3.4

Jim Beggs

English - Modesto Junior College

3.4
Quality
3.9
Difficulty
56%
Would Retake
141
Reviews
3.4
Quality
3.9
Difficulty
3.3
Helpful
3.4
Clarity

56%

Would Retake

141

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official

5

54

4

25

3

20

2

18

1

24

What Students Say

He is by far the worst professor I have taken at mjc

ENGLISH101 - 1.0 rating

Professor Beggs was very unclear in everything, he was sarcastic and made fun of students

ENG114 - 1.0 rating
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

94%

Textbook Required

50%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B

95% confidence
Based on 23 grades
Most common grades:
B+ (6)
C (4)
A (3)
Grade Distribution
A(6)B(2)C(5)D(4)F(0)A-/B+(7)
Based on 27 reported grades
B+: 6
C: 4
A: 3
A+: 3
Common Tags
Tough Grader (11)
Gives good feedback (9)
Get ready to read (8)
Caring (5)
Participation matters (4)
LOTS OF HOMEWORK (3)
Tough grader (3)
Respected (2)
Rating Trend

Stable

+0.12 avg change
Oct
Dec
May
Nov
Jan
Jul
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

50

5.0

(1)

ENGL163

5.0

(1)

ENG163103

5.0

(1)

ENGLISH102

5.0

(1)

ENGLISH50

5.0

(1)
+36 more courses
Difficulty by Course

ENGL138

5.0

ENGLS101

5.0

ENGLI101

5.0

ENG6889

5.0

ENGLISH169

5.0

Reviews (141)
3.0
4.0
ENG102
Feb 21, 2003

NOT A GOOD SURVEY COURSE. SPENT WHOLE SEMESTER ON 2 AUTHORS

5.0
2.0
ENG102
Jul 30, 2003

he makes you work hard so that your writing will improve. you must do all the reading and attend class regularly to succeed. visit him during office hours to improve your papers. he is the most insightful and effective english professor i've had in 4 yrs.

3.0
2.0
ENGLISH
Dec 20, 2003

He's lots of fun in class! Gives you ample opportunity to improve almost all of your papers. Makes it very enjoyable. Attendence is critical, however. So do not skip class.

2.0
5.0
ENGL103
Jan 3, 2004

Very nice guy!niceness is deceiving when it comes to your grade! He grades papers to hard! wants a "perfect" paper. I would say I'm a good writer and I along with everyone else in my class got "C's". Has you do RIDICULOUS busy work. d

5.0
2.0
ENG103
Feb 4, 2004

Always willing to help. Interesting use of the "Atlantic Monthly." Your writing will improve.

5.0
4.0
ENGLISH
Feb 19, 2004

Incredibly helpful during his office hours. Make the extra effort and your grade will improve tremendously. He works hard to remain professional & not be your "friend," so make friends before you come to class.

5.0
3.0
ENG103
Apr 23, 2004

Nice guy and extremely intelligent. Fairly demanding of his students--most people do not get As in this class, only because he seems to recognize true "A"-quality work. His actual teaching skills are mediocre.

5.0
4.0
ENG102
May 5, 2004

Hes awesome wonderful teacher. He definatly teaches from his heart.

5.0
5.0
ENG103
Jul 19, 2004

he is a nice guy. he always wants to help studants, BUT when it comes to grading..he is an EVIL. YOU HAVE TO BE VERY VERY GOOD TO GET a B in the class.

3.0
3.0
ENG102
Jul 30, 2004

This guy is evil when it comes to grading. I didn't care for his choice of authors. We spent the whole semester on two authors....very boring.

1.0
5.0
ENG101
Aug 1, 2004

Be aware! Doesn't like creative writing and you don't know what he looks for in a paper. Very unclear. I took him 2 years ago and still feel horrible about getting a C when I got A's and B's on papers cuz the quizzes kill you. Bad book choices too.

4.0
5.0
ENGL169
Aug 25, 2004

You don't know what he looks for in a paper, he grades VERY harshly.

4.0
3.0
ENG101
Nov 2, 2004

He's okay. Grades Hard, but let's you rewrite papers for a better grade. Likes the sound of his voice a little too much!

1.0
5.0
ENG169
Nov 3, 2004

I had to write a book for this class and even though I followed the directions and an author read my book and said that it was wonderful and I should get it published Beggs gave me a C. I went above and beyond what Beggs asked for but his friends who did not follow directions got A's

5.0
3.0
ENG163
Dec 21, 2004

One of the few community college teachers that doesn't grade on a lower standard due to being at a JC. If you think he's too hard, your skill level is probably just a lot poorer than you think, because the other MJC teachers dumb down the classes so that they're easier than AP high school classes!

2.0
5.0
ENG101
Aug 28, 2005

Hated the class! I can honestly say that HE made me feel stupid and worthless 99% of the time. Very hard grader and can be a jerk! I don't recommend this teacher!

4.0
3.0
ENGL137
Aug 31, 2005

No Comments

4.0
4.0
AMERICANLIT
Sep 1, 2005

Very helpful teacher but I was unclear on what exactaly he was looking for in the essays....as long as u attend class regularly you'll do alright.

2.0
4.0
ENGLISH163
Sep 7, 2005

I can honestly say he does not give you the grade you deserve. I've spoken with many people from my Shakespeare class and he gave basically everyone except a select few a C or lower. I had high A's on both major assignments and he gave me a C in the class. He does not help you & tells you you're wrong if you don't agree with him. A terrible prof!

2.0
5.0
ENGLISH
Sep 11, 2005

Big ****!!!

5.0
4.0
ENGL163
Oct 7, 2005

This class is tough. Don't expect an easy A. You have to work for your grade and you definatly have to do all of the readings and assignments. Just because you "don't get Shakespeare" is not a good enough excuse to do not do well in the class. Listen to the in-class discussions and it will help you to "get Shakespeare." Awesome class.

5.0
1.0
ENGLISH
Oct 10, 2005

mr. beggs is a good teacher, i recommend him he's really easy

1.0
5.0
ENGLISH101
Oct 13, 2005

Hateful little man who talks down to his students. Had this teacher my first andsemester could not even say his name for the following two years without wishing he would fall off a cliff. If you are a girl or just plain don't like being talked down to. DON'T TAKE HIM!

1.0
5.0
ENGL138
Oct 20, 2005

So in love with his own opinion he refuses to listen to anyone elses. Arrogant jerk. I had to drop the class so that I wouldn't be tempted to slap him.

5.0
3.0
ENG163103
Nov 1, 2005

He is helpful and insightful. I enjoyed his two classes, even though they weren't my strongest subjects. Not an easy grade, but who wants that?

5.0
2.0
ENGLISH102
Nov 9, 2005

Take it from someone who isn't enthusiastic about english in the first place.He is an awesome teacher.I enjoyed this class very much.I took him over the summer and he took us all to see a play in Murphys and exposed us to some really neat outdoor theatre.I mean if you dont like the class just drop it before the "W" date.

3.0
4.0
ENG169
Grade: Not_Sure_Yet
Nov 17, 2005

He an ****, he told a student that the way their wrote made them seem retarded. think that enough describing of what a ass he is, don't take his class unless your very, very smart or a teacher pet only those students surive.

5.0
2.0
50
Nov 22, 2005

he is a vry helful teacher.. always willing to help at any time. He is a teacher that believe in his students

2.0
2.0
ENG163
Nov 23, 2005

nice guy...not so much as a teacher. treats students like they are WAY below him, and doesn't give them a chance...plays favorites

5.0
3.0
ENGLISH50
Dec 10, 2005

I can't believe how much I learned in this class! I'm also writing papers for my art history class, and taking this class helped me write papers for that class. Thanks to Beggs, I'm getting an A in the art history class. This is the class to take if you really want to learn something. Don't be a slacker, though. Slackers won't make it.

3.0
4.0
138
Mar 18, 2006

No Comments

4.0
4.0
ENG103
Apr 26, 2006

Beggs was very knowledgable and would take the time to answer any questions. The class consisted of 3 essays,a few quizes and in class writing assignments. The majority of the grade was based on the 3 papers, which he graded very harshly. He has favorites too. Get on his good side and write essays that agree with his ideas. This guy is old school!

4.0
3.0
ENG49
Apr 26, 2006

Nice guy and as long as you are willing to work with him and hard a little harder on papers youll do okay in the class.

5.0
4.0
ENG103
May 2, 2006

This class wasn't easy,but I got an 'A'. Don't take him if you english skills are bad. He grades very hard on essays, including in class essays.Although, he let's you redo a few of the essays for full credit.How's that for nice?The class was interesting too.He plays favorites though.Be his favorite,offer up your theorys on things&the class is easy.

5.0
3.0
ENG114
May 9, 2006

Though he is strict with MLA format and writing proficiency, he teaches with passion and makes it so fun! Just do the work, and follow MLA very closely, and ask him for HELP! He will give it to you!

1.0
5.0
ENGLISH101
Aug 3, 2006

I feel that he descriminates and grades very unfairly. I had never gotten lower than an A on my essays. In his class, I was unable to get a single A. When I would rewrite my essays I would answer to all of his critism and comments and corrected what he felt was inadequate. An Enlgish teacher would view my paper and say that they were A papers.

4.0
3.0
ENG103
Aug 28, 2006

His comments are provoking and nit-picky, but GOOD. In a critical thinking and arguementation class wouldn't you expect to be challneged to THOROUGHLY support your ideas and arguements?! I have never worked so diligently on my essays! You may not like what he says, but constructive criticism is good for our character. Thank you Dr. Beggs!!!

4.0
3.0
ENGL101
Feb 7, 2007

He is a tough grader, but he is willing to help you through it. He is pretty opinionated and talkative, but he still manages to get his point across. Always do the assigned work ON TIME. Attend class regularly as he tends to give out worksheets. Read the comments on your papers and talk to him about any questions and/or comments.

2.0
5.0
ENGL101
Mar 12, 2007

Very hard grader. If your opinion differs from him he marks you down just for not agreeing. He is very weird, the stuff he talks about and how he acts in class. If i were you do not take this class, he thinks he is funny and interesting but everybody makes fun of him behind his back. Not a very good teacher for and english 101 class.

2.0
4.0
ENG102
Apr 13, 2007

I am an English major. This guy made my favorite subject a chore. He nitpicks without seeing the big picture. He is not very knowledgable about literature. His book choices were horrible-we only studdied 2 authors the whole semester- tacky modern pulp fiction type stuff. Expensive and inconvienient fiel trip to see shakespeare in murphy's.

1.0
5.0
ENGLS101
May 2, 2007

i have never in my life disliked english, but mr. begg's class was absolutely 100% ridiculous! i hated it! he is unfair with the grades; he writes and finds pleasure in papers that do not use "high" english. i recieved low scores on my essay because i used proper "big words" instead of wrting like an idiot like he does!!! 1/3 of my class dropped!

2.0
4.0
ENG102
May 11, 2007

Beggs is the only bad english teacher I've ever had. In my opinion he has a snide, sarcastic personality with tinges of some misogyny. He grades harshly and arbitrarily. He shows favoritism & doesn't know lit. His choices are boring and tacky-only 2 authors all semester. Definitely not the quality of instruction you deserve for your money.

2.0
4.0
ENG102
May 11, 2007

Beggs is the only bad english teacher I've ever had. In my opinion he has a snide, sarcastic personality with tinges of some misogyny. He grades harshly and arbitrarily. He shows favoritism & doesn't know lit. His choices are boring and tacky-only 2 authors all semester. Definitely not the quality of instruction you deserve for your money.

3.0
4.0
ENG102
May 13, 2007

hes not a bad teacher, but you better write your essays from his point of view otherwise he will have no idea what the hell youre talking about, and it also seems as if he refuses to analyze a students work, like theyre incapable of writing something worthy and intellectual. the discussions werent shabby but his closed mind can ruin it.

1.0
5.0
ENGL101
Jun 18, 2007

grades way too hard if you dont wirte the essay his way its wrong. also seems to see sex in everything.

5.0
5.0
ENG103
Sep 22, 2007

I loved this class. The day to day work is easy but one must work very hard on the essays otherwise the grading will reflect it. He pushed me to work harder and made me an overall better writer. If you can't take constructive criticism this is not the class for you. He cares about every student in the class so any grade is meant to help.

4.0
5.0
ENG102
Dec 13, 2007

He is very, very difficult as far as grading. He is nicer and will give you a better grade if you go talk to him.

2.0
5.0
ENG101
Jan 23, 2008

his lectures are fun to join in on but as a teacher he he does a horrible job as a grader. i had help with my tearm paper from a english graduate and i stil got an d on my paper. he is a meance to the teaching system.

3.0
5.0
ENG163
May 2, 2008

I wanted to be an English major...not anymore. He is very demanding and is very critical of students work. He is very accepting of creative work but you will take it up the...on the other work. If you are going for learning stuff he's cool, but your GPA will flat line after this guy. On a personal level he's a nice guy...but the class messed me up.

1.0
5.0
ENG102
May 4, 2008

Beggs is the worst English teacher I've ever had. He's sarcastic. His dislike for women shows in his personality and in his literature choices. He is very closed minded and doesn't really know literature very well. He assigned alot of tacky modern pulp fiction stuff. His class was a waste of my time and money.

5.0
4.0
ENGL169
May 14, 2008

Jim Beggs is an outstanding instructor, and teaches at a university level. If you don't have the skills or drive, you don't want his class. If you work hard, show initiative and can write cogent, defensible arguments, you will be rewarded. Let the haters hate, but also et the truth be known: MJC is lucky to have this guy.

4.0
4.0
ENG101
Aug 12, 2008

If you want an easy A, don't take this class. I worked very hard and got a B. I learned a lot of new, valuble things. He's humorous at times, but is serious when it comes to wanting his students to succeed. Make sure to ask him if you are confused about anything. He's glad to help if you are motivated

3.0
4.0
LIT2000
Aug 23, 2008

Hey kids, welcome to college. Jim is the real deal when it comes to expecting thoughtful work from students. While I feel that the material covered wasn't really useful to me personally I can say that I was challenged by his coursework. Hey, he even helped me straighten out my Longfellow!

5.0
4.0
ENG103
Sep 2, 2008

One of the most interesting teachers I have ever had. Made the boring subject of English so interesting and controversial. He makes you challenge yourself and really think critically. Very funny and entertaining. I doubt his dislike for women, as I wrote a very conservative paper in which he corrected me. This professor is among the top at MJC.

4.0
5.0
ENG103
Nov 14, 2008

Beggs on a personal level is very nice and yet sort of negative toward women. I took this class as a one month ehglish class and cried. This class was hard, and made me feel bad about my writing. I worked hard and managed to bump up my grade to passing..yay! Beggs is hard but will make you have more thoughtful grammar-perfect papers.

3.0
4.0
ENG101
Dec 28, 2008

The toughest of all teachers of English I have ever encountered. His grading was tough, and some of his assignments were even tougher. The B I earned in this class is probably the only B I'll ever be proud of, because of how hard Beggs forced me to push myself as an already decent writer. Regardless of difficulty, I would take more classes with him

5.0
4.0
ENG103
Mar 18, 2009

He's corny, but he's funny. He trys really hard, and you can tell he loves his job and wants the best for his students.

2.0
5.0
ENGL101
Mar 18, 2009

He had the entire class totally confused about what he expected from the us. He was so unclear and not helpful in the least.I had taken every essay to several tutors for assistance and was assured I would get an "A" on my work. Mr. Beggs failed every one. He is harsh with his comments and appears to be chauvinistic. shows his low opinion of women.

4.0
5.0
ENG163
Mar 22, 2009

Fantastic professor. He will make you work for your grade, but he's excellent and an extremely nice guy. Never saw any hate of women and I am one. Do your work and take his suggestions and your gpa should survive this course. For extra points, include clever titles or punnish material. I loved his class and will be trying take another one from him.

5.0
2.0
ENG103
Apr 10, 2009

I wasn't sure about how much I would like this class after reading some of these comments. Beggs isn't **** AT ALL!! He has great class discussions and always gives his students the opportunity to be brilliant. He really likes when you are creative, something a lot of other professors don't care about. Beggs is AWESOME!!!

5.0
1.0
ENG169
Apr 10, 2009

Awesome class. Beggs always has us laughing. I can't believe this is a class because it is so so so so so easy!! Only one project, one midterm and one final. There are a couple pop quizzes but they are usually really easy and not worth more than 5 points or so. Beggs is AWESOME!! Take him!!!

3.0
5.0
ENGL102
May 6, 2009

Beware of Beggs...really tough grader. I'm an english major and struggled a bit on my essays and in-class work. Cool guy,though, and if I was still at MJC I would love to take his class over again.

5.0
5.0
ENG103
Jul 18, 2009

Dr. Beggs is a fantastic professor. Yes it is true that he is tough but because he's so nice and helpful it's a nice kind of tough. Ask questions if you need clarity because he answers everything asked. He's funny and cooky but a lot of fun & extremely interested in seeing his students pass the class.

5.0
4.0
ENGL103
Jul 28, 2009

Dr. Beggs is a very exceptional teacher overall. The first day of class I was scared and thought it was going to be unbearably difficult, but he is so quick to help you and give helpful comments. When he grades your essays he writes about things you need to work, but also gives positive feedback. Awesome teacher!!! Very competant and helpful.

1.0
4.0
ENG169
Nov 6, 2009

I assumed childrens lit would be an easy A, and after the first class I was sadly mistaken. It seemed as though Beggs only appreciates the students who suck up to him and ALWAYS have something to say. Beggs is not clear with his assignments and will probably love you if you're a suck up. So take this class if you like to be a teachers pet!

4.0
4.0
ENGLI49
Nov 11, 2009

True,he is tough,but does care. His motto is like "closed mouths don't get feed." ASK Q's, ASK, ASK.He recognizes that every Eng teach is diff,so he tells you what HE wants. He likes class discussions,so participate in those. When I had him i wanted everything MY way,I got an F and I'm still taking him again next semester! What does that tell you?!

1.0
4.0
CHILDLIT
Nov 15, 2009

Nice guy but bad teacher. Unclear on subjects and assignments. Never any good comments on papers always negative. Wants you to go deep into a subject (even if its not possible)

5.0
4.0
LIT169
Dec 23, 2009

Fairly tough class, a lot is expected from you. Beggs is very good about going over things in class so that you have a complete understanding of the task at hand.Great, interesting teacher that I enjoyed listening to. Beggs made learning fun and I for one appreciated this.

5.0
5.0
ENGL103
Dec 24, 2009

One of the best professors I have ever had. I'm not a big school fan but I honestly looked forward to his class. Very interactive. He does not hand out A's and he'll make you jump for them but still a great experience

3.0
5.0
MENG101
Mar 13, 2010

Let's see... He is THE worst professor i have ever had. He is beyond nit picky. He's not very open to other opinions, which is where we clashed. He loves poetry which is okay..but i did not sign up for a poetry class! His final is ridiculous and it is impossible to get an A. If you have a choice don't take it with him but if not good freakin luck!

2.0
5.0
LIT169
Apr 19, 2010

Terrible, deliberately made me cry on several occasions. I liked him at first, however he DID NOT LIKE me. When I asked for any advice with my writing he responded with hurtful comments. He never attempted to to be genuinely helpful. Only used hurtful remarks. I liked Prof Beggs but he never gave me a chance. :[

1.0
5.0
ENGLI101
May 1, 2010

If I had read these comments BEFORE signing up for class, I wouldn't have taken him. He has a vendetta against any older female. He made a comment to me "why are you in my class anyway, only those right out of HS take my class". He even tried to say I plagiarized because I forgot 1 of the " marks even though it was clear that was not my intention

2.0
5.0
ENG101
May 3, 2010

WOW! This guy is a very smart individual. Also, he let me know that all the time. He was very confrontational with my writing. On many circumstances told me I was not going to pass his class, so he told me to drop it. He didn't want me around, but that might be because I didn't let him walk all over me.

5.0
4.0
ENG101
Jun 11, 2010

Very tough grader. His class was all about writing essays. I was failing mid-way through his class and somehow pulled off a B only because he was very helpful and I asked for help. If you want to become a better writer I would recommend taking his class.

1.0
5.0
ENG101
Jun 15, 2010

Horrible teacher. doesnt teach you anything at all. Makes you cry and feel stupid. Not helpful at all. Worst teacher ever. Do Not Take Him. Doesnt grade fair.

4.0
3.0
ENG101
Jun 18, 2010

I think he a brilliant person and i dont see ho wyou guys gave him such horriable rateings. I give him a good rateing hes smart and im glad he was able to mentor me in my writeing.

4.0
4.0
ENG101
Jul 7, 2010

I won't lie, he makes you work for your A, but it was definitely possible! A lot of writing but his class was awesome! He was interesting and fun to listen to and learn from. Thought provoking and helpful. I liked him a lot and took two of his classes. If you don't mind a little hard work, take his class.

5.0
3.0
ENGL101
Sep 10, 2010

Dr. Beggs is an incredible teacher. He has a great sense of humor and his lectures are really interesting. He is absolutely fair and extremely helpful to everyone. Be ready to work in his class, but you will definitely learn from him.

5.0
3.0
ENGL174
Oct 6, 2010

The class was amazing! Dr. Beggs is an excellent teacher. He was helpful and full of useful information. If they bring this class back, i highly recommend taking it. Beggs is fair and always willing to help a student further understand what is expected. I wish more teachers were as dedicated as he.

2.0
5.0
ENG102
Oct 16, 2010

He has little man syndrome, is a very thinly veiled misogynist, assigns lame reading, doesn't know much about literature or writing, and is rigidly closed-minded regarding points of view other than his own. He also shows alot preference for people that kiss up. Overall, a really poor English teacher-the worst I've ever had in fact.

1.0
5.0
ENG6889
Oct 25, 2010

By far the worst teacher I have ever had at MJC. Horrible teacher. Doesn't know how to teach. Doesn't know how to grade. Doesn't know how to give assignments. Essay topics were horrible.

1.0
4.0
ENG101
Oct 27, 2010

HORRIBLE TEACHER! DO NOT TAKE HIM! HE FAVORS PEOPLE WAY TOO MUCH, AND HE ASSIGNS USELESS ESSAY'S. HE DOES NOT TEACH A THING DURING CLASS. HE IS VERY BIASED, AND HIS LECTURES ARE USELESS. ALL IN ALL, HE IS USELESS.

3.0
4.0
ENG169
Dec 16, 2010

Overall MJC probably has the worst Eng department. This class appears to be easier then it is. Prepare to discuss each reading assign. He does test you on them He also gives term review tests that are not tricky if you memorize the definitions.He is a obscure grader. Dont expect an easy A.

4.0
3.0
ENGL169
Jan 11, 2011

The teacher was really nice. He learned everyones name and the class disscusions were a lot of fun. You use the book everyday and have to do the reading. Class is almost all disscussion. There are essays and Vocab. This class is intended for English majors and teaching majors. It was hard. But overall it was a good you will learn a lot.

5.0
3.0
ENG169
Apr 22, 2011

I just took his course last semester and thought it was great. Basically, your only homework is reading. Showing up to class is key because there are small group "think tank" activities and discussions on the reading. You're almost guaranteed an A if you show up, read, and participate in classroom discussions on the material.

5.0
1.0
ENG169
Sep 27, 2011

I actually liked storytelling because it was actually nice, not boring at all. Just do your readings, 15 reviews on children's books, read in class, small group work and midterm, final and small play at the end. It seems like a lot of work, but it's really not! He's a great teacher, I'd recommend him. If I can pass the class with an A so can you :)

3.0
3.0
ENG102
Oct 14, 2011

He's a great teacher in the sense that he loves what he teaches, and really truly knows his stuff. My only complaint is that he plays favorites. There were more days than none when I didn't even feel welcome in the classroom.

2.0
5.0
ENG101
Oct 27, 2011

Do Not TAKE!!!!!! He enjoys giving Bad grades, It's "FUN" to him. You work so hard for this class and you end up feeling like you did "Nothing" at least that's what he thinks. He is way too strict. ALL He did was talk about his Life "BORNING" we are not in 1st grade, we don't need storytelling. Your an English teacher teach English writing!!

5.0
3.0
ENG101
Nov 3, 2011

Dr.Beggs is one of the best Professors on campus.Take this class if you are a serious student that wants to acquire the writing skill necessary to succeed in college. If you are not a serious student do not under any circumstances take this class because you will most likely drop, waste your time, waste his time, and waste money!

1.0
5.0
ENGL101
Jul 9, 2012

If you love English, then this is the teacher you want to take. I took him this past semester (Summer 2012) and he was the worst teacher ever. He did not specifically tell anyone in the classroom what he wanted on his essays. He gave the class the prompt for the essays 2 days before it had to be turned in. He was a horrible teacher.

5.0
2.0
ENG102
Jul 13, 2012

First class (103): B. Second class (102): A. Beggs is a clear, helpful, and extremely intelligent instructor who pushed my writing to new and improved levels. I enhanced one of his classes for my Honor's project and can tell you first hand that he will absolutely take the time to help as long as you put in the effort on your end. Speak up in his class because he enjoys new perspective and different views of the readings. Be a good writer, or prepare to improve. It's that simple.

4.0
2.0
ENG101
Dec 13, 2012

Dr.Beggs is a good professor. The only thing that bugged me most was I did not now my grade for the whole semester until a day or two before the final.That kind of made me upset. But he is a good professor and I really loved his stories.He is great.

5.0
3.0
ENG101
Jul 10, 2013

Beggs is a great professor. He is extremely nice and intelligent and he isn't rude. However, he is very critical when it comes to grading essays. I thought i wrote well, then I only got high C's. Difficult to impress him. If you work hard and read the pieces, you will do fine. I got a B in the class with getting C's on two essays. SEMI-ROUGH CLASS.

2.0
4.0
102
Jul 18, 2013

Dr. Beggs is a nice teacher, however I found his class very difficult and he only allowed one revision of the three essays we were assigned. I did not feel that I had a successful time in the class. He grades very hard. I do not recommend him if you need Eng 102.

5.0
3.0
ENG101
Jul 23, 2013

He was an amazing teacher. I would recommend this teacher if you are actually trying to learn while attending college. If you are willing to put the effort in attending classes and doing the work, he is not difficult. He is interesting and knowledgable. He makes each class worth your time. If you are lazy, take another teacher!

5.0
3.0
ENG101
Oct 24, 2013

Dr. Beggs is very intelligent. When I left this course, I became a lot wiser. He definitely will teach you a lot. This course is very demanding, but worth it for preparation into other courses. Plus lectures are interesting.

3.0
4.0
169
Nov 3, 2013

had a strong interest in this class but Prof Beggs didnt seem to be happy/enjoy our class sessions. I always participated and tried to be friendly but he seems to not be too interested. A family emergency derailed me a bit but I was still passing he failed my final and I received a D. I tried but I just do not think he liked teaching that class.

5.0
3.0
ENGL101
Nov 12, 2013

Dr. Beggs is awesome. I hated english prior to his class, but after I felt like i really learned something. He doesn't put up with crap but he will be the most helpful professor if you just listen to him. Seriously feel like I learned so much and he clearly cares about what he does and his students.

5.0
1.0
ENGL101
Grade: A
Dec 17, 2013

I loved dr. beggs! i learned so much. we had zero homework other than essays. he gave us readings that were mostly optional, occassionally we discussed them the next class period, but 99 percent of our grades were based on essays. he was always available to answer questions. plus his three sons are in an awesome band called stop motion poetry ;)

1.0
5.0
ENGLISH169
Nov 12, 2014

I was in his class for a few weeks and he assigns us large amount of reading out of a huge book, as if we don't have other classes and jobs. He is not specific about assignments and makes it hard on students with things going on in their lives. AVOID

5.0
4.0
MENGL101
Feb 10, 2015

Beggs was a very good teacher and always seemed happy to teach. Warning though, his class is not easy. He grades relatively hard on the essays compared to other teachers (I've only heard this however, maybe I'm just not great at essays). There is a decent amount of reading, but this is an English class.

3.0
4.0
101
Grade: A+
Apr 16, 2015

He is very passionate about English that's for sure. However the class isn't particularly easy. Each semester he has a theme you're class follows and all of the essays are based on the theme. It was a hard class, but if you do the readings, you can pass.

3.0
3.0
102
Grade: B+
Apr 29, 2015

Fun class and a great teacher, but got a B for my final grade despite earning A's on all essays and quizzes. I asked him why, and he gave some vague answer about adjusting for ability levels and effort. I guess decent essays and participation aren't enough to pass; you also have to play dumb to make it look like you're trying really hard...

4.0
4.0
ENG101
Grade: D
May 6, 2015

Have to really read and be present to pass class. Good Teacher explains everything. If I would of put more effort into my writing assignments I would of passed the class. Study some good topics.

1.0
5.0
ENGLISH101
Grade: D+
May 7, 2015

He is by far the worst professor I have taken at mjc. He does not know how to teach. All semester long he talked about his life(boring) no one cares about your life. We want to pass! He has to be right because "he has a doctorate degree" knows that he has control of his students and takes advantage of his authority I'm an A and B student don't take

3.0
5.0
101
Grade: C
May 20, 2015

Very difficult instructor. Showing up,participating and doing all the work does not mean you'll pass. Very interesting reading material and discussions. He makes his class way too challenging for a junior college. If you can take someone else,please do. Lots of fellow students did the work and were very disappointed-waste of time when they failed.

1.0
5.0
ENGISH101
Jun 9, 2015

He rarely gives A's. And I mean there was a few people in the class that well deserved an A but received a B. Horrible instructor. AVOID! Worst professor ever. He does not teach a thing.

3.0
4.0
ENGLISH101
Grade: B
Aug 15, 2015

His class is enjoyable and so is his reading material, however he over analyzes your writing and if he simply doesn't like it, then he docks off points. Rarely is an A given and sometimes his feedback makes no sense. You think by the way he teaches he is cool but he no he grades really hard and expects you to write the way he likes.

4.0
3.0
MENG101
Grade: Drop/Withdrawal
Oct 1, 2015

This was a great class and the workload is a nice balance of reading and writing. Participation matters somewhat but your writing is the main factor for a good grade. I unfortunately could not continue the class and had to drop midway through but he was really understanding of my poor attendance and situations causing it. Would take again for sure.

4.0
4.0
ENGL-10
Oct 21, 2015

Professor Beggs is a great teacher and a fun guy to take a class with, but there is a lot of reading required to be successful in his class.

5.0
4.0
ENG101
Grade: B+
Nov 10, 2015

Don't believe everything you read! You definitely have to put in the work, but Dr. Beggs genuinely cares about the well being of every one of his students. If you make the effort, he will go out of his way to give you feedback or revise your paper before it's due. He has a great sense of humor and a real passion for what he does.

5.0
4.0
ENG101
Grade: B+
Mar 1, 2016

The greatest teacher since Annie Sullivan! I have never learned so much in one semester. Thank you!

5.0
4.0
ENG101
Mar 3, 2016

Very helpful and wonderful!

5.0
3.0
ENG101
Mar 19, 2016

Dr. Beggs is a wonderful Instructor! Very funny and kind to his students. Cares about the success of each one.

5.0
4.0
ENG101
Apr 21, 2016

Went into this class with a bad attitude and at first thought this class was gonna be the death of my English grade, but it was not. He's an awesome teacher and is ALWAYS there to help! I learned a lot from his class and I definitely recommend taking his class, it will totally help you later on in life. Best English teacher I have had.

3.0
3.0
ENGL136
Grade: A
May 3, 2016

He's a cool teacher once you warm yp to him. You mainly just read poems or short stories and then discuss them in class the next day and he is open to a lot of interpretations and I really enjoyed the discussions. You take easy ID quizzes, a term project, and a final. He has some cool guest speakers come by also. Is happy to help during office hour

5.0
3.0
ENG101
May 27, 2016
Would take again

Dr. Beggs is really passionate about English, which made his class really enjoyable. He gave good feedback on papers we wrote and was willing to help whenever you needed.

5.0
3.0
ENGL101
Grade: B+
Jun 10, 2016
Would take again

I love this professor. Class was always interesting and the workload was fairly light. The reading was from a small book (7x5) usually 3 -5 pages. He's always reachable and always wants to help if needed. He loves his job and his students.

5.0
3.0
ENG101
Grade: B+
Nov 20, 2016
Would take again

Beggs is one of my favorite professors. The best part of class is when he tells stories that relate to what we're discussing. There's quite a bit of reading from a small book, but each assignment is only 3-10 pages long. It's an easy class, but I've learned a lot. It's so great when a professor loves teaching.

Gives good feedback
Get ready to read
Caring
1.0
3.0
ENG114
Jan 29, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Professor Beggs was very unclear in everything, he was sarcastic and made fun of students. He intentionally verbally insulted a transgender student in front of the entire class. He was a very tough grader throughout the semester, I never got higher than a C on any of my papers in his class, but received A's on my papers in other classes.

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
Participation matters
1.0
4.0
ENG101
Apr 18, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Very unclear grading. He tells you to do one thing and then grades you down for doing that. Class is very long and drug out. I didn't learn one thing in this class that helped me with my writing. All you do is read short essays everyday and talk about them then he throws essays at you. Most people don't get A's even when they are deserved.

Tough Grader
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
SO MANY PAPERS
5.0
4.0
ENGL102
Grade: C
Sep 20, 2017
Would take again

Dr. Beggs is a very tough grader, but I learned a lot of writing techniques. He is willing to see you during office hours, or accommodate for you. Sure I received a C, but it was a well earned grade. He cares about his students and is open-minded with other students' perspectives distinct to his. His discussions are insightful and comical.

Tough Grader
Gives good feedback
Participation matters
1.0
4.0
ENGL50
Grade: C-
Nov 2, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Dr. Beggs was one of the most difficult professors I took. I do not recommend. Be prepared to read a lot and do a lot of pointless homework.

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
LOTS OF HOMEWORK
4.0
4.0
ENG101
Grade: B+
Feb 5, 2018
Would take again

Beggs is an awesome professor if you like English. He is a tough grader but he is very constructive and overall very interesting

Tough Grader
Gives good feedback
Participation matters
4.0
4.0
ENG101
Grade: A+
May 18, 2018
Would take again

Dr. Beggs was really helpful when grading papers. The first paper we turned in for the semester however, more than half than half the class was forced to rewrite. He told them their papers weren't worth grading because of how bad they were. (I felt bad because I was one of 3 students who received an A on that specific essay) He doesn't use canvas!!

Tough Grader
Gives good feedback
Caring
3.0
4.0
ENG101
Grade: B
May 23, 2018
Wouldn't take again

Professor Beggs is a kind soul that truly cares about each one of his students especially if you cooperate in class. The one thing I did not enjoy about this class was the grading rubric. There really wasn't one. He really doesn't show any remorse when grading and it almost seems unfair when you get a bad grade on a paper you worked hard on.

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
Caring
1.0
5.0
ENG101
Jul 13, 2018
Wouldn't take again

Terrible! Please dont take him unless youre an English major and want a challenge. Very unclear grading criteria, assigns irrelevant homework and reading. I didnt learn a thing from him. Grades REALLY hard. Do yourself a favor and go with a different professor!

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
LOTS OF HOMEWORK
4.0
5.0
ENGLISH101
Oct 22, 2018
Would take again

Hes a really good professor and will give you his time to help fix any problems if you come to him. He is a tough grader. Also we had lots of homework to keep us busy.

Tough Grader
Gives good feedback
LOTS OF HOMEWORK
5.0
4.0
ENG101
Grade: A+
Oct 23, 2018
Would take again

Professor Beggs is one of the best teachers I've ever had. If you truly want to learn how to use the English language better, take his class! Definitely a tough, but fair, grader. An essay I wrote in his class and with his revisions and guidance won first place in the MJC Essay competition. :)

Tough Grader
Respected
Caring
5.0
4.0
ENG101
Dec 11, 2018
Would take again

Jim Beggs is a wonderful professor. He tends to make classes interesting, really diving into material. As long as you pay attention and participate, you should easily pass the class. He gives a lot of writing but has pretty clear grading criteria. I finished with a solid B.

Tough Grader
Respected
Caring
5.0
4.0
ENGL101
Dec 15, 2018
Would take again

I absolutely loved taking this class with Dr. Beggs. He is an amazing professor who is clearly passionate about the English language. The book we study in class is very interesting. He is a funny person and has many great advices to help you get better. There are 5 essays to write, interesting subjects and a lot of time to complete the

Get ready to read
Hilarious
Gives good feedback
5.0
3.0
ENG101
Jan 17, 2019
Would take again

Dr. Beggs was a great teacher. I took his summer class which is fast paced but he makes it understandable. He was a fair grader (slightly harder than normal but it's college english). Expect to read and participate in class! I would take him again! If you show up you'll pass.

5.0
4.0
ENG102
Grade: C
May 6, 2019
Wouldn't take again

Professor Beggs will force you to have to put a lot of focus and attention to the reading assignments in order to pass the class. He is a caring teacher, funny, respected, and gives great feedback. Unfortunately for this procrastinator, I was always playing catch up and was unprepared for quizzes and in-class essays. Be prepared and do the HW.

Gives good feedback
Skip class? You won't pass.
Tough grader
5.0
4.0
ENGLISH101
Grade: Not sure yet
Jul 2, 2019
Would take again

Dr. James is a gem; i enjoyed his class beyond beleif. I woud take his class 100 more times; hes an amazing teacher and you can loves what he does. I can't say there was one lecture that i was bored of. He has his P.H.D; so i wouldn't take the grading too personal.

Inspirational
Hilarious
Amazing lectures
4.0
3.0
ENG101
Grade: A
Oct 11, 2019
Would take again

I really enjoyed having him as an English teacher. He welcomes class discussions and is interested in hearing what the students think of the material.

Gives good feedback
4.0
5.0
ENGLS101
Grade: A-
Dec 12, 2019
Wouldn't take again

Professor Beggs is a great professor. He definitely knows what he's talking about and this class did improve my writing, HOWEVER, he grades really hard. He has his Ph.D., but there is not a clear grading criterion. He says if he isn't moved by your writing you probably won't receive a good grade. You have to really work for your grade.

So many papers
Tough grader
5.0
5.0
ENG101
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 13, 2019
Would take again

Beggs is a hard grader and has high expectations but he is understanding and willing to work with students. He gives helpful critiques on papers so that students can understand their grades. The reading is manageable and not difficult.

Gives good feedback
Get ready to read
Participation matters
1.0
5.0
ENG101
May 15, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Assigned many essays, hard grader , gave pointless readings every class

Tough grader
Get ready to read
So many papers
2.0
4.0
ENG102
Grade: D
Nov 6, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Mr. Beggs is a good professor but a very hard grader. I felt like I did my essays well, but to him, I didn't. There was not one assignment I passed on, and I feel that after doing the best to my ability during the beginning of the semester, I started doing less than mediocre towards the middle, bc no matter what this man would fail me anyways.

2.0
5.0
ENG101
Jan 12, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Dont take in my opinion, watch out for the grading on papers as well. He expects everyone to be the next big write when in reality its English 101. Especially when its freshmans first time and first class in college its completely overwhelming.

1.0
5.0
101
Grade: C
Jul 13, 2023

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Class Info

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94%

Textbook Required

50%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

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Predicted Grade

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95% confidence
Based on 23 grades
Most common grades:
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C (4)
A (3)
Grade Distribution
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Based on 27 reported grades
B+: 6
C: 4
A: 3
A+: 3
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