Talbot Taylor - College of William and Mary

Professor: Talbot Taylor

Department: TBD

College: College of William and Mary

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: LING303
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Taylor really cares about his students doing well, but you do have to put in the effort. Reading quizzes every week, two midterms, and a final. Do the reading and take notes in class and you'll be fine!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENGL303
• Grade Received: INC
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

History of the English language is an interesting course that doesn't ask a lot of you. Basically just readings that cover the same material as he teaches in the lecture. Quizzes almost every class! Funny professor, sometimes self-deprecating, and happy to answer any questions. No projects, two midterms, slides posted online.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENGL303
• 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:

I like Taylor a lot; he's a fun lecturer, though some of the material can be a bit dull (like Old English translations, but I'm not sure if he's doing that next semester). Take him for the experience, but make sure to study your notes down to the details for this class -- it can make a difference between a B+ and an A-, and no, he never rounds up.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG303
• 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:

Great instructor. I enjoyed the lectures.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG303
• 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 can't really say anything that hasn't been said before. He's a really cool dude but a pretty dry lecturer. He is, however, very witty and funny; it's pretty reflective of his Oxford education. Quizzes are easy, but the bigger tests are pretty hard. He's very tough but fair on essays. Just do the readings for every class, and it'll pay dividends.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENGL303
• 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:

Prof. Taylor is awesome!! He is so knowledgeable about his topic, presents his information clearly and in an organized format, and tries to help his students do well. He makes the topic very interesting - take it whether or not you are a linguistics major! I have recommended him to several of my friends.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG303
• 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:

Professor Taylor made the class really enjoyable. I liked attending class, and he kept the subject matter interesting. I would definitely recommend this class even if you aren't a Linguistics major. Not too much work yet learn a lot!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: LING303
• 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 am not a linguistics major but Prof Taylor is probably still my fav. professor at W&M. He lectures for most of class but he writes on the board and is very funny. Class and the textbook are parallel so GO to class and Do the reading. He is always prepared and composed (and btw. he wears at least 5 different pairs of pants.)

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENGL400
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

A great, engaging and fun lecturer (though sometimes his analogies get a bit nebulous and confusing). Reading was moderate and mini-assignments were manageable. Really hard and frustrating grader though when it came to the big exams and papers. Very nitpicky about written assignments though unclear about expectations.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENGL303
• 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:

Good professor. Contrary to previous comments, I don't think he was too hard on grading essays. Textbook, although very informative, is boring and in my opinion poorly organized. Lectures were very interesting. I would highly recommend the class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG303
• 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:

I came in not at all interested in the History of English, but Taylor made it fascinating. He grades hard, but I feel like what I learned in the class was totally worth it.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG303
• 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 was somewhat entertaining, but when it came to actually presenting the material, he was unclear at times. It was also difficult to decipher what he was looking for in assignments.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENGL406
• 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:

Good and interesting professor. But if he decides that he dislikes you for some reason, he will henceforth barely acknowledge you existence. Even outside of class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Funny & engaging & his lectures are interesting. He is a rather hard grader and is really big on "examples" in essays (it's hard to know what he means by this and some of us never figured it out), but he gives lots of feedback on essays which may be why it takes a little while to return them. Not too much reading, and openbook online quizzes.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENGL303
• 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:

Nice guy, great sense of humor. Sometimes his lectures are rambling and tedious, though. The fact that he wears the same 3 pairs of pants over and over again is a little distracting. Fairly tough grader, too, but gives simple assignments.

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Wonderful man, has an offbeat sense of humor that is priceless. Gives weekly online quizzes that are super easy and open book. Final was open note and open book. He's a very picky grader on essays so at times the class is difficult, but he gives good feedback and was always there to help. With minimal work, you'll get at least a B+.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The focus is on the socio-cultural history of English, while I would have liked a more "rule-based" study or the historical linguistics of English. I felt that tests were odd in that it was difficult to both write well and pack in the necessary info in a short time period with such broad questions.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG
• 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:

This man's classes make me happy....even when I have to get up early for them. Be prepared to work, but you'll learn so much and love every minute of it. Take his class! dooooo it!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENGL406
• 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:

Ditto to all of the below. What can I possibly add to that? Awesome man, awesome subject, awesome course.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: LING
• 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:

Scintillatingly brilliant; by turns urbane and scholarly; marvelous in lecturing, wonderful as a mentor; clear, never over- nor under-demanding: T. J. Taylor operates at his *worst* on a level most at W&M (most of whomRquite good) *approach* @thr best.