Tom Burkdall - Occidental College

Professor: Tom Burkdall
Department: TBD
College: Occidental College
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: WRD295
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Prof. Burkdall is a tough professor, but he is available outside class for help, so if you reach out and put in effort with your work, you should do alright. His class wasn't my favorite, but you've gotta respect how much the man loves rhetoric. He can be a bit condescending, but my writing is 100x better because of his course.
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: CSP77
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Prof. Burkdall has a pretty quirky personality, which I find amusing, but oh boy, is he tough when it comes to grading papers! I've heard from many students that Burkdall is a really tough professor, and I can attest to that after taking CSP with him. While he does have high expectations for students as writers, his class isn't impossible.
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: CSP13
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
One of my favorite professors at Oxy, I still visit him to get help with all of my big papers.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: CSP0
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
One of my fave. professors on campus. He won't sugar coat comments on paper or in class. He might go off tangent every once in a while, just prod him back to subject and all is well. He's got the best personality ever, if you like snarky/sarcastic remarks, just bite back, but not too hard :) He still remembers me even after 3 years.
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: CORESEMINAR
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
No Comments
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: ENGLISHWRITING
  • 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:
Excellent teacher who really knows how to teach others to write well. With Tom's help my writing improved tremendously. He is extremely available to students and also works in the Center for Teaching and Learning where you can go over drafts of your essays with him from ANY class. He clearly loves teaching. Also has great sense of humor and can be very funny. A+.
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: ENWR201
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Burkdall isn't going to be nice about critiquing your writing. He really does want his students' writing to improve, or he at least wants them to try to produce competently written essays. If you look like you spent at least some effort on them, you can manage a 'B'. If you don't think he's a fair grader, go get a Ph.D.; then you can complain.
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: EWR201
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He points out ignorant comments students make. So if you are prone to saying ignorant things take the class for your own good. Yes he does randomly have snide remarks but hey Very funny. Oh and good source for help with writing.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: ENWR401
  • 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:
Burkdall is an incredibly good writer and resource for students on campus. Erudite to the core, he is not to be trifled with. Use but do not abuse.
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: CSP51
  • 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:
He leaves no feedback on papers if he even fully reads them, is arrogant/rude in and outside class, and lets discussions degenerate into gossip sessions. I know this sounds too horrible to be true, but it is.
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: ENWR401
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
No Comments
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: CSP51
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Great guy!
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