Paul Duff - George Washington University

Professor: Paul Duff

Department: TBD

College: George Washington University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: REL1010
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Duff is a good & knowledgeable human being but very vague. His raspy voice doesn't help the already dry, confusing material. The class was difficult for me bc of the lack of criteria + structure. The class will cover Christianity from a *historical* POV, as Duff himself is a Jewish scholar. If you take this class, use the 2 textbooks, they'll help.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: REL1010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Duff is super passionate and knowledgeable, however, he doesn't have clear lesson plans and tends to lecture on whatever he feels like that day. But the class is easy to pass, no tests, only papers and one presentation. Overall, great choice for an oral comm credit.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: REL1010
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Duff is a solid professor. This is a good class to get your oral communication credit if you are in CCAS. Overall, I learned a lot and there were only three papers, one presentation, and no tests, so it was a fairly easy class. At times, his grading criteria is unclear but he is accessible outside of class. The class can be a drag but it's good.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: REL1010
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

One of the best professors I've had at GW. He made me so interested learning about religion, a topic I otherwise knew nothing about. He's so smart and passionate about the subject and cares a lot about his students. Take a class of his if you get the chance, you will learn a ton.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: REL1010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Duff is a wonderful man. He is very sweet. However, the lectures are pretty boring it was hard to stay engaged. He does know what he is talking about. Grade is 2 short papers, 1 long paper and a presentation. I thought it would teach me more about my religion but it was not at all. More about criticizing the Bible.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: REL1010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Do yourself a favor and stay away from this class. Signed up for it because of the good reviews, dropped it after the first week because reviews did not match the prof AT ALL. He was beyond boring and mentioned in his first class that he hates lecturing. The first assignment I did do was super confusing.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: REL1010
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Knows his stuff, super nice guy, good at teaching. Definitely worth taking. Lots of reading. Five written assignments (1500 words) and the final is just an essay (3000 words). There's also an oral presentation. Really a nice guy and a very good teacher. I knew very little about the New Testament going in and learned a lot. I loved this class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: REL1010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Duff is kind and clearly interested in his area of study, but these qualities didn't lead to an engaging class at all. The class itself is easy but quite dull.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: REL1010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Duff is one of the best professors I've had at GW! His New Testament class is incredibly interesting and engaging. He is very passionate about this subject and is so knowledgeable about the material. Grades are determined by just a few 3-4 page papers and an Oral Presentation about an assigned topic (no exams). Going to miss his class!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: REL1010
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Duff is great. I'd highly recommend for non-religion majors who need an oral comm or are just interested. 40% short assignments due every week based on readings, 15% oral presentation, 40% 3200 word final paper, 5% participation. A's on the short assignments don't require anything extraordinary. Best of all, Duff himself is a great guy. Take.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: REL1000
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I love Paul Duff! He is a sweet, understanding, and lenient professor. The class is confusing at first, work load is light (readings not necessary, though suggested to help understand the material), and he is an easy grader. The topic is also super interesting and I would recommend him to anyone! No tests, three essays, weekly journals.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: REL1000
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took his Dean's Seminar: Gnosticism, my favorite class this year. Easy grader but he makes you want to be in class and do hw (3 in the semester + weekly journals). The class was HARD, really made you think but I would take it again in a second. Really feel like I grew as a student. He demands respect but is very nice and will always help.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: REL1010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great guy, always willing to meet you even if its not his normal office hours. Knows literally so much about the New Testament. I wasn't that interested in the topic so I struggled a little with the 2 long essays and smaller journal entries but overall it wasn't a terrible course to knock out several GPAC requirements with

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: REL1000
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He knows so much about his subject! If you are looking to learn, take his class. Most of his grade for us was based on essays and other writing assignments, so you'd better like to write. A lot of class discussion, and he's good at treating student opinions as just as valid as his own. Great guy, highly recommended if you're interested.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: REL1010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I dont know why I thought it would be fun to take this class. Fulfills 2 GPAC requirements but it is murderously boring unless you are specifically interested in religionChristianity. I barely stayed awake in lecture & he still hasnt posted grades for the 10+ short journals after every reading. The class gets more boring the later in the semester.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: 1010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lots of assignments and lectures may sometimes be a bit boring, but you'll learn a lot, plus he's a really nice guy, a pretty easy grader, and a genius.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: REL1010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took this class thinking it would be a historical perspective on my religion instead it was a lecture on proving the Bible wrong and making Christians look ridiculous for following it. I wish I had known before moving forward with the class. Otherwise very good lecture and analysis of the written text. He knows a lot about his subject.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: REL103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Best Professor at GW! Very challenging class but totally worth it:)

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: REL104
• 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:

Nice man, very intelligent, but is unreasonable in his expectations of students. Course was challenging and frequently frustrating intellectually and spiritually.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: REL103W
• 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:

He's a great REL professor. 3 papers, and he's a tough grader, but he'll help you improve if you ask. Final paper was long. Funny, engaging, intelligent. Attendance is mandatory, but he doesn't take off if your absent a couple times. If you miss a class, you miss a lot of material. If you actually enjoy learning about religion, take him!