4.3
Quality2.9
Difficulty81%
Would Retake110
Reviews81%
Would Retake
110
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
78
4
14
3
7
2
5
1
6
What Students Say
“One of the best professors I've ever had”
121 - 5.0 rating“Class is great but not simple, he expects you to hand in every assignment on time”
ENGL121 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
91%
Textbook Required
68%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.27 avg changeRatings by Course
ENGLISH121
5.0
(1)ENG235
5.0
(6)ENG236
5.0
(1)ENGL235
5.0
(2)AMERLIT1
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
CINEM105
5.0
ENG236
4.0
FILM105
4.0
ENGACCT
4.0
ENGLISH122
4.0
Reviews (110)
Professor Ryan was very unclear in his directions for the class. I found his class to be boring, though it seemed as if he did try to make it more interesting, but the class lacked a great deal in instruction and directions. Compared to other classes that I have taken with other professors I would have to say this was my least favorite class.
He is a very helpful man. If you ask him for extra time on papers he will give yu as much time as possible. If you do not understand something he will go over it with you until you do. We went on a few field trips wqhic was quite fun and knowledgable.
Jack was definitely one of the better english teachers I've had. He is extremely helpful and does give extra time for papers, but don't take advantage of it. You should have a good time in his class if you like going to the library a lot.
He expects a lot from his students. Some of his papers are hard to do because they are very open ended. Class is always fun and interesting. He can relate well to his students and is laid back...except when it comes to grading. He grades quizes/tests easily but is a lot harder on papers. If your looking for a real challenge, take this class.
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DON"T TAKE HIM!!!!
His directions were unclear and the class was quite boring. It seemed as if he tried hard to make the class interesting, but it simply wasn't.
I would never take him again.
This was a good class. I never felt uncomfortable asking questions and he was very avaliable for extra help.
His class was one of the best if not the best class i've taken at brookdale. very intresting and helps you understand the material. easy grader...
After taking a class with Prof. Ryan you would never ask "how many pages?" or "how many sources?" because he makes research so interesting that you just will ant to go deeper and deeper. If you follow his instructions and advice, your papers are going to be easier and better. Take him. ENG 122 can be a tough class but he makes it fun.
He is a great teacher. He helps you in any way he can and encourages you to think and try hard...but not too hard. I put partial effort into the class and got away with an A. Do all the work and attempt to participate and you will do fine!
He was a very interesting guy
Very helpful, but the subject is just so boring.
this guy is not helpful, bery brutal on papers, and just all around rude and nasty sometimes. i thought it was a really hard class
Though an elective, this was one of the toughest classes at Brookdale. Tough exams and homework assignments. If you take this thinking an easy course, don't. More demanding than the must have classes. Professor tough and does not have a sense of humor. Be warned, extremely demanding man who goes strictly by the book. Absolutely no leeway given.
He is not easy to sit through but, he really wants every one to pass. He does help if you ask for it. He is also very nice once he warms up. He also LOVES HOCKEY! Very tough grader but, it only MAKES YOU BETTER. Learned a lot over all.
Professor Ryan is definately one of the best instructors I have ever had. I'm taking him again for ENGL 122 in the spring. Don't let the stern look on his face intimidate you. He's very helpful and always understood my concerns when it came to the work I was doing.
Tough class. Professor lacks sense of humor or warmth. Tries to hard to make it as difficult for you to enjoy as possible. If you love movies, don't take this class. By the end of semester you will never want to see another one again.
I LOVED taking Jack Ryan's class. I have had so many English professors and he is my favorite. He loves what he does and that makes his class fun. As long as you do the readings, papers assigned and semi-participate in class you will get an "A". He as not hard at all...and I am lazy! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HIM!
Cool teacher, cool class. Whiners felt like they shouldn't have to do ANYTHING because it's an elective, but put forth a minimal amount of effort and it's an easy A. Good class to balance out a workload.
Nice guy. He's very helpful and really trys to make the class interesting. He's an easy grader and will work with you.
Prof. Ryan knows his stuff and you had better know yours too. Fair grader and reasonable workload until the final. The take home portion was a killer. A 1000 word essay plus a 400-500 word critical analysis of a poem due the same day. No complaint until the last day.
great professor!
Had him for World lit2 and went to Ireland with him. Fantastic professor with a true passion for what he teaches. If you are not going to participate or put in any effort, do not take his class. You need to work for the grade you get, but he makes the class VERY enjoyable. TAKE HIS CLASSES!
This teacher bases this entire class on his own opinions and his loose knowledge of the book. He makes judgments about students and grades mostly on how much you agree with his unprofessional opinion. Stubborn teacher that takes a joke class all too seriously. Take this glass if you don't value your GPA.
He is a very enthusiastic teacher. You have to work hard to get the grade. Really listen to his corrections, he really likes it when you put what he said into the paper. He hates anyone going late to his class. Overall he is good.
his class and material is hard i thought. i dropped his class because it was too much work and i didn't want to mess up my gpa. he gives a lot of work and the class is boring.
Jack was a really helpful teacher. He really motivated me (a lazy slacker) to producing great papers and projects. Very helpful. There was a lot of writing, but they were all fun topics.
I really enjoyed him as a teacher. He allows you to make revisions on the essays you hand in so you can make your grade better. He's awesome and nice, no complaints!
Great teacher. We covered a lot of ground in a short semester's worth of time. Jack's laid back style and great sense of humor make the lessons entertaining for the most part. He is very passionate about literature and is also very helpful he was always available to answer questions or help out. I hight recommend Jack. Great teacher, awesome beard!
LOVE this professor! Such a great guy and teacher. Extremely helpful and always lends a hand to those need it. Very passionate about teachind and it shows. Your grade will reflect your efforts in the course!
He's a great teacher. Very Knowledgeable and can talk forever. It?s not an easy A but you do get to watch a lot of great movies. He is also very helpfull if your havign trouble.
What can I say? Jack is not only brilliant in his field, but also has a wonderful ability of engaging the class, and makes literature interesting (even to those who had never been interested hitherto). Not only do I recommend Prof. Ryan, but I would go so far as to say he is perhaps the best professor BCC has to offer; a true professor.
great professor. everyone should take him, he is enteraining
Jack Ryan is a wonderful teacher. If you're interested in discussion-based classes and unique perspectives on just about anything, take his course. He's very laid-back and simultaneously severely helpful in his critiques. He's a movie buff and greatly utilizes peer to peer editing.
One of the most helpful teachers I've ever had. Knowledgeable and gives a lot of feed back. He will help you to improve, even if writings not your thing you will have a great time taking his class. And you can follow 121 to 122
Such a nice guy, so helpful, easy-going, cares about the literary arts and is actively involved in it. Perhaps that passion is why he's a great lecturer--not the least bit boring! Maybe a bit more work than slackers are used to, but he is an easy grader. And that's the best combination if you want to genuinely improve your skills without GPA-worry.
I took both World Lit I & American Lit I with Jack. I'm an English Major and I feel he was one of the best teachers I've had. He goes over the course materials on day one and will reiterate the anthology and research paper each class. He's very helpful if you have any questions on any of the material. Very awesome prof! Definitely recommend him!
I was extremely nervous and felt lost being back in school. He was so helpful and understanding. Excellent feedback. He can easily be contacted for any extra help. I'm not saying that it was easy, there was still a lot of work involved in this class, but if you show up and sincerely try on each assignment you will get a good grade. Great guy.
Jack is a multi-faceted/talented individual with a knack for teaching. He is extremely helpful, easy to contact and tremendously informative. He connects with his students on not just an academic level but a friendly one as well. If you want to learn in a comfortable environment with a more than knowledgeable guide, Jack Ryan 's your man.
hes just a dude, with a beard and dream at hand. He wants to, nay, he needs to connect with you very deeply and spiritually before class has concluded otherwise the man just feel like his job has been well done and that is what i call a good prof, props to my favorite prof jack ryan
Jack comes off as an old hippie! He is awesome! He is very intelligent and passionate about the arts and has a great respect for his students. He makes the energy in the class fun and the work interesting. He is always willing to help and I actually enjoyed doing my assignments. He is a great man and I highly reccomend him! you will pass!
I hate writing. I was convinced this would be my least favorite class, but it turned out to be my favorite. He's a great teacher & really makes you want to succeed in writing.
I absolutely HATED writing and english classes, but Professor Ryan makes you want to learn and go to class. He is very inspiring they way he teaches with such passion for the work and inspired me. GREAT professor. Would recommend him for anyone and I would love to take any of his other classes.
Best teacher ever! theres not a better way to put it. Hands down AWESOME!
Jack is an excellent teacher. He's straight forward about what he expects from you which is hard work, completed assignments, attendance, punctuality. Do not expect to get an A with half-work. He is extremely helpful and will work with you every step of the way! He makes things interesting. I highly recommend him. No textbook required!
The man. Jack is an awesome professor and he really knows his stuff. I hated american lit coming into this class, but I now I really enjoy it. I received a B+ in the class. He is a difficult grader, but if you do the work, you will pass.
Greatest teacher. He is really passionate about what he teaches and makes it interesting for the whole class. He tries to include everyone in group discussions, so be ready for that. The class is a lot of work and very challenging but he makes it interesting. He's one of the best teachers I've ever had
Jack's the man! This man is the smartest in the world! You are the best english professor ever! You are funny and you rock! You make three long hours go by fast! I will miss you in the spring semester! Thanks for making 121 enjoyable!
Jack is amazing. He is very helpful and let's you redo your essays to improve them after he grades them once. He is very helpful. Attendence is key. Textbook use is limited. He's a great professor. Definately take him!!!!!!
Compared to some of the uninspiring professors I've had at Brookdale, Jack is amazing. He is passionate about his subject, and his advice can help any student struggling in class. He's also entertaining and gets the entire class to participate.
This guy kicks ass and doesn't bother taking names, instead he'll invite you to tea and reminisce about being epic. Best teacher I've ever had. His classes were fun and rewarding. Extremely helpful with revisions, and a very fair grader. I wish I had taken another class with him.
Jack is awesome! I take American Lit with him and he's one of the best professors I've ever had. He's always willing to help, is very easy going, and just makes class fun. This is one of the few classes I am always participating in because he never makes you feel stupid. Definitely take any classes he has.
I took his American Literature I class as a visiting student over the summer and Jack is one of the best professors I ever had. He gives a good amount of work, but he makes you want to learn! Knows his stuff and relates the material to college students. Work load: One anthology, one research paper, weekly discussion posts and quizzes, and a final.
Great professor! Patient and truly wants to see us succeed. He offers valuable information on writing topics and revisions. I am learning so much in this class - love it! He is very straight forward with assignments and his expectations are clear. Work hard and learn more than you ever thought possible.
Had him for 121 and i really liked this guy. He was really helpful and you could tell that he really wanted to see you do your best, alot of personalized help as well, and always available online to clear up any question you have about an assignment, cant wait to take him for 122
Loved him. He's a great guy, fun, interesting, patient. Take him if you can :) he gives weekly journal assignments and short papers, but nothing too bad.
This guy is seriously the best english professor you can ever get. Seriously he is the man and knows what he is talking about
Jack is the best. I am displaced by hurricane sandy and he was more than willing to help me so i could catch up in class so i wouldn't have to drop. Best professor by far. Do the hw and inclass assignments and you will do good in this class.
Jack Ryan is the greatest human being in all the land. He has the greatest beard and the greatest brain. Put it this way, I took him 2 years ago and here I am thinking about him so much that I had to rate him. Watch the big lebowski before attending this class -- it's his fave.
He's the man! He comes across as intimidating and intense but if you do the reading you become a star student. seriously, JUST READ WHAT HE TELLS YOU TO AND DO THE POSTS. It makes your life easier and will get you an A. He's really goofy too, its kind of awesome.
Prof Ryan assesses you based upon your participation in class and the effort you put into his assignments whether you're a great writer or not. I was in his Fall class of 2012 and we missed four classes due to Sandy, but he caught the entire class up despite the loss of time. He made a huge impact on my life and education. Best prof ever!
Jack is the best professor I've ever had. He's a funny laid back guy. He assigns a lot of homework but it's pretty simple stuff. I would recommend to anyone who like english and wants to really learn something. He's amazing. If you get the chance take his class!!!!
Jack is, by far, the best professor i have ever had. He shows such interest in each student, and works you to your full ability. His class requires that you actually work and take just as much interest in the subject as he does. He is super understanding, kind, and a great wealth of information. I highly recommend him to anyone!
He's an incredible teacher and shows so much passion for what he does. He's extremely helpful and requires that you actually participate. As long as you participate and turn everything in, you'll be fine. Everything is submitted on line and graded almost immediately.
He's a great professor, I had him for film. HE DOES NOT TREAT THE CLASS AS AN ELECTIVE, there are 5 tests and 5 short 2 page papers all on the films but he's a fair grader and there are 3 weeks between assignments. If you pay attention to the films and look over his list of keywords in the textbook, the class is an easy A. Take his class!
He literally talked about History in the class as if it was a part of the subject. Made me feel stupid not knowing much of history. Did not offer much help. After deciding I couldnt write a 6 page paper research paper i dropped the class. Maybe i was lazy but he did not encourage me or help what so ever. good luck to those who dont know history
DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS! i have no idea why he has such good ratings on here. he is absolutely horrible. i have him for cine 105 and english 122, its a combined class and unless you're really into film he's resentful to you. he's sarcastic and rude not to mention gives out a ton of work and is unclear with his directions. terrible teacher.
GREAT Professor
By far one of the best teachers at Brookdale. He is so understanding, if you ever have anything come up in your personal life, as long as it isn't bs, he is willing to work with you. He will answer any question you ever have. Emailed the man like a million times & he always answers in a very timely manner. He also grades things almost immediately.
There are 4 papers and the first one does not count. Helpful teacher, let's you right about anything you want and gives great feedback. If you put in the time and work you can get an A no problem. Highly recommended.
What an amazing professor. He shows a true passion for what he teaches and makes you want to learn. He's the best professor i ever had for English. He doesn't play any tricks so do his work, the posts, and pay attention in class it makes it much easier when it comes to taking quizzes!
One of the best professors at Brookdale! His class was incredible and I went away knowing a lot more about early American literature and how it is intricately related to certain parts of American history. Jack Ryan taught in a extremely clear, engaging and informative way and went out of his way to help whenever he could.
One of the best professors I've ever had. Makes you not only understand the lessons but also has you enjoy the lessons. Funny and all around helpful. Wants you to be successful. He should have a class to teach professors how to be good professors.
Jack Ryan is a great professor. Don't mistake great for easy though. He gives a lot of work, but everything he gives DOES help you learn and give you information to help you for the rest of your life. Definitely one of the best teachers there is, I hope I will be able to take another class he teaches. I took his Eng 121 class in the Fall of 2013.
Good professor, 5 papers, 5 quizzes, and 5 tests. Movies are extremely boring though and he will call on people who aren't raising their hands. Doesn't ever let the class go early
I took the half cinematography, half English class offered that he teaches. There is an insane amount of work, which makes total sense because it counts for double the credits, but the essays weren't boring to write because they were centered around film. Still, I didn't fully enjoy the work, which was unusual because I love English. Very MEH.
Professor Ryan brought American literature to life with humor and insight. He's incredibly knowledgeable and had a way of making even the driest of subjects interesting. I learned so much from this class and really fell in love with American literature because of the incredibly lucid way that he taught. Wonderful guy.
Sweet guy, really helpful. Tough grading but he's super funny. Took him twice.
Jack is awesome. I recommend him. I took him during the summer. It was a short 6 week semester, and even with all the cramming, he made it enjoyable and fun. Participate, read, listen, and you will get a good grade. Write good work and he will respect you. He is just a great guy and you will leave his class with a lot of gained knowledge!
Jack is a great professor. Class discussions are awesome, he's been teaching for over 30 years and knows his stuff. Makes the readings easy to understand and only 2 big papers. Assignments every week but they are fairly easy. Just do the work and get the book. Would take him again
Literally the easiest class I've ever taken. You write 5 total papers based on the 5 movies you watch. Follow the criteria and actually write a paper not just bulleted points. (He's also an English teacher so treat him like one). Overall, a great teacher. Also, his beard is awesome.
Great professor! He was extremely clear on what you needed to do for the class and he is very helpful if you are struggling. Very funny guy and his beard is awesome! Class is great but not simple, he expects you to hand in every assignment on time. If you need to take two English courses, I definitely recommend taking him.
Jack Ryan is an exceptional professor. Absolutely hilarious and a little strange. Very knowledgeable about world lit, he really brings the topic to life. There are only two majors papers but he is a tough grader. If he tells you to write 4-5 pages, write 5 and a half. The homework is easy, readings are long though. You learn a lot!
I took Jack Ryan for film appreciation online. Film appreciation overall is supposed to be a BS class. He takes the course very seriously and you must understand the material from each chapter to do well. If you slack and don't look through the textbook or through his PowerPoints you will not do well. Wasn't a hard class but you have to do the work
Jack is so inspiring! He made the online class so much fun. He's very witty and extremely personable. Super nice guy, that goes out of his way for those students that put in the time. Take his class!
I truly don't know why he has good ratings. He gives so much homework for an ELECTIVE class, and then he just talks in class for 3 hours. I have learned absolutely nothing. He is not understanding and just expects so much from students. He also picks favorites (aka kids that are better at the class), and if he doesn't like you, you will know.
Short story with Jack Ryan is the worst class I have taken at brookdale.
this man thinks that you have no other classes besides his. so much work, he's the worst, good luck.
This man is ruining my life. So much work and such a hard grader.
This professor is outstanding. He really cares about his students and truly desires to help you improve individually. He will work one on one with you, giving you honest feedback. Very chill and not intimidating by any means. He makes you laugh and is super friendly! You will walk out of the class a better writer, which is most important of all.
Online class. To be honest, the last is more work that I expected. But, you actually end up learning a lot about film and how to appreciate them. In addition, he really does care about his students. I missed a deadline which put me to a C and two days later, he still gave me credit for it. It is clear that if you try, he will too. Take this class.
Honestly a great professor, he's extremely passionate and knowledgable about the topics and he wants you to feel the same. He makes sure everyone participates in discussions. A decent amount of reading and writing is involved, if you enjoy english this is the class for you. A very clear grader and gives great feedback, he wants you to succeed.
Best professor Ive ever had. Cares about his students and what he teaches. He gives a decent amount of work, but goes over with you so many times its so easy to get an A. Take him.
Jack was a professor I will never forget. Take him if you want to have a good time in class while still learning. He knows what he is doing and helps students out if they ask! He really breaks you out of your comfort zone but in the best way possible. Show up to class and on time, bring the textbook, and have fun! Very interactive classes !!
I had Jack Ryan as my English 121 professor during Fall 2019. He is a hilarious and very caring teacher, if you need help, he will assist you as much as he can and his goal for you is to make sure that you pass his class.
Professor Ryan is the best! His classes are so entertaining, but be prepared to read a lot. Its important to understand the material, so he does give a lot of work. Other than that, I think hes one of the best professors Ive had at Brookdale and I would highly recommend a class with him if you actually want to learn.
Professor Ryan was very nice and understanding to circumstance. But the workload as the semester continued was.. a lot. It became more and more difficult to balance the assignments he gave and my other class assignments. Would recommend you taking him if you are good with assignment management.
Great instructor. Will challenge you and make you a better writer.
Professor Ryan was cool and helpful. This class was fun and quite a bit of writing.
He is old school. The homework load was really tough at times but I learned a LOT from this class. Super funny guy and down to earth, always looked forward to his class. Take advantage of the easy extra credit assignments he offers and other than that, don't miss class, try your best and you will succeed
I loved him! Spanish is my first language so I was worried. But he made the class so easy to understand. I really enjoyed his class. And he was great replying to my emails. Also, the feedback he shares after each draft it is really helpful! He also teaches English 099
Such a great professor! Would recommend to everyone
Great, funny guy and you will learn whether you are trying to or not. However, he expects wayy too much for an intro level class. Very passionate and gives good feedback but not the most efficient with time. I took higher level chem and bio courses the same semester and had higher grades, and less work in both combined, than I did in this course.
The most amazing professor I've had so far. He is so passionate about the class and makes every lecture entertaining. Yes, there's homework and readings every week, but its stories that are interesting and notes that aren't hard to take. Loved this guy.
Professor Jack Ryan was an amazing teacher, I really did not have high expectations for Brookdale education but he actually cared for me while I worked fully he assist me in my online class. He really works with the students and will cut them slack if needed. Would recommend 100%
Professor Jack Ryan makes this intro course engaging and effective. His teaching style is interactive, and he provides helpful feedback. While the workload can be demanding, using tools like Unstuck ai for study prep really helps. Overall, a rewarding class with a passionate, supportive instructor.
Great job he's good and easy going
Honestly one of the best professors I've ever had. Such a great personality and attitude - HE WANTS YOU TO SUCCEED! So easy-going and easy to contact, definitely recommend him. There is a lot of writing involved but very much expected in this type of class. He gives great feedback and does one-on-ones with students to help you have the best outcome
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
91%
Textbook Required
68%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.27 avg changeRatings by Course
ENGLISH121
5.0
(1)ENG235
5.0
(6)ENG236
5.0
(1)ENGL235
5.0
(2)AMERLIT1
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
CINEM105
5.0
ENG236
4.0
FILM105
4.0
ENGACCT
4.0
ENGLISH122
4.0