3.9
Quality3.4
Difficulty66%
Would Retake87
Reviews66%
Would Retake
87
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
49
4
14
3
8
2
6
1
10
What Students Say
“There are no midterms or finals since it's a 2 unit class”
HUM001 - 1.0 rating“I did not enjoy his 20th century poetry class at all”
ENG168 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
71%
Textbook Required
36%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.48 avg changeRatings by Course
ENG165
5.0
(3)ENL100P
5.0
(2)ENL145
5.0
(1)FNA327A
5.0
(1)ENL40
5.0
(4)Difficulty by Course
ENL145
5.0
ENG168
5.0
ENL177
5.0
ENL168
4.3
FMS125
4.0
Reviews (87)
A really awesome, funny guy, and interesting material. One of the most entertaining and informative classes I've had in a while. The assignments are sometimes quite difficult (killer final paper!), but he's quite fair.
Clover is from berkeley and this is reflected in his teaching style. comes to class without shoes and with protest shirts. Loves consumer culture. Hes very funny and personable and helpful. His assignments are in a word... postmodern. A fantastic class.
No Comments
if you like to think for yourself take clover's modern poetry class. lively, engaging, hilarious and excellent fun. difficult material, but awesome professor/class.
If you get a chance, you must take his course. He is fun, lectures are entertaining and he will teach you to think and analyze in a way that no other prof. in the english department does. He was the best teacher I had at UCD.
He ROCKS!!!
Very engaging and hysterical class. Having taken a ton of English classes at UCD, this one was one of my faves.
Clover's poetry class had a profound effect on the way I read--and that goes beyond poetry. He teaches you how to really dive into things without having to "reach." His quirky sense of humor and remarkable intellect makes his lectures both enjoyable and engaging.
Every class with Clover is amusing, and I was consistently amazed by the breadth of his pop culture knowledge and crazy references. He wants to shake up the way his students read poetry, and that makes his class important, but challenging.
He is a genius of the highest degree. If you want to take a class with someone who is going to be legendary, class this is a highly recommendable.
clover chenged the way i approached reading and made me LIKE going to class. Hes hilarious and approachable and very helpful. Take any class you can with him, because for once, youll end the quarter feeling like you learned something.
hE'S One of my MOst favorieeeteee Teachers...hIS take on CULTure and eVents is so HALarioooousss...
creative, engaging, intelligent. makes you want to 'try', to think.
OK... here's the deal. Clover is probably one of the smartest people I have ever met, but this means that when you raise your hand in class you will never say anything "useful". I heard this class (when taught by other profs. was easy) but with Clover it was INSANELY hard. Take him for other classes, not this one!!
No Comments
Clover is a smart guy, but a down-to-earth guy too - not the stereotypical pretentious poetry teacher we all hate. Entertaining, which sometimes gets in the way of clarity. Surprisingly challenging for an intro class, but he did grant a weighty extra credit assignment. Recommended if you want a challenge and a good time.
Clover was an extremely interesting person, and still an interesting teacher, but that's about as far as it went. He really got his students to think, but he didn't accept their answers. Clover is self-important and the depth of his final exam was a surprise for most of his students. I do believe that nearly half the class received a C or lower.
Don't be fooled! Grades-wise, he's pretty nice. Contrary to popular belief, he doesn't think "A"-giving is an act of educational heresy. Don't be a lazy bum, and everything will be fine. (In case you haven't noticed, this is true for most things in life...)
He is probably reasonably intelligent, but he is unable to convey anything to his students other than what a complete ass he is. He also has no clue what he wants you to write. He gave very specific instructions and then graded the papers differently. He also uses a very narrow approach to analyzing texts that is not completely clear.
No Comments
Fantastic course overall. Joshua is omnipotent when it comes to anything pop culture, but he can be quite condescending and elitist at times. However, this improved as the quarter progressed. Takes roll, requires participation, but if you care about school you'll go to class regardless. A very fascinating course. I recommend him.
Realllllly good teacher and an interesting/funny man. He swears a lot, in a funny way. I struggled with the class a little at the beginning, but after going to his office hours for help my grade improved a lot. He is a very helpful teacher and knows a lot about film. lectures can be confusing but asking him for help really clears the lectures up.
Joshua is a very interesting professor. I agree with whoever left the comment about how he can be condescending and elitist.I did not like that his "quizes" (read exams) are unannounced and you are told there are no excuses for make-ups. Other than that, I really enjoyed the class.
I am not an English major, and I thought this course was awesome. I disagree that Joshua is self-important and condescending; he actually appreciates it when students are a bit sassy in class, much the way he is. Interesting dude you gets you to think. As far as I thought, he was also very clear.
it's easy to see the level of genius in him. he can learn names instantly and recall them weeks later when the student comes in late. he also talks and thinks about films at a level far beyond the entire class. however, he is sometimes snappy with students
The best professor I've had, by far, at UCD. Manages to teach you to approach the problem from a different angle and think outside the box. You'll want to go to class. Unbelievable memory for putting names and faces together.
loved him! he made me laugh so much his humor is right on. Yeah hes condescending but its hilarious when he contradicts someone point. if your insecure dont raise your hand but if you can dish it and take it then do. very very intelligent and made me look at the world differently. loved the class
Overall, I'm really glad I took this class. Clover really makes you think, it's a gift I guess. I was so close to dropping the class on my first day because his intelligence is a bit intimidating, however...if you stick with it, you'll gain a lot - which I think is more important than a guaranteed A.
Some are intimidated at first, but give it a little time. He's my favorite professor. Made me excited to major in English. I knew nothing about poetry before but now love it. He's ridiculously intelligent but very effective at explaining concepts and teaching. Make sure to take him.
This professor is mean. He will single you out and humiliate you. He will also give you a bad grade if you don't center your essays around his ideas.
Clover is among my favorite professors. I can understand why some people don't like him-- he can be intimidating and some times it seems like he is "making fun" of you, but he really cares that you understand what he's teaching. Go to office hours-- there it is much more apparent how much he actually wants to help you. I loved the class.
Entertaining professor, obviously very intelligent and passionate about the subject matter. Unfortunately, he can also be kind of a jerk in class - he won't be gentle if he thinks you've said something idiotic but he demands class participation. I still cringe remembering my finer moments. Overall, I'm not sure the pain was worth the gain.
Took his ideology in film class and was VERY confused and intimidated at first but ended up missing an A- by 1 point. He has a lot of knowledge and really cares about the students despite coming off a bit harsh. You won't start to like him until about mid-quarter, but if you can hang in there, it is worth it. By far One of my fav. profs at UCD.
I'll be honest, I got a D- in his class. But I didn't even care. His ideologies reflected onto the subjects was so enlightening, I literally can't watch movies that same - in a good way. I HIGHLY recommend his FMS 125 class. Tough it out, and you'll be glad you took it. You'll be surprised what he'll make you see what your'e capable of.
J. Clover blows my MIND. He truly twists your perspective in ingenius ways. I got a B in his class but loved every moment. Show up to class - he's got something like photographic memory so he never forgets names, faces, or empty seats. Also, if he tells you to drop the first day, DON'T! He told me to, I stubbornly didn't, and it was a great choice.
Every lesson so far has blown my mind. Joshua Clover is an amazing professor. Yes, he is blunt and will call you out on your bs, but he is one of the professors that I have learned that most from so far at UCD. He gives a lot of thought to what he teaches and takes his class seriously. Take his class...so worth it. He's tough, but amazing! :)
If you have the opportunity to take Clover's class, you must! He's intimidating at first but so helpful when approached. Paper 1: list formal devices of a poem. Paper 2: turn that list into a reading of a poem. Exam: identify the authors of non-focus poems from short quotations, name poetry terms from condensed defs. Easy final; took 15 mins!
Clover really grows on me as the quarter went on. He's an objectively great lecturer, one of the department's best, and you may even end up liking him. He expects effort, but he makes the class so interesting and engaging that it hardly feels like work. I suddenly like poetry and feel equipped to handle it outside the classroom.
Smart guy, really fun to listen to, but not once did I get the impression that he legitimately cared about the students.
Energetic and amazeing. i respect this man and his ingenious interpretation of the science of art more than any other professor ive ever met. poetry will never be the same for me.
Clover scares me. But in a good way. As previously stated by other commenters, I'm convinced he's a genius. He's extremely willing to help and explain everything he says, which is often quite necessary. (Especially for me and poetry.) Ditto to the comments about faces and names. He called me out in class for skipping. But he's brilliant so it's ok.
School: Otis College of Art and Desgin Class: Critic in Residence IntellectuaL LOVE his take on visual arts
Super interesting, really cool guy. But it's almost impossible to get an A in his class. I worked my ass off & just couldn't do it. It's more of a philosophy class, so taking notes is almost useless too. I dunno about anyone else, but I never want to hear "ideas vs. things" again.
Clover is awesome. Snarky, but funny and caring all at once. If you don't care about the class, he doesn't care about you. But if you do, you're in brilliant company. He constantly makes you think about something in a new way, while creating a lot of discussion doing so. Be prepared to participate or lose out on at least 10% of your grade.
I did not enjoy his 20th century poetry class at all. He would assign us reading, but then breeze through explaining it and jump around a lot in his lectures. The reading was also extremely difficult. Clover was intimidating and made it hard to volunteer because he would almost make fun of your answer. Take your class with someone on YOUR level.
The class was weird and interesting and occasionally intimidating. Clover can be a jerk, but he knows it and he only means well. Certain personalities will fair better with him. Expect to participate in discussion or your grade will suffer. He's an interesting guy and takes students' progress seriously so don't mess around.
Clover is utterly fantastic. I cannot recommend him enough. Do the work, and don't be a complete dingus (i.e. come to class on time, be respectful, and actually think), and there is no reason you shouldn't succeed. The readings are complex and exciting. My only complaint is that the class had to end.
He gets it. He provides all pdfs for books. I'm a STEM major and I took literature because I enjoyed it. Gotta say it was the hardest class in one of my quarters and it probably ruined my GPA but it was really fun and I'd probably take it again. Bottom line, if you're not good at lit, don't do it. but he's really great otherwise.
I left each of Joshua Clover's lectures feeling enlightened. He constantly provided fascinating viewpoints and was certainly quite an entertaining character. He can come across as a bit intimidating at first, but he honestly has the students' best interests at heart. I would not want to miss an opportunity to take another course taught by him.
Professor Clover is a quirky genius, delivering engaging, thought-provoking lectures. The previous reviews on this site scared me to almost dropping the class, but it turned out to be the best course I've taken at Davis! Go to office hrs once and he will forever remember your name.
One of the best professors and classes I've had at Davis so far. I looked forward to going to lectures. They were both interesting and entertaining, as he has a great sense of humor and really presented interesting ideas. I wouldn't call him an easy professor, but his class is worth the work. I'd take another class with him in a heartbeat
I loved this class! He has really interesting things to say, he is clear with what he wants from you and it was just a lot of fun! Also, when it comes to books, he makes it so that you don't have to buy any at all, he posts all the readings online, even complete novels. Hard to get an A, easy to get a B, overall great class!
Six 400 word papers. Sounds a lot but each paper takes about 90 minutes to two hours. That's like an hour of work per week for a 2 unit class. You'll get an A if you just answer the question and a B if you make it sound good.
Professor Clover is easily one of the best professors in the English department. His sharp, witty humor and insightful lectures make you think in ways you haven't before.
There are no midterms or finals since it's a 2 unit class. However there are a tons of readings. Grades are based on 3 reading responses and 2 talk responses. Those talks are MANDATORY, which is a bummer if you can't attend. His TA graded pretty hard. I wouldn't recommend taking him for Humanities 1.
Professor Clover offers his students an entirely different perspective on literature as well as life. The readings and the poetry we read often focused on challenging our understanding of the world around us. There were weekly readings and four "notes." There were two essays, one long and one short, and a final. I definitely recommend you take him
Professor Clover is engaging, knowledgeable, and forthright. His lectures will stick with you forever. He is opinionated and strong willed, but hes on the right side of history. He also was more than willing to credit me for an assignment that was misplaced. Hats off to you, Professor!
Clover is an absolutely brilliant professor - his classes are incredibly insightful and he really does care about his students. His political views rarely show through in the content he teaches, but look at the other reviews and the thumbs up/downs - they're being spammed by angry conservatives who aren't even students trying to bring him down.
Depending on how much work you put into research for your final paper, this class may worth two English classes. Please don't believe in the negative spams. Professor Clover is a kind person. He pushed me to inquire deeply about history, literature, and the world. Let him be your teacher. I wish for my future children to have him as a professor.
I miss Professor Clover's class. Complex ideas, and by the end, the whole arc of the class had gotten them across in a really cool way. His high expectations for students helped me push myself. Super encouraging and caring and intelligent, although he might come off as kind of a jerk at first. All in all, his class has been one of my favorites.
He is not a very nice person which makes him intimidating. Class format was weird and a little stressful because assignments were too heavy. He is very opinionated which some people might like, but it also discourages people from expressing their own opinions, both in class and on tests. Would not take again. Avoid!!
Professor Joshua Clover is an phenomenal educator. He has a natural talent for inspiring his students to participate in lively discussions and creates a wonderful environment for learning and exploring new ideas. Easily my favorite professor that I have worked with. From his caring nature to witty sense of humor, he is simply a joy to work with.
Great Teacher really funny and well-spoken. However, he can be a bit all over the place sometimes. Youth In Revolt is a great class to expand your mind. Lots of reading through. The grading scale is super clear. He cares about students learning but wants you to put in the effort.
Clover made this class the best of the quarter. He has a great sense of dry humor and strong opinions that he's not afraid to express. You can tell he knows the subject material well, but tries to make every student feel comfortable talking about their view of the readings. The readings were kind of a lot but enjoyable. 11/10 would take again.
what a joke and waste of tuition. save your time, money, and self respect and take english at a JC over summer
I think I have a crush on him he's a GEM and deserves prof of the year
What an amazing professor!! He cares about everyones rights, he is inclusive, kind, just a great dude!
A true GOAT
You won't regret taking his class
Professor Clover is most definitely one of my favorite professors at UC Davis. He is incredibly funny, there were so many moments that got me laughing in lecture. A true character and passionate about his opinions in a respectable manner. I learned so much from him and he opened my eyes to perspectives I hadn't considered before. Take him if u can!
He is amazing!! Extremely understanding! And he is hilarious. He is up front with you so you know what to expect. Overall, so far, he is definitely one of my favorite Professors here at Davis! :) take him!
You either get an A or fail. If you obtain ~65/100 points (via attending lecture, section, reading notes) + write two essays, you should be good. Assignment requirements are frustratingly vague, but it isn't as daunting as it seems. Expect to read ~1 book a week. He has a strong personality and his lectures are engaging (but overly meticulous).
Tends to go on tangents that makes the class feel unorganized. Not super clear on assignment guidelines. Also swears like he just learned how. I didn't really feel like I learned anything going to class because we would only get to the subject material in the last 10 minutes.
Makes you feel dumb. He is funny though. But when you say something about a poem in class, he will flat out tell you he doesn't know what you mean, invalidates your opinions, and is super passive-aggressive. Super easy grading criteria though, if you do the work you will get an A. I just didn't want to participate due to his attitude.
A very easy class, literally just graded on completion. For the professor himself, he is funny but he walks a thin line between funny sarcastic and mean. Just snipes sometimes and can put me off. If you can handle teachers being aggressive, joking or otherwise, this class is definitely worth it and the content is pretty interesting and engaging.
I really did not like this class. I learned vaguely how to write about poetry, but lectures were a waste of time. Constantly invalidated students' questions & answers and made us feel dumb. Also gave little to no explanation/rubric for assignments which was super frustrating. Would not take again
Joshua Clover has strong opinions & freely expresses them, believing he alone is correct. He treats his students as if they are his inferiors. He will interrupt them while they speak & correct them midsentence. I found him to be rude & insensitive in his use of profanity towards students. While his sarcasm could be humorous, it often went too far.
If you take ENL 167 expecting a class about African American Poetry, do not take Clover. He teaches a total of three poets, and only poets that align with his ideology (communism). Rude to students. We wasted a class talking about Taylor Swift and Matty Healy. Sad bc I really wanted to learn about Afram Poetry and felt like I lost an opportunity
Not a poetry class, but I enjoyed it. Clover gives you a really interesting perspective on how poetry intersects with the cultural context of the time. He has an intense personality, and I often felt out of my depth in the class, but he's very funny and caring if you get to know him. Graded on 4 reading notes, participation, and 2 essays.
Was extremely critical on the way one writes their paper and has strict guidelines about the topic. Is rude to students, interrupts them, and expects people to already know his ideas. Barely even learned about poetry in the class, more so about literature. Disappointed.
Awful professor. Not sure if he cares about the material or class. Completely unclear grader and does not tell you what he wants or expects, but grades as if he does know what he wants to hear. Will make his opinions known and don't dare disagree with him. Final was 1 sentence, followed by 2 pages of explanation. Google him and be warned.
Definitely a strong personality, and his personal opinions come through in his teaching. Challenges students to justify their responses in class. Incredibly engaging lecturer. Three short answer midterms x/10, final paper x/20, emphasis on participation. Expect to read about a book a week, but you only really need to skim for general plot points.
Absolute joke of a professor. Essentially emperors new clothes of poetry. Thinks he's the smartest guy around, just ask him he'll tell you. So self serious I almost had to laugh during lecture it was ridiculous. Save your time and money.
He is a great professor overall, but his feedback isn't as helpful as he thinks it is. I got through the class and never did any of the readings, but those are def important if you want a better grade.
Great professor, very respected, and gave great advice in the class on how to read poetry and better understand it; they made me like poetry more than I already have. He dislikes it if you're late to class and is great with SDC accommodations. He lets the class engage and answers questions with clarity.
RIP to a good man. Honored to have been in his class. Immeasurably helpful and supportive toward the best true work.
rip to a great prof! just learned of his passing while going to review profs from my 2nd quarter. last few weeks of class became online due to his health complications. his classes were great; its clear he was very passionate abt what he did and his lectures were always interesting and changed the way i viewed poetry.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
71%
Textbook Required
36%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.48 avg changeRatings by Course
ENG165
5.0
(3)ENL100P
5.0
(2)ENL145
5.0
(1)FNA327A
5.0
(1)ENL40
5.0
(4)Difficulty by Course
ENL145
5.0
ENG168
5.0
ENL177
5.0
ENL168
4.3
FMS125
4.0