1.9
Quality3.7
Difficulty10%
Would Retake97
Reviews10%
Would Retake
97
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
97 total ratings5
9
4
7
3
10
2
22
1
49
What Students Say
“If you write an amazing essay he will give you a low grade because he personally doesn't like it”
WSC001 - 2.0 rating“He's not a bad guy at all”
WSC002 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
80%
Textbook Required
43%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.56 avg changeRatings by Course
ENGLISH12
5.0
(1)ENGL2
5.0
(1)ENGL001
4.0
(2)ENGLISH2
3.0
(2)ENG101
3.0
(3)Difficulty by Course
ENGLISH00
5.0
ENG12
5.0
ENG
5.0
WRITING2
5.0
001
4.7
Reviews (96)
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Can't wish enough pain/harm to happen to this man...Does not care for students, or the work they do! stay far away from him...Only way I'd like to see him is when hes going to HELL (so i can laugh)
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To wish hate/pain/horror/sickness on someone is wrong, however exceptions should be made for this man!
he's by far the worst professor ive had in hofstra. he makes no sense and his classes are a waste of time.
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The WORST professor I ever had. At the end of the semester you have no idea how you're doing. Drags pointless material for weeks, while focusing on important stuff for a day. Takes forever to grade one paper. DON'T TAKE DECARLO, you'll regret it.
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HATED HIM!
Cannot even begin to hope for the amount of pain this man will receive in hell...Thankfully, I cannot wait to see someone take this poor excuse away from us.
Makes crazy analogies that make no sense and just confuses everybody. It's so hard to figure out what you should write down and what's just stupid, so I just never write anything. Especially for a first year, if you want to be confused, his is the class
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Class was painful to attend. Never actually learned anything. He doesn't base grades on actual scores earned, rather on attendance and how much he likes you. Avoid him like the plague.
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I hope you suffer PAIN Decarlo!!- Nothing but horrible, life threatening pain...
he is such a ****ty teacher.. his class was really boring and he doesnt make any sense
everyone will disagree with me, but i actually enjoyed his class, he was a big help to me, attendance poilicy does suck, but i think he had some very good things to say about the matterial...good job proff.
why is this professor even teaching?! His evaluation forms must have all complaints from all the students in my class. Hard grader, unreasonable, doesn't like it when you disagree with him or offer an objective opinion.
I personally loved his classes, but as I see with the other reviews I am alone. Sometimes his grading is a little unexplainable, but I really enjoyed the class, and found the Professor DeCarlo to be entertaining. I did take both englishes with him.
i thought he was pretty easy...i mean u gotta do some papers but thas bout it...and he lets you re-do three of them...as long as u do your work you'll be fine..
He is not the best teacher to have especially in the morning. You must participate or your grade will suffer. You don't get that much time to complete papers. I do not recommend this teacher.
Horrible....doesn't want to listen to students problems..."avoid like the plague"
grades hard
Cool guy, weird, but cool. Made english more into an astronomy,physics,ethics, class all in one. Taught some crazy stuff. Who goes from Cosmology to Hamlet? This guy, but he made it interesting. Take him if you like early classes and a guaranteed B.
This guy is and idiot he will sit there and make one do meaningless assignments that wont benefit you in life or as a person. Dont take him stay away his jokes are corny and his whole personality is just wierd. I TOTALLY HATE HIS CLASS!!!!!!!!!.
horrible...hard grader
hard grader, worst teacher by far. Why are teachers like him allowed to teach at Hofstra?
He's an awesome professor and a fair grader. If you enjoy writing and appreciate it, take the class. You won't regret it!
He's very eccentric and not really funny despite all the jokes he makes, however, so far he has been mostly fair with grading and he's pretty straightforward on what he wants.
i thought he was a great teacher made class enjoyable my favorite class of the term, he let you rewrite papers and made comments, he really improved my writing im not good in english and got a b+ hes a nice guy too
i thought the class was pretty easy. hes a good guy and the essay topics were good things to write about and they didnt even require you to read what he tells you. your basically writing about your life story. i recommend him
Awwwww give the guy a break. He is VERY nice and very entertaining. He's amusing and that's a good thing that not many profs at Hofstra are. If you really have to insult him, You obviously are a freshman who doesn't yet know the horrors of most of the teaching staff at Hofstra. He's a good guy that wants you to do well. Take him.
wasnt a bad class. he actually was really funny and sweet. a little different, but really nice and if you do your work and come to class you wont have a problem
not a big fan of this teacher. He has wry humor and doesnt make sense most of the time. I wouldnt say hes difficult, but we have to asses his own writings and he tends to be very strict when it comes to grading. Re-do's are allowed usually..
Decarlos a horrible teacher. He makes jokes that dont make sense & its impossible to get above a C+. Teaches his own opinion & if you disagree your grade goes down. The only way to get through Shakespeare with him is Spark Notes. I would never take him again. He is very useless when answering students questions & assignments are very unclear!!!
very boring his way or the highway
The class itself not difficult. Prof has specific opinions and expects you to follow his formats... almost exactly. Re-visions are allowed, but overall, the class was frustrating.
I had him at 8 in the morning, 3 times a week - It was dreadful....sorry, but I didn't look forward to it at all. There were 3 big assignments and re-writes were allowed. I went to office hours and I was still confused. He teaches his own opinion and basically spoon feeds you what he wants in the essays, and kind of circumvents your opinions.
3 big papers, revisions were allowed but he is still such a hard grader. I went to office hours and they did nothing, he is very set on exactly what he wants in the papers, if you don't have it exactly how he wants it you will not get higher than a B-. Participation is a huge part of your grade.
Class overall was ok. Attendance wasn't mandatory. You need to do the work. Re-writes are allowed. If you do what he wants you will do ok. Also you must talk in class. Class participation is important.
WORST TEACHER EVERRRRRRRR!!! completely unclear & has no idea what hes talkin about half the time. His grading is ridiculousss and i regret ever taking his class
He can be unclear at times, but is overall a good teacher. Keeps class interesting and is a very easy grader. If you go to class (and even if you don't), you will pass.
He's a nice guy, but definitely was not 100% clear all the time. However, if you show up, do the assignments, and participate, then you should be fine.
Class is an easy B which is not a good thing. Worst grading system checks and check plus. You have no clue what your standing in the class is until the last day. DON'T TAKE
Honestly, Prof. DeCarlo is not the best professor. I dreaded going to class. He always interrupts you, even if he called on you for an opinion. Don't take him.
awful teacher, has no plan or structure for class. missed 4 or 5 classes and then tried to fall me for missing 4. also never hands anything back or lets you see your grade. AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE
DeCarlo's lectures are confusing and he goes off topic often. I would say don't get the book. I never opened it because most of the articles could be found online. He's a tough grader for no reason. On the practice writing exam, he failed me. I passed the real thing though, and got an A- in his class. I don't understand the way he grades at all.
Do not take this class. Ever. Nothing he says makes any sense. The assignments have nothing to do with the class, and anytime you ask him a question, he'll completely turn it around and start talking about something else. DO NOT TAKE HIM!!
He's not a bad guy at all. However, his lectures were confusing, irrelevant, and boring. I missed class a few times, and kinda BS'ed through it, mostly because he was so unclear about everything. Assignments had NO directions whatsoever. His grading criteria is SO unclear. I Ended up getting a B+ somehow, but I suggest to avoid his class!
DeCarlo is constantly getting off topic, although I'm not sure he's ever actually on topic. He doesn't seem to know what he's talking about and instead tries to start arguments about abortion (???). He doesn't specify what he wants you do on an assignment but will get angry if it isn't exactly what he wanted.
I really look forward to his class;he has a very friendly personality and is quite funny. as a person hes really chill and the lectures are very engaging. they aren't extremely structured so you have room to think and not take extreme notes. participate! and most assignments are related to class or short book readings
His class made literally no sense, he would ramble on about literally nothing all class. We only got two papers over the course of the semester, so the class wasn't difficult by any stretch, but I am still unsure of the trajectory of the class, if there even was one.
i was just confused the entire time. it was a joke between classmates that we would wonder what subject he would ramble on about next. class wasn't hard though. i just wish i actually learned something. felt like i wasted my money.
Overall good guy but is not clear with his grading criteria, and his lectures are all over the place. Not sure I learned anything from his class.
very unorganized, always cuts you off and doesn't let you speak. Always wants his interpretation not yours. If you write an amazing essay he will give you a low grade because he personally doesn't like it. Also never stops talking about abortions. Would not recommend taking this class.
Boring class. He just talks all the time and goes off on random things. You are allowed to use your laptop in class and that was the only thing that let me survive that class. Class is very easy and you just need to know you have an assignment to do well. Angry at him that he used the textbook a lot in first week so I bought it and then he stopped.
I am unsure of what I actually learned in this class. Every class he would just stand in front of the room and lecture about random things. It is a writing class meanwhile we would watch the movie Dirty Dancing or videos of kangaroos fighting. His instruction for assignments/papers are very unclear and then will take points off for format.
He does no stay on topic and when he does if you ask a clarification question about the topic he gets upset and refuses to answer the question. He is very rude to his students and rambles a lot about unrelated things such as his mother. He does not give you a rubric for any assignment, no helpful feedback, and no clear grading scale. DO NOT TAKE!!!
I'd rather get hit by a speeding car 90mph than spend another day in this mans class. Rude and obnoxious, absolute the worst teacher on the face of earth
This professor was very interesting... Although I did well in his class, I felt that his lectures were very scattered and I didn't really learn anything from them. Although he was very kind and asked for input on changing the curriculum due to online classes, I thought that his grading system on his papers was very confusing.
DO NOT TAKE THIS PROFESSOR Saw he didnt have such good reviews & thought I would give him a chance. Dont be as nice as I was. Lectures have absolutely nothing to do with class, we learned how to write an outline in the second to last lecture. Gives no rubric for any assignments, and overall isnt very clear. Gets angry when you ask him to elaborate
Professor Decarlo is a very nice guy. However, his class was extremely confusing. He would lecture about random things that did not pertain to the class. He only assigned us three essays(which he graded very harshly) to write over the course of the semester, and that made up the entirety of our final grade.
I took him twice, he's a little odd. Class discussion is entirely unrelated to the work, but it's not bad. Be warned: his letter grades don't align with any other class. A100%, B75%, C50%, D25%. He will look you in the face and say you got a B while smacking you with a 70%. He says it's because it's on a 4-point scale, but it's frustrating
Genuinely the worst. Talks about nothing for the whole class then assigns things and gives absolutely no clear instructions. Took this class cause it was the only one that fit my schedule and didn't think it would be too bad, don't make the same mistake I did. Might be a bit better in person, but I won't be taking another class to find out.
Mr. Decarlo is perhaps one of the worst teachers I have ever had in my life. He does not understand the topics he lectures about in class and he's extremely difficult to listen to for more than a few minutes. You will quickly realize that this professor is not worth your time, and you'd do well to drop his course ASAP if you value your own sanity.
Professor Decarlo may be a confusing professor, but overall, his class was not a bad one. I think he truly enjoys what he is teaching and will even go off topic to discuss random things. It was not a hard class and as long as you do the assignments and put in effort, you're likely to do well. He gets a bad rep, but he's a good guy.
Not sure why he had such low ratings. Assignments can be difficult to understand, but you always have time to work and ask questions. Decarlo is a pretty funny guy who clearly loves his job and just wants to make students laugh. I would recommend him for a nice break in your schedule where participation and tests arent an issue.
Professor DeCarlo is a very nice man if spoken with he will let you re do assignments or get extra credit. The bad thing is that he tends to not stay on topic and is very all over the place. He is a very tough grader to the point that you will be happy if you get a C in the class. He rambles a lot and his assignments are very random.
I thought Decarlo's class was great. Despite teaching a writing class, his course had a strong emphasis on science. He would often veer off-topic and talk about a variety of random subjects during each class. His teaching style is quite relaxed and essay instructions can be vague. It is important to note that participation is crucial in his class.
Seems like a nice guy but do not take his class. First off attendance is mandatory but all you will do is hear him ramble and get off-topic. 80% of the course is hearing him talk about random stuff that has nothing to do with the actual course. Not to mention for essays he grades harshly despite not explaining at all how he wants them structured.
Immediately transfer out of this class. He shows up late to class every day, making you want to cut class. He is extremely unclear about what he wants in terms of assignments. He posts late the day before class with little explanation. Rambles the whole class and participation is mandatory yet he interrupts you when you are trying to participate.
He's an okayish professor but he's lowk racist. When he does impressions of people who aren't caucasian he adds a stereotypical Indian accent. He doesn't ever answer emails and doesn't post your grade on Canvas. This class is extremely boring and I don't understand why I need to take this. Especially when I'm in the medical field.
John Decarlo is a horrible profesor. You can't understand any of his feedback since he's trying to be "poetic", and he never puts your grade in Canvas. Probably the worst professor for WSC, he doesn't even understand his own assignments. I hope he retires soon to save the trouble of his students.
he grades very harshly I have no problem with the guy at all he is very nice and is always willing to talk in class but he is impossible to reach outside of class and doesn't always state what he wants on assignments it is very confusing sometimes and his lectures are all over the place you don't learn much in this class.
I highly recommend having good attendance in this class, missing one class can cause you to do an assignment wrong/be confused. This man is never clear and doesn't ever clarify. He doesn't have a set time for office hours, and talks over you. I HIGHLY suggest avoiding taking him at all costs, he doesn't even have a degree in teaching.
y'all do NOT take this mans class he is an ABSOLUTE nightmare. the few assignments that we'd get made NO SENSE AT ALL and he NEVER provides a clear rubric stating what he wants. HE DIDN'T EVEN GIVE OUT A SYLLABUS. he goes off topic a lot, this is fr a bottom of the barrel class. the bad reviews going all the way back to 2003 really says something.
BS'D my way throughout the entire fall 2023 semester and through some miracle ended up with a B+. his assignments made NO SENSE, and the requirements would change EVERY CLASS. if you don't have the same opinions as him ur pretty much doomed. DON'T BUY THE TEXTBOOK, we used it for like 2 weeks. DOWNLOAD ON ANNA'SARCHIVE. DON'T TAKE FOR WSC001
as a person, he's nice. as a professor, he's an absolute nightmare. doesn't post grades on canvas (you have to email him asking for them), goes off topic and rambles about irrelevant things ALL THE TIME, does NOT provide a syllabus so you don't know what assignments to do/prepare for, is NEVER clear on instructions for assignments. don't take. RUN.
Not sure how this guy is a professor. He has no brain and needs to be signed into a nursing home. Has no syllabus for the course or rubric for assignments. Rambles about random topics in class. Offered no help for proficiency exam and failed everyone. He needs to be fired.
He gives you a final grade based on everything you did during the year but this grade is extremely harsh and unfair. He also is extremely unclear in his explanations and refuses to compromise when it comes to mistakes from either party. Do not take this teacher's classes.
Nice man... however, he gets off topic very frequently and his lectures can be strange. Penguins? Tardigrades? Assignments not given clear instructions. Asks random questions unrelated to class, wasting time. Inconsistent lectures. Not great.
john decarlo is so hilariously terrible that his bad reviews go all the way back to 2003; if that isn't enough of a red flag idk what to tell you. i've never met a more disorganized teacher than him, he doesn't have a clear grading system and he DOESN'T provide a syllabus. attending class is a waste of time, he goes off on irrelevant tangents. RUN.
This class will be the death of me. There's no structure (class, lectures, notes, etc). It's just him talking about random things. Not to mention the fact it's not about writing. Why am I genuinely required to learn about biology, chemistry, neurology, and psychology in this class? The only writing is elementary school styled transitional verbs.
As someone who took Writing Comp 1 with Decarlo during my first semester, DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS. He has absolutely no idea what he's talking about and goes off topic pretty much every class. On top of all that, he has a very strange grading system and doesn't provide a syllabus. There are so many better professors out there. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
Absolutely awful. No rubrics, does not give clear instructions, does not provide good feedback. Talks for 1 hour 25 minutes about nonsense and briefly mentions the assignment 5 minutes before the class ends. He should not be a professor. He does not even know what he is assigning.
just bad avoid
hes alright, avoid if possible
He needs to be fired. He thinks tenure allows him to be disrespectful and racist. Get him out of this school.
Super disorganized. Doesn't know how to teach. If you want to be taught by a narissistic human being who puts his feelings and beliefs over his students, this is for you. I hope one day he realizes that he can do better.
He is a decent professor. You know he is not the greatest professor, so don't be mad. He talks about the most random things, and he goes off on tangents ALOT. He does pointless quizzes. As long as you do the assignments and follow his comments for revisions, you will be fine. I feel bad for him just because he is old and a little deaf.
Very disorganized and rude. Doesn't make any effot to teach. I strongly advise taking any other class.
Just let this poor man talk and you'll be fine. Quizzes don't make sense and he goes on random tangents in basically every class. As long as you are nice to him and show up to class he will give you better grades
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
80%
Textbook Required
43%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.56 avg changeRatings by Course
ENGLISH12
5.0
(1)ENGL2
5.0
(1)ENGL001
4.0
(2)ENGLISH2
3.0
(2)ENG101
3.0
(3)Difficulty by Course
ENGLISH00
5.0
ENG12
5.0
ENG
5.0
WRITING2
5.0
001
4.7