Robert Hass - University of California Berkeley

Professor: Robert Hass

Department: English

College: University of California Berkeley

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG141
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Utterly fascinating lectures, sometimes circuitous but always ingenious. Sometimes sort of dauntingly genius but amazingly elevating , once you realize how to follow him. You actually feel smarter after each one, like your IQ has just gone up a few points each time.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ESPMC12
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Hass is a genius, but his lectures don't show it. He would ramble and delve into points without offering context to the piece he was reading from (even when I had thoroughly done the reading, I didn't quite understand). His lectures are very monotonous and easy to fall asleep in.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENGC77
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Robert Hass may be a brilliant poet but his lectures lack that 'less is more' quality. He tends to ramble. Like, really ramble. I loved the readings and wanted to pay attention but inevitably class would become Nap Hour.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENGLISHC77
• Grade Received: 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:

Classes like this are the reason I came to this school. Thoughtful, kind, intelligent, communicative professor whose huge variety of knowledge is to be envied. This course engages so many aspects of being and life, suitable for both humanities and science majors, a wonderful experience. Truly the bright spot in my schedule!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG131
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

over-rated verse pretentious and unmusical at times

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ESPMC12
• 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:

This guy is really legit. And he's marvelous and fascinating. I'm still reading a lot from the reading class, and I'm sure I'll continue to. Lectures are fascinating and I found myself seriously looking forward to them. Don't take this class if you're just doing it for a grade. This is a class to enjoy.Cool nature field trips. Hass is amazing.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ESPMC12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Terrible lecturer, mostly had no idea what I was talking about, went off on random tangents and didnt focus lectures. I know he is supposed to be a genius but even when I tried to see that in his lectures, just couldn't. Absurd amount of reading, but nothing was that difficult. Writing assignments easy, study guides for all tests. lecture=useless

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ESPMC12
• 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:

The class had so much interesting material but his presentation of it was boring and monotonous. Instead of bulleting key points he divulges into extreme detail on a few unimportant points. Not a good teacher for ESPM.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENGL131
• 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:

First of all he's a stone cold genius,The person who wrote he goes off on irrelevant tangents is the biggest geek on the planet and probably just too stupid to follow him. Hass is beautiful in every sense,there's a golden aura of spirituality radiating about him,He's also like clairvoyantly intuitive, +I'd just his bones if he weren't my teacher.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG131
• 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:

Of all the English classes I took, definitely near the bottom of the list. As approachable and amiable he is, "American Poetry" lacked substance. He would spend all of class sharing anecdotes about poets and leave only the last 10-15 minutes talking about our readings. I wanted to gain a better insight into reading poetry but didn't find that here.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG131
• 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:

Because how can one spend four years at Berkeley and NOT want to take classes from a Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet laureate? Who is genuinely helpful (even to students from other classes) as well as kind, brilliant, fascinating and funny? Terrific guy.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ESPMC12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Sometimes Professor Hass goes off on fascinating but totally irrelevant tangents; but overall, listening to him is amazing. He definitely adds a unique voice to an environmental science class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENGLI243
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

My favorite teacher yet here at Berkeley. A genius poet, whoever the idiot was who said otherwise is an idiot.... especially with the comparison to Whitman. Shows that they know little, so that is ok I guess. Take any class you can of his. A genius and the best person I know.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENGL151
• 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:

Nice enough guy, and the class was easy and enjoyable, but dude, has anyone here actually *read* his poetry? I doubt it, because it sucks. Walt Whitman he ain't; sad state of affairs in American letters when stilted metaphor qualifies one to be Poet Laureate.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG131
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

So wise! Hass just takes the class period to spew out some of his knowledge/ good stories, whether it be relevant or not to the poet we're focusing on. He speaks in constant conversation with the class, and gets poetry to become a vital and exciting addition to your life rather you expect it or not.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENG131
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

A poet's approach to poetry, so don't expect lectures clogged with facts, theory, and -- since we're talking about the Berkeley English dept. -- sociology. His discursive way of lecturing often draws together very disparate ideas in surprising and exciting ways. A wonderful class!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG131
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The course is less a series of lectures than it is a continuous lesson in the critical appreciation of poetry. Professor Hass has been a superb mentor for the young and anxious English student.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ESPMC12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Hass was great. I still remember the time he told us this long story about a time he tripped out on some weird drug in Ecuador...It's really nice to just sit back and listen to him talk about the readings. You can tell that he likes what he does. If you're at all interested in environmental issues and you like reading, take this class!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ESPMC12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Hass does not remember things, rambles, is dull and annoying. I wonder if he still understands something. Horrible class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENGC77
• 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:

this course is an Intro to Environmental Studies class but it is also considered an english class. it was taught by both robert hass and garrison sposito, it remains to this day the best class that I have taken at Berkeley. A big part of that has to do wi