James Burbank - University of New Mexico

Professor: James Burbank

Department: TBD

College: University of New Mexico

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG240
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I don't know how he is in other courses, but as for 240, I don't understand how people hate him. He does not like slackers!He is a very very nice man. He always asks us questions if we are confused on the tests. The tests are fairly easy to medium. Everything is in the book if you look. Exams are take home. He gives you like a week to do them.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG420
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His head is in the clouds. Confusing and lacks clarity of direction on assignments. He offers samples of assignments that are useless and poorly designed. His students are often lost and he can't offer clarity.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENGL290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Biggest waste of my time. I did not learn anything from this class, professor was inconsistent with grading...didn't explain assignments, did't follow the syllabus, and would grade pretty hard for giving students very little direction and feedback.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG240
• 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:

I've had Burbank for ENG 290, 240 and 499. He's unforgiving of laziness. You have to pay attention and be the driver of your own education. He's "old school" and isn't going to hold your hand. He won't check your homework but if you don't do it you'll fail. If you're serious about writing better and not just getting easy grades, take his classes.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENGL290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a smart and passionate guy about his topics, but he is VERY disorganized and it makes the work difficult because he will push back easy projects and demand hard ones quickly. Not very sympathetic to difficult circumstances. (such as family death)

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENG240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Burbank is unclear, irrelevant, and you do more reading from the text than physically learning the subject. Grading is inconsistent and so are his policies. You must attend class or he will drop you, even if there are 2 classes left in the semester. Unfair all around. Avoid if you actually want to learn the subject.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PROF002
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His class was easy. You really got what you put into it. The home work went at a great pace that gave you alot of time.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENGL420
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Agreed: he's disorganized & tends to go off on tangents. But he's also passionate, interesting, a great writer, funny, & a good teacher if you can get past his quirks. Assgnmts seemed random at first, but I'm a better writer for them. I reg'd for his ENGL 417 (Editing) this fall on advice of 420 classmates; rumor is that it's a must for writers.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG291
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely the worst teacher, in any subject, I have ever had. At the beginning of one class he literally stood at the front and said "what are we doing today?" and paced back and forth trying to find something to do. You learn more about his life than about writing. Avoid at all costs.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Professor Burbank is a great teacher! He really makes class interesting and appreciates student input during lectures. Go to class, do the work and you'll get a good grade. Spend the entire class texting or on Facebook.....well that's your own fault then if you fail.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENGL290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Agree with previous comments that he is totally unorganized, unprepared. He'll tell you one thing one week and something totally different the next week. Doesn't provide real clarity on assignment requirements til the night they're due! Very nice guy though.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENGL240
• 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:

Professor Burbank is a wonderful teacher. We read about the Enron Corporation and I will be the first to admit I hated the book by the end of the class but I learned what I was supposed too. He is very helpful and a very very nice man. He will make you work for your grade but it makes your money worthwhile.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENG440
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Jim Burbank might be the worst teacher I have had in any grade. He's super self conscious about his teaching style and he doesn't have a plan or even an inkling of a plan for most classes. The only reason I've taken him twice is because he's an easy grade.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG420
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Fantastic instructor! I learned of concepts and philosophers I had never heard of before, and I still reference them to this day as a teacher. I keep in touch with Burbank still, (sporatically, though) and he is always a wealth of knowledge. You must work to pass his class, but you will walk away with a broader knowledgebase if you apply yourself.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENGL240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Burbank (as he calls himself) is a first rate teacher. He is hard and the material is hard but he expects and appreciates class participation. He is always willing to help students with anything. Really cares about teaching!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENG447
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

nice person, easy work but terrible teacher. Too many students think if teacher makes you laugh, small workload and nice person is great. I am thrilled when I actually have a teacher that teaches.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENGL417
• 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:

Jim is one of those professors that actually CARES about his students and wants to see them succeed. The workload in his classes is low but challenging, and his lectures and insights are enjoyable and refreshing. I enjoyed his class so much that I'm taking Engl 499 with him in the Fall. He's one of the best teachers I've had PERIOD (and I'm 26)!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENGL417
• 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:

Took for 290 as well. Great professor. Actually cares about his student. Teaches, doesn't lecture to the board. Makes class fun. Low work load, so quality counts. Has real life knowledge of what he teaches. One of the best teachers I have ever had in my life (and I am 30 yrs old)

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENGL417
• 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:

One of the best profs at UNM. He encouraged me to do my best work, and to think through my assignments. Not a good teacher if you expect to be spoon-fed your material. You are expected to use your brain in his class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENGL290
• 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:

Good teacher. Very caring and takes each student into account. I highly recommend him.