Marc Silverstein - Auburn University

Professor: Marc Silverstein

Department: TBD

College: Auburn University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENGL4540
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I love Dr. Silverstein as a person, but his grading made me question if I was meant to be in the English department at all. He is very picky on writing styles and the lectures are very heavy and not many people listen. If you want a challenge, take him.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hardest professor Ive never taken. Before this Ive never made below a B on any paper. Made my first D though from him. GTA's and himself grade extremely harshly. Have 3 papers, many pop quizzes, and a midterm (which everyone fails) and a final. Avoid at all costs !!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2210
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE!!! I was forced to drop this class after failing 1 of 3 major papers. The professor thinks he is funny and is not. If you miss 2 classes, you fail. If you fail 2 quizzes, you fail. If you mess up on a paper, you fail. All of his pop quizzes are detail based, and if you are a reader like me (audiobooks) you'll fail.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3130
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I'm an English major and he was the 1st professor to give me an F on a paper. I went to his office hours and tried to get help, but he's so random and unclear about what he's looking for. I took my paper to another professor who said it was not deserving of an F. Very hard, but still passed bc I participated every class. Thinks his opinion is right

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2210
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Silverstein will expect you to read a normal amount of reading (around 40 pages every few nights.) But his grading is extremely meticulous and it seems you should be as simple as possible. doesnt appreciate a diverse vernacular. nice guy i guess

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2120
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

lots of readings. The most awful class I have taken, even the GTAs are tough graders as well.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2210
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are SO boring. Pop quizzes are worth 20% so do the reading. He's pretty nice about grading papers since most of us weren't English majors. Midterm and final are blue book prompts; pretty simple. Discussion classes are where you get participation points. Really nice guy who is passionate about literature and wants you to do well.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENGL4570
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He drones on and on and on during lectures. Very pessimistic person and grades extremely harshly. I felt drained after every lecture. It's very hard to make an A in his class, as everyone I've talked to says they also made a B or C. If you are okay with making a B or C with an extreme amount of work,then take him. Otherwise, avoid at all costs.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

It's a ton of reading. He gives a quiz on reading at least once a week, and the questions can be super in depth. He is a super hard grader, so just hope your GTA isn't as hard. He doesn't use canvas because he only has 3% vision. Lectures can be really really boring.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Before I begin, you need to know that Dr. Silverstein has 3% vision. NO LIE. If you are a visual learner like me, you will have no hope. Doesn't use Canvas and no way to know how you're doing except for the weekly update scribbled on your quiz. The readings aren't terrible, but if you do poorly on a paper, you have no chance of getting the grade up

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a very interesting professor and has an abundance of knowledge. He tries his best to help but I truly believe that he often forgets that this is an undergraduate course. His lectures are very boring so everyone is playing on there ipads and cellphones. I have yet to understand how he gives grades due to his vagueness on how he grades.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2217
• 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:

Not bad for an honors class. I am not an english major, but I squeaked an A out with some effort. Lectures are sometimes dull, but the books are actually pretty good.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENGL1127
• 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:

In Dr. Silverstein's class we read books that I would have otherwise passed up and he made them interesting. He provided insight into their meaning that actually made me understand for once what the author was talking about. Very good class. I highly recommend. The work wasn't too hard and he was very helpful during office hours.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENGL1127
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I absolutely loved Dr. Silverstein and his class. He makes lots of pop culture references in class, and will help you with every paper. I made A's on everything. The lectures can get a little boring, but you don't need to pay attention anyway. DEFINITELY take his class if you can.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2217
• 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:

please don't listen to all the negative comments here. i ABSOLUTELY loved this class. I'm not an english major by any means, and I made As on all of my papers and the midterm. Just do the reading, and go to his office hours, and you really don't even need to pay attention in class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENGL1127
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

ABSOLUTELY LOVE Silverstein. He is very willing to help with your papers, and he understands that not everyone in Honors Comp II is an English major. Just go see him during his office hours and he'll give you all the help you want/need. He's also a funny and intriguing lecturer. References "House" all the time. Love this guy.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

NEWS FLASH: College is not supposed to be fun all the time. If you don't like lectures, then you probably should switch majors...or go work at McDonald's. Dr. Silverstein is one of the most brilliant men I've ever learned from and he is VERY helpful during office hours. Shame to anyone who thinks otherwise. Grow up and go to class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENGL2160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This man makes no sense. I LOVED the readings for Understanding Drama but he enjoys confusing while teaching. He wanders off into his own world that is completely irrelevant to the class. Grades papers like an English Nazi and can not read his handwriting to improve grade on next paper. Will NEVER take again although a good man and understanding.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENGL4064
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

By far the best professor I've ever had in my life. A lot of people find him to be too hard, but the challenge he presented was perfect for me. I've never gotten less than an A on anything I've done in his class, and I've definitely learned more from him than any other teacher. Recommended to anyone who attends college to better themselves.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENGL3500
• 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:

don't listen to any of the negative things about this man, Dr. Silverstein is one of the best professors at auburn. it's true that his lecture is about as much fun as being attacked by a pack of dogs, but he is very nice and eager to help. i had him for Understanding Drama and made an A because i went to class and read. simple enough!