Professor Varner is the BEST! He is so nice and willing to help in any way he can! He's really interested in teaching us, and he's really funny too! I was kind of dreading taking GWRTC in general but he made it so fun! TAKE HIM!

Favorite professor so far! Such a funny and cool guy. He makes you want to be a better writer, and his classes are very enjoyable. No one would ever have a problem with his class, as long as you do the work.

Prof. Varner is extremely nice and helpful! He is entertaining in class, although some of his material can be dry because the whole semester you talk about music in every aspect. But it can be interesting If you actually try on his writing projects, then you will do fine. Don't blow them off or you'll get a C though!! Good teacher.

I was dreading taking this class, but it has been my favorite so far! Varner is hilarious and is so willing to help. I didn't think I was a good writer, but I ended up getting an A on all of my papers, no complaints! The class does get boring at times and you have to write a one page journal for every class but other than that, Varner is the best!

Prof. Varner is the coolest guy ever. He makes the class so interesting and fun to attend. All we really did was talk about music and how it pertains to our lives. There was a decent amount of hw to do and you cant miss more than 3 classes or you fail, but hes a great guy and loves what he does

Varner is a great GWRTC professor! He tells you exactly what he expects, and I have gotten A's on all of my papers for the class. He focuses on music for the entire semester, so if you really love music, I recommend this class. The only downside to this class is that you have to write a journal for every class, but its not too bad.

Incredible professor. My favorite to date, Varner presents interesting prompts and makes discussion of boring subject enjoyable. Outstanding job!

Awesome professor. Makes lots of jokes, and gets really involved in discussions with students. You have to write a journal before every class, but they're not that bad. Only 4 papers, and you pretty much choose what you write about. Get involved during discussions and read the grammar articles!

Awesome guy. Best professor I have had at JMU

Coolest professor. Incorporates music, which actually makes it interesting. There are 4 papers. All topics related to music. He is funny and interesting. Not a hard class. Take him!

Jay is amazing! Got As and Bs on all my papers. He is extremely helpful and the class is interesting; all about music and society. Final paper is big and time consuming, but take him his class is worth it and not boring!

so helpful and such an interesting class. all about music! got a's and b's on everything

Varner is everything good in a professor. Helpful, passionate, and interesting. He is a quirky guy, but so nice. I learned a lot and my writing really developed. The class is super easy if you come from a school with a good writing curriculum. I got an A. You just have to do you journals, write your papers, and participate in class a little.

Professor Varner is one of my favorite teachers so far here at JMU. He is an easy A. Three essays each on pop culture, final project, and discussion posts before class every week. Discussion posts are five to eight sentences about what you read for class that day. Readings for class are five pages tops. EASY A. TAKE HIM.

One of my favorite classes so far. You will definitely become a better writer after taking this class. It is a lot of work but not overwhelming. Honestly one of the coolest professors I've had so far, highly recommend taking this class with Varner!

Too much work for a gen ed!!! The class was kinda interesting. I liked that the writing revolved around music. Writing assignments due almost everyday on top of reading and writing big papers. Don't pick if you hate participating.

Professor Varner is pretty good! He definitely makes the class interesting and easy to participate in (but if you don't like to participate, steer clear of his class!). There's reading and discussion posts due everyday for the entire year and it gets to be a lot of work especially while working on his essays.

BEST. PROFESSOR. EVER.

This class is a lot of work. You're writing and reading something for every class. This is the first class where I got extremely close with everyone though. You're sharing your life with strangers who become friends. I recommend the course but be ready to work!

Jay is bae! Lots of work, but super gratifying.

Great teacher! His lectures are interesting and keep you interested. He loves when people participate and it's a big part of your grade. 3 papers and a big final project, but if you put effort and work into it you can achieve an A. In my opinion probably one of the best wrtc 103 professors. Definitely go to his office hours

Prof. Varner was my favorite professor during that semester. He's willing to help you for his class or another. You're expected to write almost before every class a discussion post of 250 words from the selected reading. He's a tough grader on essays, and if you can't write well, then you may not want to take this class. Overall, he's worth taking.

He is a cool dude and you learn from his class. Attendance is a big part of your grade and participation. Has a midterm and final but they are just on grammar and correcting stuff. Gives you plenty of time for writing assignments. If you delay and do them last minute you won't get an A. Online discussions every night were a bit annoying but easy.

He's ok. I'll admit I'm not the best writer, but he grades incredibly hard. Deducts 5 points for every grammar mistake, which is killer to your grade. Very strict on MLA. Discussion post before every class that are easy but are annoying and get old very quick. Really cool classes, though. Really focuses on pop culture and discussion was interesting

Discussion posts every night are annoying and you need to read but its not so bad. If you want a good grade PARTICIPATE, it doesn't matter what you say just give feedbackadd to the discussion in class. I don't consider myself an amazing writer, got a C on the first paper but ended up getting A's on the rest. Final project was a lot of work but fun

Such a cool teacher and class. Everything relates to things that happen in your life so it's easy to be interested in it. You will have discussion posts every night and you will have to read for them, but they aren't too bad. I asked him to check all my essays before turning them in and he helped a ton! Don't be afraid to speak up in class!

Really amazing teacher! Assigns two-page reading assignment every week, but super easy and is basically a participation grade. Although there's a ton of reading, you'll discuss it every class. He's a really laid-back professor and he is always there if you ever need to discuss anything with him. Overall one of my favorite professors I've had.

Jay is a funny guy and really opens your eyes to the world around you. Essays are really hard to get a good grade on, and there is a 2 page assignment every week which pretty easy. Attendance is absolutely required and you will fail if you don't come.

I like Varner but this is a gen ed and there are far easier professors for this course. However, if you do get him, it's not the end of the world, as he is extremely helpful and truly there for you.

His class was very challenging but I LOVED him. I actually enjoyed going to his class because we just talked with him about different issues the whole time. You must participate and talk. 3 papers (2 pg, 4 pg, 8 pg) and a midterm. A huge final project comes along w/ the 8 pg paper that is hard but he is amazing. Lots of reading and writing.

This is by far the best class I have ever taken at JMU. There were only 14 students and we all became so close! There is only 3 papers and the final is the revised 3 papers that you wrote, no tests. There is a lot of assigned reading, workshops, and exercises and you must attend class. I would highly recommend! He will make you a better writer.

Easily my favorite professor this semester. His class was so fun to attend and participate in because he makes every discussion interesting. He is a bit of a tough grader on essays, but he just wants his students to understand what they are doing wrong. Be prepared to work, but if enough effort is put in, he will give you the grade you deserve.

Varner is a great professor. He's extremely helpful and is clear with what he expects. He assigns short readings and expects that you've read them for class discussion and participation. Every week there are 2 page reading responses based on the readings and there are 3 essays (2 pg, 4 pg, & 8 pg final project). It's hard, but very rewarding. TAKE!

He is a hilarious professor! He assigns a lot of reading. There are 3 major papers and a reading response every week. Pretty difficult for a gen ed.

Jay is great & I was happy to take his class. He is good mentor and likes to engage students in challenging discussions. We read and write a lot for his class and it was stressful at times; took a lot of energy, but he pushed me to purse topics with more critical thought. The class was close knit and I felt safe to share my work. Expectations clear

Incredible professor! Be ready to read and write your heart out. The class is incredibly engaging and fun. You'll become close with other classmates which is very rewarding. Would definitely take again! Go to class - it's worth it.

Very HARD grader. One time the class average for an essay was a 43. He is an awesome guy though, and if you go to office hours he will tell you exactly what to fix. Keeps class very interesting. But be ready to read and for pop quizzes.

One of my favorite professors by far. Class is always fun to go to because Varner is hilarious. There are reading assignments every night before class with a page response due. They aren't terrible but they can be annoying. The topics you learn about are relevant to your life which makes it interesting.

Jay has easily become my favorite professor at JMU. I can honestly say this class has changed me. Be ready to read and write your heart out! Taking him again next semester. Excellent professor.

Easily one of my favorite professors. He has a great sense of humor and he really cares about each of his students. The more you participate, the more you will get out of the class. He really pushes you to write a good paper and can be really tough about it, but you'll thank him later when you actually know how to write a paper! I STRONGLY suggest.

This is most definitely the hardest class I have ever taken. Jay Varner is an excellent professor who is funny and easy to talk to. But the work load is a lot. If you enjoy reading 20-30pg and writing a 250 or 500 word response every class, on top of 3 big essays and quizzes, by all means take his class. Also, class participation is a grade.

Varner is a great professor, but this is one of the harder WRTC103 classes. There are papers due every MWF most of the time and there are three big papers (2 pages, 4 pages, and 8 pages). If you're taking this for a gen ed I suggest looking for easier teachers (they're are a bunch). If you do get him, just do the work and you'll be fine.

Every night you'll read 30-50 pages of very dry, liberal material dealing with socioeconomic inequality in America and will have to write about a page response. You'll come to class and be quizzed on the same material in great detail. None of it is on SparkNotes either. Everything else on here is accurate about Varner being funny and all that.

This class was by far the most demanding class I've taken this semester. Varner is a good professor, but does require a lot of work to do well in the class. However, everything we learned was relevant and interesting. I would not recommend him if you are not willing to put in the effort and there are professors that teach this GenEd much easier.

Professor Varner is seriously such a nice guy. I've never met another professor like him because he makes everyday so interesting. There is a lot of reading in this class, so be prepared to do homework. DO NOT take this class if you want an easy A. TAKE this class if you want to learn something valuable from him. Great guy!

You do a ton of reading responses in this class. It's really good practice though and makes you a better critical thinker. He doesn't lecture- he asks you what you think and you involve yourself in a class discussion. It was difficult, but worth it. He progressively grades harder and harder throughout the semester so don't slack off. Funny guy.

Varner was hard to warm up to at first but towards the end of the semester came off a lot nicer and more approachable. Get ready to write like 40 pages and read about 500 pages for the semester. Definitely a lot of work, but my writing improved tremendously.

There are lots of professors to choose from for WRTC 103, if you'd like this class to be easy you should find somebody else but you won't learn much. The way Varner teaches this class you will have to try hard but it will pay off through better writing skills. Always attend class, participate, and try on all the assignments and you will succeed.

Make sure you do all the homework and come to class. Participate, he loves it and also gives a grade for it. Go to him for help on your papers because they can be challenging. Do not procrastinate.

Professor Varner began the class by telling us that it would be the most demanding class we would take that semester. He was right, but boy was it rewarding. I learned so much in this class, all thanks to the amazing tutelage of Professor Varner. He can be a tough grader, but as long as you follow the rubrics he provides you should be fine.

Awesome teacher, really cares about his students. Very helpful teacher. Lots of reading but it makes you a much better writer. Highly recommended.

Varner made this class one of my favorite classes I have ever taken at JMU. He goes above and beyond what a typical GenEd consists of. Each class is an engaging discussion that connects the readings to real issues happening in society. More work but definitely worth it!

This class was definitely the hardest one I took my first semester. Compared to my friends taking WRTC 103 in other classes the work load was ridiculous. Although I do think this class helped me become a better writer, I would not take it again. We had at least two chapters of reading and a reading response due EVERY class.

Loved him as a teacher! Varner really knows what he's saying and really tries to get everyone in the class involved. That being said you'll have a reading response due almost every day and a ton of reading to go along with it so be prepared to work hard for an A.

He's a great professor and his lectures were always interesting. He also gives you a lot of good content to read. He makes you work for your grade but you'll become a better writer because of it. He's very honest and cares about his students becoming better writers. I would definitely take him again!

It involves work, but it gives you a reality check and I am so glad I took this as a freshman because it really did influence what I want to do throughout my four years at college. If you don't try in this course it is a missed opportunity of enlightenment.

Varner is an amazing teacher and although he gives out homework like crazy its worth it and so far he has been one of my favorite professors at JMU. He really cares about his students and really wants you to succeed and go into the world more knowledgable then when you started

He makes you read a lot but the reading is about the important things in our society today. If you want an easy A do not take this class. But if you want to further expand your mind and actually learn something and you are willing to put in the work, take this class.

Varner is an overall good person and professor. He cares about students a lot, and helps to better their writing. I am definitely a better righter now. He does assign lots of books to read and with those books reading assignments that can take up to 2 hours every other night. He sometimes is a harsh grader on papers, but he typically means well.

One of the best professors I've had at JMU. His classes are very hard but so worth while. You learn and grow so much. I recommend going to his office hours and being honest with him. You might not like him if you do not engage with him.

This is by no means an easy class, but it's so worth it to take it. It's a lot of reading, responses, and essays. You definitely have to work for your grade but you become a better reader and writer. I would recommend this class to anyone who wants to be challenged and become a better critical thinker.

Jay Varner is one of the best professors at JMU if you like reading and expanding your knowledge on how awful America is and how corrupt it is. If you like writing and reading almost every class and dont mind an easy quiz every class you will be fine. I SAY AGAIN; IF YOU LIKE WRITING AND READING INTERESTING THINGS YOU WILL DO FINE IN THIS CLASS.

Varner is an amazing professor. The classes and books we read were extremely interesting. HOWEVER, if you are taking WRTC 103 to get an easy A, do not take him. With that being said, I would seriously recommend taking this class with him. It opened my eyes to so many things, and Varner is extremely smart and the discussions in class are fascinating

I have never worked harder for a good grade in a class before, but it was so worth it. What you put in might not end up showing up as your final grade but you will feel extremely proud of yourself. He is a very good professor and does care about his students. Extremely liberal but will make you hear both sides in what he makes us read.

Although we read a lot in Varner's class, he taught us a lot about writing on a collegiate level. Also through the readings I learned a lot about the real world and the government and it helped to shape a lot of the views I have now. He is also willing to help if you make the effort. He is nice and I would definitely take him again.

Although the work load is very heavy everything you do in class relates to the real world and to each other. The class may seem like a lot but I found it extremely helpful and have seen a lot of self improvement. Varner cares a lot about his student and is always willing to help with feedback.

This class is extremely demanding, but manageable. If you are engaged in class you will do fine. He is super funny but a tough grader. Take advantage of his office hours and annotate and read everything and you will be fine. He is an amazing writing professor!

Jay Varner is an amazing professor. I know it can be annoying at the amount of work, but trust me when I say if you invest yourself in this class, you will become SUCH a better writer. I had him a year ago and I STILL remember/apply things I learned in that class, not to mention it's really interesting and unique to a lot of classes at JMU.

Although there was no textbooks, we had 5 books to get, all were very cheap. He is an amazing guy, really cares about you. BUT, you have to really put in work. Go to his office hours and get to know him He is very intellectual and a really good guy! Although I would not say this is an easy A, I worked really hard and ended with a 96.

This class is very hard, no doubt. However, if you put the work in, this is an extremely rewarding and interesting class. Your writing will EXCEL, you'll learn about interesting and relevant issues in the world right now about race, politics, gender, and many more. Extremely unique experience and I highly recommend !

This is a difficult class, and you will definitely need to make time for it. Altogether, it was a rewarding class and learned so much from Varner about writing. I recommend taking if you want to be challenged and become an all-round better writer and reader.

While his class was incredibly difficult, it was also very rewarding. I learned so much from professor Varner, and he was very kind to me when I was in a dark place. So if you aren't willing to do the assignments, you won't get anything out of it, but if you do, the reward matches the effort.

Incredible professor. It was a ton of work, but if you're actively trying to improve your writing and REALLY want to see improvement, this class is a must. While it is a lot of work, it falls into the three credit guideline by JMU (At most 12 hrs per week). Also, compared to others, this guy is incredibly organized and has a great online format.

I really loved this class at JMU. Its a lot of work and theres a ton of homework but the articles we read are interesting and some of the writing assignments, especially the final essay, I found to be fun and engaging. Its a really rewarding class and I totally recommend him if you like a lot of reading and writing.

Despite his reviews, I really liked him as a professor. There is a bit of homework in the beginning of the course but it drops off once you get passed the half way point. He is a tough grader but the feedback he gives is actually helpful. If you are looking for an easy A, then he is not your choice but you will actually learn skills in his class.

i think he gets a bad rap on here. he's really not as bad as all these reviews are making it seem. if you do the work he'll usually give you 100. all you really have to do is put in some effect and you'll do fine. i also feel like i've become a better writer from the class. if you end up having him don't stress he's not that bad.

Jay Varner is an amazing professor and he gives an appropriate amount of work. He's very accessible outside of class and cares about your general wellbeing. He wants to see you succeed but that means putting in the effort. You cannot BS assignments and expect to get a good grade in this class.

He is an amazing teacher just a huge workload and he grades very tough. You cannot skip class or you will fail.

I'm actually in his WRTC 200 class, not 103. He's alright. One semester-long project that is presented at the end and a final exam. There are also some readings and small assignments. My biggest complaint is that he takes 5 points off your participation grade every time you miss class. Overall, he's much better than some professors I've had.

It sounds like he's a difficult class for 103, but if WRTC is your major, then I highly recommend taking him for your 200 course. Little to no homework, no tests except the exam, and the only actual assignment is a semester-long project that is relatively easy. Maybe a difficult teacher for other courses, but really easy for the class I took.

I LOVED this professor! I was in his WRTC 200 class, and he clearly has a lot of passion for what he does. The class was graded by a handful of low-point assignments, a final exam, and a semester-long project that if you consistently worked on, you'd get it done. His lectures were interesting and engaging, and make sure to GO TO CLASS.

for his class you need to read and make sure you do all of the modules on time. if you don't it'll be hard to catch up. He's a very good professor that is interested in climate change and you wont have a final test you'll have a final essay. All of his tests are in person but he lets you use any resource even the internet on some questions.

He was my favorite professor this semester. He genuinely wants you to succeed. The assignments are not difficult, but they can take a lot of time. If you need help just reach out and he will give you everything he has and he reminds you of this very often. 3-page persuasive final essay instead of an exam, 1 informative 6-page essay, weekly quizzes.

Mr. Varner is a really great professor. For 200, he is super personable and wants to help you a lot on the projects and assignments. He is easy to talk to and open to all questions. For lower courses like 103, he just wants to make sure students are prepared enough hence the heavier workload.

Professor Varner is one of the best professors I have had at JMU. He cared about his students, and any conceived ill-will is just an attempt to help a student fix a mistake. H If you put in the effort on homework and participate in class, you will earn his respect. Ensure you prepare for each class and print out the required materials.

He really helped my writing 100%! Once you got his humor and how he graded, the class was a breeze. Its just a little time consuming at times- but overall it definitely was not as bad as people said it was going to be. He's funny, just go along with his humor and if you talk back to him you will do great in the class! You just have to skim the TB.

Professor Varner is a great guy. If you put effort into the class, you will get an A. Show up to class and pay attention to his simple grading criteria. Lots of reading, annotations, and busy work related to climate change. It all gets easier as the class progresses and you will leave the class having learned a lot. Many reviewers here sound lazy.

Takes effort like any other class. I've never been a huge fan of reading/writing, but he helped me improve. Can definitely understand where the backlash comes from, but as long as you do the work and participate as needed, he'll see that and grades do reflect. He gives extra credit on the final essay if it's early too.

Professor Varner's class is no walk in the park, but if you put in the effort, you'll walk away a better writer. The workload is heavy, but unstuck AI and the free textbook make it manageable. Engage with the material, and you'll learn a ton.

Varner is such a great professor. The WRTC103 reviews for him are bad because those are filled with freshman who don't understand that college is different than high school. Varner gives the best dad vibes and cares so much about setting his students up for success. Super easy course and I learned so much from this class! Take him if you can!

This is the only class i've taken where talking to other students doesn't feel forced or awkward. Half the course is dedicated to creating your own website, it's challenging but manageable. The only reason not to take him is he can be extremely passive aggressive, sometimes seeking to humiliate people who aren't comprehending the prompts.

I absolutely loved this course! The class was small so you get to create a connection with the professor and your classmates. The "textbooks" are just regular books you read. The whole year you do work on a semester project and that is your final. Idk why his rating is so love I LOVED professor Varner!!

Very nice professor, always available to help and answer questions. High expectations but very clear about them. Lots of research and writing with small reading assignments. No tests, only occasional pop quizzes if people skipped. Semester you work on building a website around your own research. Keep up with the work and follow guidelines to pass.

He's honestly really chill as long as you're respectful to him. Some assignments are a bit tough, but honestly, the class was still really enjoyable.

100 percent recommend Jay Varner. I was VERY nervous to take this class since writing IS NOT my strong suit. He helped me so much. I've been to multiple office hours, and they have helped SO much (especially before quizzes). Don't be intimidated by these ratings. I was before starting this course, but it has been nothing but fun. He's amazing!