James Polchin - New York University

Professor: James Polchin

Department: TBD

College: New York University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: WRIT1
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Polchin is a great soul, but his assignments are hard to interpret. I got a B+ for my midterm portfolio, but an A on the online assignment, totaling an A in the course. I wish I would have utilized his office hours at the beginning of the semester. He's intelligent, but you have to put in the effort and do your blogs. Participate!!!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: WRI101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He was a great professor. The class was challenging but it definitely improved my writing. He gave us two essays that were discussed in detail in class. You have in class reflections and blog posts. We read numerous articles, which could get tedious but they were interesting. Class participation is important he calls on you to give opinion.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: WRITING
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Polchin is an awesome professor. I would have taken him again this semester but unfortunately he is writing a book. :( Anyway, he's really into participation, so raise your hand in class and do the blog posts. His assignments can be a tad unclear but if you ask about it, he'll totally clear things up

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: WRITING
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Confusing assignments. A LOT of group workshops and weekly blog post requirements added to a long list of essays we read in class. Asks you to read an essay collection, but doesn't discuss them in class. Surprisingly tough grader. Take him if you like group workshops, reading essays and no guide on papers.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: WRI1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Good teacher who's helped me improve my writing. He's quite lenient and nice but you have to do a lot of readingwriting and hes a tough grader. 2 big essays and then small homeworks in between. enjoyed the class- would take again.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: WRIIUF9102
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

Really great professor- taught me a lot about writing and made the class really interesting. Assignments were reasonable and actually engaging (they weren't that hard overall). Definitely cares about his students.

Rating # 7

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I absolutely loved this professor. He has students read interesting articles and relates them to writing concepts that he consistently refers to throughout the semester. Polchin is also willing to help his students when they don't understand anything. You are only assigned 2-3 major papers that go through multiple edits before the final draft.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: WR1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took him for writing 1 and got an A so I took him for writing 2. I met with him a bunch a lot and got to know him during WR2. I felt that my writing was really improving and he seemed to agree with me, and then I inexplicably got a B- in writing 2. I didn't know why. He's a GREAT guy personally but a tough teacher.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: WR44
• 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:

Polchin was always there to help when we asked. He is demanding but very supportive. I definitely improved my writing skills. He is good fun too, good irony.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: WRITI101
• 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:

Whoops I mean reading IS NOT deathly. Lol

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: WRITI101
• 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:

Polchin is a really funny guy but only certain kinds of people can appreciate it. His humor is very sarcastic/blunt, but he still remains lighthearted. VERY insightful, very helpful, workload is completely doable (reading is deathly) and very clear. Really interesting essay topics and methods of writing development. Definitely improved my writing

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: WRIT1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He made me think a lot. It was somehow a new experience for me but was the best course ever.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: WRTG1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Polchin was my favorite Professor freshman year. But I think certain kids gravitate towards him, while others lose interest. For me he really understood the way I wrote. Meeting with him to discuss my writing was the highlight of some of my days. Work hard on assignments (do them) and be invested in class discussion and you will do well.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: WRITI101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Had him during Freshman year. While he wasn't easy, I enjoyed his class. When it was time to turn in my final essay, I had it in hand, but told him I wasn't happy with it, so he let me take a couple extra days to work on it! Very understanding & wants to see you do well & produce works you're proud of. Encouraging & you'll like him!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: TOPICMW
• 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:

The word mean does not even begin to describe him. Got anxiety attackes frequently before going to his class. He'll ruin your semester abroad in Paris. C'est la vie!!!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: WRIT1
• 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:

Great professor and truly knows what he's teaching. Will be of great help if you approach him. Really helped me gain confidence in my writing and was able to improve my writing drastically. I highly recommend him!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: WRTNG101
• 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:

really great guy, very informative, good class discussions. very sardonic and sarcastic sense of humor. assignments were very manageable, not a heavy courseload but still makes you think. learned a lot from him. very organized

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: WRTNG001
• 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:

I took Polchin's class for the first two semesters of my freshman year. He's forever changed the way I write, and the way I think about writing. I also learned a lot about myself as his assignments allowed me to write about almost anything. I highly recommend his course. He's very helpful, personal, and has such interesting perspectives! Love!!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: WRITII
• 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:

Run for the top of the Eifel Tower. After a semester with him you'll be traumatized. Ron Howard should make a new version of An American WErefolf in Paris starring James Polchin.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: WRITII
• 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:

Good luck keeping your sanity while in class. Thanks to him, i go to therapy every week.