Joseph Zompetti - Illinois State University

Professor: Joseph Zompetti

Department: TBD

College: Illinois State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: COM303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Zompetti is a good guy, and I think he genuinely cares about preparing college students for the real world. However, I think his grading style may be too harsh and outdated. Def hated him at times but I think I learned some good life lessons from him. His class is entertaining but the papers will make you go insane!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: COM303
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Both Com 303 and Com 371 are challenging courses. Expect to write a few lengthy papers for a significant portion of your grade. Dr. Zompetti expects near perfection on the work you turn in but gives you plenty of opportunity for support and feedback. Respect his rules and participate in class and you will do great.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: COM303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

There is 3 papers in this class and one day you have to present a lecture in the front of class. The papers make up basically all of your grade. You must do well on the papers but the likeliness of doing well is slim to none with his grading style. He is rude to students that have opposing viewpoints from him as well. I would avoid all together.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: COM303
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Z is without a doubt the most intelligent instructors I have ever had at ISU. I have never learned so much from an educator until I took COM 303 & COM 371. Dr. Z has a reputation of being one of the strictest graders within the SoC, but he does so for various reasons. As a student, I consider Dr. Z to be one of my most valued mentors.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: COM321
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Mr. Zompetti is a good professor who gives lots of feedback, but wow, I've never met a teacher who grades so harshly. He is so strict about grammar that even if your paper is perfect he will find a way to take points off. But, he is really invested in the well-being of the students-- e-mail him and he will respond right away. Challenging but good.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: COM321
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took his online summer class. He grades heavily on grammar and mechanics and gives 50-100 pages of reading per night with 5-page papers due every weekend. He can be a real jerk sometimes but if you show that you care and put in the work, he'll give you the points. And if you're a decent writer, you'll get an A.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: COM321
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS ONLINE! HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HELP YOU IN THE WAY YOU NEED. You can read the other comments and find out he is a tough tough grader, I've gotten 70/200 on a paper before that any other teacher would have been fine with. He is strict on grammar and you have no way online to sit down with him and figure out how to do better.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: COM371
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Zompetti is a tough professor. Your writing will be torn to shreds, trust me. No quizzes or exams. 2 papers, daily class participation assignments, 1 leading class discussion, 1 term project. This class is tough but he is always willing to help out in office hours or over email.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: COM371
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

You will come to class 3 days a week with 5 discussion questions from 3 textbooks you will only use for 6 weeks, the rest of your material is included online about Russian/Asian/Africa politics. The class is solely bases on 3 papers, with 68 writing tips from Dr. Z. Extremely tough grader, I failed the class on my second paper. I learned nothing!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: COM303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I would have really enjoyed this class if it were a different professor. He is incredibly belittling and rude. He is very hurtful and the material is interesting but he makes is hard to want to remain in the class by the way he treats his students.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: COM303
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Z is a strict grader but very invested in his students' education. He is always available to offer help on papers (no tests in this class). Every class is discussion based and I feel like I learned so much this semester. He fosters open communication and instills skills that will be useful in the real world!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: COM303
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took Dr. Z once during the school year and once during summer school. Dr. Z is cool, his classes are a challenge, but it forces the student to develop academic skills that are much needed. Dr. Z is extremely passionate about the topics he teaches. I learned quite a bit about argumentation and logic.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: COM303
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Z is AWESOME!!! He really challenges you to use critical thinking and to really learn about the material. The readings are heavy and intense, but really worth the time and effort. Loved how much I actually learned from this class!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: COM303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Z is an incredible professor who is knowledgeable about all the subjects he teaches. Papers are about 10 pgs, but are interesting topics and you have a long time to work on them. If you try to be engaged in his classes and keep his writing tips in mind you WILL do well. I would avoid taking gen eds with him tho. He treated it like a 300.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: COM303
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Long papers, but start early and you can get feedback from him. Spend a lot of time going over his reading tips while editing, don't just "think" about them while you write. Learned a ton from this class. It's all discussion based so you get out what you put in. But seriously, don't slack off. This type of class is rare so don't miss out.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: COM303
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Z is an amazing educator. He runs his class in a discussion format so going to class is interesting. He gives ZERO tests but his papers range from 5-20 pages. But don't fret, he gives you the assignment criteria on the first day so you have plenty of time. He assigns long readings (No textbook) but if you're into that it's not that bad.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: 303
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One of the best classes and teachers i've had in college. Your entire grade is based on two 10 page papers, leading class discussion one day and participation. He wants you to think big picture. If you read, talk in class and give yourself enough time to write your paper the way he wants it, you'll get an A. 90% of the course is class discussion.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: COM303
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Smartest professor I've had at ISU. I've taken three classes with him. Loved his 200 and 300 levels. Yes there is a lot of reading, but I actually learned applicable lessons. The class discussions are fun and social. Avoid taking a gen ed with him; he grades it to the same 300 level standard. If you put in the effort, you'll be fine. No tests!!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GEN128
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

AVOID AT ALL COST

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 321
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You do get a lot of homework (readings), but it honestly isn't TERRIBLE. If you read, you'll pass without a doubt. He's sort of on the tougher side with grading, but read his comments and do better on the next one.