He will do anything for his students. Very clear and easy to understand. Incorperates music into the circulum in order to make things more enjoyable for students. He is the best english teacher I've ever had and definatly, the best teacher @OCC. Take him!

great teacher...many opportunities to get good grades other than just your papers.

i LOVE him. i had him for creative writing, and it's seriously an amazing class. he makes the class fly by because it's so fun. :)

Took 2 classes w/him. He is very nice, tries to make eng fun. Grades on point system which allows for points to come from class excercises, and attendance, as well as 3 major papers, which is helpful. Highly recommend him.

Very helpful. Made class entertaining with out loosing track of the discussion.

Not as glowing a review as others have presented. I liked him quite a bit, but I've had better professors at the same time.

Totally awesome and modern teacher! He'll just give lectures and fun stories while drinking coffee in front of class. GREAT class to be in and fun too! Awesome teacher.

Awesome professor. Dr. James made this class a pleasure to attend. This is coming from someone who hates to write and was scared to death to take this class. Lots of extra credit. Total of 3 papers to write.

Great professor. Really easy to ask for help, yet demanding of the srudents in a way that they understand... very clear

Dr. J's an awesome creative wwritting teacher. His writing's fabulous...especially the been poem. He's hot to trot!!!

I actually look forward to this class each week. James offers ample time to complete assignments and doesn't burden students with meaningless busy-work. Interesting class with a knowledgeable instructor.

Awesome professor, I was definitely NOT looking forward to this (required) writing class but he actually teaches you how to write, and his lectures are relevant and interesting. Plus we got a 10 minute break every hour (3 hour once-a-week class), definitely makes a long class easier to get through.

I hate creative writing, but I did enjoy him as an instructor. He really cares about his students. He is older, but adorable!

Very difficult grader, but always willing to help and wants students to succeed. Hes a wonderful teacher and you learn a lot from him. Just dont expect an A.

He is tough on grading. Don't expect an "A" but he is very helpful.

Great class, and you can certainly expect an A as long as you know how to write. He's also quite nice.

Has an awesome way of teacher. Lots of group interaction. Its very different from most classes- but the guy grades for****. He tends to grade based on his interest in YOUR topic. Don't expect to get a A. Hes one of those teachers that seems to like certain people better then others and grades that way as well.

Dr. James is one of the english teachers I have learnred most from. He is a wonderful teacher. His lectures are not boring, he always has something diff. to do every time. He is the type of teacher who explains things fully, he is always willing to help out his students and he teaches you everything you need to know from a-z. I rec. him to all!!

He is my favorite professor and I recommend him to everyone. He is so nice and gets to know every one of his students. He is a little tough on grading papers, but it is only so his students can learn from him. Whether you are good in English or not I highly recommend taking James for English.

I am not one for writing papers. I was scared because I heard that his grading was tough. If you hand your work in on time and make an effort in his class he recognizes that.Those that say dont expect an A I think are wrong. I know a few in my class that got A's. I ended up with a B+. He is a graet teacher, you will learn alot from him.

Great teacher! The kind of teacher that makes you want to do well; to let him know he's doing a good job. Thanks. VT.

Dr.James is a great professor! He was very laid back and funny! I am taking his class this coming semester. See ya!

AWESOME!!!

Love his teaching. Just love him

Dr. J is great. One of the best professors in the State, let alone OCC. His classes are very interesting and students will learn a lot. He cares about his students and wants them to do well.

Professor James has a very BIG ego. This class was pretty easy, but he was very judgemental. Poetry is all about being creative and if he didn't like it that was it. There was no other feedback. Other than that the class was ok. He puts you on the spot a lot, so you better be comfortable with getting up in front of the class.

Dr. James is an excellent professor. The class is designed to make you feel uncomfortable by getting each student out of his comfort zone. It definately helps the creative side and you get used to it after a few class periods.

best english teacher ive ever had he really loves his job!!!!!!!!!!!

He is a great teacher, goes into detail on everything, group quizes, time between writing assighments, and he is a just a very nice person, always willing to help.

Dr. James has an ego, but other than that he's a pretty cool guy. He will help you out if you ask. Sort of a tough grader but he lets you make stuff up for a higher grade. His quizes are done in groups which is nice if anyone does their work :) The class seems to drag on sometimes but I would say he's not horrible. Make sure you GO to class ;)

Dr. James is a great guy, good prof. But he is a very strict grader. He is also very anal when it comes to "works cited" pages. 3 papers, 2-3 group quizes, final inclass writing and a final quiz make up your grade. If your truely willing to work then he will work with you. Just do not expect this to be a blow off class.

The best college professor I've ever had. Makes class-time interesting and fun. Obviously loves teaching and helps students as much as possible. Hilarious and a great speaker, also has a lot of experience in getting work published--great for creative writing students. Not a blow-off course, but it's worth the effort. Highly recommended!!

You will probably never meet a nicer English professor. He goes waaaaay beyond the call of duty to help no matter how bad you are. However, don't be fooled by his smiling face and soft music. Fair warning! Only sign up for him if you really, really want to be a better writer and want a great teacher who wants to help you get there. He's a joy!

Extremely organized. Genuine interest in student learning material. Uses group method for test taking. A must for anyone taking college classes and expecting to write papers.

Nice teacher, all-around good man, keeps class interesting and the music during down time is a nice touch.

Awesome Professor. I learned a lot in this class. Total of three essays each progressively longer and of a different writing style. Lots of MLA format, but he is more then willing to help and edit your paper for you before you hand it in!

Dr. James was the man. I loved his class and he was always willing to help his students. He made this class an enjoyable one and I'd recommend him as a professor to anybody.

He's a great professor, really nice, gets to know everyone by name. He's really helpful and is not a harsh grader if you just follow his directions

Decent guy. friendly so you think, but i got WAY more friendly teacher at my university. knows his stuff, however hes a community teacher and probably is a little TOO strict at times. Interesting class. Worth taking.

TAKE PROF JAMES! He will challenge you to think abstractly, obviously... he's a creative writing prof. Very knowledgable, fantastic writer, and hilarious. His writing activities are awesome and creative. As long as you can read a rubric, you know what's expected out of your portfolios. His anecdotes make learning that much more fun. Love him!

Cool, funny, great teacher. He is very knowledgeable, knows everything about writing. This is not an easy class but you will learn a lot and become a better writer. He is always willing to help

Must attend every class

Professor James is one of the best Professors I've ever had. He is very laid back and always happy to talk to everyone. He has a way of inspiring everyone in writing. His classes go by very quickly because they are so fun. If you wanna have a good time and learn a lot then take any class with him. Text books are easy to read and have good info.

Dr. James is the BEST professor . VERY knowledgeable (u?ll learn A LOT from him!!), smart, funny, cares about students, helpful, clear on what he wants for papers. u?ll never get bored in his class . But, it?s not an easy class and when it comes to grading he is very picky yet fair. Make sure that you don?t buy the book, you?ll never need it.

Dr. James was amazing. I would recommend him to anyone. I thought his class was fairly easy, although I'm sure some people would disagree. I would love to take another class with him! The book, however, was a waste of money. We never used it.

GRRRET Professor Just Go to class EVERY DAY, dont leave early or you will be marked half. But he has a great sense of humor! In class he play soft music that help get the mind going! Best profesor @ OCC! Remember to Ask for Help if you don't understand because he would be happy to help you!

Fantastic experience! Doc, knows his stuff and finds creative ways to involve the entire class. Had him for Adv. Creative Writing & Intro to Screen and Stageplay Writing. I would recomend prof. James for anyone with an English or Writing majors or just for the sake of enjoying the additional credits.

This professor obviously has a bias when grading papers as stated by an earlier rating.I was shocked that an ESL student who barely wrote sentences that were comprehensible got a B on the paper we turned in and I got a C.I received an A in my previous writing course. HMMM

I took his Eng2780 class online, he is prompt each week with an outline of what's expected, his feedback to your play/screen writing is very helpful, and as long as you participate each week for the assignments you'll do fine! Highly recommend him, I took this class as an english major- NOT a play/screen writer- and learned so much!

Honestly yes he's a good teacher but grades REALLY hard and expects a lot of his students. Also has a huge ego just because hes written a few poetry books and has his phd. If your looking to write a few papers and get out with your hands clean and a good grade I recommend not taking this prof.

Don't buy the textbook! He never uses it! But a GREAT teacher!

I thought he did a great job. He gave good, constructive feedback to my writing.

Dr. James sincerely tries to be a good teacher and make sure that his students learn, however, his grading is extremely difficult and I had a lot of anxiety while writing the essays for his classes.

Although he grades hard , he is very fair . He is helpful and shows students what's beyond the typical writing . Force students to produce more especially in critical writing .Let you chose your own topics to write about after he approves it.Uses multiple strategies so students can apply new skills into their research papers. i highly recommend him

Passionate and interesting teacher.

Fantastic teacher. Very unique and creative. As others have said on here, you do not need to buy the textbook. Although, there are benefits of having it. Very hard grader but rewarding in the end! 10/10 for this professor!!!

Great personality and great editor, though his lectures are very watered-down. Grading can feel scattered sometimes, ranging from very difficult to easy. Helps the student understand what it’s like to be a working writer. He'll also give notes on anything you give him, whether it's for class or not. Takes the time for you if you put the time in.

Grades papers very hard and punctuation is very important to him. Great teacher to take because he pushes you to do better than before. I would take his course again.

You do not have to be an amazing writer to get an A in this class. For papers, he grades on content and on grammar. I don't consider myself a good writer but I easily got an A in the class and he helped strengthen my abilities. He gives breaks and doesn't like cellphone usage. He's a great guy but is tough; grade wise, you get what you put in!

Tough grader. Organized instructor. Email responses could improve. Prepares you well for upcoming assignments. I became a better writer. I spent so much time on this course. But I recommend this teacher.

Very clear expectations. Always available to ask questions and help if is needed. Opens your eyes to what you need to do. Teaches essentials that you will need throughout the course. Attendace is a must (its worth points). He's a tough grader and will make you work for what you want.

He's an over good teacher an I enjoyed his class. All quizzes are done in groups.

Took him for Advanced Creative Writing. He's a great teacher, explains concepts and ideas very well. He was very friendly, open to conversation and giving feedback, provided a good atmosphere the entire semester. Never dreaded attending this class! Always enjoyed it.

Dr. James is one of the best English teachers I have had the pleasure of learning from. I heard he was tough and a hard ass, but really he just wants all of his students to succeed. He is a writer himself, and so he holds students to their full capacities as writers! This class was good for my writing and educational development.

Dr. James brought me back to the ABC's of English. You have so many opportunities in this class to become a better writer. If you're looking to learn this is the class for you. Don't be afraid of him or to ask questions, he loves teaching and has great time management skills as well. Would take one of his classes again in a heartbeat.

If you ever need help on a paper definitely go in for Office Hours!

The class is basically just writing a few papers. Its an easy grade. Do what you need to do and be a good student and you are fine!

Enjoyed the class! Great professor that cares about his students. He is really funny and a cool person. He does grade hard, but it pushes you to work harder to make your papers perfect. I learned some really good tips in his class. The point of this class was to improve and he did a good job at making that happen. Always ready to help!

I learned a lot and felt inspired

Intro to Screenwriting was so fun because of Mr. James! He assigned fun assignments and it made me look forward to doing homework. Truly enjoyed his class.

He gives extra credit when you attend class, rewrite your paper, and submit your homework. Returns your paper with positive feedback. Encourages group activity / quizzes. If you can't take the am class, you may ask in advance and attend the pm class. Gives you time to write your article. He is approachable, helpful and has good sense of humor

Dr. James is very knowledgable in the world of English Language Arts. He's very clear and concise on his expectations for all the assignments, and is more than gracious to offer any guidance and support that he can. If you attend class, ask questions, and do the work - there is no reason you shouldn't get an A.

As long as you do the assignments and put one in the helping circle you will get a B or higher. You mainly have fun in class, even on days that he gives a "lecture." He's willing to talk about anything and will review assignments before they are due so you get extra feedback.

Professor James knows what he is talking about. He gives group quizzes and gives you some extra credit. He cares about his student's success; he will make you work for your grade, but it is doable. He loves it when students come for help; it is what he is here for. Ask questions, do your best and do become lazy!! Do not procrastinate!!!

Dr. James is a great teacher and is very knowledgeable. His classes are fun and entertaining. I would definitely take a class with him again.

I can tell he is really passionate about his teaching. He gives you some useful researching and writing techniques that you could potentially use for other classes. Great professor. You will be writing papers professionally in no time.

Don't come into this class thinking it's an easy A. You definitely have to work for your grade. Don't procrastinate when papers are assigned. You MUST study the MLA format. Don't think you can skate by without it. Knowing proper format will help you tons in this course. Lots of group activities, including group quizzes. If u are lazy beware!

Dr. James is such an amazing professor that after I had him for comp 1 (ENG1510), I also took comp 2 (ENG1520), and creative writing (ENG2800) with him! He is a tough grader, but he pushes you to be a better writer. He plays music in class, and allows quizzes to be taken in groups. I really loved him, but know that he will me you WORK for an A!!

Dr. James is one of my favorite teachers, and I hope to take another class with him again in the future. He is kind, and really cares about the growth and well being of his students. He gives good, honest feedback on your writing. I have grown so much, and look forward going to class each week. You will not be disappointed if you take this class.

Opened my mind and understanding to many written works

You have to put in work to receive the grade you desire! As a professor, he is a tough grader, but only because he wants you to be a better writer. Be willing to put the effort.

Dr. James is calm and paitent. He really brings you back to the ABC of english. Lots of group work and group quizes. Final exam takes 30 minutes. Write three papers and evaluate others essyays, before it is due. Easy A.

Provides warm and open atmosphere in order for students to give positive and constructive feedback of rough drafts in class. Always looked forward to coming in for his class.

Dr James is an amazing teacher. He does however make you work for your grade. His class is very lively and he makes English fun. You need to be engaged if you take his class also you cant pass this class without knowing MLA. He does a lot of group quizzes and assignments. I took him in the summer semester so we went really fast.

Loved Professor James. He is very knowledgeable in writing and he truly cares to give you the best feedback possible in all of your writing. He is very encouraging and kind and always makes everyone laugh. Wants students to succeed. Yes it is a lot of writing and rewriting, but that is the absolute joy of it. Would recommend calls and professor.

For a 7 week course, it wasn't that bad. I was kind of overwhelmed with the papers at first because we had a 5 page, 6 page, and an 8 page paper, but it actually wasn't bad. He gave a clear outline and an "A" example for every paper so we knew what was expected of us. The assignments were really easy, and I spent most of my time on the papers.

Dr. James is an amazing Creative Writing professor. The material he shares with the class is very useful but ultimately it's your writing that matters, and his feedback is incredibly helpful. His positive feedback is encouraging, and when your work is lacking he is honest about it while always being kind and guiding you through making it better.

His lectures are fantastic and his grading criteria is always clear. When it comes to grading, he is strict but fair. Don't take him if you want an easy A, but definitely do if you want to learn and get better.

I took him for a creative writing class. Easy A as long as you show up and turn in the work. Only downside is you will never know your grade in this class. He does not update grades until he has to for your transcript. Show up to class or you will get 8 points taken off your final grade, but besides that very nice and personable professor.

This professor makes you put in the work for your grade, but is a very fair grader. His assignments prepare you for the papers you are going to have to write. All in all, I learned a lot from this professor, but would not take from him again if I had a choice.

A really great professor to take if you like writing at all. He's super fun and personable. He encourages class participation in a way that isn't overbearing or overwhelming. His attendance policy is very strict and grades are not posted anywhere.

In terms of creative writing courses, Doctor James is a great instructor. In the syllabus he makes things very clear on what he expects from the class. He gives great feedback in the notes he writes in your drafts as well as bringing them up in the helping circle for the class to discuss. Some of his feedback may be confusing but he means well.