Allan McNeil - University of the Fraser Valley

Professor: Allan McNeil

Department: TBD

College: University of the Fraser Valley

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG339
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Many people seem to complain he is a hard marker and unreasonable, but it is not true! Guess what, it is university. He is very clear on expectations, includes samples and feedback. He made it easy for me to be successful in his class. Use the recommended structures, apply the feedback, show up and participate in class, and you will do well.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG120
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Acted like a 100 level course was a 300 level course.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENGL207
• 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:

Allan is a hard marker, yes; however, he is very clear in what he wants from his students. He always directed us to websites with the format he desired and, if you followed his instruction, it was not hard to get an A. He's a good teacher who knows what he wants from his students. My advice would be: pay very close attention to his instructions!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENGL105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher! Hard marker, but I learned more in his class than most. I would take another class from him.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

By far the worst teacher I have ever had. I have always been an exceptional English student and this teacher has completely unachievable expectations. I had a 3rd year English major read over my essays as well as a teacher, both graded me with an A, I received a B-. Would not recommend anyone to take a class with this professor ever!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENGL207
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you want to hold onto your sanity, do not take a class with this professor.His expectations are not only unreasonable for a second year class, but completely unclear. If you ask him a question, the response is minimal and unhelpful. I am normally a high B student but was unable to receive anything higher than a C+ in this course. Horrible.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a very hard marker. I took his online course and found that he did not make the assignments accessible early enough. Last minute he will put up questions to be answered and felt rushed to get it done. He also changes the due dates randomly.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENGL207
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The subject content is far from what is expected for this level of course. He sets expected timelines and then changes them sporadically. Also has a superiority complex, and is rather ignorant as well. If he doesn't know something then it is either wrong in his eyes or he expects a source to prove it. 1+1=2 QED... good enough. He's tenured though..

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENGL333
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Allan is extremely unhelpful when it comes to asking questions, and seems to be very inaccessible. I took an online course with him, really liked the subject matter, but do not expect much when asking questions. You will get one word emails with either "yes" or "no," instead of full detail. Even if you're an A student (like myself) you will get B's

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENGL105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I wish I had read these beforehand. His reading material is awful and the textbook is even worse, especially since he wrote it. I didn't like English to begin with, but this just killed it. On top of that, his criticism is useless and if you try to ask him a question, he answers with minimal thought. Definitely do not recommend this prof. STAY AWAY

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I should have listened to the comments posted about this prof. Do yourself a favour and learn from my mistake! Reading and discussing interesting material turned into a chore, nearly all of his notes were copied directly from websites, and it is virtually impossible to get an A... his standards are high and he doesn't give helpful feedback. AVOID!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Took this class online. Heavy workload, lots of things to read and many many questions to post every week. He expects the papers to be perfect and takes points out of every little thing. Very hard marker. Wouldn't take a course with him again.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENG207
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Fairly reasonable amount of work in terms of reading and assignments. However, he has ridiculous standards for papers. I have taken many upper-level English courses and usually get A's but so far in this class I've got a C+. Does give feedback on papers but even once you've revised your paper he still won't give you a decent grade. SO FRUSTRATING!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG207
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you are a professinoal writer, take this class. If you are a student who wants to learn how to improve your writting I suggest you pick a new prof. Alan has inordinately high expectations, and when asking for help answers are often unclear.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG207
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very hard marker and offers little information to improve. Will not respond to e-mails asking for help and is unclear of what he expects from you. Possibly the most frustrating experience I have ever had with school. Student beware!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENGL207
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Allan is an extremely hard marker and unclear on his expectations. He has an unrealistic standard of quality of writing when he cannot show proof himself. I do not recommend him at all.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG333
• 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:

Without a doubt the worst class I have ever taken. I highly advice that you DO NOT take a course with Allan. His lectures are unbelievably tedious and are barely relevant to the subject matter. He often pushes off the teaching to the class but then doesn't actually specify what he believes is the correct answer, which makes essay writing infinitely

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENGL333
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Super hard marker, but reasons for low grades don't actually make sense. Allows one rewrite, but doesn't give enough feedback. Lectures are incredibly boring and hard to listen to. Unclear about assignment expectations. I loved the subject matter, but thought the structure of the class did not work with the material. Would not recommend.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENGL333
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I haven't even finished the class yet but I felt compelled to rate him in order to warn those that might be registered for one of his courses in the fall: Drop it now! He is awful. (Boring lectures, hard marker, unclear expectations, and useless comments.) He has no redeeming qualities that I can think of.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENG333
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I get the impression that he doesn't like to actually lecture. Between the student run seminar presentations almost every class, the bad videos and the group work he doesn't really help with explain, I kinda felt like I was having to teach my self and my group mates. not an unreasonable marker, but he does like specific formatting in assignments.