Sara Cordell - University of Illinois at Springfield

Professor: Sara Cordell

Department: TBD

College: University of Illinois at Springfield

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG311
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If people think this professor is tough, they are right. She is SO tough. But very caring, helpful and intelligent. She will make you work for it. She can be a tad condescending, but get over it. I loved her and would take a class with her again. When I got an "A" from her, I knew I earned it.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG311
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I met with her regularly, emailed her regularly, emailed her every assignment beforehand, and then completely rewrote every single one because she told me they were trash. The rewrites were marked with comments that I did not understand the text at a basic level. Even after discussing the text in-depth with her. I tried so hard, I cried so much.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENG311
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She's extremely knowledgeable and gives phenomenal feedback. She requires you to push yourself, there's a lot of reading and a lot of writing - but this is how you improve. She made me a better writer!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you want to become a better writer and English major, take this course with Dr. Cordell. She will challenge not only the way you write, but also the way that you read and think. Other commenters are correct- at times she scorns others' views or ideas. But this one trait should not negate her instruction. She's tough. Do you want to learn?

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG311
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I have taken both 301 and 311 with Dr. Cordell. I literally cried multiple times throughout both courses. However, I will always be grateful for the experience. She's tough. She grades very, very particularly. However, she gives really great feedback and you can tell that she takes a lot of time on your papers.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENG311
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

There's a reason she calls her class "Boot Camp for English Majors. Dr. Cordell is one of the toughest teachers I've had so far with some high expectations and very heavy coursework (reading, posts, papers etc- start reading texts NOW). But she also will work with you to help you identify and fix any fundamental writing flaws that you have.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG311
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I was scared at first to take this class but pleasantly surprised afterwards. Dr. Cordell expects a lot because she gives a lot. Go in with an open mind and try to understand the theories before you practice them and you'll be fine! Also weekly live sessions are helpful to understanding. Lots of reading be prepared! Start reading the novel ASAP.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CAP225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This professor is highly condescending. I usually get along with my professors, but she really frustrated me often. If your opinion differs from her about the interpretation of a story, she will literally laugh at you, even if you have ample evidence to support your perspective. She has long lectures and criticizes the student body as a group.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG589
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Cordell was one of the readers for my graduate thesis. I felt that she gave good feedback and I regarded it as a positive experience until I met her again a year later. She then told me that she almost didn't sign off on my thesis. I had no idea she felt this way at the time. She's pretentious and awful. The bad stories are true.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG480
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I've taken many classes with this professor, and I have not had a bad experience yet. I can understand where other graders are coming from, but at least in my experience, I think that Cordell is hard BUT fair. I've worked very hard in all of her classes, and she has directly recognized that every time. I can certainly say I've learned a lot.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

For an online class the time commitment was crazy, beginning with the 3 hour weekly (required) online video conference, wherein she contradicted herself and openly made fun of some students. What I will say is that I KNOW my analytical reading and writing improved as a result of this course - but was it worth it? Still not sure.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG480
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Let's see - condescending, absent minded, vague in instruction, will not give any grades until class is half over, insulting, scant instruction, will tell you one thing and does not stand by what she initially tells you, I can not say enough about this teacher with NONE of it good. She abuses the privilege of education- discourages students POOR!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: 301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I had no idea where I stood or how to improve until over half way through the semester. Guidelines for the papers were somehow both very long-winded and extremely vague at the same time. She requires participation in a weekly online conference that lasts 2 (!) hours in addition to huge post reqs., reading & papers

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: 311
• 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:

I would not insult others by even loosely referring to this woman as a teacher. She does not seem to be able to relate to mere mortals, only those that she deems worthy of her time and attention. You will not know how you are doing until class is half over and it may be too late. Avoid if at all possible. Grades were late with no feedback at all !!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG301
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Avoid at all costs. Feedback is often very critical and does not help. Has spent most of her career studying and writing research and thus is not good with students. You will not write the paper you want to, instead writing a paper you know she wants. A true representation of old academia and someone who is way past their prime.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENG420
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Not nice. Grades low and late. It's hard to make her happy with any discussion or paper. ONLY call her Dr. Cordell or you will be lectured. Very little positive feedback. Avoid!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Was not my favorite professor. Very difficult and very condescending! She does not seem to care about her students and assigns a lot of reading in a short amount of time. She is a professor that makes you ask yourself if she knows I take more classes other than hers. Wouldn't recommend taking her class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG454
• 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:

The professor is condescending and too obsessed with Laconian Theory that she cannot comprehend differing opinions. She knows her material well, but is unable to offer suggestions instead of criticism.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Not very nice and thought she was better than everyone because she has a doctorate. Demanded to be called Dr. and not by her first name. Won't ever take another of her classes.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENG449
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Could have taken this as an independent study, as there literally is no interaction if you don't attend live elluminate sessions. As this is a 400 level poetry class w/grad students, so much time is devoted to basic explication, which is great practice but redundant since you have to take 301/311. Very smart, reminds you she has a PhD often.