2.7
Quality3.9
Difficulty21%
Would Retake86
Reviews21%
Would Retake
86
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
21
4
11
3
9
2
21
1
24
What Students Say
“If you take her class, be prepared to engage”
ENGL281 - 5.0 rating“Most egotistical person ever”
UCOR1300 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
100%
Textbook Required
50%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.79 avg changeRatings by Course
ENGLISH120
5.0
(1)ENGL110
5.0
(1)ENGL212
5.0
(1)ENG391
5.0
(1)UCOR
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
110013
5.0
HONR212
5.0
ENGL250
5.0
ENG391
5.0
ENG101
4.5
Reviews (86)
she's a bad teacher. word economy help needed. talks too much. acts like 20 year old.
bizare! asks us our name and favorite scar/body part. sylabus is a joke. doesnt believe in technology. stubborn.
She's a friendly teacher and seems to want to help her students succeed and do well in their college experiences.
Extremely vague in her questions and what she expects of the students. Extremely hard grader. She is weird. Worst teacher ever.
Bryn is awesome as a person but as a teacher she is a little hard to understand. I could never really tell what she wanted. very abstract. very nice and easy to talk to though and helpful
Bryn is awesome, very interesting person. A little vague on questions, but its her way of getting you to think. Rarely is there a wrong answer. Its not like shes trying to trik you, she just wants you to do well. Fair grader, and easy as long as you do the work. Good reading material too!
AMAZING!! Bryn is really fun and helpful. She actually made me become interested in the class and the subject. She starts some really intriguing conversations, and she is really passionate about her classes. If you are willing to make any effort in the class, you will love her! She gives great feedback and picks good assignments.
Best teacher I have ever had the pleasure to take a class with. She is brilliant, and makes her students think. Has a great desire for her students to succeed, not just in class, but in life. Always there for assistance in and out of the classroom. Also, hottest teacher I've had.
Dr. Gribben was a great teacher! She is very passionate and takes her class seriously. At the same time, I never saw her made! If you want a good grade you can earn it by working hard (office hours and multiple drafts). The only negative aspects of her is that she picks favorties (hardcore)
Without doubt my favorite and greatest teacher around! Works extremely hard to work with your learning style. Makes conferences to ensure your success. Very easy going and humorous! Knows what she's talking about and will challenge your theories in order to better educate you! *Guaranteed to become a better and confident writer after this course!
I learned nothing from this professor. She is often confusing. Her hand writing is illegible. Very unorganized. Other than that, she's a great teacher.
If you are interested in English whatsoever, run. Fast. You will learn nothing and feel like you wasted your time (and money). In fact, her class may turn you off from the subject. Otherwise, the class is easy. Bryn is a nice and funny woman. Just don't expect to do much more than busy work and pointless papers.
I loved Bryn! Even though I absolutely hate the subject of Literature, she really helped me enjoy the class. Although she does seem to pick favorites, and grade accordingly, I really liked having her as a teacher. She has a young spirit and is very passionate about everything in life. The class felt philosophical which was lovely. Loved her!!
DO NOT TAKE HER CLASS EVER..ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO MORE CHOICE..
I loved Gribben. She was eccentric, fun, and interesting. She is helpful if you go to her office hours, and is very willing to help. I would highly recommend her. Her passion for teaching is inspirational. Loved this class.
Bryn is a really nice person but lacks the skills to be a teacher. She makes comments that are offensive and isolating about students in her class. Her assignments were confusing and none of the class understood what she was looking for when it came to grading. The text book was expensive and everything we used in it could be found online for free.
Bryn lacks the skills to be an effective teacher. She would do better as an artist because her grading system is just that, artistry. Her assignments were poorly written,confusing, and none of the class understood what she was looking for when it came to grading. In sum, if she likes you, "have fun", if not you're screwed lol!
Bryn Bryn Bryn. She isn't cut out for teaching. She's a sweet woman who loves only certain students. Her grading system is whack. I lost my all-A's-in-english virginity to Bryn. I didn't ever know her expectations ahead of time. She's unorganized and plays favorite, thus, she is unfair. A nice, warm woman but never take a class with her.
Professor Gribben is a wonderful teacher. She is very passionate about the subject and truly cares about her students and their improvement. I've never had a professor who takes so much time to give personal feedback on each of assignments. Yes she is demanding, and though it may sometimes be hard to see what she wants, it's worth it!
Gribben is interesting, smart and eccentric. You either get her or you don't. If you're looking for a basic teacher with a lot of structure, this won't work for you. That's why I liked her. The 'normal' kids who don't stretch their thinking or try to understand complex concepts won't do well here. And they'll complain. Glad I took it!
Bryn is the best professor I've ever had. She is enthusiastic, smart, adventurous, and extremely open-minded. She will help you with anything you need, gladly. Don't take her class if you want easy papers and easy answers. You have to actually THINK for Bryn.
I had a profound disdain for Victorian lit before this class, and while I'm still not an enthusiast I certainly came to a much more profound appreciation for it. Byrnn, while unorganized, tries to get her students to see English wholistically rather than in stringently defined periods. A remarkable professor full of insight and wit!
Love her as a person. UNFAIR-ARBITRARY-INCONSISTENT grader. Wikipedia did a better job teaching about 19th century literature than Brynn did. Never understood what she was saying. She plays favorites and blurs the line of teacher student relationship. Tries to be your friend but also makes you feel inferior and inadequate. Got As in lit until Brynn
Bryn is golden. She just loves literature and wants you to love it too.
Bryn clearly loves the subject matter, but passion does not always translate into good teaching. Her directions were often confusing and when asked to clarify would become defensive and not explain. Also often made inappropriate/uncomfortable remarks. Would not recommend.
Bryn is by far one of the most interesting profs I've ever had. Her passion for the subject is infectious and her insight is invaluable. Unlike with some professors, you have to actually engage with the subject to do well in her class, probably why someone might say she "plays favorites," when really she offers the world for those open to learning.
she is so hard to understand and asks us to draw the most obscure connections that don't really seem to exist. most of the time i don't know what she is talking about. she is nice, passionate, and undoubtedly intelligent but that doesn't make her a good teacher. all i've learned this quarter are a bunch of weird abstract useless vague concepts.
Bryn is the best prof I have had at SU, and that is saying a lot. She is kind, insightful, and always eager to help. Not only is she relatable but, if you keep an open mind and don't close yourself off to the wonderful possibilities of Brit Lit II, you will undoubtably come out of the class with so much more than you came in. Love the glitter!
Great professor and incredible human being.
Bryn seems like someone who would be an awesome friend. Outside of class, she is probably really great, but I didn't really enjoy how she taught. She was often very vague with concepts and expected everyone to understand what she was saying. I usually felt like I didn't even begin to understand what I was supposed to be getting out of the readings.
I've had BG for 253 and 302. Her specialty is Victorian Lit, and she LOVES it. Classes are always interesting and enlightening. It helps when you have an engaged group of students to work with, too. Steps into difficult territory, you must be able to think. But she's awesome. Young, funny, modern and worldly. Def. recommend for upper level courses.
This is my second class w/ Bryn & she ceases to amaze me with her high level of passion & excitement she brings to every class. At times she can bit a bit abstract but she is always able to tie her ideas back to the group & create an inviting & intellegent discourse. Amazing prof, amazing person; I highly recommend. Just talk to her, you'll see. :)
She truly teaches how to be a critical thinker. If you want plot summary dont take her class because she will reveal a multiplicity of layers within the texts and once you start reading that way, you cant stop. Incredibly important style of teaching to finish college.
Such a great teacher! Tough, but effective. A strong character that inspires and encourages. She also takes time to get on your level and mentally relate to each student to better understand them and their work. It's relieving because everyone is different and she realizes/appreciates this.
Bryn Gribben. Love, love, love her. her class was the best class I've ever had. She is an incredible instructor. Yes she draws connections that are WAY outside of the box into the text, but that is what makes this class so darn good. She has an ability, nay, a talent with developing arguments that back up these "obscure" connections. Love her!
She is a interesting person to say the least. A bit strange, she somehow finds some deep meaning to any random object. It was a challenging class, with a lot of reading. If you go to her office hours she will love you, you'll get better grades on papers. Speak in class. Overall nice person, just weird.
At the beginning of the quarter, I was intimidated by Gribben's teaching style. After becoming more accustomed to her "think past cliches" attitude, I appreciate her more. Her class is hard, but totally worth it. I've grown as a student and thinker because of her. I recommend Gribben.
This was the worst class I have ever taken. Every single thing we did was about beauty. The way she explains subject matter and homework is extremely cryptic.
Gribben can be a little hard to understand if you're not used to her, but she's always happy to clarify when asked and available outside of class for those still struggling. Highly recommend.
I never liked her but as of last week, I hate her guts. She is awful at explaining things, extremely snarky, unclear and grades extremely unfairly. I dread attending her class and I dread how highly she thinks of herself. Awful professor.
Awful Professor. Most difficult class ever, only take it if you like analyzing art and passive aggressiveness.
Really disliked this professor. Harsh grader and incredibly complex and not always logical subject matter and discussions. Her classes are all about discussion, which gets annoying and stressful for those who don't want to be talking the whole class period. Would not recommend her.
Seemed sweet in the beginning, but she's actually really passive aggressive. Thought I was doing well until I received my work and realized what a hard grader she was.
Does not allow you to branch out too much on essays, Gribben creates her own structures for the papers that you have to mold your own paper to.
I don't know why everyone has so many negative things to say about Gribben. She was always kind to me and willing to help. Tough grader, yes, but she is happy to meet up with you to discuss any confusion you have
She seems to be a very nice the first week or so but later on became vey passive agressive. She was not clear on assignments then when the class asked she was very hostile, and spoke to us in a belittled fashion. The class is all about discussion but if you aren't good at expression yourself or creative aspects in writing do not take the class.
Professor Gribben is a fantastic teacher and is always available to help if you need it.
Not for those who are a bit shy to speak up in class bc grade is based on discussion and a few essays. Should have more small group discussions prior to class discussions, quizzes, & paper assignments to help shy people get participation points. Won't check inwarn you if grade is suffering. Smartpassionate but not concerned with student success.
She seemed super nice in the beginning of the quarter but now she assigns random/unnecessary writing assignments that don't really do with anything we're learning in class. She also is very passive aggressive and if you are a quiet/shy person, expect to talk in seminars! It counts as part of your grade!!
She is super unclear about her assignments and if you are to email her she emails back very passive aggressive. I once emailed her and she said that she told me in class and that I should know what needs to be done. Expect to be very confused with her props most of them were pages long. Definitely would not recommend her as a prof.
I had Gribben years ago at the UW (ENGL 281) and decided to chime in when I saw all these negative ratings. I honestly still use what I learned in this class when writing essays (which I do in my job). She gave me tons of feedback, met outside of class, and clearly cared about helping students succeed. If you take her class, be prepared to engage.
I thought she could be a tough grader but super helpful, always there when I had questions.
Yes-she is tough. Yes, she is a lil quirky. Yes, you're gonna have to work your booty off. But news flash, this is college, you can't expect to sit back and pass anything. Bryn has a caring heart and if you show her that you care and really put in some effort she will recognize you for it.
Most egotistical person ever. It is her way or no way. Teaches like high school, and all of it is busy work. Least favorite class I have ever taken.
I absolutely love Gribben's class. Why do these other students expect a robot professor? Gribben uses complex lessons and pushes her students to think deeper. She keeps her students on their toes and doesn't let stale ideas settle. Dr. Gribben has always made time for my questions outside of class and really cares about her students wellbeing
NOT clear H.W, plus she is hard grading and she just want the assignment to be in her style otherwise she will give you a poor grade. She try to make her H.W clear but I did not help me. She makes you read a lot of books, some of them are interested, others are just awful and childish books.
Gribben is a fine person- nice enough to talk to. As a professor...I hate her. Crazy amount of work, both reading and writing. Seems to think that all students are unempathetic and judgemental. Also, service-learning takes up too much time for her to be assigning major papers and readings all the time. Will be avoiding her classes at all costs.
Dr. Gribben is the nicest person you could ever talk to, but as a teacher, she is one of the worst. She assigns weekly journals on top of a paper for the week... You have to work so hard in order to just get an average grade. Her grading is extremely harsh and unreasonable, and if you miss a turn-in date because you were sick, she won't accept it.
The way she structures the class is great and you might actually learn something but she's a tough grader, slightly condescending, and there's a lot of work. Not an easy A that's for sure.
The way she structures the class is great and you might actually learn something but she's a tough grader, slightly condescending, and there's a lot of work. Not an easy A that's for sure. Not the best, not the worst.
So hard to get an A, got a 90 by the skin of my teeth. She is knowledgeable in her field, and is passionate about English and having students reach their writing potential. However, her expectations are too high for introductory courses as she grades harshly. I had to work very hard-- but her feedback is great, and she's a very caring individual.
Easily one of the worst classes I have ever taken. She is a nice person but extremely condescending and opinionated. The workload for a UCOR is also horrendous. Stay away unless you are an art major.
Her homework directions are overly complicated and the homework itself is busy work. She is a very nice person, but often overextends her warmth into situations that do not warrant it. Her class and class readings are extremely white-washed and convoluted. I would not recommend any of her classes
she is very rude and the worst professor in SU, i heard what students said about her but still took the class, and it was the worst choice i made. by far the worst!!!!!!
Worst prof I've ever had. Never available for questions, very passive aggressive, & made me work like crazy because it was a 1 on 1 class. Not only did I have to write 10+ pages every week, but I had to do service hours on top of it. At the end of the class, made me confront my volunteer coordinator about what I thought the shelter was doing wrong
If you want to be told that your interpretation of a text is wrong, be sassed when you don't understand IMPOSSIBLE instructions, and humiliated in front of the class if you are shy in discussions--- then go ahead and take this class. Bryn is by far the WORST professor I have had at SU. She is a great funny person--- when you are not in class
I loved Dr. Gribben! I took her Music and Identity class. It is not easy, but the manageable. 30% of your grade is class participation and a large portion of it is ttending class and talking at least once in group discussions. I highly recommend attending office hours - she gives you the ideas for papers and... be real she is the one grading it :)
I am honestly floored by all the negative reviews here Bryn is one of the best professors I've had at SU. She is a tough grader and her instructions can be unclear, but if you make the slightest effort to approach her and get feedback she is an excellent resource. The ones who don't like her are generally the ones in class who don't want to work.
Dr. Gribben is one of those professors that makes you feel as if you said something wrong in discussions because she has a specific thing that she's looking for, even though discussions are usually open-ended. I felt like it was also hard to get an A on a paper because she would want your paper to be absolutely perfect.
Professor Gribben is not very organized, her homework website is a mess and if you aren't able to access homework materials because Professor Gribben doesn't know how to authorize your access to them, you still get at least 50% off on that assignment. She expects everyone to be an amazing writer and won't hold back on grading you harshly.
Not my favorite class. Lots of work (both reading and writing) that comes non-stop. She gives extensions, but I wish we slowed down a bit more. Instructions were always unclear and she's a very specific grader. Not really open to interpretations besides her own.
You need 4 different books, had to write very many essays on prompts that are unclear. Participation is mandatory and if you don't speak up she will call on you and expect a full answer. I wouldn't suggest the class unless you love writing papers.
Dr. Gribben is unorganized and unclear. Youll get marked down if you dont agree with her 100%. Lots of discussions. And heads up to those who say you can tell her your problems: there is nothing she is bound by that keeps what you tell her confidential. She talks with other faculty AND students about what students share with her. Think twice.
I wouldn't recommend taking classes with her, class is boring and annoying
Dr. Gribben is really sweet! She leads great in class discussions that keeps the class engaging. I'm not one to like to talk in class, but she makes me and others feel really comfortable to share what's on their mind. She encourages her students to think outside the box and to strive for the best.
Class discussions were unbelievably boring. Shes long winded and if you dont like to talk in class, then shell mark you down for it. Quite the ego she has too.
Not sure Id recommend this or Grubben as it was extremely boring and discussions were lengthy. Easy to get a hold of outside of class though so thats a plus.
She will give you things to fix on your papers and even if you do it and make your paper better you won't get a better grade she wastes your time.
Truly a harsh grader and does not take criticism well. She is understanding, which is nice, but does not give much grace when grading assignments.
I would not recommend taking her class Trouble and Tinder. Shes a harsh grader and she expects you to delve into a lot of personal experiences in your papers. If youre uncomfortable writing about and sharing extremely personal life events do not take her class.
I wouldn't recommend taking this. It's strange that she makes you write about very personal experiences, then grades them so harshly, and how can she be considered understanding if it doesn't inform the way she engages with her students? She doesn't take push-back very well either which is ironic since scrutiny & analysis is what we're learning.
Dr. Gribben expects participation, communication, and active engagement with her and class materials. In order to do well on papers and assignments, you need to meet with her and have a meeting, as well as take every single suggestion she makes. She will make you write about and share with the class very very personal stories. Don't take this class
She is a harsh teacher and even if you do what she asks for, she is NEVER satisfied. Even though this class was based on personal stories, she edits them and marks you down on certain parts she does not like. Even when you do revisions, she is not going to give you 100%. I do not recommend it.
Professor Gribben is someone who makes you work for your grade. However, if you are willing to put in the time and effort in the class. While following her instructions on assignments you should have no problem at all. She is a caring professor who wants to know her students.
I took UCOR 1100 Music and Identity as the first quarter back in the classroom. It was hard to balance all of the work from this class with all of the other classes work. She provides feedback and asks you to resubmit but if you don't do it you get whatever you were going to get anyway.
If I were a space alien and I was told to take one collage class, and this was it, I would instantly destroy the earth.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
100%
Textbook Required
50%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.79 avg changeRatings by Course
ENGLISH120
5.0
(1)ENGL110
5.0
(1)ENGL212
5.0
(1)ENG391
5.0
(1)UCOR
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
110013
5.0
HONR212
5.0
ENGL250
5.0
ENG391
5.0
ENG101
4.5