Pamela Painter - Emerson College

Professor: Pamela Painter

Department: TBD

College: Emerson College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: WR411
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you take fiction seriously, ignore all the negative reviews on this site and take this woman's class. No, she is not as scary as everyone makes her out to be, but yes, you will have to work to make your writing better. I think all fiction students and professors at Emerson should be required to take her class. She WILL improve your writing.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: WR407
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Pam is incredible. She tells it exactly like it is. If your characters are boring, she will say so in front of the whole class, but only because she wants to help you. If you want someone to sugar-coat it and tell you your story is good even if it sucks, don't take Pam's class. She helped my stories so much. I LOVE HER. And I will miss her.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: WP607
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Pam gets a bad rap like a lot of tough professors because, shocker, she actually expects you to work. She isn't going to tell you you can write well if you can't, so she's actually one of the few professors whose opinion means something. She can be brusque, but if you can get over that (and yourself) and listen, you'll learn a ton from her.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG607
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Personal ire aside, working with Pam almost made me leave Emerson. It becomes obvious that she has her favorites, and if you aren't on that list from the beginning, you never will be. Difficult to reach outside of class, even with email. As a writer, she's talented; as a teacher, I found her to be very unprofessional.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: FICTIONSEMINAR
• 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:

I think one of the main reasons Pam is so disliked is because she expects you to come in prepared for class. I adore going to her class, and I feel like I'm getting a lot out of it. She's been very good to me when I needed accommodations as well. Do not take her if you want sugarcoating from a workshop. (also, her spring seminar is microfiction)

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: FICTIONSEMINAR
• 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:

Pam is super hardcore and will call you out in class if you don't come prepared, or show up late. I love her anyway because her workshops are so focused and helpful. She really, really wants to make your writing better.

Rating # 7

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

prefers boys, though her classes usually lack them. likes things a certain way. kind of confusing.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ADVFICTHESIS
• 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:

listen. pam is great if you want to write quality "traditional" (i.e., character-based, realistic) short fiction. she can be a harsh critic, but only because she wants you to write your best. the lady does not **** around. i hated her at first, b

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MICROFICTION
• 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:

Pam is very odd, and can be abrasive if she thinks you aren't working up to your potential, but if she feels like you're genuinely trying to do your best work, she's great. (And I'm a female, and didn't notice any favoritism.)

Rating # 10

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Pam takes the old saying that writing can't be taught and proves it wrong. She has figured out the pieces of the writing puzzle, and if you let down your defenses, she'll teach you the techniques to improve your work.

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

It's not a matter of "growing up." Some of us write simply because we love writing, not bc we just want to get published & Painter is all about that. I do give her credit for her frankness and vast knowledge about the writing process.

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I think Pam plays favorites based on whether she thinks you can write or not. I'm a girl, and she has been nothing but great to me. People should grow up and actually try to learn from her.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: WP407
• 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:

Pamela tells it like it is...in her head, which is completely valid, because she is all about the publishing, but for many students it is hard to hear that they don't have what it takes so they come to hate her...I mean, someone's got to tell them, sooner or later...right on, Pam.

Rating # 14

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

i hate this woman.

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Did someone say ice queen? She clearly favors boys over girls, not to mention her astounding inability to formulate constructive comments and criticism. "Good" or "I don't like this" won't help make me a better writer. She has her moments, but for the most part just sucks the fun out of writing.

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Total disappointment, this class. Yes, she prefers males to females, contradicts herself all the time, and will humiliate you if your story isn't what she wants.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Pam's awesome. She wants her students to publish, and she helps them do so. My first publication was one I wrote in her class--I credit her with whipping that piece and ME into shape. She's no creampuff,for sure, but warmfuzzylove doesn't get you published.

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

she defintely likes boys over girls...if you are a cute girl, don't take her class. if you are a cute boy, do...especially if you can talk prententious literary-talk.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: WP407
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Pam is an excellent professor. Her speciality is micro-fiction and she's published MANY stories and collections, so take her word for it. She WILL PUBLISH YOU in her collections (i.e. the What If? series) if you write well.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

If you just want to get something published, she's probably fine. If you're interested in original and innovative writing, she's atrocious.