John Tobin - University of Massachusetts - Boston

Professor: John Tobin
Department: English
College: University of Massachusetts - Boston
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: ENG201
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
He's a sweet guy but just an okay professor. He is obviously VERY knowledgeable about what he teaches but that doesn't translate into an engaging class. His pacing was awful - we spent two weeks on the prologue to the Canterbury Tales (just the prologue) and one week on all of Frankenstein. Funny guy though. Allows re-writes.
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: ENG383
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Professor Tobin is a funny, sweet man that gave me a whole new depth of understanding about Shakespeare; a poet Ive studied over and over again. Great lectures, funny sidebars, and illuminating supplemental readings.
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: ENG383
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
I've been a strong writer and have loved Shakespeare as long as I can remember. Was looking forward to this class and despite the countless effort poured into his essays nothing was good enough for him. His lectures taught more about possible sources of influence than the plays. Final was 7 prompts where you chose 4 and wrote 5 paragraphs on each.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: ENG402
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
PROF. JOHN TOBIN IS THE BEST ENGLISH INSTRUCTOR I'VE EVER HAD. HIS WAY ABOVE AVERAGE AND HE GENUINELY CARES ABOUT HIS STUDENTS. HE'S FUNNY, COOL AND EXTREMELY KNOWLEDGEABLE. YET, HE'S DOWN TO EARTH, EASY GOING AND ABOVE ALL ELSE, MOST RESPECTFUL AND KIND. THANKS PROFESSOR TOBIN! I WOULD DEFINITELY TAKE AGAIN.
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: ENGL201
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
His sense of humor is amazing. I like his traditional way of teaching. We just read what he assigns and he goes over it in class in detail. He assigns 3 papers per semester and they're pretty decent. I love him.
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: ENGL383
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Absolute gem. To paraphrase Melville, Prof. Tobin was my Harvard College and my Yale.
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: ENGLISH201
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
This class is not even that hard, pay attention and come to class. Keep up with the readings and theres two essays and one final at the end. Hes a funny prof with dry humor, and he has very interesting insights into the readings, he talks a lot but it was mostly interesting.
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: ENGL201
  • 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:
Professor Tobin in THE MAN. He's witty and has a lot of knowledge to share. He's clear in his expectations and in the dark of the night when WBZ phones you, you'll be able to tell them facts about ENGL200.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: ENG201
  • 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: N/A
Comment:
TOBIN is awesome! I had to take 5 Brit Authors because it was the only thing that fit in my schedule. I have to say I was apprehensive about the class. However, I have never had a prof that went to such lengths to explain Chaucer. And when WBZ phones me in the darkness of the night, I will tell them John Tobin is a-maz-ing. ;) Take a class w/him.
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: ENGL3333
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
TOBIN IS GOD. Just take a class.
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: ENGL360
  • 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: N/A
Comment:
I LOVE Tobin. he is the man, and the most intelligent prof at umass. hes tough but laid back, his final are freakin brutal, but if you try an a is not hard to get. he is extremely funny, in a tobin kind of way, and if wbz phones you in the middle of the night tell them the three dwarves from saugus are friends with him!
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: ENGL383
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
very intelligent. Has quite the monotone voice but he tried to break it up with some humor. KNOW-HIS-SHAKESPEARE...and just about everything else ! lol. Very good with papers and lets you rewrite for a higher grade if desired. TONS TONS TONS of reading DO NOT get behind. Finals were dreadful though. Good guy.
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: ENG383
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
really interesting prof. If ur scared about Shakespeare thn take him. He really knws his stuff. You have to keep up with the reading and write down everything he says because his finals are brutal. He doesnt give typical paper topics either. But all in all he's really nice witha good sense of humor. He's a good guy
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: ENGL201
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He's hilarious. He's older, so his teaching style is old-fashioned. He is BRILLIANT. He knows everything about everyone who is worth knowing about in the English language. You learn lots of little tidbits, too. Like the birthdays of many people LOL If you like English, take him. If you don't, then don't. He is a genius.
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: ENG301
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
It Tobin bores you, you are an idiot. Sorry. That's the litmus test. Good students swear by him, bad students say "waaah, he's so *dull*". Not dull, is low-key. One of the world's foremost Shakespeareans, has produced some very prestigious publications. I don't think people really know what he is because he's so humble and self-effacing.
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: ENG332
  • 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: N/A
Comment:
Mr. Tobin's plain, even tone is so detached that you don't see it coming when he slaps you with a fish. He has a dry sense of humor and is amusing to listen to. You learn by silhouette in a Tobin class. He knows dozens of peripheral facts about his studies. End result: A thick outline delineating the topic. Essays are tough but it's college people!
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: ENGL206
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
HE'S HILARIOUS!
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: ENG200
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
If you don't like traditional teaching, then don't take Tobin's class. He's older so he is not animated at all, but he is brilliant. His knowledge of History and literature is outstanding, yet intimidating. If you appreciate TRUE intelligence, then you'll appreciate him. Keep your eyes open and ask questions when you don't understand something.
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: ENG201
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Despite his incessant, onanistic thrill for puns and word play (he is an English professor, alas), Tobin is an incredible teacher- But a prickly pear over essays. He will give you the low-down on all sorts of Shakespearian and Joycean matters that you most likely don't care about, because you are probably a cretin and an ****.
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: ENG201
  • 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: N/A
Comment:
The archetypical suede-elbow-patched, tweed jacketed, Shakespeare-obsessing *English* *Teacher* If you love the language and love literature, you'll take a lot from his class. People say he's "boring", but that's only because they're not invested in the subject matter. Very erudite, articulate, and friendly.
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