Kathleen Merrow - Portland State University

Professor: Kathleen Merrow

Department: TBD

College: Portland State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HON399
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very tough class. Gave so much reading, so be ready to read a lot!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HON407
• 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:

Dr. Merrow is an Honors professor. After three years in the program, that's about as clear as I can be. The stuff you learn in the Honors college is probably not going to be beneficial to most except those in academia. I hate academia, so you could imagine my struggle. It's the usual expectations for HON, but with a discussion due each meeting

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HON202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Though I did feel I learned in this class, I don't feel it was because of Prof. Merrow most of the time. Most of what I feel I actually gained from the class was the results of my own research for the papers. I don't feel I was given the tools in class to do this class well. There was no way for me to gauge what grade I was going to get at all.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HON103
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had Merrow for the freshman Honors sequence. She will break you down and build you back up stronger. Pretty difficult, but well worth it.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HON103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took a long time to get her point across (the whole term). The majority of the class was lost on what to do for the papers throughout the sequence. If you didn't share her view in your papers your argument was wrong. She pushed back very strongly and was not very accommodating even with my DRC qualification. She let class out early b/c no ac once:)

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HON202
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A good professor to take honors classes from. She is supportive of students and provides a lot of materials for the class to supplement the main reading. Grading criteria on some assignments can be somewhat unclear.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HON102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One paper throughout the class, and there is no final. Definitely a difficult class, so if you are not understanding the material, GO SEE HER OUTSIDE OF CLASS- you can schedule an appointment to see her. One on one meetings were very beneficial. She is a tough grader, but so are most of the honor prof.'s are. Write what you think she wants to hear.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HON102
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you enjoy discussions and talking about possibilities of meaning, this prof and class are 10/10. Don't be fooled by my positive reviews, her class is HARD and you will have to work for a good grade. Lots of papers will be written and read- but if you are struggling she will help. She has really influenced my way of thinking.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HON202
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Yet another Honors class I've gotten nothing out of. Merrow is passionate about her content, but it doesn't translate to anything worth studying. Her feedback contradicts itself and if your paper doesn't argue exactly her interpretation, she marks it wrong. I used to love writing, and the Honors program has made me dread it.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HON101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Merrow is a great professor. Very intelligent and expects a lot from her freshmen.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HON101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you're coming straight from AP Literature, prepare for some culture shock. The main assignment for this course is to write a summary of argument for a text, and if you're thesis and evidence isn't EXACTLY Merrow's interpretations she'll dock you for it. Overall, her attitude towards texts are often selfcentric to her interpretations.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HON103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The content of the class can be confusing but if you actually put forth effort to ask for help she's very good at answering questions. Also she gives great feedback on essays so you know exactly what to improve on.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HON202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Class is interesting in a sort of bad way. Generally just sit around and talk about what insignificant things in books mean. The books themselves (La Curee and Pere Goriot) aren't the most interesting, but aren't terrible. Get ready to learn too much about late 19th century Paris. Easy grader though, and class can be funny at times

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HON102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Classes are kinda long but she is very helpful when you are confused on papers. If you take the initiative to ask her questions and go to office hours the class isn't too hard.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HON101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I loved Merrow! She's fabulous! Clear assignments and grades. As a yearlong sequence you can see the connections throughout the course, which is very important in a sequence like this one. She is funny if you catchunderstand her jokes! The unicorn in Bladerunner is very, very important. Just so you know.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HON102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I love this women(: She is always there for you, and she is a very clear grader before and after an assignment is due. VERY light amount of homework besides one paper that you work on all term.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HON101
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

You need to attend class, but you may as well sleep during. No in class work or class participation was graded, as she only cared about attendence and the one essay that was %80 of the grade.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HONORS103
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Yuck. Absolutely do not take a class from this professor. She drones. And I honestly feel like I learned absolutely nothing here. Just sat through useless lectures and then wrote a single paper due at the end of the term that an ape could have gotten an A on.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HON407
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I took 19th Century Historical Thought as well as Freud with professor Merrow. Most people didn't realize these were DISCUSSION based classes. For an easy A do the readings, engage the subject matter and say something in class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HON199
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This professor will change your life. Take any class she teaches, do the reading, and LISTEN, because she will give you every thing you need to succeed not just in her class, but in any academic setting. She is incredibly thoughtful and empathetic, you just have to earn her attention by engaging with her in class and listening to her feedback.