Adam Potkay - College of William and Mary

Professor: Adam Potkay

Department: English

College: College of William and Mary

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENGL310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Adam Potkay is absolutely my favorite professor at W&M! He is extremely knowledgeable and supportive, amiable both in class and during office hours. A true gem in W&M English department!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENGL310
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Adam and Monica, who teach this class together, are pleasantly dorky and kind of remind me of my parents when they try to be cool. They aren't the best lectures that I've had at William & Mary, but they're pretty good and will keep you entertained. If you have already studied the Bible, the class is pretty easy and requires minimal effort.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENG310
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The Potkays are really into what they are talking about. There are three noncumulative, multiple-choice tests that draw questions straight from the lecture outlines that they post online. It's interesting material, and if you study the outlines and lectures, it's not difficult to do well in the class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG310
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

What a sweetheart of a person! He literally teared up when reading a passage from Ruth. Kind of difficult to follow his outline in class and he goes off on tangents, but not nearly as many as his wife.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG310
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Loved the class. Monica's lectures were a little bit more dry than Adam's, but overall, a great class. Background on the bible isn't necessary, but sure helps. Three relatively easy exams. Take !

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENGL475
• 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:

Prof Potkay is a very kind and sweet man. He is one of those professors whose intellect boggles my mind, he's incredibly smart. That being said, his Wordsworth discussion is a bit of a mixed bag. Class discussions are fascinating, but he can be a tough grader, even for Eng majors. He seems to have very narrow interpretation of some of Ww's poems.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENGL310
• 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:

Co-taught with his wife and split the lectures pretty evenly. The class was about analyzing the Bible as literature, and it was very interesting. It's easy enough if you pay attention in class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENG204
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

A very sweet, enthusiastic man, but don't be deceived by his gentle demeanor! He is a difficult grader, and a stickler on scansion activities. The class involves a great deal of poetry, but Potkay throws in some longer works, too. Very knowledgeable (brought in lots of outside info), definitely a great help outside of class--great class overall!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Don't take lit and bible without background in the subject. Very interesting lectures. Made an A. Him and his wife very friendly and soft hearted. 3 tests and no other grades, can be an easy class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BRIT204
• 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:

Difficult to take notes in class because lectures were all over the place and speaks super fast when hes excited. Very nice however and makes himself available if you are struggling. Always meet with him before you write a paper and during, it helps! hardcore picky grader. Warning:He wrote the Eng department handbook writing.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG203
• 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:

I adore Prof. Potkay. He brings energy to every class and makes very boring literature interesting. You'll actually learn, but it's not all that hard-- read, go to class, and if you're not good at writing, go chat with him. He's all about that. Basically, take him at every opportunity.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENGL310
• 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:

Such a nice guy. Knowledgeable and just so...happy. Lit and the Bible was crap, though.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENGL310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Mr. and Mrs. Potkay both taught me LIT&BIBLE. It was a waste of time. Never take an english class for which your entire grade is based on 3 multiple choice tests. Their lectures were all over the place, and it was hard to predict what trick question they would throw on the test. I studied and went to every class and tests were still impossible.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG204
• 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:

Prof Potkay is a very difficult grader, but you will find that he is more than happy to help you. He may be a little vague about what he expects for papers, but he is crystal clear on lectures. Just ask him what he wants, and keep up with the reading.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

great professor, sometimes a little dramatic but charming, lectures are usually interesting... this class especially is very easy -- no writing!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENG0000
• 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:

I've had him for many classes. Absolutely hilarious and brilliant. A great lecturer, especially considering the time period he specializes in holds no interest to me. A must take at Wily M.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG419
• 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:

DO NOT take his class extremely tough grader. Demands everyone to be as smart as he is. No way to bring your grade up, as there are only two assignments, both due the last day of class. So hes enthusiastic and makes a lame joke now and then, there are alot of other profs who do the same and arent as difficult.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENGL203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I don't get why he is supposed to be so good. Yes he's enthusiastic and smiley, but mainly the class is filled with annoying people who laugh at everything he says. You won't learn anything very interesting, but he does have reasonable exams, reading assignments, and grading style. On a scale from sweet to blah, he's an ehhhh.

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He is the master of chiasmus, and unafraid to shed a tear in class. You'll see what I mean.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENG150W
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Really interesting and excited about his topic. He doesn't assign a lot of work and he grades fairly easily. He's funny and encouraging and definitely reccomended.