Joshua McKinney - California State University - Sacramento

Professor: Joshua McKinney

Department: English

College: California State University - Sacramento

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENGL150G
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took this because I wasnt able to get into the English class I needed. Prof. McKinney is a great Professor, but personally I did not enjoy this course. I feel that discussing poetry in groups for the majority of class did not help me learn much. Again, this is a personal opinion. If you like poetry, take this, if not, stay clear from it.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG130B
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took this class in Fall of 2019. In this class, I got a B+. He gives valuable feedback. It's mostly a discussion-based class. Any help you need understanding the material, or meeting at a time other than the scheduled office hours, he tries to do . Keeping track of your own grade is mandatory, he doesn't use canvas. 4 quizzes/midterm/final. No hw

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENGL150G
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. McKinney is a wonderful professor with a great sense of humor and a wonderful lecture voice. His lectures keep you engaged and ready to discuss difficult concepts in a non-judgmental space. I loved this class. I learned more about poetry in 16 weeks with Dr. McKinney than I ever learned in any other class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENGL230B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I've taken four classes with Dr. McKinney, and I want more. This professor is extremely knowledgeable and kind. He cares about students as no one else does. His feedback is always helpful and very thorough. BEST PROFESSOR AT SACSTATE!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG130B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor McKinney is by far one of the best professors I have ever been gifted with. He's a tough grader, cares about attendance, but as long as you show up, try, and care about what you're writing you will gain worlds of inspiration and experience. I cannot encourage students to take him enough.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: 130W
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This was the forth class I have taken with Dr. McKinney this year, and I hope I don't run out of courses before I graduate. He has taught me more about poetry and English in general than any other teacher my whole life. His other courses, 30C, 150G, and 130D (a must for poetry writers) are also awesome.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENGL130D
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Awesome professor. I hated poetry before taking his classes, but now I actually enjoy it. If you put in the work, you'll pass.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENGL30A
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took this class as an intro into creative writing & the way McKinney taught it made me pursue creative writing as a minor. Participation matters, you have to speak up during workshops every Friday and help edit your peers writings. The poems/fiction stories are easy to write. This class is easy overall and I loved how interesting lectures were.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENGL130D
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great prof. I also had him for 150G and I thought both classes were fun and very edifying. McKinney's an awesome teacher and will cause you to have passion for whatever subject you're learning about.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: 130G
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

A wonderful professor at Sac State, I am so glad I got to take a class with him before I started working daytime shifts. I don't think he offers evening classes... His Prose Poetry and Flash Fiction class was great, basically you get to write your pieces and share them with the class for critique. You also get to critique others pieces.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENGL150G
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor McKinney is incredibly passionate and he simplifies everything for you. His tests reflect his lectures and he will not test you on anything he hasn't explained in class. If you don't have time to read the poems it's okay he goes over them in class. No essays. Tests are challenging. Response logs for each poet are 2 pages single spaced.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: 130G
• 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:

Dr McKinney is really amazing. I am an international student who took his class randomly but he blew my mind away. He is passionate about his subject and keeps students interested and eager to learn. He introduced me to prose poetry for the first time and some amazing prose poets such as Russel Edson. If you can, please take him and you'll love it.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENG30A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He introduced me to poetry whereas I had no interest prior to this class. He expects a lot from his students so if you keep up with the work it is really easy. The best teacher I have had at Sac State. I want to return there specifically to study under him.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG30A
• 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:

Great class, McKinney is a lot of fun, and a great teacher, and provides really helpful comments. The workshops will help you grow as a writer. I would recommend this class to anyone.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENGL20
• 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:

He did not normally teach this class, but I enjoyed it. Struggling with writing you will be rewarded with effort. He has been around long enough to be on the sides of students in certain situations! Not going to baby you, but the type of professor you want to have a beer with after class! 4 major essays, reading, and mechanics quizzes.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENGL30C
• 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 hated poetry before this class... now I'm okay with it, thanks to McKinney!Wants to work with you on your poems-you have to write 8, but he doesn't grade them, he just comments on them. However, if you're not that into speaking in front of people, there are recitations and workshops every Friday, so that might be an issue. But I enjoyed it!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENGL150G
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Dr. M is awesome; very fun! This is a great class, even if you don't know much about poetry. There is a lot of class discussion. There are 2 tests, some quizzes, and poetry response logs. The tests are super easy & the response logs I got a 100 on. Make sure you read the poems before coming to class b/c of some pop quizzes which can be tricky.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENGL30C
• 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 signed up for this class for the units...no interest in poetry. Dr. M completely changed that for me. Tests are easy. Recitations sucked but that was my fault. You have to write 8 poems, but he doesn't give them a letter grade, he just comments on the content. You do workshop every Friday to get feedback on your poems. Great class, great prof!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENGL130D
• 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:

You get points off of your essay for using 'colloquialisms' even though it could just be your style of writing. Even if you explained each point in your essay, you can still end up with a D. Plus the class is a partially lie - it isn't a "Meter and Rhythm" class when it comes to the essays, it is an "Kill your writing style" class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENGL150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

McKinney is awesome - he's funny and makes the class really interesting. There was group work everyday because it was a poetry class which sucks but the subject matter was really awesome. Homework is pretty easy and there isn't much anyway. He's a fair grader too.