Joseph McBride - San Francisco State University

Professor: Joseph McBride

Department: TBD

College: San Francisco State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CINE345
• 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:

I joined this site to refute others' ratings of Prof. McBride. I took his class due to his status as a great historian. Before taking the class, I thought he'd be knowledgable yet aloof. I was only half-right: he's knowledgable & the most generous prof. I've ever been taught by. He responds to emails very quickly. Cannot recommend him highly enough

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CINE454
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Without a doubt the worst and most disrespectful instructor at SF State. Professor McBride has unreasonably high expectations for his students, and you either meet them or you don't. Period. When a struggling student reaches out for help in the class, he is rude, disrespectful, and will intentionally make students feel stupid. Very large ego.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CINE373
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't stress about knowing everything in the history book. Focus on the syllabus, specifically where it details each of the films screened in class. Try to memorize those film facts because that is the majority of the midterm and final. McBride's lectures feel like a long aimless conversation but what he says will be on the tests so take notes.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CINE373
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Without a doubt he is the most disrespectful "professor" I have ever experienced. aVery rude and has zero enthusiasm during lecture. Not only does he spend a tremendous amount of time going off on his personal unrelated stories but he will personally attack students. The things i witnessed in my class were sad and disturbing. Avoid at all costs

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CINE373
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Worst teacher I've ever had, hands down. He rambles on in class about how our generation doesn't know American history as we should even though he is citing obscure references that only history majors would know the answer to off hand. He t critiques you if you don't know the answer, truly deterring you from answering another question.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CINE342
• 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:

If you are an above average student avoid taking this class if you don't want to mess up your transcript. Never in my life have I received such poor grades on my essays.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CINE355
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Fair warning: this guy's a ball buster. But if you're serious about screenwriting as a career, then I highly recommend him.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CINE355
• 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:

Here's a secret: if you get a bad grade in his class early on, GO TALK TO HIM. Ask him how you can improve and SHOW AN INTEREST. After that, you'll be on his good side and he'll let stuff slide (like absences and sleeping inclass.) Put forth an effort, and you'll learn something, even if he just tells his same ol' hollywood tales.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CINE355
• 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:

It's McBride's way or the high way.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CINE373
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Had him for Film + Society. Great teacher, watched a lot of great films and the readings were great. Eye opening class. You really do earn the grade you get with this guy. This review is just for F+S though, ask around when choosing a screenwriting professor.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CINE508
• 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:

McBride is a guy who really knows what he is talking about and wants to share it with others. His ideas are well articulated and will really help you understand the class. Anyone who takes their education seriously will do just fine in his class. If anything, it will make you a much better writer.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CINE373
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ignore what people have to say about McBride. He's an excellent professor, the problem is that most students at State expect to have professors hold their hand; he will not. He will, however, work with you to help you be a better writer. Nice guy too.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CINE342
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Avoid if at all possible. All the other negative comments are completely correct. The man wants you to think like him, write like him, and if you don't be prepared for your grade to suffer. He sits the whole class period and this laziness shows around his waist. The class has so much potential but not with him teaching it.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CINE342
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Terrible teacher. class sounded great but he ruined the cinema department for me. unrealistic goals for students with writing; i'm a good writer but if you don't agree with his points of view you won't get good grade. also, EXTREMELY monotonous voice, very boring lectures. AVOID IF POSSIBLE!!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CINE342
• 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:

this is the worse teacher ever!!! cant teach and he is a writer so he expect us to write as good as him. if i wrote that good i wouldnt have to be in school!! dude wears the same suit to class and he is boring as hell. overall, cant teach, grades paper so strict that he doesnt give people a chance. **** him!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CINE342
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

We watch a movie every class. Take notes on EVERYTHING he says before and after, and take notes on movie. His tests are based on little things in movie and tidbits that he says. His expectations are high for the two papers you write for him. Take if you WANT a college level writing course. Dude is old school, but movies are interesting.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CINE342
• 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:

His weirdly neurotic obsession with punctuation gets in the way of his ability to teach, and he is rigid and uncompromising when grading your papers. Even with 5 different revisions I STILL got one of the worst grades I?ve ever received on a college paper. My angle/opinion was not McBride?s opinion-Huge mistake. Run away from this class as fast as

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CINE342
• 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:

Do NOT take his class unless absolutely necessary. He tells students what to think instead of allowing room for critical thinking. His opinion is obvious and apparently the only opinion that counts. He is knowledgeable without a doubt but, unfortunately, he does not know how use that knowledge to benefit his students. I met with him during office h

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CINE355
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

McBride is a pain when it comes to grammar. He will make you a better writer but it will be a tough road getting there. He will mark your paper full of red even if you think it is perfect.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CINE373
• 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:

McBride is an interesting person but a terrible lecturer. Only take his large lecture classes like 373 if you have to.