Rachel Smydra - Oakland University

Professor: Rachel Smydra

Department: TBD

College: Oakland University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG2110
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

This is a super easy class. I skipped all the time and still got an A. The exams just build off of one another so you always know what to expect. She is a little unorganized but it usually doesn't get in the way. If you've never diagrammed sentences before, this class might be tricky though.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG2110
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

She's a teacher that knows the subject very well but if you are not familiar with grammar this is not the class for you she just expects you to learn on the fly equations that are extremely hard. She makes up the questions on the worksheet so if you miss one she's not willing to make another one because her words "it would be to much work for me".

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENG2600
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class was pretty fun. She is very accessible outside of class and emails back within the hour. There's a lot of reading and writing, but it is an english class. Dr Smydra was also really nice and really wanted us to learn.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG2110
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Smydra was a fantastic professor. She cares about the subject and gives great advice regarding the materials. If you don't have a solid background with grammar or sentence diagramming, expect to spend a lot of time dedicated to this class. Worksheets count as a replacement for one test grade. Attendance is not mandatory, but I wouldn't skip.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG2110
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I found this class to be quite easy. The weekly Moodle posts were annoying but not at all hard. Each week there were three worksheets to do. The worksheets usually took me an hour and a half to complete total. The workload is minimal. The topic isn't particularly interesting but I'd say it is an easy A if you reference the examples she gives.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENG3110
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

For an online class, this instructor was organized. Course and due dates on Moodle. A forum, worksheet, quiz each week. A midterm and a final. Improved my critical thinking skills and enjoyed listening to the podcast she used in class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG2110
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

She's fantastic. She explains things like 10 times so you really understand it. Lots & lots of practice. The final is test 5 it's not cumulative which is awesome. She's very helpful. 1 worksheet homework each week which are easy. No book needed. No attendance taken. She gives everything you need. Easy class to pass. You won't regret it.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENG382
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took a grammar course and found out how useless of a skill this is. She's a kind person and cares about her subject, but the actual usefulness of anything we learn is little to none. It's rote memorization and puzzle game thinking. The fact that this is required in school baffles me; it's a bunch of useless word game analysis that leads nowhere.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG381210
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Disorganized. I can't even begin to figure out a system to some of this grammatical chaos. She has you learn a specific way of diagramming sentences that is pure busy work and never actually useful. you can figure out your way to get points and pass, but this class is a useless waste of money and time.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG215
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

She's very disorganized and trying to figure out what the heck is going on can be difficult. She clearly knows her stuff, but I don't think she is very good at letting the students know what she's doing. She throws arbitrary rules at you and acts like it's normal. Kind person, but not very good at explaining herself.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG209
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

The intense rules of grammar aren't exactly a pleasure to study, but Rachel really does her best make lectures interesting and knows her stuff Make sure to stay caught up on weekly worksheets There is also plenty of review which is very helpful, I recommend everyone attend these optional classes The class is a lot of work, but not unreasonable

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG215
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The lectures were very hard to pay attention to, no book required though so do try to show up most days. Gives very clear and fair tests, homeworks look just like the tests so you'll know exactly how you'll do and if you need to study up a little.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENG215
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The course is a little disorganized and expectations aren't always clear, but this professor is willing to work with you if you are struggling a bit. Multiple worksheets and quizzes (which are averaged together) and four exams (also averaged together). I thought this would be a easy class, but it was not. Need to put effort in to get a good grade!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG380
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Smydra gave very clear instructions and made the class enjoyable. The content she used outside of the book was very interesting and was helpful in applying the tools provided for critical thinking. Whenever I had a question or issue, she was always willing to help and replied quickly. I would take her again for all classes if possible.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG215
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I had Professor Smydra for English 215. This is tough class, but she provides a lot of online resources to help her students.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENG380
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Had her last year for an in-person class and loved her, so was really excited to take her online class. She is so consistent, prepared, and knowledgeable, and emails people back very quickly. Interacts with students and makes the material relevant to real life current events. She really wants everyone to become a better writer and thinker.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG215
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Great class. Great professor. She makes grammar enjoyable. One of the best classes I've taken.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG215
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

This class was confusing and disorderly. I can't even say how many times rules of grammar were proven wrong by students in class and Smydra just brushed it off. Tough class unless you have a love for grammar. Be prepared, it's not just commas and hyphens.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG380
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I just finished taking this class and I disagree with the last two reviewers. Professor Smydra's online class material is clearly posted and she uses a checklist that let's you know what is due when.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENG380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I wish other professors taught this class. I never feel like I am really learning anything with Prof Smydra, all of her material is outdated, unorganized and just busy work. I have had her before and I wish I didn't have to take her again. Perhaps she is better in class than online. Don't take this class online; it is too overwhelming.