James Keil - Howard University

Professor: James Keil

Department: TBD

College: Howard University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENGL104
• 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:

Barely follows the syllabus and unfair grades. Not worth the stress tbh

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENGL129
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is not clear on expectations throughout the course. He grades on class participation and not the multiple discussion posts that are due each week. Will give extensions if you ask, but has been a hard grader during the pandemic.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENGL15
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

We read plays over the weekend, discussed them during the week, then wrote one page paragraph worth 8% of our grade. He said that we were never taught how to write a paragraph, but then didn't teach us how to write one and graded them on a scale out of 4 that made no sense. Go to his office hours and he will help you with them, and GO TO CLASS.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENGL014
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I read the other comments about this professor before deciding to take this class but went ahead and signed up for it. I should've listened because Everything is true. He grades based on his own grammar rules (which he doesn't go over in class) regardless of content, His lectures are very wordy and oftentimes go off-topic.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENGL015
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This would be a somewhat interesting class if he made his expectations clear from day one but sadly he lets most of the semester pass before he gives any guidelines

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENGL014
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His class is very difficult and I wouldnt recommend you taking it especially as a freshman. I went to his office hours and followed his advice and ended up getting some of the worst grades Ive gotten all semester. I dont think he can be pleased and Im just hoping I pass at this point.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENGL014
• 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:

One of the worst teachers at Howard. Goes on tangents in class completely unrelated to the topic. Changes the grading rubric and makes up his own grammar rules. You go to office hours and he still doesn't help.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HUM101
• 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:

This professor is terrible. He grades papers based on HIS OWN grammar rules and does not really care about content. Attendance should not be mandatory as he talks about whatever is on his mind in class. If you ask him to clarify Something, he talks around it and never really gives an answer. I would not recommend this professor to my worst enemy.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENGL015
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If he doesnt like what you wrote you wont get a good grade. The writings are short but difficult to pass. He lectures about things completely irrelevant to the material and goes off on tangents often. He never clarified what exactly hes looking for in the writings

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HUM101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. K is definitely a hard grader but if you keep up with readings and put in the effort to participate during class youll be ok. No easy As here he makes you work for it. Prepare for weekly readings and writing assignments. His lectures dissect the readings +make you think about aspects of life, empathy, choices vs consequences and fate

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HUM101
• 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:

Hard grader and seems to think we are professional writers.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG129
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

OFFICE HOURS ARE YOUR KEY TO PASSING. Four essays, no test, some homework. Very easy to fail. Class was fun however, he's a great teacher and very caring just very hard to please and doesn't direct you well enough for you to write a stellar paper.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENGL112
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hardest grader I've ever encountered. His tests are doable, but his essay criteria is impossible to figure out. I went to his office hours often and it took me until almost the end of the semester to feel like I knew what he was asking for. If you take him, keep bringing him drafts and asking for clarification. He values clarity above all else.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Do note take him!!!! He grades far too harshly and requires all students to conform to his style of writing. To make matters worse, he forced a male student to take part in a mock slave auction in front of the entire class. Avoid at all costs.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENGL129
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This professor admits he's a tough grader. The only grades given for this course are the essay grades. He did not give extra credit. That being said, you get feedback after the fact of turning a paper in. It would be more effective if he took samples of our writing, with or without grading. That way, there could be better feedback on actual papers.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENGL014
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Do Not Take Him!!!!! His writing expectations are impossible. Unless you LOVE reading old folktales and Greek mythology maybe a new book every other week. He gives writing assignments that seem reasonable, you answer the questions he asked and get an F if it's not written exactly the way that he would write it!!!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENGL014
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He class is not easy, but helps you become a better thinker and writer. If you want to be lazy do not take because you will be crying later. If you struggle go see him at his office hours.I improved in his class by going to see him. He is very clear on wants he wants from students. If you work harder then you ever have before you will get an A.

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Forget everything you've heard, Dr. Keil is an awesome professor. If you want to become a better writer then take his class! He challenges you but if you do the work and go to his office hours for help you will do well (I got an A). Make sure you take detailed notes for the midterm and final.

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Dr. Keil is a great professor; don't listen to anyone who says otherwise. He actually teaches you how to write and how to write better, but you have to utilize him as a resource. He is willing to help on any part of the paper process, but you must take the initiative. Also, take DETAILED notes in class. You will thank yourself later. I got an A.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: AMLIT04
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is one of the worst professors at Howard. It is almost impossible to pass his class. He doesn't give extra credit and has impossible high standards. I would not recommend his class to anyone. My class enrollment went from 30 students to 3 by the end of the semester and I know of only one person that passed the class with a C or better.