3.1
Quality3.7
Difficulty51%
Would Retake84
Reviews51%
Would Retake
84
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
29
4
17
3
6
2
6
1
26
What Students Say
“He was a poor instructor”
61194 - 1.0 rating“Room for improvement after each grueling speech given”
SPE101 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
85%
Textbook Required
50%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.36 avg changeRatings by Course
SPE110
5.0
(2)SPE004
4.5
(2)DECENT
4.0
(1)SPE220
4.0
(2)SPEE101
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
SPH100
5.0
SPE004
4.5
SPE210
4.3
SPCH210
4.3
61194
4.0
Reviews (84)
No Comments
Makes the class harder than it needs to be. Other teachers are much easier.
He was very helpful, although his grading on the speeches are totally discriminating... Guys take this class, since the girls always get the lower of the grade.
Seemed to let his political views into the class at times, making some people uncomfortable or slightly offended. Other than that, a very elegant and friendly personality.
Very unfair, wouldn't cooperate. Cancelled classes at whim and wouldn't allow make up speeches.
No Comments
Loved him. He did let some polital views . . . OK a lot get into his lecture, but if your a solid Republican that's totally alright. Overall greatly enjoyed his class and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would have been from the beginning.
hes very friendly
started the class by stating there will be only 1 "A", 4 "B", 10 "C"(out of 24). Definatley has an ego. Tough class to get an A or B. a lot of work required. Definately easier teachers out there.
Cool guy, great teacher but a hard grader and is very by the book...
I loved this class. He openly allowed debate and conflicting views into the classroom, which in my opinion greatly enhanced the learning experience.
Really good teacher. Plays Devil's advocate, but only in a way to make room for improvement. Makes some dumb, but funny jokes and is an enjoyable fellow.
very interesting class. He is an excellent teacher and has a passion for it. I have learned alot.
Mr. Hodak seems to be a closet Republican with STRONG "anti-Obama" views. Though it is his constitutional right to have his beliefs, his constant references to politics is inapplicable in regards to the course, and it can be VERY annoying. He is extremely narcissistic and is in love with his own voice; the course, however, is beneficial.
Very off task. unhelpful. Zero preperation time for speeches. Very condecending person. Acts extremly superior to students and is always right. Good at making you feel stupid.
This class was way harder than it should be. He has a huge ego and is very condecending. he can easily make you feel stupid and joys proving hes superios. He continuosly talks bout his own life and politcs and leaves little time for teaching. There is alo zero preperation time for group speeches and he enjoys giving test and the reading the chapter
I don't know why he has a smiley face next to his name but you will be crying if you take this class.
I wouldn't recommend this instructor unless there are no other options. He is Pompous and misleading. I tried very hard to do well in his class and it seems like he has a "quota" to fill when marking things off in your speeches. After you give a speech he tells you how wonderful you did and says things like, "you have a voice for radio" or "wow, di
As said by others, this man LOVES his own voice. An exhausting class by a terribly ineffective teacher. Be careful what you include in your papers. If he happens to not like your source or your opinion, he will humiliate you in front of the class-this, he seems to take pleasure in. I left most classes angry and often with headaches. Avoid him!
This professor talks about himself more than the course. He is an extreme libertarian who tries to convince the class that they are as well. He never teaches from the book, however his exams are based on the book and his syllabus (which include an in-depth bioof himself!!) He loves the sound of is own voice, a typical class involves off topic rants
I agree completely with the remarks below. James Hodak is a pompus jerk. The main problem with his class is his grading scale. He happily marks a person down for each and every tiny little thing. i would not recommend him to anyone and would avoid his class if possible.
Terrible teacher. Rarely used my book, makes me feel bad for buying it, the only time we opened it was when he told us to turn to some random page to look at some useless info. He criticizes every little thing about speeches, yet you never know what he wants exactly. Don't take with this teacher!
Mr hodak is a jolly man. he is slightly full of himself but i didnt mind. he is clearly a strong conservative, so liberals beware. helpful tips about speaking, and his political rants entertain me. id take him again, but i can see why people wouldnt
Undeniable force of humanity.Has so much intelligence that he loves to share.Pushes student intellect for personal/professional growth.He sets a standard gives clear guides, your grade is your work.His teachings are scholarly gold!His teachings should be mandated for all high achievers and serious members of society. Im taking another course 4 HIM!
Probably my favorite professor of all time. Most people complaining about him probably just weren't willing to do the work or disagreed with his opinions. He's a nice, funny guy. He's smart, and he is willing to play Devil's Advocate. If you can't handle critism or want someone to hold your hand through college, pick a different prof.
His teachings are consistently EXCELLENT!He challenges your aptitude, ecnourages individualism, supports debate in an open atmosphere.His classrooms are invigorating, insightful, and refreshingly real.His courses can become your path to self-enlightenment and discovery through intellect.A MUST TAKE PROFESSOR FOR THE EDUCATIONALLY DRIVEN!Rate:5*****
Great teacher, very funny and makes speech class fun. Although he can get a bit off topic but that could be useful at times.
great teacher he encouages students to be their self. which is really nice instead of a teacher expecting things from you
Excellent class. Hodak really pushes you to be the best. He is very smart and passionate about what he does. He is incredibly funny and entertaining. Plus he makes you feel very comfortable. If you are scared to speak infront of people...take his class!!!
Professor Hodak is an extremely knowledgeable man and is widely familiar with concepts in the communication world. Apparently others here commenting cannot appreciate that. They also have a difficult time understanding simple directions and due dates.
So far, Mr. Hodak isn't bad at all, He seems to be very intelligent and knows what he's talking about. Don't get me wrong he seems pretty tough too. A nice jolly man, who likes to get off topic, talk in different voices and joke around. So far so good.
He is really cool. I recommended him to my sister and her friends for speech. He is willing to explain things if you don't understand, but also don't beat around the bush with him, get to your point. He is really funny and not a lot of homework. 2 exams 2 projects.
Keep the star wars references for the trekie conventions! When i asked a question about my grade i was told to talk to his supervisor~ who does that??? communication is NOT your speciality!!
1st exam had over 50 questions and we were only given 15 mins. He is not very clear, but he is very educated. Class is hard, I would not recommnend his class.
Mr. Hodak is slightly full of himself, however, he's one of my favorite teachers at Owens. I wish he would lecture more b/c he is so animated and fun to listen to.The class is NOT hard if you follow directions. Write the speeches the way he tells you to and when he gives you advice or a critique, FOLLOW it on future speeches. Totally recommend!
How funny is it that hes the only one making positive comments about HIMSELF, what you didnt like hearing what we ACTUALLY had to say instead of just talking louder over us and trying to act like your ALWAYS correct? Amazing how such a teacher is still aloud to be teaching students. He is very judgmental and not accepting towards foreign students.
Do NOT take his public speaking class. He is the worst teacher I have ever had at Owens. He is so full of himself. He says "only 3% of my studnets have ever got an A." Makes the class harder than it has to be.
Professor Hodak is a one of a kind. He is very knowledgable, experienced, and clear with his speech requirements. He also has a good sense of humor, as long as you understand sarcasm. My only complaints about his class is that he takes forever to return your grades and he's very particular when it comes to the content of your speeches.
His grades reflect more your improvement over the class than the actually quality of speech or project. I found his critiques and grades were fair. He respects "deep" topics. I would label his ideas about free speech, government, and education as "libertarian."
Not an enjoyable teacher
This is small group communication, you will have to be up infront of the class multiple times. He is a tough grader and expects a lot from you. Make sure you take notes and refer back to them so you can stay caught up. I wouldnt suggest missing any class. It would also be nice if he put our grades into blackboard. Unfortunatly I need this class :(
Hodak has a lot of credentials that make him a great public speaker. He is an extremely tough teacher for grading, but he teaches the material very well throughout the semester, If you are going to be public speaking a lot in your field then take Hodak, but make sure you have the time to dedicate to the class. (Take easier classes alongside his)
I am apparently in the 3%. I got an "A" in his class. Tough grader, very critical, very helpful, extremely knowledgeable, arrogant-he is all of those. Still Hodak was great, he taught me a ton for a 101 class. I'd take him again if he offered a class I need. People who don't pass his class don't listenpay attention or don't show up.
Professor Hodak knows his stuff. He's very knowledgeable and passionate about speech and politics, which is great. However, he is a tough grader. I fancy myself a skilled writer, yet I found him critical of my speeches. He expects nothing but the best from his students which is either good or bad, depending on you. Also, he's a funny guy.
Get ready to learn and challenge yourself! In-class debates are encouraged. Expects opinions to be backed by facts and logic, but does not belittle opinions different from his own. Always willing to meet with you during office hours. I highly recommend him.
He was a poor instructor. His lectures were very long and left the class unclear of his instructions. Homework was non-existent, only typing speeches. His grading system was based off fractions of points and not available on blackboard until the end of the course. Please be cautious, his criteria is unpredictable and grades unforgivably.
late by one minute , he counts you as absent!! do not take i got all A's 2 years except this class barely passed and i mean BARELY!!
Normal speech course where you have note cards then present mostly by memory? Nope. Room for improvement after each grueling speech given? Nope. You must also be a blossoming politician and an expert researcher. Expect to write four 5-8 page research papers then recite them in front of the class. He also will disagree with you then become angry.
Great teacher! Very down to earth and very realistic with you about everything! Highly recommend this professor
Prof Hodak was very interesting, he uses different forms of media to highlight various methods of interpersonal communication. He is very intelligent and has life experiences to share, which helps to expand the IPC teachings.
hard grader and makes you work for it but it is a college class after all. With that said he is an amazing teacher and made the class interesting and fun he is a solid guy.
He was definitely funny, and had a very class debates. I learned a incredible amount. But you probably will not get a A, difficult grader.
Hodak was very opinionated and if you don't agree with him you won't do well. Some speeches are hard to understand the concept. He takes a VERY long time to grade so you have no idea what to fix for the next paper. He doesn't update blackboard when it comes to grades so you don't know how well you are really doing in class.
Very theatrical, and highly intelligent guy. Talks about current and passed politics a lot and makes you engage in discussion about it. Doesn't talk much about the speeches you will give but has a paper guideline. You get one late speech and one free absence. Speeches are of your interest. Takes forever to grade and never puts grades online.
Professor Hodak is an intentional, thought provoking, teacher and guide through the world of public/group speaking. After taking this course, you will effectively know how to address a crowd in the manner that is necessary for receptivity. Thank you for the timeless knowledge!!
Hodak is a great professor. Hes very knowledgeable about a large range of topics both past and present. He gives great feedback to you right after a speech and also gives helpful critique of your speech and what you can improve for next time.
Interesting class, lots of class discussion.
Great Professor. Very kind and easy to understand the material. He guides and prepares you for the midterm and final. He is always in a good mood and cares a lot about the material he teaches. You do have to give ONE speech, easy peasy! Would recommend this class with this professor!
Professor Hodak is brilliant. He seems to know a little bit about everything and a lot about history, important events, and politics. He calls people out on their flawed thinking which I appreciate. Some students get salty about this but challenging conceptions is what good professors do. You do work for your grade but expectations are clear.
He is a mirror of knowledge and a speaker of truth.
Good Professor, he likes to talk about government a lot all he gives 3 speech 2 exams. Study, come to class you will pass. He teach good and he tries to make the class fun.
Probably my favorite professor in my Owens career. Took a second speech class as my elective. Hes inspirational, brilliant, and has a sense of humor. You will work for your grade, but its worth it. Projects and speeches are fun, and he keeps you on your toes. Mr. Hodak is a true teacher. I feel more intellectual and a better person. Loved it!
I would never take him again. if he doesn't agree with your topic of the speech he will GRILL you about it. You miss class once, it's like missing the whole semester.
All he does is rave about the first amendment and we only talked about how to actually speak for barely a half hour. When you get done with your speech he says you are a poet and should write a book or be a senator. He pretty much just gets down and slobbers on your knob. After that and you wait a month to get your grade back he reams on you.
James Hodak is the most opinionated professor I have ever had. He is a very biased person and if you don't agree with his view points you won't pass his class. Luckily I picked up on his opinions and worked his biased in my favor. Honestly needs to re-evaluate himself as a professor.
Don't take his class. most stressful class I had both years at owens. he chooses who can get away with what during speeches. Says you did a good speech then gives a bad grade. Don't even try to dress up during speeches it won't matter. acts nice during class then gives you crap grades. very bias, only uses preger University videos nothing else
Hodak does not care about your opinion, and if it differs from his, he will tell you why your opinion is wrong. Tries to make you feel dumb. His class is literally 2 hours of him talking and using words that no one understands. Never in his office for office hours and takes days or weeks to respond to email.
Hodak is an interesting professor. Yes, he does grill you on your speech topics when you are giving them, however, whenever you give a speech you should be prepared to answer difficult questions about your topic. If you genuinely prepare for the speeches in his class, regardless of whether he agrees with you or not, you should be fine. Tough, but �
One of my favorite professors. Allows for freedom to choose discussion topics for debates and research assignments, as he is very pro free speech. Be prepared to defend your stance on an argument. Grade is based on factual research presented and how well your argument is presented, not whether he agrees with your opinion or not. I highly recommend.
I loved Professor Hodak!! He was one of my favorite teachers. He is very knowledgeable and gives great feedback. When taking his Speech classes he encourages his students to think more in depth about the topics that are discussed. I definitely recommend taking his courses.
He's engaging, very inciteful and captivating when he's giving a speech or lecture. Seriously, I can listen to the guy read a Chinese Restaurant's menu. Because of him I'm currently reading " The Art of Rhetoric" by Aristole". I never thought I would ever read a book by a Greek Philosopher. He makes you think, which I really love.
James Hodak is what the other bad reviews rate him. But adding on that he is VERBALLY ABUSIVE, snide, rude, and belittling. He doe not like young people. if your under the age of 25, he'll discriminate against you. The last class I took of him, we were all in our late teens/early 20's. Therefore he treated all of us badly. Its his way or the hwy.
I turned in a 4-page paper a day before it was due to make sure I made the due date. He gave me a 0 so I emailed him. He said it was in his spam and to send it again. I emailed him again to see if he received the paper and he simply responded yes and never updated my grade. I wrote a 4-page paper and received no credit in a class that has 4 grades.
Professor Hodak is a great teacher. This course focuses on how communication, relationships, and the 1st amendment works. You must put in the effort if you want an A. The material itself isnt difficult, its actually quite interesting. Youll have 1 midterm, 1 paper, 1 speech, and a final exam. Lectures are long, but good! Watch The Dating Project
I didn't sign up for a politics class, yet Prager U and Fox News make their way into class time and the curriculum. There was a whole lesson on how the Freedom of Speech is under attack, which seems to have little to no relevance to the course. Another lesson was on the first amendment. The class was good until it got political.
Mr. Hodak is very knowledgeable and kind. I was nervous to take a public speaking class, knowing this was something I had to complete for my major made me dread it, but he has truly created a safe space for everyone to share and elaborate on their opinions and beliefs throughout the semester.
Does not like opinions that differ from his own, even with facts to back up what you are saying. Does not like words being put into his mouth but has no problem putting words into yours. Chooses extremely bias handouts to discuss(bans NY times as a viable source in papers but uses Fox News clips). I could go on and on. 0/10 recommend.
Gives two large graded assignments and two exams. Its an easy class that doesn't require a lot of time. The two large assignments are basically the only work you do all semester. He publishes reading material and other resources that are useful. Its an easy A that is low-maintence.
James Hodak ran the small group communication class as a way of voicing his own political beliefs and as a politics class not as a class on public speaking. He is not respectful and i vary condescending and plays favorites.
didn't know this was a politics class. He will only talk about political topics he wants to hear about, very one-sided. if you try to say your opinion that does not agree with his good luck.
All the tests are opinion based so if you don't know his view on something you will not succeed. Mr. Hodak likes to talk bad about the school, all his coworkers, also he bashes them for being democratic. This is more of a current events class and a politics class than anything. Definitely would recommend a different teacher if you need this class.
This class is a joke, did not realize it was going to be a political class where there is no freedom of speech.
The mid-term in this class was all questions based on his erratical opinion on the constitution. If you dont know his opinion during the speeches you give and take his side he will mark you down. James also talks very disrespectfully about students behind their back about their political views. He likes to push his political views on the class
This class is not a speech class it is all about politics he hates the school he works at and lets it be known to his class. Calls students names such as dummy.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
85%
Textbook Required
50%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.36 avg changeRatings by Course
SPE110
5.0
(2)SPE004
4.5
(2)DECENT
4.0
(1)SPE220
4.0
(2)SPEE101
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
SPH100
5.0
SPE004
4.5
SPE210
4.3
SPCH210
4.3
61194
4.0