3.0
Quality3.7
Difficulty40%
Would Retake128
Reviews40%
Would Retake
128
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
28
4
26
3
19
2
37
1
18
What Students Say
“Besides that, there is not much to love about this class”
WR120 - 2.0 rating“Class is earnestly intolerable”
CASWR150 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
82%
Textbook Required
40%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
+0.07 avg changeRatings by Course
WR101
4.0
(1)WR152
3.4
(16)WR150
3.2
(53)WR100
3.1
(35)WR150TRATHO
3.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
WR150K3
5.0
WR120
4.5
CASWR150
4.3
WR101
4.0
WR150TRATHO
4.0
Reviews (128)
puts a whole new spin on the seemingly boring world of Homer and Plato
the worst professor ever. hes helpful but totally unclear.
he is a burn out, very funny though, and very laid back
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Incredibly difficult teacher. Never talked about the books we were reading, but about his important breakthroughs about puzzling textual questions in the scholary community. Made me miseralbe in a subject I truly enjoy most of the time.
He's a nice guy, but pretty unfair (ie he spoon fed people their final papers). He also concentrates more on his own scholarly breakthroughs than on the material you read.
He's enthusiastic but crazy (who else gives you comments back on your papers that are longer than the actual work you've written) If you take him: you will improve in your writing, you wont do as bad as you thought you would-- but you also wont get an A
he's a loon - absolutely cracked. agree with above poster that papers are spoon fed -- repeat his drivel back to him and watch the A's roll in. enthusiastic but depressing. "required reading" not needed, you can get an A with Oedipus alone.
Awesome teacher, the epitome of what a college professor should be. He knows the material but puts his own intellectual spin on it.
Wonderful instructor. Very passionate and interesting. He spends painful amounts of time analyzing indiviudal seemingly minor points in literature, yet it is very productive. He will make you a better writer.
insane
I hate this class. I have never hated writing so much in my life until i took his class. The course was definitely not what i imagined it to be. Syllabus changed. Where is the violence and sacrifice? He's insane. Cares so much about his own theories.
Classes are based soley on lectures!!!!!!
THIS TEACHER IS THE MOST INSANE FREAK OF NATURE I HAVE EVER DEALT WITH. COMING FROM COUNTLESS TUTORS WITH POSITIVE FEEDBACK ON WRITTEN WORKS, NOTHING COMES BACK WITH MORE THAN A C FROM THIS UNINTELLIGENT AND ILLOGICAL MAN POSING AS A PROFESSOR
Really intelligent man, his personal theories were interesting and I appreciate the new perspectives he offers and the underlying points he tries to convey. Unfortunately, grading sucks, he contradicts himself in his criticisms and is very unclear.
I took Degener's class a couple years ago and it didn't help with my writing at all. If your a person who likes originality in your papers don't take his class cuz all he wants are his ideas which were somewhat brilliant.
degener is very into his own theories (which isn't necessarily bad).
awful, awful, AWFUL!! he is just so full of himself.. and don't even think about disagreeing with him. That is just a NO, NO! Discussions as so boring.. and I do NOT recommend him as a writing professor. I swear Im worse at writing now because of him.
The syllabus got thrown out in the first week of class... assignments were all crammed at the end of the semester. DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS FOR WR-150. No matter how hard you try you wont get higher than a C on your papers unless you're one of his favorites
For the better or worse, he's an intelligent guy, definitely in love with himself, but passionate about the subject. Values intuition and originality more than correct grammar.
Prof. Degener is a genius whose mind is always crystal clear. His original theory on Aeschylus' Agamemnon is so compelling that it demands to be heard. Lectures are wonderful. He gives good comments in papers, which are challenging but helpful in training as a critical thinker and a good writer.
LOVE HIM
Time is running out... I wish that his classes would never end.
Please, DEFINITELY take his Tragedy and Thought class - it's one of the classes you have to take in life, for the search of your "full personal satisfaction," and "the genuine self-definition that's really human"... (quoting from Prof. Degener after Election 2004) I miss this class.
One of the most amazing profs I've ever had.
Undoubtedly amongst the most brilliant teachers I've ever had. I've never had such insightful help on my papers, and everything about his class and theories are just fascinating! Take Tragedy and Thought, it's incredible.
Class has been off schedule since day one, and classes have been cancelled every other week-often after midnight. Rants about his pet theories and often is misleading and inconsistent. Has some good ideas, but has a hard time getting them out there without going in circles.
Perhaps my worst professsor ever at BU... oh wait that's an understatment, He is by far the worst. If you are forced to take this class make sure to bring a tape recorder and regergitate all of his ideas (he fails to present other scholars perspectives) in class on your next paper and you might get a B, if "your ideas" are not his, expect a C-
Seemed like a good prof. for the first few weeks, then the class took a turn for the worst. An average day: put some kid on "The Hot seat" where he yelled at him until he admited to not reading the assignment. Then went on to say that the reading was above everyones head anyway and that we coudn't grasp it. three words, Pompous Pertentious Prick
extraordinarily pretentious. veers off topic all the time in class, rarely gives A grades. chooses favorites. his tragedy class is really boring, especially at 8 in the morning. the readings aren't that interesting either. spare yourself and don't take his class.
Tragedy and Thought: He is very pretentious. Class discussion is like pulling teeth because no one knows what he is asking. Does not like opinions that contradict his (remember this when writing your papers). Syllabus is useless after the first week (you never really do anything that you are supposed to in class).
you only have hope in this class is if you're a girl... That's all that needs to be said
A VERY VERY VERY intellegent man that knows what he's talking about... if only the class knew what he was talking about... a good guy who can't teach, the best thing about this class is that it's over
Professor Degener has some very interesting ideas but they don't seem relevant in this course. He is very dedicated to the study of Classics, which doesn't bode well for a required BU course. His lectures are frequently off-topic and his expectations for papers are way above average.
Brilliant man who unfortunately can't teach. Taught class as if it were a classics lit class not a writing class. Never discussed the writing aspects. Loves his little pet theories (don't try to contradict him on your papers). BORING discussions. Unless you love classics...run the other way(maybe even if you do love classics, you might want to run)
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Degener is an engaging lecturer but the subject is pretty boring. I don't reccomend his class. He's not very helpful as a writing instructor, and the class will just lower your GPA as he rarely gives higher than a B+, most grades are around the B- range. He's also a liberal.
I have no words to describe what a hideous teacher he is. He is the embodyment of pretentiousness. DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS. He will never give and A, he never presents other scholars' points of view and he is ALWAYS right. Oh, by the way, he is right and every other scholar in the world is wrong!!! DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS, YOU WILL SUFFER.
This professor's passion contributed to my motivation to learn to express myself well in writing. Pity some of my classmates don't understand the relevance of learning more about ancient western civilisation (lit & philo.) I guess they wanted to write about their spring breaks....
Knows what he's talking about, but will only lecture on his own point of view. Tough grader. Beware of writing a paper that contradicts his ideas.
Wow this class was crap. I took the Carnival WR 100 class, and it was basically just listening to him ramble about stuff no one understood. He was crazy, yelling and getting into it most of the time, which was entertaining at least, sort of, if it wasn't complete garbage. Grades really tough. Only interested in his own opinions. Upside is he's nice
Took his WR100: Visions of the Grotesque class. we had to buy like 12 books and we literally read maybe three of them, only actually discussed two of them in class. rest of the time was spent listening to him shout and ramble about absolutely nothing, no one knew what was going on in class, and he's a hard grader. upside = hes a nice guy
At first i thought Degener was a little eccentric and overly passionate, but by the end of the semester most of the people in my class really came to like him. I would definitley take another one of his classes. This is the only class i've taken where i felt my the grade i received was equal to my ability. -wr100 carnival!
Degener is truly brilliant; however, you should wait and buy the books when needed. During class, contribute! He loves hearing peoples' opinions about the novels. Though he is a tough grader, he is lenient with turn-in dates, and he puts in a lot of effort in correcting papers. The grade you get reflects your effort. Use tutors, he loves that.
Prof. Degener was by far my favorite professor at BU so far. I took his Kafka class and was expecting it to be tough, which it was, but Degener is extremely helpful and available to students. If you need help with a paper, he'll even let you call him at home. Discussions may be painful, but if you participate frequently, you'll get a good grade
yes, it?s work. yes, you have to think. no, he?s not unfair: you CAN get As & he loves new opinions--he'll just [rightfully] challenge a weak/flawed argument. don?t listen to these bad ratings. take his class, do the work, enjoy the time you have with this brilliant, inspired prof! before you know it, it?ll be finals & you?ll be upset it's over
Degener does not appreciate new ideas, contrary to what the post below states. He even admitted and actually said in class that if he does not understand an argument due to his limitations, he will reject the idea and give the student a bad grade. Degener does not possess the qualities of a good writing teacher.
Degener def made me see what a genius Joyce really was, however, his class is quite intimidating. He really likes his opinions and elaborates on them a ton, but enjoys hearing others talk too. Overall a lot of work, but my writing improved. Very flexible office hours (gives you his home phone if not).
The class is more work than it's worth. He is a good guy, and has interesting things to say though. I just hate English, and don't expect to spend as much time on homework as for a science class with lab.
HORRIBLE TEACHER, THINKS HE IS THE BEST WHEN EVERYONE LAUGHS AT HIS HORRIBLE COMMENTS WHEN HIS BACK IS TURNED. but really, i think teaching kafka so much made him forget what reality was. he needs to stop thinking he's so great.
prof degener does NOT like new ideas, despite comments below. he is stubborn, not only in his political beliefs, but also in his interpretations of kafka, analysis which he himself cannot defend as well as students do. He will give bad grades if you do not aggree with his arguments (I'm not just saying this, I actually got a good grade in class).
Professor Degener is a motivating, animated, and insightful teacher. He opens himself up to his students and inspires a want to learn. Despite the other comments on this page, he most certainly is open to other ideas and opinions and is glad and willing to help you develope them. If you put thought and effort into your work, you'll get a good grade
He is not a great professor at all. He rambles a lot in class and doesn't explain assignments thoroughly. I honestly believe my writing got worse through the course of the semester. Would not recommend him.
This is more of a literature class than a writing class. If you have difficulty understanding James Joyce (like most people) don't expect to do well. Grades papers according to his own opinions, will take off points if he doesn't agree with your arguments, even if you support them with evidence. Don't take this class.
Great guy, great voice. You'll *learn* from this guy--and enjoy it.
Had him for a writing seminar on Moby Dick. Seminar was largely lecture as he saught mostly to validate his own opinions. There were 3 assignments randomly added to the syllabus a day before they were expected to be due. Assignments and writing techniques were left largely unexplained. Lots of unnecessary worry and hardship.
By far the worst professor I've ever had. Incoherently rambles about whatever is on his mind. I think we actually talked about Moby Dick 5 times over the course of the semester, and he impossibly grades papers. He told me to include something on my paper on the draft, and then it was wrong on the final paper. Avoid this professor if you can
You will never know what to expect from Degener. He is extremely partial to his own opinions, don't try to argue anything that he doesn't like. Really enthusiastic about Moby Dick, but so much that it becomes lost on the audience. Rambles a lot and doesn't make a lot of sense. Has really difficult office hours, and conferencing is never punctual.
While his lecturing style may not be the most organized, he is one of the most sincere and didactic professors I have ever had. His occasional ramble comes from his extreme enthusiasm for the text, which is inspiring and makes the experience more fun and enriching. If you are looking for an easy A, this is not the class. Go to his office hours!
A very skilled lecturer, and actually knows what he's talking about. He's very knowledgable and detailed in his analysis of whateever text you read for the course and can help you understand it. A very difficult grader, but if you take his corrections to heart you can get an A.
Having this guy as your teacher in a small class is the ideal introduction to college, if you ask me. He loves the reading, loves writing, loves being in the classroom. and I think he's a pretty easy grader. I'm no writer, but I'm doing A-minusish
Not as bad as some of the comments. Has a tendency to go off on tangents. Worth it if you have a strong interest in the material
This guys underrated, I'd say. He's totally dedicated, focused, intense but funny in a geeky sort of way. Not a hard grader, in my experience. Try him.
Great guy and loves to teach Joyce, nevertheless, office hours are impposible and he doesn't really explain what he wants in the essays
Discussions (arguments) are governed directly by his opinions. Spontaneous thought process makes discussion difficult. Do yourself a favor and read beforehand and fall asleep in lecture.
After taking Degener, I can understand why some people dislike him. He does ramble quite often, and injects his opinions consistently. HOWEVER, he has a great passion for what he does, and is always willing to conference with his students. His grading is very fair and getting a good grade shouldn't be that hard. I definitely recommend him.
I read several reviews before taking his Whale class and was pretty much prepared. His rambling can get annoying at times but the entire class seems to always be on their laptops anyway so you can do other things during his rants. His availability outside of class especially phone conferencing is unmatched and really helpful.
Undeniably very excited about teaching. His desire to work with students directly is unmatched and he really puts in the extra effort for conferencing. I have conferenced with him on sunday mornings and thursday nights etc. Don't expect a step by step walkthrough of how to write a paper, he focuses on the broader realization of writing a good essay
Took this class mostly to go whale watching and because all the other classes were full. BAD DECISION. Degener is genuinely a nice guy at heart, but his discussions quickly become one-sided arguments in which he focuses on the most mundane and minute details. HE talks in circles and convoluted sentences making class a bore. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
Rants for a majority of the class then asks why no one wants to talk about their opinion. Often times if he doesn't agree with what you're saying he'll cut you off mid sentence. Definitely wouldn't recommend him to ANYONE. I scheduled a conference time with him and he decided to go home half way through it. DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS.
how can you complain about a class about TELEVISION! Degener's intense, but he's nice and sort of goofy and he's made me a better writer. Helpul in office hours, not a hard grader either.
Watching TV = Great! BUT, he is a rambling king. "Lets have a class discussion, this is how I see it (goes on for whole class, except last 5 min)" Not easy to get an A on a paper. If he disagrees with you, than you receive a B.
He really makes you think about television in new ways. I loved this class and the subject matter, and Professor Degener makes himself available constantly for conferencing. Great guy, great class.
Although he is helpful with ideas and edits, class discussions were terrible. He constantly belittles you, making you feel that what you have learned in the past, even past college teachers, is wrong. If you want a good grade, always agree with him. If you don't agree with him, he thinks you are wrong and you won't get a good grade.
He was alright. The shows were the best part of the class. He's picky though. Def one of those professors that marks your grade down if you don't agree with him. He rants. A LOT. Go to his office hours. They suck (7-8am), but he's helpful. He likes class participation and can be very excitable and loud in the mornings. Read the assigned articles.
He's a really good guy. Very helpful and insightful. Very cool guy. Gets a little lost in class conversations but I would highly recommend the class.
Dreaded coming to this class. Demanding amount of TV to be watched every week.. can talk for the entire class. Following the bombing at the Boston Marathon, we had a discussion about that which made a fair amount of us uncomfortable (very opinionated statements made by him). That said, he is very available and a fair grader.
Very passionate, but sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming. He tries to be open-minded, but ultimately he can only see his point-of-view. He talks a lot and gets sidetracked very easily. Very flexible with his office hours. There are a lot of shows to watch but considering that it's entertaining television, it's really not bad at all.
I took The Brothers Coen w Degener to fulfill WR150 because I love Fargo and The Big Lebowski. The course material is so interesting and Degener points out details that I would have missed in the films, but there is minimal class discussion and he is very condescending in his lectures. Lots of reading and twice-weekly posts to class email server.
The man is a cartoon. I had the 8 a.m. and while his zany, theatrical tendencies helped me wake up, they also grow old pretty fast. His way is the only way. I actually feel like my writing got worse because of this class. However, my critical thinking skills may have marginally improved. Favorite quote: "It's not you; it's the reality we live in."
Degener is a quirky guy who clearly really cares about what he's teaching (Coen brother's movies). He talked a ton during classes and would argue with students opinions if he didn't agree with it (sometimes it was fine but it got annoying). The 2 times a week listervs sucked. Sometimes a rough grader but he gives lots of feedback.
He is a great professor but very opinionated. He will try to convince you that his opinion is correct. He has very interesting stories. If you make appointments with you he will take care of you.
He is very passionate about the films he shows. It is largely a lecture based class, but your opinion is welcome to be argued. This course teaches you to look at film in a new light, but is not for someone who loves group discussion.
Degener is a very passionate Professor, however this is not as good a thing as it may sound. He has VERY specific opinions and is not open to new ones, so if you want a good grade, you'll have to cater to his ideas. On the plus side he is very available to conference with, either in person or over the phone.
He's a passionate guy but will sometimes limit you to his own interpretation of the works. Especially in his Coen Brothers film class. I personally thought it was interesting, but he tends to speak to his students as though they were Film graduate students as opposed to kids just trying to get their writing requirement done. Overall, a fun guy.
good guy 10/10 would take again quick shoutout to the coen brothers
I took both WR100 and WR150 with Degener and he is a great guy, but definitely not for everyone. He has a tendency to take over class discussions and force his own opinions, but in turn he's very enthusiastic and more than willing to help anyone. Class was always interesting and the workload wasn't too bad, just be aware that he is a tough gradr
Degener is a bit of a wild card. He's a tough grader but allows for revisions and is VERY accessible outside of class, so papers can be redone until they're perfect. Man is a little eccentric and sometimes rants on and on in class, but overall he's a good dude. I enjoyed the class (Coen Brothers ftw) but it was a little stressful from time to time.
very accessible outside of class and really cares for his students. he is very set in his way so it is hard to write what you want to write because he will negate it. really nice guy and has a lot of energy but sometimes it just is way too much.
Some people love him, some people really don't love him. He is very nice and very accessible outside of class, but he is also very opinionated. He tends to take over the class with his own opinions.
A diamond professor, a real gem. He's a cartoon - zany and crazy - but very intelligent and super funny. He makes an 8am enjoyable. If you put forward an idea that isn't thought out, he'll bat it out, and some find this insulating. He's also a rigorous grader. But all in all, he's one of the most memorable professors you'll have. Take his courses!
This guy is super interesting and I could listen to him talk all the time. Has a very zainy and energetic personality. However, he restructured the WR120 class for the entire school, so his class is the most difficult in comparison to every other WR120 class. He is very disorganized and expects you to read a lot - especially for the third unit.
If one were to never attend class and instead do the assignments, never seeing Degener, they would probably understand the material better and have better mental wellbeing. Degener absolutely humiliates students in class. Constant stream of stressful emails that all seem urgent yet somehow I could have never read one and still been okay.
Degener has his moments; hes a very well-spoken, generally interesting guy with a lot of quirks. Hes extremely passionate about his field, especially the Coen brothers filmography (my class focus). However, his lectures are often extremely tedious and repetitive, and he is one of the most disorganized professors Ive had. Wouldnt recommend.
Degener is a quirky and funny guy who is passionate about the Coens films. Besides that, there is not much to love about this class. You DO NOT *REPEAT* DO NOT watch the films in class and his class requires MUCH more work than other writing classes (You do a 100+ page portfolio). Lots of reading too. Save yourself the trouble. Don't recommend.
The way that Degener teaches is pretty jarring for the first couple of classes; he's wildly energetic and oftentimes repetitive. But after awhile, I began to get more on his wavelength. His class isn't great, but I rated him highly because he's incredibly accessible and EAGER to help you. His feedback is very thorough and helpful. Lots of fun!
Degener is an amazing professor if you already are interested in the topic, but if not the class can be very overwhelming with the amount of work that is assigned (a total of 50+ pages of writing throughout the semester). However, he is super responsive to emails and will always meet you outside of class if you need additional help.
Degener is incredibly accessible outside of class, and he genuinely cares about his students. However, he mainly lectures, you dont discuss things. He didnt follow the weekly schedule he programmed for the course, and the back half of the class was incredibly crammed because of that. The workload was also insane because of the amount of reading
Professor Degener is honestly probably one of the coolest professors you will encounter at BU and he is extremely invested into his students. His class is definitely a shock at first but if you show the same enthusiasm for the Coen Brothers as he does then you will do just fine. My advice is not to take the class before 9 am.
Some people just dont get him. He knows these films inside out, so when students offer their opinions about certain things, he knows its wrong and he cuts you off. If he cuts you off just cut him right back, dont be shy, speak up. Get on his wave and you will have fun. You can argue with him. He is an eccentric guy and wouldnt take offense.
Taking Degener's class requires the same approach he takes to studying the Coen Bros. If you go into it expecting something conventional, then you're gonna be thrown off thirty seconds in. If you choose to dive head-first into the absurd, though? Well, you might just end up enormously confused (like I was), but it'll still be a hell of a ride.
Class is earnestly intolerable. His problem is not, as other reviews say, being dogmatic about his takes on the movie -- he's actually alright there -- it's that he is god awful as a professor. His arrogance completely overrides his ability to teach, he repeats himself for an hour making one pedantic point, and then grades like a mf. DONT TAKE HIM
Degener is a character. Very funny, and interesting, lectures A LOT, very confident in himself and his ideas. Sometimes you just need to agree with him on his perception of stuff. Sometimes the lectures are just way too much of dense topic matter, but he's very animated and you can respect his love for the Coen Brother's even if its boring or smth.
Generally annoying and condescending. Gets wayyyyy too open about his personal life in class. Asks questions in lecture that are so obvious they seem like tricks. Its not too hard to get an A if you just follow the feedback he gives, you get chances to correct old work. The work is really demanding on your time considering its a hub class.
I don't even know what to say. This guy doesn't let his students talk ever and if you get the chance to get one word in, he immediately shuts you down. He also only announces big assignment right before they're due. I would never take this class again. This class hurt my self esteem, mental health, and GPA.
Almost had to call an ambulance because of how bad my panic attack was from this class. That's how much work there is. I had to write 16 essays in 10 days because he didn't tell us anything was due.
Degener is a nice guy, he cares about students, and I found him funny at first. However, this man is insane. He will ramble for entire class periods to the point that it throws class weeks off schedule. He will repeat lectures from previous classes literally verbatim. No organization or communication about homework, yet there is so much of it.
There's a good amount of work in this class, but grading is fair. Really knowledgeable on the Coens and sometimes goes on rants, but sometimes you just have to role with it. He's flexible about due dates if you communicate with him that something is going on or isn't working right and always offers great feedback. Favorite teacher!
Degener is the one teacher I would reccomend to take at BU.Lectures are engaging and unique he's extremely intelligent and creative and inspires that in his students.Cares about students mental health and is sympathetic about the rigor of BU."Days of grace" structured into the syllabus.Extremely openminded and loves to hear new perspectives.
This class will be super easy for you if you just learn to zone out the entire time. Prof yaps the whole class and the only discussion takes place in the last 10 minutes of class. Extremely boring class, makes you read 5 papers a week and constantly bombards you with emails that contradict and confuse you. If you like your sanity dont takethisCLASS
Hands down the best professor I've had at BU. He is extremely eccentric and knowledgeable about the Coen brothers. I could sit and listen to him speak for hours. You will have to write a lot, but he is very accommodating about due dates and also gives phenomenal feedback. Don't take his class if you don't want to engage or put in the effort.
Degener is one of the best teachers I have had in my life. He is probably one of the more knowledgeable scholars of the Coen Brothers worldwide. Degener rambles a bit during lectures and assigns lots of work, but if you pay attention, he will change the way you think about movies forever. Buckle in and get ready for your mind to be blown.
Professor Degener is very knowledgeable and can talk about the Coen Brothers for the whole class 75 min without stopping. Some of the viewpoints are extremely inspirational for people who are not film and TV majors. But listening to him talking the whole semester is still kinda a burden so take it ONLY if you are super passionate about films.
Degener is undoubtedly intelligent- I would gladly go to any Coen talks he gave on my own time- but he is a horrible professor. Brash, stubborn, unrealistic, lectures just to hear himself talk. Gives you a random 50-page worksheet doc with zero instructions, then demands it done in the last week. Greatest regret at BU is not dropping in week 1.
One of the most interesting professors you will ever have. His class IS disorganized, you won't always know what's going on, but he is very approachable and loves to set up conferences outside of class to make sure you are on track. He really does know what he's talking about and you'll learn some incredible things from him if you pay attention
Degener is a very interesting guy and can make for a good lecturer, no doubt about it. BUT, his class is so convoluted and confusing that it absolutely is not worth taking. Taking this class is like going through a maze with the amount of random folders and assignments. His standards for writing and analysis are EXTREMELY high.
crazy guy likes to hear himself talk all class
Degener is without a doubt a character. Assignments and due dates get switched around a lot so it's confusing when stuff is due and how it should be done. Degener is more lenient than you would think for grading and gives grace with due dates. The class was easily the most memorable part of my 1st semester (for better or worse).
Professor Degener likes to hear himself talk, a lot, just so happens that I also like to hear him talk aswell.
Professor Degener is super knowledgeable about film, especially the Coen brothers. His lectures can be a bit rambling, but engaging if you're invested. The workload is heavy, but he's understanding. unstuck ai was a lifesaver for exam prep.
He is very passionate about what he teaches but DONT TAKE THIS CLASS IF YOU JUST NEED TO FILL A CREDIT. He is very nice and caring but this class was so hard and there are absolutely no guidelines to anything. He will assign a 8 page paper that is due in a week. Interesting class but if I could go back I'd choose something easier
Prof. Degener knows a lot about the Coen Brothers, but the course is very disorganized. Assignments come with little notice or support, and expectations aren't always clear. Lectures can drag on one small point too long. With more structure and awareness of student backgrounds, this class could be much better.
Always thinks his opinion is correct so you have to run any paper ideas by him or you won't get a good grade. Degener is the most insane professor you will ever have, not necessarily in that he's bad, his classes are just insane. He jumps around screaming + gets VERY passionate. Definitely entertaining, but might not be worth it to take his class.
Unique lecturer, often went on tangents.
Do NOT take this professor if u want specific deadlines or want direction. He talks a LOT sometimes he is entertaining and other times very boring. Very hard to understand what he specifically wants you to do concisely.
Avoid this class if you want clarity. Deadlines and expectations change on a whim. More an intense film studies class than writing seminar. For sure interesting, you will learn a lot, but prepare to have a decent bit of work.
I enjoyed this class. I never knew what to expect walking into lecture, but always left entertained. Hes very easy to reach out too and I definitely improved my writing skills.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
82%
Textbook Required
40%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
+0.07 avg changeRatings by Course
WR101
4.0
(1)WR152
3.4
(16)WR150
3.2
(53)WR100
3.1
(35)WR150TRATHO
3.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
WR150K3
5.0
WR120
4.5
CASWR150
4.3
WR101
4.0
WR150TRATHO
4.0