Excellent. Really wants you to learn and will not assign busy work. Ever. Really big on writing, and very very big on writing papers, but only about five. Has claimed to be a "raging liberal". Hilarious.

Same as in English 112 but more lenient.

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This guy is good. He's in his late 20's early 30'.. tries to be funny:). He made this class very enjoyable for me. Wants you to write very analytic and in depth papers. Learned a lot from his class. Only got a B, but I deserved an A. Not an easy teacher.

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Difficult class - many papers to write and lots of research to do. He's strict about the class rules & attendance too. (TURN YOUR CELL PHONES OFF BEFORE CLASS!) All in all, he's a pretty cool guy, though, but no easy A.

Excellent!

Great professor--one of the best classes I have ever taken

Although he is "HARD," but, he is a "GREAT" teacher. He is more than willing to help you come up with ideas about your papers and how to present them. Also, taking his class will drastically improve your grades on other papers.

Probably one of the harder teachers at NOVA. I learned more from his class than any other class at NOVA. Good teacher and also FAIR.

Bit too uptight regarding attendence. Essay topics are usually not so much fun or easy, Expects essays to be college level(not just blah"). As a professor, he's helpful. But expects your complete devotion to the class.

Not an easy A, but I the guy knew what he was talking about. He was a little uptight if you forgot your book, he would make you leave class, or if you had your phone on, you would have to leave... but other than that, he was cool.

Amazing professor! Goes far and beyond the boundries of english- into history and politics. Not only by taking his class will you learn to write a damn good paper but you will touch on, learn, and probably form new opinions on several topics by the end of the semester.

He was very strict about leaving your book at home - he would make you leave class. But he had a fun way of teaching the material that would get you into the topics. His papers were crap. I hated doing every one of them. But over-all, if he taught a class, I would definitely take it again.

Strict, yes, but very good.

if u want an easy, get the hell outta there... if u want to learn something stay... his essays are hard, so if you have hard times with essays you might wanna not take this class or get started early on them. hes a nice guy and helps if you ask, and tries to make you think.TURN OF YOUR CELL!

i never thought this could be possible, but he was the hardest teacher of my life AND the best teacher of my life. i struggled with every essay he assigned but i really did have fun in his class. he genuinely wants you to learn and will take time out to help you with anything. THE BEST EVER

good teacher, a lot of papers but they were no big deal. what was the deal with the attendence taking? recomend him for anyone.

He is an awsome teacher. The first day of class he scared the hell out of me. I was gonna drop the class. But I didn't. He is very helpful. Some of his assignments are challenging but you'd manage to get through them. The best part of his class is that it's not boring.

Nice and cool. Great class.

He was a decent teacher. He was funny and taught well. If you do all your homework and essays, you will pass the class.

nielson is a cool dude. have ur texts in class or he'll sh*t on u. One of the mostful helpful professors i've had since high school, but a hard grader. Go to class and participate you should be straiht. oh yea i think he MAY smokes pot

the teacher is hard but allows you to look and understand things in a different way. If youre not willing to work, than dont bother taking him. Great teacher, one of my favorite ones so far at NOVA.

this guy makes the class fun and interesting. tough grader but fair.

hard grader but wants you to do well, teaches you how to read things in a new way. really good

not that hard if u do the work. makes english interesting

Mr. Nielson is the best teacher I think I've ever had; hands down. Don't take this class if you're too lazy to try though.

Mr. Nielson has a real charisma in his teaching style, and his classes are always very engaging and enlightening. He isn't a particularly hard grader if english your subject, he knows his stuff about lit, and likes using the socratic method alot to really inspire thought and discussion in the class. One of Nova's best.

great

Nielson was by far one of my favorite teachers. He not only taught me a lot and progressed my writing skills more than any other teachers but he's just a funny guy. He's always willing to help or just make fun of your mannerisms. I'd DEFINATELY take him. I came to NVCC as a senior in HS and aced his class. Its a lot of reading but easily done.

He is a great teacher. I loved taking his class. His papers are a little hard to get used to but it's not that bad. You just have to write a longish paper on a very specific topic. He hates it when you are late. Very good teacher, nice, funny. Definitely recommend this class if you're up for a slight challenge.

His class is hard some times but it can be interesting. I took the hybrid course and really liked it.

Overall, Nielson was a great professor. He was always there to answer any question that you have. His two first essays were tough, but if you get help from him, there not that bad. His final and midterm were openbook. However, one thing you do have to watch out for is not to be late, forget you book, and letting your cell phone ring.

Mr. Nielson provides a challenge to his students. At first I saw more of his red ink on my paper than anything else. But as the class went on I learned ALOT. He's young & very very down to earth. The first day of class he's a little intimidating but after that everything is really fun. He uses modern topics & incorporates them into your assignments

He's hard but its an interesting class and you learn a lot.

This is probably the best Engl class i have ever taken, and normally i HATE english. Class is Never boring, if you arent going to do the work, sont take the class...but for some reason this class just makes you want to do the work and participate...learned more from this class then i did entire 4 years of highschool...awesome teacher, great class

This is a good class. He only teaches hybrid classes which are really good if you like to work on your own. He answers his emails all the time and is really helpful on essays. Its definately not boring either

Mr. Nielson is a great professor. It's true that he does warn you early on that the class is going to be difficult, but that's a good thing. You have to work really hard for an A. Class was always engaging, and he tells you, very specifically, what he expects. Great professor!

extraordinary teacher...definantly take his class if you want a challenge and want to learn a lot about english...hes very strict and a tough grader but absolutely worth it

Good stuff: Learn a lot about analyzing literature and researching. Good discussions. Also, if you're into rap, you could get a good discussion from him. He's always around when you need help, which you will on the essays. Bad stuff: Challenging, but that might not be a bad thing. Big on attendance and cellphones being off.

Mr. Nielson is not easy but you will learn alot. Highly recommended!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mr. Nielson rocks. He is the classic perfect professor (no joke). He demands you do good work, but is clear about what he wants and how you can improve. Highly recommended.

Seems intimidating at first impression, but he's a really cool professor. Class is very engaging, but hard on grading. Your grade is mostly based on your essays. He is very helpful when you need help in his class and will always be available via email. I would only recommend his class to student who likes to stay focused and likes to read and write

Excellent professor, keeps it very interesting.

Be prepared to work. There's no slacking in this class. An A is possible (I ended up with an A)if you do all your work and don't try to bs everything. He's extremely helpful and knows what he's talking about, but his essay topics are really detailed. If you want to actually LEARN something, and aren't a slacker, this class is for you.

This guy is freakin nuts but he's a great professor. DO NOT take this class if you're looking for an easy A, DO take it if you want to learn and not fall asleep in class. Heavy on literary analysis (teaches you how). Do your work, show up to class, participate, and he'll help you get a good grade.

He's great! In the first class meeting, he seems pretty strict, but he's a really nice person. The papers might seem really detailed, but if you need help then he actually reads your paper and comments on it! Oh, and emphasis on the works cited page. He's crazy about getting it right. I liked him though, he was really funny. I'd recommend him

I took him for Honors English 112 a few years ago. He was a good teacher, entertaining, funny. Tough grader though. Doesn't really take any b.s. you have to work hard and study to get an A in his class. But he's def. a great teacher.

I thought I was getting a B but ended up with an A. THere's a lot of work but it isnt that bad and its never boring. Not as hard as some people say.

If you're one of those oh so common NOVA students who want to get an easy A, do not take Nielson. On the other hand if you want to learn a lot and have fun in class by all means take him. He's a garrulous, ingenious professor that knows his stuff; and if you like rap music you'll love him. You'll have to work for an A but it's not impossible!

I don't know what the person before was thinking, but Nielson is one of the most popular profs for a reason. Hes really funny and his classes are super interesting. One of the best I have had so far at Nova.

The good: He is funny and interesting. Class is never boring. I leanred a lot. The bad: Strict attendance and a tough grader. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Take him if you want to have good English experience.

I'm in his class now and it's awesome. It's true that he's hard but he makes you want to learn. The class is way more fun than I expected.

Awesome professor, very clear in what he wants. Is strict but don't be intimidated. hybrid course requires using blackboard every week, 150 word answers. 3 papers total with weekly quizes on the stories you read. overall i recommend him if you want to further improve. A++++ TAKE HIM

he is very strict professor.don't take him. he is strict grader too

Mr Nielson is a wonderful teacher. He expects a lot out of his students.even though he might seem hard at times, he's makes things crystal clear. When he gives an assignment, he wants it done on time, usually doesn't accept late assignments. He's very prompt with it. He seems hard and mean at first, but he's great, promise!!

I took this class last summer and I liked it a lot. It was really interesting and Mr. Nielson is a funny guy. He's really into rap music, which is pretty cool too. Highly recomended!

Take him if you want to get a "D". He is extremely hard.You have to read alot , and he is never content with your work.

This is a great class for serious students. Nielson is very smart and his class is always interesting, however, he is a strict grader and he expects alot from everybody. He is very helpful with students who want to learn. He is also very clear about what he wants. He is not always nice to students who slack off though.

I took the hybrid class last year and it was great. Its the first time I actually learned something in a English class. I like Mr. Nielson a lot. He's really clear about what he wants and he helps you get a good grade. Definitely take him!

I took his hybrid English 112 class. It was a very interesting class. All you need to do is complete all the assignments, double check your papers before submitting them, and read EVERYTHING he assigns. Also, attend class. You will be really lost if you miss a lot of class.

Nielson is on par with 4-year institution teachers - he is educated, contemporary, demanding, and most importantly: clear about his expectations. Make sure you attend regularly, prepare for class, and put some effort into your assignments.

You will know whether you can stay in this class within the first two weeks or so. Do the work put forth some effort. Overall it will be a rewarding experience. Mr. N is very precise about his expectations. Some periods reflect busy work, but still reasonable.

He is a pretty difficult teacher, but very clear in what he wants and expects. Class was a lot of fun. There were class competitions where you could win additional point on a test or essay. Some essay topics are strange and are written in class, but he gives you the topic a few weeks before.

If you have a chance to take one of his classes, jump on it. He's tough, but if you're serious and read what's assigned, go to class, and pay attention to directions, it will be a rewarding, highly educational experience. He gives spectacular constructive criticism on essays. He is deathly honest, so don't bother unless you can take it.

I took his summer class and got a B without killing myself. Nielson is pretty tough but his class is interesting and you learn a lot. He likes rap and lets you write about it if u want. P.S. he is listed as D. Nielson in the catalog.

This was a really helpful class for me. Nielson was very clear about what he wanted and then gave lots of feedback on my essays. He's tough but worth it. His lectures are not boring either...I actually wanted to go to his class.

At first I wanted to shoot myself. He is really strict and explains exactly what he wants. But as the semester went on I really enjoyed what he had to say. Each class was interesting and I learned a lot. He is a funny, young, and nice prof. just do what he tells you to do and you will do fine. if youre lazy and want an easy A don't take his class.

Two friends of mine had him for English and told me to take him. Totally worth it, one of the best profs at NOVA. He is strict but still a nice guy. Funny as hell, Lectures are tight. Tells you how it is, no b.s. Take him, trust me.

I really liked the class. It was hard but I learned more in a semester then in all of high school. Cool dude, pretty strict though.

BEST PROFESSOR EVER!

I had this guy in his second semester at NOVA--six years ago. I said it then and I will say it now in that he is by far the best professor/teacher I've ever had at any level of education. I do agree with some of you about his liberal agenda, however, he is a very good professor. Taking his class will take you to the next level of education.

TAKE HIM!!! This guy is top shelf, easily one of the greatest professors at NOVA. He's tough, but actually treats you like an intelligent adult (unlike most NOVA teachers). Extremely helpful, pushes you to excel, though-provoking assignments and class discussions. Slackers looking for an easy A stay away, but you will suffer for it, trust me.

HE IS A GREAT TEACHER. YOU WILL DEFINITELY BECOME A BETTER WRITER. HE IS FUNNY AND VERY FAIR, HE IS ALWAYS ASKING IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR HAVING DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING THE WORK. HE ALWAYS ANSWER E-MAIL W/IN HOURS. IF YOU ARE LAZY AND ARE ALWAYS LATE TO CLASS, THEN HE IS NOT FOR YOU.

Nielson is one of the best profs I have ever taken. He doesn't put up with a lot of b.s. and he has really high standards bt he teaches you how to do well. Highly recommended if you want to learn something, not if you want an easy A.

He is AMAZING!!! By far one of the BEST professor's I;ve ever had. He really wants is students to do well. He has great office hours and is willing to take the time out to help. He is strict, but practtical. LOVED his class! I recommend him for anyone that wants to learn english and is willing to put in the time and effort to do so.

He is a hard grader because he knows more than you and is honest about your work.If its crap he will say so, if its good he will also say so. I believe he just earned his Ph.D or is close. He is a scholar of Hip Hop and a funny guy overall. As far as a political agenda, people are reading into it too much.

He is by far the BEST teacher I have ever had. He really cares about what you have to say. He is NOT easy by any means, but if you follow his clear instructions, come to class (on time), and do the work, he'll make you feel as though you have truly accomplished something instead of feeling like you passed an english class.

He is a very nice professor and he knows his stuff. Do the work and put effort into it. Not an easy A. Makes class fun.

Great guy - intellectually accessible, interesting lectures, encouraging to students. Tough grader.

His lecture is really good. Must..must...read text. Lots of quizes. Tough grader. Not easy to earn an "A". If you really want to learn then take him.

The class is hard but if you work hard you will get a good grade. I got a B, really hard to get an A in this class. He is a cool guy though and he is really into hip hop. I took him over the summer. The guy goes in depth about the stories that are assigned, so make sure to do the readings. He wants students to understand the symbols, characters,etc

Hes a cool teacher. do your online HW and readings and study and you will be fine. One of the best English teachers at nova I think. Dont plagiarise he will get you. You get to watch a few movies while in the class so I was never passing out or bored, interesting class. overall I think he is a cool teacher.

great great guy. this isn't an easy class though n you do have to keep up with notes/reading to do well but if you like english, nielson is an amazing teacher. he genuinely cares, he's informed, and he doesn't just pass out As - he's a thoughtful grader. i took two classes w him and would take more if he offered them.

My first impression of Mr.Nielson was-hard@$5!But he's like that for a reason..he wants everyone to work hard for the grade they deserve. I found him very fascinating & loved hearing him speak. He is very witty and cutting at times & I love it! Though I only got a C in the class, I learned a lot..It was worth it.

If you want to learn how to write good essay, then he is the one. Very hard, but will tell you the truth about your work. Follow instruction, you will be fine. Will drop the final if your overall grade is A or B. Take him and do expect to spend lots of your time in writing and reading.

A hard teacher but a really interesting one. If you want to learn how to write a better essay TAKE HIM. Loves rap music too!!

He was my favorite professor last year. He gives great feedback on essays and makes the class challenging. Its definitely not for slackers, but it is a "real" English class. I am going to take him again for 112

LOVE this guy. He is a very easy teacher, all you have to do is follow instructions. Read the stories he assigns and you should get 100's on ur quizzes. He cancels the class a lot for online/at home work but stays in his office if u wanna c him. GO SEE HIM! He will be honest&help u fix ur homework before he grades it. And hes hot.

The best professor you'll ever take for English. I don't know how much more lenient he is with grades in the B/below range, but this class is hard to get an A in. Be ready to work, actually try hard (it's about time, it's college), and then actually feel GOOD about yourself when you pull off a high grade. Take him if you care about your education.

This was one of the best classes I have taken at NOVA. Mr. Nielson was awesome. A LOT of reading, but we did a lot with music and popular culture as well as lit. Its the only class that I never skipped. I definately recommend this class.

The BEST teacher I have had. I wish he taught every subject because then I would know it all. He appears tough but if you're doing what you're supposed to then you'll learn alot and have fun. There were not many assignments I disliked and he shows alot of interest in the students that show interest. Take him if you want to learn not get an easy A.

I rarely ever, and I mean EVER, bother my time to write reviews and I decided to this one time because it is the least I can do for this AMAZING teacher. He teaches so well and I learned so much that I can take out of class. Please don't miss out! You won't be disappointed if you love to learn and are willing to put in the effort! :D

This guy is an excellent teacher, but you have to go to class and do all the work. He will help you understand the material, and his classes are very interesting. I highly recommend taking an English class with him--you won't regret it.

He is by far the best English teacher I've ever had. He is super intelligent and very helpful. I enjoyed attending his class and learned so much from it. He may appear tough, but if you work hard you can get a good grade.