David Van Leer - University of California Davis

Professor: David Van Leer

Department: TBD

College: University of California Davis

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENL149
• 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:

I enjoyed Professor Van Leer's Sexuality of Literature of course this past fall. He's very lively and 'out there'.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENL142
• 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:

Van Leer is a good lecturer, but the material he teaches is disorganized and arguably makes no sense, it is very hard to follow. He is a fair grader, but if I could go back in time, I would have not have taken this class. Not your typical English class, as it is Puritan literature... didn't really know what I was getting myself into.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENL142
• 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:

I would say to take a class with Professor Van Leer if you can, but he's not teaching after this quarter. : (

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENL142
• 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:

I enjoyed taking 142 with Van Leer.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENL142
• 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:

Definitely on the kooky side, but all-in-all an engaging and passionate lecturer. Personally, I couldn't get "into" the texts (Puritan lit...) but I can appreciate Dr. Van Leer's insight and knowledge on the subject. Lectures are unconventionally organized and often follow tangents, making note-taking difficult. A good and fair class though.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENL188
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Had him previously for ENL 142, but I enjoyed having him teach even more for seminar. He teaches Opera as Literature. The very casual and unstructured atmosphere is a bit strange at first, but makes the class fun. Lots of fun discussions not just about opera. He is quite the character. Points for his cut dog, Sammie.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENL142
• 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:

Van Leer is a crazy, cooky guy. Not a lot of reading to do (but it is puritan lit, so kinda boring), lectures were very unorganized for taking notes, and once the midterm rolled around i didnt know what the hell to do. talk to the TA's, they're more helpful and honest about ur papers and exams. If u try u'll get an A

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENL188
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a lot of fun. He's very knowledgeable, and keeps the atmosphere casual, like an open discussion. He wants to know what you really think. The class, Opera as Literature, was extremely awesome. It shows you how good VanLeer is when everyone walks in that class hating opera, and walks out with season tickets they buy themselves.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENL142
• 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:

Wonderful class! I never would have thought that a class on early Purtian literature could be so interesting and fun! I love Van Leer's enthousiasm; he is by far the most entertaining and professor that I have had here at Davis.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENL142
• 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:

the best! seriously, it doesn't matter what he's saying its going to be interesting, and he's got this really cute little dog that he brought to class....

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENL143
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I love this teacher. Quirky, not stuffy. Interesting. You actually retain the things he teaches. I never yawned and he never pulled out a powerpoint. Perfect

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG142
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher, funny, enthusiatic. Very intelligent. Loves his dog. He is a fair grader and a good lecturer. Deals with touchy material very carefully and fairly. Is able to make the increadably boring subject of Puritan Lit. interesting, (and that's really something). Take his class!!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENL142
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Although entertaining, much of his lecture did not purtain to any important material. He rambles on for about 10 minutes and then tells us that none of it is important. no structure and very all over the place. It's very hard to figure out what his points are- even the TAs are a little confused. Class is not really run like a literature class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENL143
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Most people seemed to enjoy his class, and although I did well, I did not like the lectures. He is slightly over the top and tends to go on about a few topics but does mean well and is extremely enthusiastic. If you go to lecture and take note of page numbers for passages (especially for moby dick) you'll be fine.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENL142
• 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:

Can be a funny guy (though it seems he tries to hard sometimes). Willing to listen to varying stances, and grades fairly. Quote ID on midterm and final, and, while this class had very distinctive authors, in another class his selections might prove tough.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENL142
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

funny guy. Grades fair. Sometimes goes over material quickly, but he knows his stuff./

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENL160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: 160WASIT63
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

One of my favorite English professors. Makes the dullest material interesting and entertaining.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG160
• 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:

Classically educated w/ ideas tt are brilliant at times. Enthusiastic and high-octane teaching style. Agree w/him- disagree w/him= he is pushing you to think and take intellectual risks. 160 did not change my mind but it did enlighten me to issues facing this protected class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENL142
• 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:

Best English Class at Davis. Must take.