4.0
Quality3.8
Difficulty60%
Would Retake106
Reviews60%
Would Retake
106
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
58
4
21
3
15
2
6
1
6
What Students Say
“He was absolutely hysterical, and I want him to be my husband”
ENGL350 - 4.0 rating“WORST class I have ever taken at Towson”
ENGL350 - 3.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
81%
Textbook Required
20%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.88 avg changeRatings by Course
101
5.0
(1)ENG4036
5.0
(1)ENG451
5.0
(3)ENG475
5.0
(1)ENG353
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
HISTAMERENG
5.0
GRAMMAR
5.0
ENGL321
5.0
ENGL251
4.6
ENGL451
4.0
Reviews (106)
One awesome guy. Very approachable about everything.
VERY CLEAR. HE IS SO HOT! LOL
Funny, good teacher, loves what he does;however someone please call "What Not to Wear" he needs drastic fashion action.
He is a good teacher and is young and interesting but we have papers on really hard articles and a lot of reading. Other than that he is good.
good teacher class is fun, just talk about readings, must do readings but they are short and not all the time, only have 3 papers and u have your choice from the readings, he is kinda moody but when he is he lets you go early
This class is all about reading these boring essays and then having to write an essay on the essay you've read. He is hard in grading the essays, giving no slack and he is really just a big dork.
if you want a funny, smart, young, hot prof take his class.
He absolutely hates conservatives, have fun if your right wing, he grades extremely hard and consistenly contradicts his own philosophies. For this class being a 102 it is extremely difficult
He makes complex material understandable and relevant; the class is difficult because the material is difficult. He knows his stuff. You earn your grade. I've never heard him bash conservatives. The green plaid jacket must go.
He clearly loves linguistics and will open the students' eyes to things they never thought of before. The material is difficult because you have to form a new vocabulary to understand it, but he will explains things until you understand it. Very helpful.
He is very unfair with his grading. The people he likes can get the same thing correct on a test that someone he dislikes will get wrong. He constantly tells us things wont be on the test when they actually are.
Great teacher. Perhaps just for this class, but he was very laid back and a fun teacher. I learned a lot about language and the class projects were a great idea and a lot of fun to do.
Linguistics- Very funny and laid back. He actually made me want to come to class. I had a good time and learned a thing or two. Very interesting class to take if you need a filler.
great prof
Okay, so Cain is fun and interesting at times. He's helpful, which is good, but can be a little inconsistant. Very laid back in class but very hard grader. Where's the middle ground??? "Everything leads back to alcohol for me."
He trues to be "cool" but he's really a bad teacher, and unhelpful to his students. The course material however, is very interesting
Aw, c'mon guys, who's afraid of a little hard work? If you come to class, participate, and study (conscientiously) you'll do well. Sheesh...these kids today...
strange class. the guy busted my ass with grades to the point where I had to drop it. odd thing was that I really liked the guy on a personal level and got a genuine kick out of the lectures. he's got a good sense of humor and real charisma. take this review or leave it; i'm a**** student anyway
great teacher, he loves what he's doing. I had no interest in linguistics before his class, but I have found a strong interest in it through his class. I managed to get an A, it is possible!
Dr. Cain is what a professor should be... personable but not permitting. Meaning you can talk to him and ask him questions, but you have to work hard. If you are college just for the degree and not the education... don't bother with him.
The class isn't easy, but it is by no means miserable. he requires that you read and study-but that shouldnt be a surprise for any english student. he is approachable and accessable. if you have a question- ask him- if you need help- ask him. i had him for two classes, and i had a blast!
Very, very intelligent. Great at getting ideas across to the class - and a lot of fun. Somehow managed to make learning grammar enjoyable. Workload is somewhat heavy, but is always applicable to the subject material. Wonderful professor.
Unbelievable how much stuff this dude knows! He's a fun prof. Kinda cute too, in a big silly hillbilly way.
He's kind of arrogant, and smart-mouthed. Plus, he makes lectures more boring than they have to be. Howvever, he is pretty laid back with grading. Take him if you have to.
Makes Rhetorical Grammar bearable. Though the material is extremely difficult, he is engaging and funny. Very laid back but passionate about material. Needs to find a better textbook though. Wardbaugh is awful. If you have to take 612, take it with Cain.
it is possible to fall in love with this man. intelligent, goofy, confident, articulate, helpful, and funny.
The only man in the world who can make grammar bearable! He's a lot of fun, and I find myself looking forward to class. For a grammar class, that's really saying something! :-P
I was impressed with Dr. Cain's ability to be so engaging about such a difficult subject. I saved this class to the very end because I was dreading it. Now I'm glad that I did, because otherwise I would have had a different professor. Dr. Cain is unexpectedly funny and sort of reminded me of a happier Paul Giamatti.
Somehow Dr. Cain made this grammar class *gasp* FUN! ok well not fun fun but bearable! I dreaded it but he was funny and explained everything very clearly so it was easier to understand. very helpful!
Very arrogant.
Hardest class in the world! Cain made it a little easier to bear with, though. Complicated subject matter, but he gets most of his points across. Be sure to go to class and take good notes, otherwise you'll be completely lost. Also, if you have problems with the material, go to him! He's more than willing to help!
A very tough class, but you could tell he wanted all of us to do well. He tried his best to make things interesting no matter how dry the material, and he was always willing to help outside of class. I recommend him.
Difficult subject but Cain makes it interesting. He's a good laugh. His homework assignments are sometimes long, but he checks it in class and they are an easy A. Be sure to take notes and actually read the book or else you will be very lost!
Very accessible, makes the class fun. Homework is easy and the tests aren't too bad either.
I took History of the English Language with Prof. Cain, and even though the material is difficult, and most of us failed the first exam, this was the best course I've taken at TU. He makes it fun, is very concise about what he expects and you can tell he really loves what he does. If you can, take a class with him!
He wants to be loved. Brings in pizza, curses a few times, talks about music and childhood. The grammar is okay at first. After the mid-term, everything crumbles. It's a complicated subject. Two papers to help bring up your grade and HW every week from the book. Boring topic. I was sleepy many a nights.
great guy. odd jokes and sense of humor, but he knows his stuff. laid back and pretty chill. take him if you can.
Had him for Comparative Grammar. The material was pretty hard, but he explained everything pretty well. Not an easy grader, but if you show up and look like you care (or at least that you're trying) he'll go easier on you. He's probably one of the best professors I've had at Towson. Can't remember the course number...
Taking ENGL 451. The class is hard but he explains things to the point of making them fun and interesting. DREAM PROF! He makes dull things fun, is super approachable, has great style, and is handsome. If he were only a student I'd have him tutor me!
Such a great class if you're an English nerd. Even it you aren't-- still really interesting. Cain is a great teacher, funny, nice, obviously cares about his students. TAKE HIM!
He is funny and cool with an intelligence off the charts. He was truly inspiring. He rewards for great attendance. You won't be sorry for having selected this guy.
Material is difficult but Cain presents it in a very clear way. You will never want to miss class because you miss a lot but time goes by fast if you're involved in the lectures.
This man knows his grammar. Very friendly, and a genuinely good guy. His tests are tough, but if you show up for class and study, you'll get it. He's always willing to help, and open for discussion. Definitely a recommendation, but be ready to work for a good grade.
Prof. Cain is a funny guy who knows a lot about the English Language. If you show up to class, pay attention, and do the review exercises he occasionally assigns, you won't have a problem. I hardly used the book and got a A. He's really good at explaining the concepts of the course and is very approachable if you need help.
Material can be difficult to grasp but he makes it really clear, and the tests are easier than you'd think. Show up for class or you'll miss quite a bit.
Tries his best to make the material interesting. Interesting professor, and it's obvious that he's very intelligent. Papers seem to give most people trouble, but as long a you take his comments and apply them to your next papers, he'll mark your improvement. Very helpful if you are having problems.
A nice guy but his lectures are not always clear or on topic and his tests are really difficult, unorganized and abstract.
Professor Cain is very approachable and tries tirelessly to help the class understand material. In addition to being knowledgeable, he is funny and pretty damn hot. Read the book. Don't expect to comprehend the material if you aren't pulling your weight. This professor is great, and I hope to take more of his classes in the future.
the only thing i can remember learning in this class is that sometimes "s" goes on the end of verbs depending on the subject and sometimes not...bleeblahbluh. He was absolutely hysterical, and I want him to be my husband.
Great prof, HORRIBLE class. It's a lot to memorize but Cain knows this. He is EXTREMELY helpful inside and outside of class. He uses overhead projector with notes and explains everything. The book is also very helpful. He uses exercises right from the chapters so if you study the book you'll do well on exams. You have to study HARD!
This class is HARD. I mean really hard. I'm an A student and am getting a C in the class, but I don't care because I have learned so, so much and have never been so challenged! Prof. Cain is an amazing teacher. Not bad on the eyes, smart as heck, and very engaging. Highly recommend if you're up for it!
VERY hard class. He's a funny dude and is very smart so he keeps lectures upbeat, but you had better do very assignment he gives and more if you want to do well in the class. It's not impossible with a lot of work on your part, but it is VERY challenging. If you want to learn, great class. If you want an easy A, look elsewhere.
This class is hard hard hard. you have to really try to make even a C. The teacher is a great teacher, the material is just VERY hard. Very interesting but very dense and hard to comprehend. Cain is helpful though and does not make you feel dumb for asking question. highly recommended teacher, but the course, not so much.
He is an awesome professor! I had him for history of the English language. The class is very difficult but interesting. Cain helps clarify if you have questions. He's very knowledgable and quite funny at times. Take this class if you are up for a challenge.
Awesome professor, terrible class. He was extremely knowledgeable and very helpful. If you take this class, be prepared for a challenge. BUT I wouldn't recommend the class UNLESS you take it with a professor like him who will help you throughout the semester. Really a great guy.
This class was so ridiculously hard. You will need to spend hours upon hours studying the material to truly "get it." Class was always fun and Cain is a nice guy, but unless this class is a requirement for you, skip it. He does have a strict attendance policy that seems unfair (-5 off final grade per unexcused absence!)
VERY tough class...be prepared for a challenge! But great teacher who actually makes the subject interesting. A lot of information, so you must attend EVERY class!
Good professor, TERRIBLE class. Cain does his best to explain the material but you have to spend hours reviewing to really understand it. Only take this class if its required. I wish I had more time to take additional classes with this professor though.
Very hard class but he is very knowledgeable and comical. Take the class if it's mandatory, if not, take it if you want to learn and disect sentences for fun. Verbs, adverbs, nouns and adjectives seem to take on a whole new meaning. He also adds tidbits of information. Be prepared to read and study. Overall, good class.
I hate this subject but Cain is hysterical. Really funny guy, tries to make things less dull. His test are really tough, he tests on dates and historical as well as author identification. The papers are given well in advance but he's a strict grader. Pop quizzes. but overall pretty decent class for a Brit lit class.
This class is VERY HARD and BORING! DO NOT take it if you ABSOLUTELY don't have to! He's a nice guy, but the material is VERY difficult! This is the HARDEST class I have ever taken at Towson and I had Hahn for English 300. WORST class I have ever taken at Towson. 4 Tests and a VERY strict attendance policy. You've been warned!
I argee with the other reviewers. Professor Cain is a nice guy, but the material is extremely difficult, even for English majors. More than half the class got a 69% or lower on the 1st test. His tests are completely different than what he teaches in class (different material from lectures.) The book is used often. AVOID THIS, IF HE'S TEACHING!
Doesn't teach what will be on the test. One of those professors who just doesn't care if students pass or fail. Avoid this class if you can or take it in the summer.
I have taken Cain for both 350 and 451 (crazy, i know). He is an awesome, kind, but demanding teacher. To clarify the other reviews, the material IS difficult,you have to take the time & be proactive with the material; it IS possible to pass. He is the smartest, best teacher, and I wish I wasn't graduating so I could learn more from him. Take him!!
Yes, this class is difficult, but that is no reason to rate Prof. Cain with a low score! He's very good at explaining material & will always help anyone who is confused. Not to mention, he's hilarious. His personality really helps the class go by quickly, and if you pay attention and study, you WILL pass this class. Be prepared to do textbook work.
Cain is my absolute favorite professor at Towson. His material is dense and can be boring, but I actually thought this class was pretty easy. He explains things extremely well and the tests are a direct reflection of the exercises done in class. He goes over EVERYTHING. Don't let other people scare you, this class is great!
Take this class in the summer. So much more laid back and doesn't care about attendance. Quizzes can be hard because the material is difficult. Probably says the word ambiguity every other sentence lol
I love professor Cain. The material is hard, but feasible.
Fantastic teacher! Take him! He will really help you to understand all the texts and make it interesting and even, dare I say, fun.
He's an intelligent guy, but leaves you hanging when it comes to exams. Tremendous amount of reading required too. Assumes you have a background in whatever he's talking about. Definitely worried about my grade.
The man never brings in lesson plans- he knows everything under the sun! Smartest person I've ever met, genuinely considerate towards his students. The course is hard but he makes it comprehensible and, yes, fun. My favorite teacher, ever. Meet with him in his office and he'll talk to you about whatever. I could stare into his eyes for days.
Just took the midterm for this class. It's impossible to study for his tests. He doesn't provide a study guide and the passage ID is ridiculous unless you have memorized every single word of the numerous texts. He forgets that he teaches this stuff over and over and has an enthusiam about it that we do not. Your GPA will suffer taking his class.
I think Cain's a great teacher (and a funny guy, which is nice). If you takes notes and refresh your memory before class, it's not too difficult to do well. He expects you to try to understand the material & have an opinion, but is helpful in explaining if you're stuck. It's a class you really have to study for. Make sure you keep up with reading!
Prof Cain is the smartest professor I have ever had, and he LOVES the subject matter. This, however, doesn't make him a fabulous teacher. He expects waaaay too much from his students (I am a straight A student) You will enjoy him in class, he is very funny, but his classes are notoriously difficult.
Chris Cain is my favorite professor at Towson. He makes even dull topics interesting and often causes the whole class to laugh. His tests are HARD, though. My advice-highlight everything in the text that he stops to discuss and then study those exerpts like crazy. I don't think it's possible to memorize all the historial facts, just pay attention.
I rarely used the textbook. Pay attention and you'll learn it, and if you have trouble go talk to him. He's a wonderful guy, very funny and cute. He really wants to make sure you understand, even if it means 4 hours in his office studying and building up confidence. Really hot, cute cat.
Professor Cain is really funny! However, the material is abundant and hard to understand; it requires a lot of reading and rereading out of class. The tests are pretty hard. This class requires no papers to be written though and hardly any homework assigned.
He's a good professor and he's there to help, but he grades really harshly. His tests are also ridiculously hard and they focus on history and passage identification, but he barely gives you anything to go on for the ID.
One of my favorite Professors at Towson. You need to go to class. Take thorough notes, and you'll be good! I took this class in the summer. Got an A, don't know if I got a break since it was shorter. Cain is a great teacher. Class is really hard!
Chris is an awesome professor, knows his stuff, and helpful. But, he will grade harshly no matter what. Lots of readings. I wrote more than 6 papers for him so far, still don't know what does he want!!!??? If you like to learn take him, if you want to learn and get a good grade ain't gonna happen and if you want to get A do not take it with Chris.
This guy teaches wayyyyy too fast. I really wish he'd slow down. Even when I visited him during office hours for extra help he moved too fast. No doubt he's smart; it's just that he's kind of in his own head and doesn't convey the information very well. Writes on the board a lot in hard-to-read handwriting. He's not the worst, not the best.
Gives ridiculous pop quizzes about things in stories that are so obscure that you would have to be like Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man to remember them. IE: Who first greets Beowulf? Nobody knows because it doesnt matter or pertain to the outcome of the story. These grades add up to really hurt unless you are some kinda genuis.
The pop quizzes are ridiiiiiiiiiccccccuuuullllooooouuusss. Really. Don't take this class if you have a packed schedule, you'll do a HUGE disservice to yourself. A LOT OF READING!! Take this if you are a Brit lit lover or something? SO passionate about this subject that he doesn't see his students struggling sometimes. Kinda amusing at times
Cain is hilarious and a cutie. He knows his stuff and expects you to keep up. His handout in the beginning of the semester lays out his expectations and he's not kidding. There are not a lot of grades in this class, so make sure you prepare for the tests and take your time with the assignment. This is complex stuff, but he will dumb it down.
He is a funny guy but when it comes to grades and homework, he is not joking! Tough grader but at the same time one of the best professors you could possibly have. He is knowledgeable and will help you if you need help. But seriously, if you're taking him, get ready to read and write.
Cain was a great guy. Very funny and wasn't afraid to be blunt. However, 1st day of class he let us know he had tenure. Not much writing on the board so, note taking was extremely difficult, especially given the subject. If you ask a question, his response usually raised more. I don't know if the class was tough or the professor. Good luck.
Would not recommend this class for anyone who has not dealt with grammar in a while. I am usually a great English student, but this was stupidly difficult to understand. Watch videos of his computer screen every week, and then take a test. If you do not understand that weeks materials, you're SOL. If you know grammar really well, your fine
I can't say enough good things about Dr. Cain, he is one of a kind (and super cute)! If you pay attention, read, take notes, and come to class you will do well. He also has great stories for almost everything. I've taken a good portion of my English classes with him and have done well and had a great time in all of them.
Great professor! Funny, understanding, and great at explaining complex material in related ways. If you take notes and ask questions, you'll do fine--but seriously, do the reading. It helps. He makes linguistics relevant and interesting!
Wonderfully smart and funny professor, makes class worth your time and will truly teach
Don't take it. Quizzes are exceptionally hard for no reason. Please do not take this class.
I consider myself good with grammar, but this class was really difficult. Examples used on quizzes were a lot different from homework at times. There were no interactive or engaging assignments, only readings. I would recommend a different professor, if possible.
DO NOT TAKE. I repeat. DO. NOT. TAKE. His quizzes are unneccessarily difficult and I learned nothing. Even when you think you understand what is going on, you go to take the quizzes and learn that you are clueless. Find another class to take PLEASE
I wish I would have read these reviews. Listen to those 1 star reviews. They are accurate.
He's a prompt grader, super understanding and charismatic.
If you are looking for an easy online class to boost your gpa, do not choose this class. You will spend hours reading over practice materials to not understand the tests. It takes more work than in person courses.
The quizzes are harder than they need to be! Plus, they are filled with trick questions which just seems weird to do. Maybe in person he's better, but online this class did not have to be this hard. 0 stars
Professor Cain is a rather laid-back professor. You need to pay attention as best you can (despite the lectures being pretty boring) to get a good grade in the course. The examples he uses don't align with the test very well as he will use simple sentences in class and more advanced sentences on the tests. The quizzes are easy enough and online.
Even though he teaches it all in class, I would read the first half of each chapter & watch the videos he uploads (on 1.5x speed) to really understand the material. He really wants to answer all questions and help in whatever way he can. Content builds on each other so last month is a little more applied. Ask all of your questions!
Cain was the best part of my grammar class. I only really struggled with keeping up with content and doing the tests. He was great though.
Super chill, funny guy that respects his students. Some of the reading is boring, but he's a fair grader.
I was initially intimidated by Dr. Cain because people told me he was a tough teacher, but they were wrong. This course was easier than expected despite my dislike of literature courses. I'm glad it was Dr. Cain instead of Professor Hahn, who was supposed to run the course originally. Dr. Cain made the course easy to follow and wasn't tough on us.
I had Dr. Cain for ENGL 221 and 459 at the same time. Surprisingly, the courses coincided with one another (Beowulf and reading Old English text). He gives you a quiz every week, but we would do a practice run beforehand. He makes you recite the first 11 lines of Beowulf, but gives you over half of the semester to practice for it. Great professor.
The class is challenging, with tricky quizzes and a lot of reading. But the professor is helpful, and resources like Unstuck AI can make studying more manageable. Overall, a tough but worthwhile course.
dr. cain is genuinely one of the best professors i've had here. its clear he's very passionate about his field. my only complaints with this course were that some of the material was really confusing and there was one student who ruined the class (but thats not cains fault.) not my first course with him and wont be my last!
This is my 3rd time taking Prof. Cain, and I love him every single time. He's so funny in class, an easy grader, and would love to get to know you personally. The hate on Prof. Cain is 90% from non-English majors who simply don't want to work on an assignment or write an easy paper (lol).
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
81%
Textbook Required
20%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.88 avg changeRatings by Course
101
5.0
(1)ENG4036
5.0
(1)ENG451
5.0
(3)ENG475
5.0
(1)ENG353
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
HISTAMERENG
5.0
GRAMMAR
5.0
ENGL321
5.0
ENGL251
4.6
ENGL451
4.0