William Brenner - Old Dominion University

Professor: William Brenner

Department: TBD

College: Old Dominion University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL120P
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Brenner is an extremely intelligent man but he was unable to "dumb it down" for an into to philosophy class. He was very confusing during lectures, (often contradicting things he said previously) didn't have blackboard or his email set up and the tests were extremely hard. If you had trouble understanding the material in the way he explained it, he would tell you to just read the chapter again (he wrote the book we used in class so it was no different than listening to his already confusing lecture.) He would get frustrated at the class asking so many questions due to a lack of understand what we were supposed to be doing and a few times he actually told us "no more questions for the rest of the class." I wouldn't recommend Dr. Brenner unless you have prior knowledge of philosophy concepts and are highly intelligent.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHIL120P
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

There are 7 quizzes and a final exam. He grades on those and attendance... which he doesn't take. The quizzes are short, but he weighs everything so heavily, that if you get a few questions wrong, you basically bomb the quiz.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL120P
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do not take this professor if you want to pass. He uses his own book as the text and he literally reads it again to us for the lectures. If you don't understand something and ask him about it, he'll laugh at you and say to reread the chapter... He messes up constantly and forgets what he's talking about halfway through "explaining" it. Not helpful.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• 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:

As a parent, I'm extremely discouraged to hear how many students have gone to administration about this professor and told there's nothing they can do. If there on your payroll, there's something you can do. In addition, his book is sold for the course, which seems just a bit unethical. Disappointed in ODU

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHIL120
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I thought he was a horrible professor. As a class we asked him if he could prepare his work differently because none of us understood him. He blamed it on us not studying hard enough. No one thought like him so no one passed with higher than a C. We tried to study as groups and still could not pass the quizzes. Very subjective.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

While there are Hundreds of William brenners, The author of logic and philosophy is the real deal. A genius and one of a hand full of philosophers who can truly be said to base their life on -The love of knowledge- Philo-sophy There is only one William Brenner

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: 120P
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's very smart but he's not a good professor. He mumbles a lot and it is very difficult to understand him. He doesn't explain things, he doesn't use blackboard, and he doesn't email. He makes the class buy his book, but his book wasn't helpful to me either. I don't suggest for anyone to take his class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHIL120P
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Brenner is an intelligent man, and can be very entertaining at times, however he is so knowledgeable at times that the things he says fly over your head before you have a chance to grasp any concept he tries to explain. He words his material better in the textbook, rely on reading to pass his class!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHIL120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Came in expecting it to be one of my favorite classes but logic is NOT my cup of tea. Brenner is an old brilliant man, but mumbles a lot and is hard to understand. Doesn't use email so if you fall behind like I did, it's very difficult to get back into the swing of things. OH. AND HE SELLS YOU HIS OWN PUBLISHED TEXTBOOK. Genius.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took his class as a general education philosophy. I was excited, since it is something I looked forward to, but Dr. Brenner seems to talk in circles. Even if you do ask questions he will answer them with questions.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: 120P
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's a bright man, but he is too much. He's old and it's really hard to concentrate in his class. He mumbles a bunch. A lot of things he talks about don't all add up. He makes sex jokes constantly, but they aren't really funny. He doesn't use blackboard or email, it's really hard to get in contact w him. I wouldn't take his class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Brenner is a brilliant man but his thoughts are all over the place. He rambles quite a bit and is hard to understand sometimes. His tests are very hard, however, he builds in quite a bit of cushion. (His final exam was 179 questions with 4 extra credit opportunities).

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHIL120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Brenner is not the best teacher. He is very old, so he tends to forget what he says and mumbles. He gives only about 4 exams through the semester, which can be difficult for your grade if you don't do well on more than one. His lectures are extremely boring and it's hard to pay attention. Don't take his class, you'll regret it. I know I did.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHIL313
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Had him for Philosophy of Religion. Probably should have just taken World religions. He is a very brilliant man but his lectures are like watching paint dry.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHIL340
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is a good teacher. He is a very brilliant man, but he tends to repeat himself a lot. Which is something he did right, because Logic for me was a rather difficult subject. He is a good teacher, but I wouldn't recommend him, unless you really like Logic and analytical philosophy.

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I took Dr. Brenner for Phil. and Logic. The workload is manageable and there is classroom interaction. However, the class is bad. Dr. Brenner mumbles and gives explanations that aren't always helpful or clear. A bit slow-paced in talking as well, so it can feel boring. The work can be tough at times, so be prepared to work hard if you take it

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHIL120P
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

First, I got an A on every test. If you do the work he assigns in the book, pay attention, and have a fairly good grasp of concepts, you will pass. A lot of it is actually just memorization being able to recognize logical forms and fallacies. Even if you don't have a firm grasp on the material there is always easy extra credit on every test.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHIL110P
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Terrible teacher, terrible class. I was actually looking forward to this class and learning some philosophy... but I had to work my ass off to get a D-. Dont waste your time being engaged and trying to understand the material because once you get your tests you will see that nothing is covered, and if you ask questions its a waste of time!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHIL150P
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a nice guy, but makes too many references to sex. Although some of the connections make sense, be some are sort of creepy. He doesn't use his email or blackboard, so if you have questions you need to wait until next class. He expects you to read the text book, and uses the workbook alot. You need to take tons of note and pay attention.He is o

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHIL150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Horrible... I would never recommend him. You have to memorize quotes from 10 page essays. its ridic and he doesn't talk about anything on his tests. He is a big waste of a teacher. He won't help you so good luck but I would recommed don't even take him. worst teacher!