James O'Rourke - Florida State University

Professor: James O'Rourke

Department: TBD

College: Florida State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENL3334
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class was one of the best I've taken at FSU. He genuinely loves the material and wants to translate it to the students. Grades are based off of 3 papers, which he discusses in class, and very basic quizzes to see if you've done the reading. No tests, and he will help you with your paper topics! 100% recommend, such a great guy and great class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENL3334
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This was such a fun class! Prof ORourke lectured on really interesting aspects of the plays that we were reading which I enjoyed. Attendance isn't mandatory, but he does quiz (easy quiz) every class, however he only takes the top 25! Definitely recommend!! No tests and only 2 papers

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENL4333
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely brilliant. His lectures are extremely well-constructed and well thought out. He brings Shakespeare into a modern perspective and touches on several viewpoints, not just his. I learned so much. Don't take this class if it doesn't interest you but if you love Shakespeare, get ready to love him more.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: EN4333
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great professor, lectures are very interesting and insightful. His expectations are very clear and the class itself is straightforward. I enjoyed going to his lectures.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENL4240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Mr. O'Rourke is one of my favorite English teachers. Very down to earth and relaxed, not strict. He seems to genuinely want his students to learn about and enjoy Romantic literature. Knows his stuff but doesn't act pompous and actually listens to your opinions. You will learn a lot without even realizing it

Rating # 6

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

We spent almost half the semester on wordsworth and then sped through the rest of the readings. My doodling skills improved. My understanding of the romantics? Not so much. Avoid if you can.

Rating # 7

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I love Shakespeare. It's great. But this class made me want to throw my books off a cliff I was so bored. O'Rourke has his opinions and those are all that matters. Contradicted everything I had learned, which was interesting at first, but it was SUPER boring by the end of the semester. Easy grader though...

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENL4240
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. O'Rourke is an interesting fellow. He's very soft spoken but if you pay attention and read the assigned texts it's an easy class. He's incredibly brilliant and really knows the history of the works that he teaches. If you are genuinely interested in British Romanticism this class is enjoyable and insightful.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: LIT4240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I like this class. He really gets into the history of the writer and how it affected their work, which is fascinating. As long as you read along, you'll do fine. You'll also love this class if you're a reader; I'm really enjoying what we've been reading.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENL3334
• 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:

Very boring. Pretty much wants you to repeat back what he says in class in your papers. Do the study guide questions and you'll do find on the exam. Nice guy, just monotonous.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENL3334
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Wholly uninteresting teacher, unless you have a prior obsession with Shakespeare. Personally, I enjoy watching Shakespeare, but not reading it. I was hoping for that mythical class that teaches you how to enjoy the latter; this is not that class. Know your SparkNotes, pull a couple all-nighters studying/writing, and you'll be fine.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENL3334
• 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:

Professor O'Rourke is passionate about what he does. I resented Shakespeare with a passion before taking the class; now I'm actually interested. I actually considered advanced shakespeare because of it. If you get his particular brand of humor, you'll love him. Even if you don't, you'll still learn a lot.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENL3334
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Amazing man! I was constantly astounded by his insight. I'm an English major who loves Shakespeare and it usually takes a lot to impress me with professors. He's always available to help and he grades quite easily, given the material. Very polite, knows his stuff, can't recommend highly enough!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENL4240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Extremely boring. As another rater wrote, he picks his A's at the beginning of the semester. He sits at the front of the room & whispers the "discussion". 2 tests, 2 papers. Non cumulative. Knows his material, just not how to teach it. Easy grader. Attendance is mandatory. Just read the books and know the content well & you're guaranteed an A.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENL3334
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Creepiest prof I've ever had and a boring jerk as well. For the honors class, the grades were only two papers. I didn't have problems with these-he seemed to like my theories. But he's a monotonous lecturer. It was my least favorite class. He did, however, help me better understand Shakespearean language. But I'd have preferred a diff professor.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENG5000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Took course on 19th-c. British Romantic authors. Learned much. 2 papers, 1 presentation. Fair, helpful, available for meetings. Pay attention to lectures because they are loaded with information. Think about them after class. Brilliant. Read his book "Sex, Lies, and Autobiography" prior to taking course. Will help. Eye-opening.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENL5246
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Easily the worst professor I've ever had at FSU. There is no discussion in class; he talks and asks questions with very specific answers. Basically he wants you to repeat in your papers whatever he tells you in class, with a small twist to them. Each day of class made me want to kill myself.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENL4240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Loved the class, and his lectures were very interesting... so long as I could manage to stay awake. So long as you pay very close attention and bring some caffeine to class, it's a very interesting course. Lots of book use. Two papers and two tests. I'd definitely recommend him.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ROMANTICI
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

His class was about the most useless graduate course I've ever taken. There is zero discussion and interaction with the students; he tells you his version of interpretation and you have to regurgitate it back to him on your papers. Easy grader but class is just dreadful and makes you want to put a pencil through your neck.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENL3334
• 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:

O'Rourke's intro shakes class is incredibly easy. Your grade is based on two papers and two tests. Though the tests require you to thoroughly read the plays, it's easy to get an A if you do the study guides that are provided at the start of the semester. Also, skipping class isn't a problem...he hardly ever takes attendance.