Tish O'Dowd - University of Michigan

Professor: Tish O'Dowd

Department: TBD

College: University of Michigan

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENGLISH323
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

She gave excellent feedback and there's where the good ends. She was incredibly transphobic and disrespectful. She never gendered me correctly. She criticized my use of they/them pronouns in stories, contrary to her dept. She was 15-20 minutes late to every class. She only allowed one interpretation of a story. We did few writing exercises.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENGLISH423
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you're offended easily, don't take Tish's class. That being said, she is absolutely fantastic and one of the funniest people whom I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. I've had her two semesters now, and I'm genuinely getting depressed while typing this because I'm thinking about how I'll probably never have another class with her.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENGLISH323
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Awful. Wasted class time; extremelly condescending. Once asked me if I wanted kids; I said no; she said women are hard wired to want babies and I'd get over myself eventually. Almost completely destroyed my love for creative writing. I've wanted to study English since I learned how to read, but if I /had/ to take her again, I'd change majors.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG323
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Tish wastes workshop time on pedantic minutia (which is already on the copy she hands back - the class gains nothing from her minor edits.) Aside from word choice and syntactical preferences, she'll give you genuine feedback on your story,, but nothing that other students aren't capable of telling you themselves.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG423
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Tish's class is very disorganized. She does not have a page on Canvas, so there is zero transparency in her grading. She is extremely self righteous and condescending. This year, she scheduled us to have a class after classes had ended. I regret not taking advantage of the departments more talented faculty.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENGLISH323
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Tish actually tells you NOTHING about your progression as a writer, and doesn't indicate anything about your grade. I turned in 40 pages of fiction and have NO IDEA what to expect. She has no criteria. She clings to her beliefs and doesn't want to read real creative writing. Not a lot of room for testing boundaries.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG423
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Also had her for 323 (and with Tish, it's basically the same class). One of the funnest classes I had in college and I'd definitely take it again if I had the space in my schedule. Of course, it's creative writing, so there are no "right" answers. Just listen to feedback from her and your classmates and you'll manage at least a 3.0, if not higher.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: WRITING
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

dont expect to learn much from her

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG423
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Tish is without a doubt the best writing instructor I've ever had. She is supportive, but she has very high expectations. I would absolutely recommend taking her class. Go see her in office hours -- she can be harsh in class, but she's actually incredibly kind.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG423
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Tish doesn't sugar coat her criticisms, but is also quick to point out what works in a story. Her feedback is thoughtful, nuanced, thorough, and will undoubtedly make you a better writer. She does a great job of eliciting class discussion, and is one of most hilarious and interesting people I have ever met. I would highly recommend her to anyone.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG423
• 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:

I graduated from UMich in '07, but Tish still stands out as my favorite instructor. She's cruel, she's tough, and she expects a lot out of her students. If you can check your ego at the door, however, she'll be a valuable mentor and friend. I've published several short stories since graduating; and I owe more than a small amount of credit to Tish.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENGL323
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

A hard critic who will certainly improve your writing. Worth taking if you want to write better stories.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENG323
• 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:

Tish is a tough professor to have, and although I personally did not get along with her, the class was a beneficial experience. The workshop in class ends up being rather cruel though, and doesn't lend to experimenting with your work. Criticism ends up that this needs to be more descriptive or detailed, this character needs more of a role.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG323
• 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:

Tish was hands down the best professor I had at Michigan. Yes, she's brutally honest about your writing. She's demanding. But I can honestly say that she changed the way I read and write fiction. Take her class if you want to become a better writer.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG425
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

She's alright. Her comments are always the same: Flesh thing out, wants to "see" what's going on rather being told what's going on. Interested in realistic fiction, not "intellectual" or "abstract" fiction. Hates theory.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENG315
• 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:

Tish is a writer. I expect she is very good at teaching writing courses. However, having had her for an analytical course, I felt the quality of instruction was lacking. That said, she was not a bad teacher - simply could have been better. She's a smart and nice lady, but I feel as though my skills did not develop at all in this class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG323
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Tish is awesome, and sure, she can come down hard on certain people, but only the ones are clearly wrong about everything. Like the ones who write stories ripped off of The Office episodes. Or the ones who write angsty bull that wouldn't pass for an elementary school "What I Did On Summer Vacation" essay.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG323
• 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:

Tish is spunky, snarky, and brutally honest, but she's funny, engaging, and a walking encyclopedia. She will absolutely improve your writing and expand your vocabulary. She will probably hurt your feelings once or twice but taking her class is entirely worth it. Highly recommended! Just don't write fiction about hurting dogs...

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG323
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Tish has great advice about writing and puts forth tremendous effort into her critiques. She is unfalteringly honest about the quality of student work, whether you like it or not. That said, she is rude and sometimes cruel. She will correct your oral grammar and call you a moron in front of your peers. She breeds a hostile and vindictive workshop.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENG323
• 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 love Tish...she helped me improve my writing and her comments were extremely helpful. She doesn't sugar-coat things, she tells it like it is. That's why she's so respectable... and she's funny as hell.