He's a great teacher, very funny and he gives you all the advice you'll need about your writing. Normal assignments are about a page long double spaced and his lectures are really interesting, I almost never look at the clock during his class.

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He's awesome, loved his class, very funny and well prepared. Swears in class sometimes. He's probably reading this right now lol.

Good. Preoccupied with MLA format.

He's the best prof I've had so far!! His lectures are extremely entertaining while able to actually teach new materials. Intructions for assignments are super clear and well prepared! Always available for extra help whenever you need him!All in all.....GREAT PROF!!!

Duffy is an awesome professor, his methods are different, but he is honest about things. He demands a lot of effort out of his students and he actually wants you to do well.

Very fun teacher, I have him for a 8am class and the fact that he actually makes me want to go is pretty impressive. He's not an easy prof, but not hard either, just do your work, pay attention, try hard and you'll do well.

Most interesting professor I had all year, I actually didn't mind getting up before dawn to get to his class.

Duffy was one of my favorite profs ever!!! He's not easy but he wants you to do well and is happy to help you whenever you need it, although his expectations are not over the top either. He actually made me look forward to a 9am class

interesting prof, i think he's good at teaching but don't expect high marks

Overall, I believe that he is a very caring prof and has a strong interest in his students. Also, he is hilarious and quirky- on the first day he reminded me of Buster off of Arrested Development (an incentive to attend class). At the start of classes it was easier to gauge what he wanted in terms of writing, but as the year progressed I felt that

Duffy is one of the most caring profs I know. He challenges you to think and write and turned really dry english 112 material into interesting stuff...he provides a lot of insight on things! IF YOU CAN WRITE PROFICIENTLY/CLEARLY and TRY HARD you will do well.

very cool prof! class is entertaining, one of the most interesting profs i had. class recommended

duffy is a pretty cool prof. i took him in the summer. the class was interesting. as long as you try in his class, you will get the grades. office hours are very flexible too.

Amazing prof. Gives very clear instructions on how to write academic articles, but unless you take your writing seriously and put effort into persistently asking for help, you may not do that well. If you seriously want to learn how to write papers for the next 4+ years, make sure you have him. If you only care for the grade, don't bother, because

Duffy is an engaging professor and his teaching strategy actually makes sense. I learned a lot from his class.. BUT... he gives terribly low grades. My english class' average is almost 10% lower than most of my friends'!!

Great prof! If you enjoy english he is far far better than the other engl 112 profs because he gives you the opportunity to do more than write a boring research paper. But only if you know how to write!

love u duffy :)

Duffy was my favourite prof in first year. He's really funny and my writing actually improved as a result of his class. He give a lot of assignments, but all of the writing was incredibly useful.

Duffy REALLY cares about his class (I highly suggest his office hours!). For you complainers, he's not going to serve you your marks on a plate. You have to work hard and think hard, and if you do, then you will get what you deserve. Doesn't tell you what to think, gives you stuff to think ABOUT. So you need to put in effort, duh.

Duffy is a GOOD professor, he knows what he is talking about and actually makes you want to come to his class. bottomline if you want to learn how to become a better writer hes the prof to go to, but if you don't want to put in the effort you're out of luck because he does mark hard.

Duffy is definitely not your average english teacher. His class is challenging and people seem to dislike him... But i happened to enjoy his class very much. Also took his 112 class before. he makes you work for your grade and i found that to motivate me!

Duffy is an awesome instructor. I have always had trouble expressing my ideas clearly and logically. After reading his reviews on this site I was expecting awful grades bc of my difficulty writing but was surprised to receive Bs and As for my work. THINK CRITICALLY, LEARN PASSIONATELY, WORK HARD. That's why you're in school right? I learned SO much

Awesome professor. Slightly hard class, but definately worth it, I would recommend him.

English was a class that I never liked coming into university. Roberts made it fun and interesting. At times, it seems difficult and he does push you and make you think, but he does it out of you doing well. Has good sense of humour. Just follow his criteria and stay on top of your work and you should do fine.

He's really funny. I thought I was going to hate this class. But, his English lectures were awesome. I actually enjoyed his lectures. I recommend him. You get a lot out of his lectures. I have more confidence writing now :) Totally awesome prof.

Duffy is an extremely interesting prof- always makes generally boring Eng112 into a class I look forward to attending. He puts a lot into his teaching, and I'm SO glad that he is my prof. While I was told to dread Eng112, I consider it one of my favourite courses now! Keep up the good work Duffy! :)

He's generally a pretty hard marker, but I really enjoyed this class on Canadian lit. He's engaging and picks really good readings (in my opinion), and I actually looked forward to going to this class. Final exam was open book, and he basically told us what was on it beforehand.

I hated English before university and having already taken one course on it in university I hated it even more. However Duffy made the class so much better and interesting!

Although English remains one of my most unfavorable subjects, Duffy's jokes and enthusiasm encourages students to complete readings and work diligently on assignments. Definitely take his class!!

He has lots of inspiring stories. I always look forward to this class. He makes English 112 one of my favorites!

Duffy, as he likes to be called, makes Eng 112 more like a stand up comedy show. Our topic was about education itself and I thought it was really cool deciphering the minds of other undergrads. He is a hard marker. I worked my butt off and managed a low A. Take this class if you want to learn. Don't take it if you want an easy grade.

Duffy is the best prof.

He is a great prof. Very clear with his expectations and although he is tough to please, you can expect a decent mark if you manage to follow his instructions carefully.

He is a great prof and is also very funny. Makes the class a lot more interesting and entertaining.

Either you'll like Duffy or you'll hate him. His class is always interesting and entertaining. He encourages you to think, but is extremely critical and condescending about opinions you share. Office hours > lectures. I learned a lot from him, but he doesn't give free grades. You really have to work for a decent grade. Highly recommended.

Duffy's lectures are very entertaining and fun to be in. He's very enthusiastic about his job. He can be a bit cynical at times though. You will definitely have to work for your mark, but he marks very fairly. If you dedicate some decent time to your research paper and follow his instructions, you will get a good mark.

More entertainment than anything. My overall impression of him is someone who will arbitrarily give marks to people. He prefers to talk about his daughter in class than actually lecture. Never used the book he told us to buy. If you genuinely have a strong interest in English, maybe take him. Otherwise, go for someone else.

He's a pretty good teacher. Confusing at times, but he'll explain it more clearly if you ask. He marks fairly for an English teacher. He definitely doesn't give free marks but he's a really interesting lecturer. Take his class if you want to learn and you don't care much about grades....but I mean, who doesn't care about grades. It's reality.

Duffy is an amazing prof! Incredibly inspirational and funny. I don't understand what the fuss is all about regarding low marks since I was able to get an A- on an essay completed the night before it was due.

Don't take him if you only go to class for the grades. Duffy is an awesome guy who expects his students to THINK about the material and actively take part of the discussion. He forces you to be insightful about everyday things. If you want to grow not only as a student but also as a person, go take his class.

If you want to do well, you NEED to go to office hours. Ask him specific questions and he'll help you fix your paper or clarify instructions. I went throughout the term and I found him very helpful. Although I didn't learn much in class, I looked forward to that class the most that term.

Great professor! Some of the comments below are simply unwarranted and over-the-top. Although I must admit he marks very strict (I got a C+ on my assignment), that is the case with most University level English profs. What you have learned from High school is totally irrelevant to University, so don't play the blame game, blame yourself.

Duffy is awesome. Yes he makes you actually learn things and you need to know the material but it only makes you a better reader. He is really understanding so don't feel scared approaching him. sorry first years who left rude comments but university is hard. you must use your brain. the course isn't daunting at all. very fair work load.

Duffy requires that you really get the material. It's not just about what the message of a story is. It's about the bigger picture each story contributes to - both on its own or simultaneously with others. Both exams were fair as were the assignments. I think it's important not to take his criticism on your writing to heart. FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS

Duffy is a nice and helpful guy. The syllabus of 112 was useful. Follow the instructions, and you'll be sure to get a good grade!

Gives very precise instructions for assignments. As long as you are thoughtful and concise in your writing there's no reason you can't get a good mark. Prepare to spend a LOT of time on the work, it's quite time-consuming. He made ENGL 110 very interesting, although he is a pretty tough marker. His comments on assignments are extremely helpful.

One of my favourite professors at UBC. If you work hard and follow instructions you will do well.

Really really cool guy, dont take any of his comments to heart and you'll love going to class. Follow the instructions for an easy A. Ignore all the sour comments, you wont regret taking english 112 with him.

Prof. Roberts is FANTASTIC. Seriously, I HIGHLY recommend him for any first year English course because he actually TEACHES you how to write clearly and concisely. I learned so much in his class and he's hilarious so lectures are never boring. Assignments are a breeze if you FOLLOW HIS INSTRUCTIONS, so just really pay attention in lectures.

Highly recommend to take this prof! He is an amazing prof and awesome lecturer.

Prof. Duffy has a sarcastic sense of humour which I really enjoy s. He encourages lateral thinking and practical writing. Most useful English class I have ever taken.

I was never a strong writer nor did I enjoy writing, but I really enjoy his lectures! His sarcasm may come off a little strong, but he makes class engaging and teaches the material as he says he will. His classes are structured, just follow his instructions and have fun :) Thanks for reminding me that grades aren't all that matter.

He gives the most hilarious and entertaining lectures I have ever attended. Yet somehow, he still manages to completely and effectively cover all of the course material. His humor sometimes comes off as a little too sarcastic, or weird, but believe me any class taught by him is worth it. Tough marker but is very clear about what you did wrong.

He is very clear with what he wants from students. I wish my science profs were the same..

Would describe as: "your friends funny Dad". Duffy is hilarious. He tells you exactly what to do and if you do it you will do well.

While I get that people may find Duffy harsh, I think he's a great teacher. And I'm not saying that because I've gotten great marks nor does he love me but because his bluntness is reality and he doesn't try to shield us from the real world. I always enjoy his lectures and if you actually follow instructions, it's not hard to get a decent mark.

Duffy's a funny and honest guy which makes lectures entertaining. Consistent A's aren't likely if you write uninspired, trite papers for him. He expects interesting and succinctly written papers which means you'll have to put in more effort if you're not used to it.

Duffy's English 112 class is definitely not for everyone. He's often sarcastic and blunt with his instruction, but that's because he's honest and he genuinely wants to help you improve. I found the skills he taught to be very beneficial to my other classes. You might not do well in his ENG112, but it'll probably boost your mark elsewhere.

Super sassy and entertaining. Can be surprisingly caring as well .

Duffy isn't like a lot of other English teachers. He may be a hard grader, and sometimes his answers are ambiguous when it comes to the logistics of the assignments, but he genuinely wants to see his students improve as writers. Additionally, he forces students to break away from the University writing stigmas and lets you be creative. Wonderful.

Took his course back in my first year. Looking back, he's one of the few professors that I still remember their full name. He deeply cares about students' well-being, and has a unique sense of humor, that some may find boring. If you have trouble in this class, go visit his office hours; he's welcoming and will be more than happy to help you out.

The best professor ever!!!! Definitely take him again if I have chance!!

Dr. Roberts makes me love English!! I really hope he could teach some upper level courses so that I can take his course again!!!

Great class, made me like English again after being scarred by first year English. The readings were plenty, but all were engaging. I would take another course with him

He genuinely cares about his students and their wellbeing and will go out of his way to make sure each individual is doing okay. He grades really hard but that is because he tells you exactly what to do and if you follow his instructions, you will no doubt get at least an 80 in this class. By far one of the best profs I've ever had

Extremely hilarious guy throughout the semester and makes an English lecture super entertaining, especially for someone who doesn't like English. You don't need to be someone who puts their hand up a lot to do well in his class. Less group work than what you would expect of an English class. Guaranteed to make you laugh and smile.

Prof Roberts is brutally honest and will share his various opinions. Sometimes, he can be inspirational and will share life lessons. Other times, this can be cringy to listen to. Overall: hard marker, interesting lectures, good feedback, high expectations, strengthen writing skills, decrease confidence but your future writing will have more depth.

I had this class in the morning, but it was worth it because Duffy's english classes are never boring. He's very funny, caring, and such a down to earth genuine human being. He teaches and explains everything in order for you to get a good mark. So if you show up to class and listen, and try your best,, you will be fine. 10/10

Duffy was an amazing prof who really cared about his students. He was hilarious but keep in mind he did make you work for it. Gave some assignments that were difficult to keep up with cause lots of reading. He really expects you to go above and beyond and wants you to think outside the box. But overall hands down was my favourite class to go to

There were a lot of readings, but I don't think he asked that much of us. He was a great professor and made English interesting.

Amazing professor. It is a shame that he won't be teaching anymore literature classes. He made the course very interesting and discussed content different from the usual 110 classes. He provided great feedback and made sure we were prepared. As long as you pay attention in class, easy A.

Professor Roberts class was the hardest class I've ever taken as well as the best class. He is very supportive, intelligent, and challenging within reason. I wouldn't recommend taking this course if English doesn't interest you, however if it does, I would one hundred percent take this course.

Although Duffy is pretty outspoken about his political beliefs, he is very caring and fair when it comes to his class. He's an enjoyable prof and really funny. Additionally, its extremely easy to get a good grade in his class: just follow the instructions exactly as they are and don't overthink them. He's always available outside of class.

Duffy was really caring, and the course materials were interesting. I recommend taking his class!

I had Duffy as a Professor in first year when everyone was nervous and very scared of this "whole new phase" in our lives. At first, he appeared to be a strict, menacing professor, but he always cracked jokes and made us smile at the end of the day. He is the most caring prof I had that year. Get to know him a bit, you'll learn that were all human.

This class was really fun! You do a term paper, a creative project, reading quizzes, a journal assignment and a final exam. The reading quizzes were done online because of covid and they were fair. Make sure to keep up with the journal assignment! He's a pretty fair marker in my opinion, he's pretty great.

Honestly such a great prof, he is so funny and makes the lectures super fun!

He is a great English prof, with lots of freedom in terms of writing. I learned a lot both for life and writings, very inspirational.

Solid prof. Understands students and finds a way to not only teach course material, but life skills as well.

He's so good! Really good prof but assigns a lot of readings. They're very interesting though and asks for feedback in the middle of the semester which is really good. Would take again! Makes class really enjoyable and interesting.

Assigns a lot of readings but they're generally very interesting reads! Is very understanding and accommodating!

Duffy is extremely understanding and cares about his students. He will understand your reasons for needing an extension and grant them to you. This is the most down-to-earth and humbled teacher at UBC that I have encountered so far. I never wanted to skip his class because it was always humorous and informative.

Out of all my profs so far, Duffy is one of the best. He is funny and his teaching style is very effective. Lectures go by quickly, I feel like I've learned so much from his class. He is more of a labour-based grader, meaning for some assignments, if you do what the instructions tell you to, you will get full marks, regardless of correctness.

Prof Roberts had clear and organized lectures with instructions for every paragraph you have to write. I did not feel confused at all and his lectures were like an outline for your writings. Just follow the instructions, understand and listen, and go to office hours if you felt confused about anything, he is always there to help!

I enjoyed FRST 150 with Duffy! He is so helpful and replies to emails in detail and quickly. He made me feel confident writing papers as his criteria and outlines were extremely clear. The office hours are also great to get your paper looked over. He is always willing to chat during office hours and helped me write a cover letter for a job as well!

The assignments are super clear and easy to follow. Duffy gives great feedback and is always ready to help, and his lectures are engaging and informative. Workload is very manageable, just stay on top of it.

His lectures are interesting and the course content seemed to all have a good flow/set us up for the term research paper well! I personally enjoy reading/writing, and thought that this class provided me with useful information for the future as well. Additionally, I liked him as a person, he seems like a genuinely caring guy.

Best prof ever!! Duffy is super nice, funny and helpful. He gives clear outlines for the assignments and mark according to that. He also lots of feedback and is super friendly.

Duffy is super helpful and accessible outside of the classroom. His lectures are very engaging and he gives a lot of good feedback. He has a clear marking outline, and you will do well in his class if you follow the marking rubric.

Amazing prof. Very funny and entertaining lectures, super supportive and accessible outside of class.

He's a labour grader, so if you just do the assignments according to the instructions, youll be fine. He is the nicest professor at UBC, and understands if school is stressful for his students (gave us grace periods for assignments). Make sure to email him and go to his office hours for help because it'll benefit you! His workload isn't bad either.

Cool and funny guy. You'll hear a lot of stories about his daughter to keep you entertained. He's a labour grader and focuses on growth/process. He gives grace periods for assignments and cares for his students well being. Overall, great prof! He's the only prof I genuinely enjoy listening to.

Duffy is a great professor who really cares about his student's growth and learning. I took LFS150 instead of WRDS and I'm really glad I did. Workload is manageable as long as you stay organized. Instruction/rubric are extremely clear and you get to choose your own articles.

If you need a course for communication credits and are not the strongest at writing like myself, take FRST 150 with Duffy no brainer. As someone who HATED essays and writing in general Duffy made it somehow fun. He emphasizes on learning more than grading so you can you can focus on writing rather than how you will be graded

so funny in class, very inspriational

Duffy is a great professor who makes the class fun and engaging. He provides clear instructions and gives helpful feedback. unstuckstudy is a useful tool alongside the course materials for study prep.

i currently still have this class at the moment but he truly is very kind. he makes everyone laugh and really wants everyone to be respected.

Lots of small tasks to do every lecture so you need to keep up with them to put as a project assignment. Pretty descriptive on what you need to know in the rubrics. The lectures can be a bit boring but his jokes make it a bit better.

He was really nice, but my sheer stupiditiy is no match for even the most committed of professors.

probably one of the most entertaining profs i had in first year, funny guy and cares that students are respected. he provides labour based grading, so some assignments were ungraded. the criteria for assignments is very clear and he provides encouraging feedback on your writing. he also brought snacks every friday which was a nice surprise :)

Duffy is a legend. 10/10 1000/1000, best professor- and also the class is really not that bad, its' pretty standard english-y course and he makes it so much funnier than I was expected. He's a great guy, take care of yourself, take care of others, I love you platonically, see ya next time.

Amazing class, amazing teacher. Sets clear standards and really cares about his students. I've never had a teacher made essay writing so easy. As long as you do the work and listen to his instructions you truly can't go wrong in his class. His stories and jokes make the class fun and he's very accessible outside of class