Anthony McGurrin - University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Professor: Anthony McGurrin

Department: English

College: University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SPCH100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Professor McGurrin talked a lot about stuff like politics (especially Trump), religion, and marriage. We didn't learn anything about public speaking, but we were assigned speeches (5 --> 3 because of his ramblings). It's an easy A, but I personally don't think it was worth my time. If you don't care about course content, this class is for you!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SPCH100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Professor McGurrin is incredibly chill; you really only have to write 4-5 speeches in the entire semester (about 3 pgs, double spaced). However, he doesn't post anything on Blackboard, so the only way you're getting information about the class is in lecture or if you reach out to him by email. Some of his lectures can feel pretty repetitive though.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SPEECH100
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is the worst! All he does is talking about nonsense and Trump hating speeches. If it wasn't for Trump, this guy would not have anything to talk about. It is ridiculous that he is teaching us considering he probably does not have a clue about the class. It's such a shame that I have to sit in the class, listen to this clown talking and pay for it

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SPCH100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

The worst professor I have ever had. Easy A, but learned absolutely nothing. He demands that your speeches have a thesis and purpose, and yet his lectures are purposeless, unguided messes that drone on for at least ten minutes past time that class should send. You will get an A, and you will learn absolutely nothing.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: SPCH100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Take this class! Prof never unlocked the Blackboard, or gave a syllabus, and never gave out a single rubric, but I received an A. He's super laid back, just do what he asks and it will be an easy, enjoyable class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SPCH100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

If you are looking for an easy A, take this class. All you have to do is give a couple of speeches and you will get an A in the class. His lectures are useless, but entertaining because he is a funny guy.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENGL392
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Get this, I'm 47 now, I graduated UMBC in 1993. I took four classes with Tony. He is laid back and lectures with no direct plan for any class. The thing is though he tackles any topic and works it back into how to understand people and communicate. Of all the professors I have ever had in any subject he stands out. Take any class he teaches.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENG391
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He was actually really interesting to talk to, and to listen to. I normally only came to class to turn in my papers or to get papers back. Other times I just sat in class to do other homework. If you need to take this class and don't want to put in the extra work for an A, TAKE HIM! He is very understanding and his lectures aren't course related.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: SPCH100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

If you have room in your schedule, take this class for free credits. Attendance is not mandatory, and lectures are mostly him talking about random stuff and most of that stuff repeats over and over, so you can pretty much study or do work for other classes while in his class. I don't see how you can get a B for the class, and don't buy the textbook

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG391
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is an amazing professor. It's a total of 3 papers you have to do throughout the semester. He told us more towards the end of the year we're only doing 2 papers. He doesn't give due dates you just turn them in when you want too, no rubric. No rules. Just write on any topic you want. He lets you turn the papers in as many times as you want.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: SPCH100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT BUY THE TEXTBOOKS unless you would like a real reference to public speaking, it won't help you much for the class. Attendance is now mandatory, although I have skipped quite a few classes and still managed an A. He LOVES talking about whatever he wants to talk about (not related to speech really). We ended up making 3 speeches instead of 5

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SPCH100
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

The class was extremely easy. Most people showed up late and he didn't care as long as you got your speeches in at some point. He never gave us a syllabus or told us how many points anything was worth. He also never handed us anything back or gave feedback. I don't recommend him as a professor (although he's very nice), but still a very easy class

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SPCH100
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Really nice, down to earth guy. Easy class, 3 speeches total and he grades very liberally-as long as you show you put some effort in he'll give you an A. Will collect speeches, but doesn't hand it back. Takes attendance, but not much people show up regardless. Bought the books, and never opened them. Also never received a syllabus.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG391
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He talks about politics for an hour and thirty minutes two days a week. Show up if you want to, but you're not going to learn anything. Write a few essays, show up if you don't have anything else to do, and get an A.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG391
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Good professor. Technologically illiterate and very disorganized, but he will is a solid funny guy. I never got below a b- on a paper and I could turn it in as many times as I wanted to bring it up. He grades tough but will always give you chances. If you need a chill class that will help you take a break from crazy classes this is it.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENG391
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

McGurrin was great. Yes, he rambles immensely, but I always went to class because of how interesting he was. Ask him random questions to get him talking. Essays are graded hard, but he looks for your improvement through the semester. He helped my technical writing a lot. Attendance isn't mandatory, but I recommend showing up and connecting with him

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG391
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Actually the worst class I've ever taken. By the end, a 25 student class had turned to 7. We had three papers and the prompts were unclear and grading was arbitrary based on whether or not he agreed with you. Lectures were literally him talking about unrelated stuff the whole time. Love yourself and don't take this class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG291AND391
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I'm not sure why McGurrin's rating is so low. He may be a little disorganized, and he's definitely technologically illiterate, but he's fantastic. Loads of great stories and advice and jokes. I've even spent a lot of time outside of class just chatting with him. He always provides great feedback on assignments. Turn in the work, you'll get an A.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG391
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Taking a class with Tony is all about what you make of it. Yes, he rambles a little. Yes, he repeats himself every class. But if you take time to talk to him and ask him questions he will help you out a lot. Get him to like you. Attendance isn't mandatory and you only need the book so that you can include quotes from the essays in your papers.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENGL273
• 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:

Attend class, pretend to pay attention, do your work (put some effort into it), and you should get an A. Each lecture was just a political rant. I spent most of the semester worrying about how I was to pull an A when my all of my sets of poems earned Cs. We didn't get the syllabus until the third to last class... Somehow I got an A.