Hester Blum - Pennsylvania State University

Professor: Hester Blum

Department: TBD

College: Pennsylvania State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENGL432
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I LOVE HER. This is my second class with her. You read a lot but her commentary is amazing. She has made me love English. A few papers, clear guidelines, not a tough grader. Show up and read and you'll be fine.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENGL432
• 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:

Blum is passionate and knowledgeable about what she teaches in class. There are a number of novels to read, which we go through at a very reasonable pace. She's a kind grader on papers and her tests are straightforward quote identification. She connects with students and made me interested in the subject matter. I signed up for her again.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENGL432
• 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:

Very smart professor. Lectures were interesting. Easy grader on papers.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENGL261
• 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:

Hester is a fantastic professor: She's conversational, knows the history behind the pieces, and has thought her curriculum out very well. Though the class I took wasn't entirely maritime focused, that portion helped push me towards admiralty in law school. She really knows the topic and her passion is contagious.(Narrative of A. G. Pym is great!)

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENGL430
• 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:

One of my favorite professors at PSU. Very helpful, extremely intelligent.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENG261
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Initially, I was not too happy about taking a class structured around Moby Dick and other sea narratives. However, Hester can make any topic seem interesting, perhaps because she is so intensely passionate about her subject matter. Her enthusiasm is definitely reflected in her students, and it's so refreshing. I highly recommend her courses.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENGLISH463
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Studies in Genre, the Narrative-The material was SUPER (I mean ridiculously) boring, but she was an excellent prof and actually kept me interested (even in Women's Indian Captivity Narratives). Really easy grader.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENGL421
• 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:

No Comments

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENGL261
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

she is an excellent professor, who values all insights. i took her for 261 which was a sea narritives class and she was so passionate about the topic that she made sea narritives exciting. great class, great professor, fair grading.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENGL401
• 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:

Awesome

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENGL430
• 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:

This class was entertaining, Prof Blum knows the most interesting random facts, she has a great sense of humor, and her class is really relaxed. There are a few short papers but she is an easy grader. One of the best English professors I've had at PSU

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENGL430
• 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:

I don't know why these other people feel so bad about her. I find the class to be wonderful and she is absolutely charming. I will be taking as many classes as I can with her. The papers are easy, you just have to present your ideas. Very simple - very fun.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENGL261
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

have to be very factual. she doesn't favor any ideas that go for "deeper meanings". she prefers straight up, solid themes. so no room for "prose" (as she calls it). shes somewhat alright, but i wouldnt take another class by her if i can avoid it. i like flexiblity and with her, there is none.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENGL231
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Loved this class, she made reading even the most boring stories interesting, exams are easy if you go to class, got 100's on both, and there wasnt an exam during finals week

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENGL231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

extremely knowledgable; considers unusual or different interpretations; very helpful in office hours; loves an engaged student; exams easy if do the work and go to class; in touch with what's going on in her field and the real world

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENG231
• 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:

I've tried everything in this class- submitting my papers early, rereading the passages, I still can't get an A. Blum is on quite the power trip.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENGL231
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Good all around teacher, knows a lot. Liked the class, exams were very very easy if you go to class

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENGL432
• 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:

She's a fair teacher who is willing to help her students progress and succeed in her class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG101
• 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:

I think she's great. I really enjoyed her class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENG240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Stiff, impersonal, passive-agressive. Speaks to a class like she's adressing Congress; expects you to write like a stuck-up literary critic.