anything important. I went into her office to get help on multiple papers and took her advice, but my grade was still not what I expected. The papers and difficult and hard to understand.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENGL218
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very tough prof. She is definitely willing to help you out, but also has extremely high standards. Had to work harder than I ever have in any class just to do well. Be careful what you say in class because she will call you out. She has her views on the readings, and won't accept any other interpretations.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: WMST205
• 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. Powell is tough, and not sorry for it, and I hate to admit it, but she shouldn't be. It was hell acclimatizing to her standards, but I've never learned so much in my life and I got an A. If you want to work (really really really) hard and be rewarded for it, take her. Just be aware of what you're getting yourself into. Highly recommended.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENGL190
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Incredibly hard class if you do not go into her office hours. Consisted of 4 papers. I had to redo all of them at least once but she helps you a lot on office hours and truly wants you to do well.. Takes a lot of time but a year down the road you will realize it was worth it even though you hated it at the time.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENGL190
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very smart woman. I love english, but the papers were brutal to write. They take a LOT of time and effort; you absolutely must go to her office hours if you plan on getting a decent grade. Overall, a very valuable class.