Arnold MacKowiak - Eastern Michigan University

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Arnold MacKowiak - Eastern Michigan University

Professor: Arnold MacKowiak

Department: Journalism

College: Eastern Michigan University

Rating # 1

Overview:

Course: JRNL213
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

The first 45 minutes of class consisted of a repetitive lecture, followed by an in-class assignment daily. Tests were open book and open note. The four papers can be redone, but his feedback isn't helpful and is hard to understand.

Rating # 2

Overview:

Course: JRNL215
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Do not take this class. He gives unclear direction and he really needs to retire. He doesn't teach at all he just passes out assignments with directions on them . He grades very harsh but he lets you re do the assignment as many times as you want. Assignments are easy but kind of lengthy. I got a B(barely) . Stressful class

Rating # 3

Overview:

Course: JRNL213
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I'm so sad because as a journalism major, I was really looking forward to this class, but Prof. MacKowiak was just not the professor for me. He talks about things he clearly knows very little about, his notes are on half sheets of paper projected, and his tests are incredibly hard considering we've learned next to nothing.

Rating # 4

Overview:

Course: JNRL213
Grade Received: B+
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He is a little old man, you should respect him but if you cannot advocate for yourself you will not pass this class. He talks about stuff not related to the class. The reports are difficult because they are not explained well enough and he grades by writing words like "hard and soft" that do not make since. Test and quizzes are open book/note.

Rating # 5

Overview:

Course: JRNL213
Grade Received: C
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He hands out many assignments and often the assignments have nothing to do with his lectures. He will grade you low when you turn in a paper to make you want to do it again. He crosses out your words and adds his own and has marked me down because he would've worded it differently. I have lost credit on an assignment because I disagreed with him.

Rating # 6

Overview:

Course: JRNL215
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Ok I was nervous taking this professor after reading reviews, but this prof is not bad at all. I would say I'm an average student. Go to class, do the homework, and you'll be fine. Yes, you will likely have to rewrite all assignments to get the grade you want but its SO easy. He is also a pushover. He really is not bad and make sure you TAKE NOTES

Rating # 7

Overview:

Course: JRNL215
Grade Received: Not sure yet
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

While the class itself peaked my interest, the professor has turned me away. I'd say I'm an above average student and I am just barely passing. He gives out an assignment or two every day, and is very unclear with expectations. His lectures tend to be boring and are also hard to follow. Taking notes helps, kind of.

Rating # 8

Overview:

Course: JNRL213
Grade Received: B+
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a tough grader, the good thing is you are allowed to redo your papers for a better score. Lectures are ok, test are easy and open book.

Rating # 9

Overview:

Course: JRL215
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:

215 with Arnold is a real struggle. Everyday he gives out 1-2 assignments. None of these assignments are officially due until December, which can be nice, but if you do not stay on top of them they can pile up heavily. So, you'll have assignments piling up while re-writing old assignments you've turned in. It's extremely time consuming.

Rating # 10

Overview:

Course: JOURNALISM215
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Many people have reviewed Arnold as an awful teacher. He is a great instructor, but you won't pass his class if you don't put forth the effort. Take the time to rewrite every assignment (how many teachers allow you to do that?), and you will get the grade you want. It was a lot of work but I walked out with a good grade and lots of improvement.

Rating # 11

Overview:

Course: JRNL215
Grade Received: A+
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

So many people don't like him but I feel like I have excelled in journalism because of him. You can re-do all your assignments to gain full credit, which helped me learn more. If you do the work and re-do some assignments, you'll get 100% in the class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

Course: JOUR216
Grade Received: D-
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

THE BOOK IS ALL THAT MATTERS HERE

Rating # 13

Overview:

Course: JRNL210
Grade Received: Not sure yet
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Class is EXTREMELY boring. Notes aren't clear. I'm a journalism minor and I am extremely unsatisfied with this class. He grades papers very harshly. But at least he gives notes for you to rewrite. Test are open notes (even though he gives bad notes) and open book, so get the book. I'm lucky if I get a C out of this class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

Course: JRNL215
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

No matter how much effort you put into this class, do not expect a high or even above-average grade. His grading is harsh and he expects students to rewrite EVERY assignment, which is extremely time consuming and nearly impossible for full-time students. Very unfortunate that he's the only prof teaching this class. Take it somewhere else if you can

Rating # 15

Overview:

Course: JRN213
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He was really boring. Never explained the assignments in full detail. Didn't seem to understand what he was talking about. Was very brief and vague with the lectures. you need the book only for the open booknote tests

Rating # 16

Overview:

Course: 215
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He doesn't really explain things all that well I mean there's a few notes he puts on the overhead but he goes through them so fast you can't write them down fast enough plus he doesn't talk all that loud or he rambles. He grades real hard too but the upside is there;s lots of extra credit and you can do rewrites.

Rating # 17

Overview:

Course: JRNL215
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I only took a journalism class for my major but nonetheless this class ruined my semester. He doesn't put any of the information online, and only gives you flimsy half sheets for assignments that are easily lost. I've been on the honor roll through my entire college career and this will be the class that ruins that. I didn't learn a single thing.

Rating # 18

Overview:

Course: JRNL213
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:

Very boring teacher! Talks about things of his own interest and not of the class. Grades very hard for only teaching two years! Often has speakers come in so he can avoid lecturing. No control over class. Good guy, just bad class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

Course: JRNL215
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I love writing, I'm a written communications major, and while I understand that journalism is different than most writing, he does a horrible job at explaining those differences consistently. I never, ever expected to get graded so terribly in a basic writing class. Rambling, very unclear directions, and unfairly harsh grading on papers. Avoid!

Rating # 20

Overview:

Course: JRNL213
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This teacher is a BORE. He rambles about pointless things that have no relation to the subject matter. He grades VERY hard on papers. The only good thin about this class is that he allows you to use your textbook during tests. It won't be easy though because he grades really hard on the essay portions. Only take him if you have ABSOLUTELY no option

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