3.0
Quality4.2
Difficulty42%
Would Retake96
Reviews42%
Would Retake
96
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
30
4
15
3
11
2
14
1
26
What Students Say
“Do no take him if you are sensitive and lazy”
ENGL2120 - 2.0 rating“Is sort of condescending towards students”
ENG2120 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
94%
Textbook Required
0%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.24 avg changeRatings by Course
MILTONCLASS
5.0
(2)ENG414440
5.0
(1)ENG400LEVELS
5.0
(2)ENGENGL
5.0
(1)ENGL414
4.7
(3)Difficulty by Course
414
5.0
4960
5.0
415416
5.0
ENGL103
5.0
ENG416
5.0
Reviews (96)
No Comments
His Milton class is SO hard, but so worth it, and he's pretty hot.
No Comments
I had Morrissey several years ago. Now that I'm a teacher, I use him as an example of somebody your know who's so smart that you think they might just be insane. I think we talked about "What's in a name?" for like 3 class periods. He is
Good class... i dont know who said he's hot, because he's NOT!! 310 is a great class for english majors. Morrissey can be a total jerk and make you feel completely stupid, but i did learn a lot from him and i respect his opinion. Hard class...
Dr. Morrissey's teaching style is very different. If you adapt to it, it can be effective, but if not, his class is a real challenge. I personally found him to be very difficult.
wow, he is definitely NOT hot. he hates when people don't talk, and thoroughly enjoys making them feel stupid about it. i have to agree with the whole insane thing too. we talked about what is in a word for...well for the whole semester.
No Comments
Ok, alot of people have dissed him, and maybe they're right. But he is very clear in what he asks: he wants you to think and not just turn in BS. Getting A's in his class is easy, so long as you come to class with something to say about the reading and you follow his sylabus guidlines. Solid prof
He is a great professor. He taught me how to be a good teacher, academic, and thinker. One of the few thinkers in all of south carolina. Go to his grad reading hours...tons of fun.
Morrissey will make you think, that's for sure. Don't take him if you just want to sit in class and take a nap. Speak up alot in his class, it will make you do better on papers. Follow his syllabus guidelines for papers and they're not hard at all.
He's intelligent, but hot only if you're smoking something and that may be pushing it. He uses his intelligence to make others feel ignorant, not to improve their abilities. I learned very little that I didn't already know and after 4 years, still find it very hard to believe that Shakespeare was implying he was horny because the grass was green.
very hard. not helpful at all--he answered my questions with questions. I left his class periods with my head hurting. I did the readings every night, but the way he taught didn't help me to understand. He is very smart, but NOT a nice person and not a teacher who wants you to really excel. Do not take unless you want to be tortured.
All I can say is that if you are a southerner, stay far, far away from this one! He does not teach at all, instead he listens to everyone talk, and then delights in cutting down anything that might come out of your mouth. I would take a class from Satan himself before I'd take this one again. If he hates the south so much, go back to Boston!
Look, If you actually want to learn something and are willing to think just a little and occasionally voice those thoughts, you'll be fine and the world will be a better place. He uses the Socratic method...obviously some people aren't familiar with this, but we have to start somewhere now don't we.
Oh come on. He can't be satan incarnate when ignorance has already filled that position. Just work and ask questions and don't be afraid to admit you don't know as much as you thought you did. You'll come out of the class with a much greater understanding about literature, politics, history, and your own personal opinion on the matters.
No Comments
No Comments
He is a different character!
If you are intelligent you like him and if you are dumb...you don't! Only human being i've managed to love and hate at the same time! If you don't want to feel like you are wasting your tuition money on bad professors, and actually desire to gain something out of this institution...take his class
If you consider reading, thinking about what you read, and speaking about what you think important, take Dr. M. P.S. Unless you're Noam Chomsky, you might notice the class listing to port. If you're the starboard type, just relax and enjoy the view.
Dr. Morrissey is, without a doubt, the toughest prof. I have had the pleasure of learning from. I took his class after taking a couple years off from higher education, and I thought I was going to drown, but I managed to come out with a B. His classes are loads of fun if you actually get involved with the discussions, and he is fun to flirt with.
Morrissey rocks! I've learned so much from this class--he's definitely the best English lit. professor at Clemson. He's hurting my GPA, but I think the knowledge I've learned is worth it. I'm being stretched and getting my money's worth at Clemson by taking him. He's extremely helpful and available for any questions. Don't be intimidated. Nice guy.
Unless you like being called stupid and never getting any help, then I would not take Morrissey. I am in graduate school at Clemson and I swear that I will not graduate if it means taking this man again. He is a the worst teacher ever because he thinks he is better than everyone else. Avoid him like the plague.
Brilliant. Keep this course. You'll work, but it will be worth it.
What is literature? Take this course and you’ll read different theories that try to explain what it is. Or, you may find that it’s not here yet--Derrida, anyone. Read the texts, think verbally, and relax. Morrissey is a highly competent and approachable professor. Just get rid of your “lecture me so I can take notes” mentality.
Doc Morrissey is easily the best professor you will ever have at Clemson. His class certainly isn't the easiest one you could find, but taking it is well worth it. He gives his best to his students and asks the same in return. He is neither rude to his students nor unwilling to help them. Simply do the reading and think before you speak.
Bit of an ego on this one, however, yes- he's the best prof you'll have at Clemson. His teaching style is quite abrasive, but ultimately it's generally effective. Won't help the GPA but you'll be better for it. It'll be your closest shot at a liberal arts educational at Clemson. If you give a**** about your education, take him.
Morrissey is awesome. If you're looking for an education, take his class. If you just want a grade to graduate, and don't want to be challenged about what you think, then don't take this class. Morrissey isn't the one who challenges you, its the material. More people need to make that distinction. He looks like Dan Aykroyd, by the way.
Very smart but also very egotistical. If you disagree with him in discussions he will insult you and talk over you if you try to defend yourself. Multiple times when asking him simple questions he has given me the run around. He is not helpful or clear because he would rather make fun of you than help you. I am an A student and expect a C.
I really disliked this professor at first, but I really admire what he is trying to do with the program. I learned a lot, and though I suffered a lot of humiliation, I think perhaps it was worth it.
i'm a student at nui. galway in ireland, had morrissey for this year in milton and modernity. the comments on here seem pretty fair, i feel sorry for those who couldnt come to terms with his style, but he will make you work, and he will make you give a damn. my idea of a university professor.
Dr. Morrissey definitely knows his stuff, and by the end of each class period you might just know yours too. He's hard, and he doesn't like giving a straight answer, but I've come out of his class before feeling like something big has just been revealed to me. He'll make you look stupid in class, but he does that to everyone so it's not just you.
I can't decide if I spent more time crying over this class or looking forward to this class. I did learn a lot and I would recommend him as a professor. His class isn't easy and half the time, I questioned if I should even be an English major.
he will make you feel completely stupid at times, but what you get out of this class is well worth it. He's a great teacher and an extremely smart guy. this class made me a better writer and even though its definitely not easy, it's so worth it. make sure you read!!
Dr. Morrissey is the hardest professor I imagine I will ever had. He's funny, witty, and sometimes just downright cruel. But he is passionate about literature, humanities, and English. This class isn't for everyone. But if you want to leave a class everyday confident that an English major is the best major, this is the class for you. DO THE READING
I am torn between telling you to run fast to or from Morrissey. He is the most confusing, difficult and vague professor I have ever met. On the other hand, he is interesting and reassuring that you are in the right major. Do no take him if you are sensitive and lazy. It is definitely an experience to be in one of his classes.
Don't take Morrissey. He uses circular logic to answer questions and thus does not completely answer them. Some of the things I learned from his lectures were cool, but it was not worth the stress of being scared to speak in class because of him calling people out; my anxiety spiked because of this one class, and I dreaded every class.
I absolutely love the discussion-style teaching method of this class. Dr. Morrissey is always entertaining and wants us to make connections on our own before he gives us all the answers. He can sometimes be vague, and a lot of people don't like the way he laughs at the things we say, but he is not mean-spirited.
Dr. Morrissey was one of the most inspiring teachers I've ever had. From the first day, you already know it's not going to be like any other run of the mill english class. He is a super tough grader, and doesn't give rubrics, but gives ODDLY specific feedback. He makes jokes and wants you to think for yourself, but that doesn't mean he's a bully.
Absolutely horrendous. He gets off on humiliating you and doesnt have any consideration for his students. He has no respect for his students and acts very entitled and pretentious. Would not recommend EVER and would NEVER take him again.
A very confusing teacher that uses questions to answer your questions. Very disrespectful to some students. I would not recommend.
Is sort of condescending towards students. Thinks he is all knowing and assigns lots of readings. I couldn't tell you what I got out of this class other than feeling annoyed and ready for the semester to be over with. Also doesn't give clear criteria on grading and is overall rude.
Dr Morrissey is a very interesting professor, unlike one I have ever had before. He has many "quirks" that may come off as negative but its just his personality. Many students think he is condescending but I personally did not think he was. If you are looking to learn about English, he is a great professor. Read everything. Do not expect an easy A.
If you are not an English major your not going to like this class. You need to read all of the books and do the assignments to get a decent grade. The essay prompts are confusing and even if you ask questions he doesnt tell you much. Overall, not too bad you will definitely learn something if you show up.
The lessons that correspond with the readings are incredibly insightful except for one. The process Dr. Morrissey uses to arrive at a conclusion is valuable outside of the classroom. If you take the class and don't understand, there isn't much to be done. However, there are many valid criticisms, but I had left better than when I arrived.
In all honesty, worst professor I've had at Clemson so far. He questions everything you say, and almost never gives good feedback. I'm not even sure what I've taken out of this class.
The best professor at Clemson University if you know how to read and actually want to learn.
ALL HAIL LEE MORRISSEY. I know he shows these reviews on the first day of class sometimes. Lee Morrissey is not only one of my favorite professors at Clemson, but also one of my favorite teachers I have ever had in my life. He is hilarious, a genius in his own right, and made me a better writer/overall thinker and I cannot thank him enough for that
I loved this class! One of the best professors I have had at Clemson. The class is fun because his method of teaching requires you to come to conclusions through collaboration. He is hilarious, a genius, and a genuinely interesting guy. He grades really tough, but gives thorough feedback. Take this class if you want to be a better writer.
I absolutely adore Dr. Morrissey. This was my first English class at Clemson and it will take a lot for my future classes to compete with. Dr. Morrissey assigns wonderful reads and truly knows what he is talking about. I took his Irish Lit class and he is so passionate and intelligent about his course. Absolutely love.
This guy purposely gives you lower grades. Off the record he knocks down the TA graded assignments by 5 or even 10 points. Is tenured so he has extra job security. Does not want his students to succeed.
I love literature and Ireland, but this class was not my cup of tea. On day one, he told us all the bad reviews about him and did not tell us anything good said about him. Not a great introduction if you ask me. Also, he is heavily sarcastic (not in a good way) and rude and gave me zero motivation to work hard to please him. I learned nothing.
Very interesting professor. He will ask a lot of his students. Stay on task not a bad class
Pros Can be funny He never yells or gets upset Cons He plays Irish music at the start of class but he didn't play Sunday Bloody Sunday or Whiskey in the Jar (Metallica) He does tons of readings His Tizzes are random and count for 1/3 of the final grade He relies too much on talking to the class Verdict: Don't take unless you like a challenge
Professor Morrissey is the worst professor I have had at Clemson. He purposely does not give straight guidelines for assignments because he does not want to give anyone an A. He managed to pull out every sexual scene in the books he assigned and then goes on to have his students explain it to him, disgusting. DO NOT TAKE!!!
Avoid this class unless you're a sadist! I know he's reading this, he literally pulls rate my professor on day 1 to brag about his terrible reviews, as if it's something to be proud of. You will have to read about 85 pages every day. The questions on his quizzes and tests are so vague they almost make no sense. And he is so self-obsessed.
Favorite Professor at Clemson. Full stop. Somewhat of a hard grader, but it made me a much better writer and a more critical thinker. His lectures are engrossing, and he keeps the class entertained by being funny and wise.
His grading scale is HORRIBLE. An 80 is a C in his class. Makes absolutely no sense!!! You are expected to read 600 pages a week and have a quiz every single class. His test were very hard and confusing. Definitely not an easy class and would not recommend taking.
I would NOT recommend this class at all. You are expected to read 80+ pages a night, and the lectures are all over the place and make zero sense. Please do NOT take this class. -100/10 recommend.
I took Dr. Morrisey's class a while ago, but I came back to review him now as a colleague. I was reading Paradise Lost in this class, and I was dealing with a lot in my life. I met with Dr. Morrisey during his office hours, and I asked him, "what he believes in." I wanted to find a place in copying him. He wouldn't tell me. Thank you, Dr. Morrisey.
*Hi class to whom Dr. Morrissey is showing this!!* His classes are lot a like a love/hate relationship. I recommend coming to class with an interest to learn. Dr. M is a very intelligent and intimidating professor, however, he truly cares about his students. He is kind, funny, sarcastic, and wants you to succeed. Good luck (you will be okay).
Greatest Professor I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, a man of wit and jest, simultaneously amusing and informative. The class is not herculean by any means, but it does require efforts, continuous readings and tizz's to accompany each of them. I highly recommend taking him, it is a class you will not soon forget.
Reading isn't too bad, but never fully explained, making it harder. No test actual learning at all, with the majority of exams being recall questions about random/unimportant lines from the readings in which you have to select which reading it's from. History is rarely focused on in class, but makes up half of the exam. Doesn't keep TAs informed.
Wanted us to read a novel over fall break. Midterm was not based on comprehension, instead based on random facts and passages from the readings that would be impossible to remember, making the exams impossible to prepare for.
If you do the reading Dr. Morrissey's class is not difficult. He is genuine teacher who has an obvious love for the material he is teaching. I would strongly recommend him to anyone interested in literature.
Gives good lectures that help with comprehension of the readings. If you just pay attention in class you will do well.
Dr. Morissey is the worst professor I have come by. He loves talking about NSFW topics and loves making fun of his students. His lectures are heavy and attendance is required. Reading is a full-time job in his class. 0/10
Tests are difficult to study for because some of the questions are direct quotes from the many books we had to read throughout the semester. He teaches up to the last minute, and even over with quizzes at the end of each class. He does not really explain what we read, he just relies on the students to make descriptions without validating them.
He extends class time by 10 minutes because he decides to have a quiz EVERY day when class is supposed to end. Due to that, I was constantly late to my math class and is very harsh on discussion grades, as he never once gave a hundred to anyone. Please avoid at all costs, the only reason I did decent was because I actually read the books.
Dr. Morrissey could be a good teacher if he left his ego at home. He becomes so offended over the smallest thing that someone does, and decides to punish the whole class because of it. Always held after class for tizzes, doesn't correct students who contribute something wrong to the discussion, just puts it on the board. Avoid at all costs
Gets offended by questions, gives useless answers. Tests and quizzes are memorization-based. Required in-class attendance. Makes you switch your seating every class.
By far the worst teacher Ive ever had at Clemson, avoid at all costs. Dr. Morrissey is so full of himself that it actually takes away from the class. Becomes upset when people arent interested in Ireland, and does not answer emails, provide feedback, or help understand how to get a better grade. took 2150 with lee because it was the only open seat.
Tests are all memorization about random facts in from the countless pages we had to read daily. He's very boring and annoying. He also takes attendance by things he calls TIZZs which are 5 question quiz's that you take through canvas. He puts an access code on them and doesn't give you the code for the tizz till class is well over.
Professor constantly made snarky remarks to any questions asked, was impossible to communicate with over email. Lectures put the students to sleep and was rude to anyone who didn't know an answer to a question. Constantly holds students over allotted time.
In all honesty, students should be warned about taking this class to complete their general education credit in literature or whatever it was. There's an insane amount of confusing reading and a quiz with a password every class. He often keeps students 5-10 minutes over and is inconsiderate of their time. Unless you love Irish lit, don't take this.
Constantly holds students over class time to take his "tizz" which has a password on it, so you have to stay to take it. Crazy amounts of reading and his lectures are all over the place. Calls students out for doing other work and insists on making students talk about sex continuously, it got kinda weird. Wouldn't recommend at all.
Lectures go well over class allotted time. You need to pay attention in the class in order to understand the course material and pop quizzes that he calls "Tizzs." Interesting info but definitely would not recommend unless you absolutely love Ireland. There is a ton of reading, maybe only a handful of good books. Super confusing lectures.
I'm not someone who dislikes professors, but Dr. Morrissey is rude to student and does not respect students times.
Do not recommend this class unless you love Irish literature/history! Mr. Morrissey is unorganized with lectures and is extremely hard to follow. The readings are long and hard to understand. There are timed daily quizzes that he waits until class is over before posting the access code. He doesn't provide TAs with exam material (no study sessions).
The worst professor and class I have ever taken. Material is uninteresting, professor doesn't care about beliefs or respecting the students. The course consists of over 10 books to read and almost all consist of copulation and he talks about it in every class. He has extremely difficult tests and expects you to memorize lines within the books.
This man obviously loves what he's teaching. Personally not my favorite topic but he did well in making it somewhat interesting. He is a tough grader, and the reading is tough. If you pay attention and attempt to understand the reading, you'll be okay. Very funny and responds quickly to emails!
One of the most intelligent professors Clemson has to offer. His teaching places high expectations on students, demanding heavy autonomy. His classes will challenge you and you'll leave a better reader, writer, & critical thinker. But if you struggle with mental illness, his classes will eat away at your well-being and he will not be supportive.
Took him my sophomore year at Clemson and he's the one professor I think about almost daily. I struggled really hard this year and missed a lot of class, surprised I even earned a D. I answered a question in a stupid way the first day and my anxiety couldn't recover from his response. Wish I could go back and really embrace his intelligence.
One of the hardest professors I've ever had, but definitely the most rewarding. He is extremely insightful about all readings, and every class I've had I leave with my mouth dropped. If you want to learn and challenge yourself, take this class. If you want to just get by and not learn anything like a lot of college students, then take someone else
Tough professor with high reward. You will be challenged in this course with tough readings and sometimes mentally taxing lectures but if you truly embrace it you will be ok. Heavy on reading (but manageable) and be had hilarious lectures that will keep you engaged. Be ready to think!
Would recommend taking Dr. Morrissey's classes again and again. Beware, the grading is tough and the curriculum is challenging but if you apply yourself and really take the time to listen, his insight and knowledge is unmatched. A a true genius in his field. Plus, he responds quickly to emails which is always a plus. 100% a Dr. Morrissey fan!
Very intelligent man. He could be a truly great teacher if he didn't humiliate students in class with such obvious relish. It's difficult to engage in thoughtful discussion of the subject matter when you're seeing red because your professor is using his intellect as a cudgel on a captive audience.
AVOID unless you're an English major or have a special passion for Ireland. Biggest ego on a professor ever, tons of reading even over breaks, test questions were irrelevant to class and incredibly hard, and he doesn't keep his TAs informed at all.
Professor Morrissey is extremely intellectual about both British and Irish studies.Communicating with him is key to passing as well as participating and trying. I asked him how to bump my grade and when I did what he said my grade went up tremendously. Overall really good professor, can be harsh but it is also a room full of adults.
(Shakes.) M gets students to engage with the material so comprehensively and engagingly that I wish he taught my whole curriculum. The readings are not overly demanding, and he won't ever ask you for a 20 page essay. Why then, is his rating not the maximum it can be? I think for some students it can be hard to keep up, honestly, with his thinking.
If you show up ready to give effort, you should have no problem in the class.
I honestly first started this class and was miserable. He is very blunt and will make fun of stupid comments. He appreciates participation and feedback to know you're actually reading the material. If you don't read, you're going to be lost. You must learn what he wants you to get from the readings and lectures. Don't take his humor wrong either.
Dr. Morrissey can be a polarizing professor, but he is very intelligent. I have learned more from his class than any of my other classes. He will challenge you and make you think. If you're type A like me, you might struggle sometimes. He will answer your questions with questions, even if they're about assignments. Don't be scared of him, though.
Complicated realtionship with this professor. I don't think that he respected me as a student half of the time. This class will take up the majority of your time because he expects everyone to spend so much time on his class. If you have a job, I am so sorry. If you have extracurriculars I am EVEN MORE SORRY. It is at least entertaining. Good luck.
I couldn't encourage taking a class more if I tried. I did not know how to think until having had Dr. Morrissey.
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
94%
Textbook Required
0%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.24 avg changeRatings by Course
MILTONCLASS
5.0
(2)ENG414440
5.0
(1)ENG400LEVELS
5.0
(2)ENGENGL
5.0
(1)ENGL414
4.7
(3)Difficulty by Course
414
5.0
4960
5.0
415416
5.0
ENGL103
5.0
ENG416
5.0