My Experience in Lea Allen's ENG 151 course

[Kal Di]

As a former professional non-fiction writer, I thought this course would be slightly challenging. I was actually surprised. This course felt like an upper level course. The course's texts had more complex literary ones than basic ones. 

I didn't submit a draft and only submitted the final assessment. She gave me a "NP (Not Proficient)" with her comments with a deadline of January 7th to resubmit a revised final assessment. I thanked her for giving me a second chance, but I don't think that will happen with other professors. I won't forgo submitting a draft again. The initial instructions for the final assessment seemed easy, but her expectations (after the first submission) were very high for an introductory course. 

Overall, I passed with a B+. In my opinion, her comments from the milestones and final assessment are probably best for English majors. Half of them weren't understandable, despite passing all of the milestones. This professor has high expectations and maybe it is because of her Phd in Literature. 

If you plan on doing 3 or more courses in a session, I would avoid taking courses taught by this professor. 

Did any of you take a course taught by her? What was your experience?

[ss20ts]

Definitely don't skip submitting the rough draft! The professors can provide a great deal of feedback to a rough draft. Also make sure you follow the instructions AND the rubric. If you have questions about the Final Assessment, reach out to the professor. You are correct that many professors won't give a second chance.

I didn't take this course but I have taken literature courses including honors literature courses. The professor having a PhD doesn't have anything to do with their expectations. I have yet to meet a professor who doesn't have high expectations. If they had low expectations then why are they teaching?

[knaves]

Thanks for this helpful review.  Hopefully this should help those who are considering taking this course by giving them a clear understanding of what expectations the professor has for the course.

[Kal Di]

I didn't take this course but I have taken literature courses including honors literature courses. The professor having a PhD doesn't have anything to do with their expectations. I have yet to meet a professor who doesn't have high expectations. If they had low expectations then why are they teaching?

My point was some professors (like her) forget that their students don't know nearly as much as they do as a doctor in their field and may grade unfairly at times. I don't expect a professor to have low expectations for their students, but I don't expect a professor to assign mostly complex literature for an introductory course either.

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Thanks for this helpful review.  Hopefully this should help those who are considering taking this course by giving them a clear understanding of what expectations the professor has for the course.

I'm glad you found it helpful!

[mrd385]

I didn't take this course but I have taken literature courses including honors literature courses. The professor having a PhD doesn't have anything to do with their expectations. I have yet to meet a professor who doesn't have high expectations. If they had low expectations then why are they teaching?

My point was some professors (like her) forget that their students don't know nearly as much as they do as a doctor in their field and may grade unfairly at times. I don't expect a professor to have low expectations for their students, but I don't expect a professor to assign mostly complex literature for an introductory course either.

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Thanks for this helpful review.  Hopefully this should help those who are considering taking this course by giving them a clear understanding of what expectations the professor has for the course.

I'm glad you found it helpful!

I withdrew from this class and opted to take HTY 186 instead, which I'll be doing this term. Best decision I've ever made. 

[hithere]

As a former professional non-fiction writer, I thought this course would be slightly challenging. I was actually surprised. This course felt like an upper level course. The course's texts had more complex literary ones than basic ones. 

I didn't submit a draft and only submitted the final assessment. She gave me a "NP (Not Proficient)" with her comments with a deadline of January 7th to resubmit a revised final assessment. I thanked her for giving me a second chance, but I don't think that will happen with other professors. I won't forgo submitting a draft again. The initial instructions for the final assessment seemed easy, but her expectations (after the first submission) were very high for an introductory course. 

Overall, I passed with a B+. In my opinion, her comments from the milestones and final assessment are probably best for English majors. Half of them weren't understandable, despite passing all of the milestones. This professor has high expectations and maybe it is because of her Phd in Literature. 

If you plan on doing 3 or more courses in a session, I would avoid taking courses taught by this professor. 

Did any of you take a course taught by her? What was your experience?

Her expectations are unrealistic for the level of classes she's teaching...I felt that way (coming from a professional writing background also). In the classes I've taken, she didn't provide the learning material necessary to meet her expectations, just kind of expected you to know how to do things that weren't covered in the lessons. The worst part  though is that she's unresponsive and doesn't grade or provide feedback in a timely manner.

[ishady]

I didn't take this course but I have taken literature courses including honors literature courses. The professor having a PhD doesn't have anything to do with their expectations. I have yet to meet a professor who doesn't have high expectations. If they had low expectations then why are they teaching?

My point was some professors (like her) forget that their students don't know nearly as much as they do as a doctor in their field and may grade unfairly at times. I don't expect a professor to have low expectations for their students, but I don't expect a professor to assign mostly complex literature for an introductory course either.

---

Thanks for this helpful review.  Hopefully this should help those who are considering taking this course by giving them a clear understanding of what expectations the professor has for the course.

I'm glad you found it helpful!

I withdrew from this class and opted to take HTY 186 instead, which I'll be doing this term. Best decision I've ever made. 

I also withdrew from ENG 151. Prof. Lea Allen never approved my milestone and I never understand the feedback. Even my English tutor did not understand how to work on the assignments. I change to HUM 184 with Dr. Kimberly Sebold. HUM 184 course were long and need alot of reading, it's understandable and workable. I got an A for the HUM 184.

[yc1981]

Thanks for the warning on this. I took a Creative Writing class with Dr. Frusciante and this experience you had with Dr. Allen sounds a lot like what I experienced in mine. I will definitely be taking HUM 184. I have taken 2 other classes with Dr. Sebold and I really enjoyed them. Lots and lots of reading, like you said, but her instructions are always very clear and she is responsive and helpful by email.

[ishady]

Thanks for the warning on this. I took a Creative Writing class with Dr. Frusciante and this experience you had with Dr. Allen sounds a lot like what I experienced in mine. I will definitely be taking HUM 184. I have taken 2 other classes with Dr. Sebold and I really enjoyed them. Lots and lots of reading, like you said, but her instructions are always very clear and she is responsive and helpful by email.

Glad if it's helping you. Spot on with Dr. Sebold, she is one of my fave.