2.2
Quality4.2
DifficultyN/A
Would Retake125
ReviewsN/A
Would Retake
125
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
22
4
10
3
12
2
32
1
49
What Students Say
“So hard to deal with and is not clear on what exactly he wants”
ENGLISH1080 - 2.0 rating“The worst prof I've ever had”
ENGL1080 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
75%
Textbook Required
100%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
+0.12 avg changeRatings by Course
2000
5.0
(1)20004251
5.0
(1)ENGL4251
5.0
(1)ENG4060
5.0
(1)EL2001
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
2000
5.0
20004251
5.0
ENGLISH20
5.0
ENG2000
5.0
ENGLISH221
5.0
Reviews (125)
ignorant and very non-helpful
No Comments
does not like discussion; likes to hear himself talk about the wife and kids
Likes facts but doesn't teach the skills, he xpects students to have
Don't mind these wimps, Mark: they obviously couldn't handle it!
Unprofessional. Insults students then expects to be asked for help. HA.
No Comments
very nice and approachable prof. He is very helpful and cares about his students
Unbelievably uninformed about course materials. Unbearably Preachy.
He only appeals to the passionate ones among us.
No Comments
Talks down to you as if you are a child. Tries to be helpful but is ignorant.
No Comments
No Comments
No Comments
grrrrrrrr..........
No Comments
told us we were stupid and shouldn't have passed high school!
A great Prof. and a great mind. Absolutely briliant!
Monotone voice. Horrible prof and gives essays on materials he dont understand
He gave me the only C on my transcript and it was the last of my 12 engl courses
No Comments
No Comments
Definately a weirdo. Doesnt grade properly and is very unspecific. Most students who take this class have seen their marks go down, despite a interesting effort on their part. Makes assumptions when he really doesnt have any idea what he is talking about.
Very enthusiastic and interesting prof, truly cares about his students and writes great comments on work. Inspiring and brilliant!
He writes comments without reading the work. His comments are critical in an opinionated way, but not helpful at all. He does not explain his comments. Going to his office to get help is useless. I would give him a million unhappy faces if I could! :-(
Great prof. Very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Great feedback on papers. High recommend him as a professor.
worse teacher i have ever had.....really say away from him
Dull and boring. Don't even bother trying a course with him, there are exceptional professors at MUN, he's just not one of them.
Believes that there are only a few in the world that can appreciate English. Namely Him . A horrible horrible man.
The first mark you get back is the mark you'll get for the rest of the course. Not the most helpful person in the world.
No Comments
I thought he was a nice teacher as long as you went to class and did well. I found though that he was unclear in his expectations for papers and much too critical
No Comments
Well he's a professor. Nothing more, nothing less. It is very unclear what he expects on papers and his comments (at times) are overlly critical and don't offer much in the way of help.
i thought he was amazing! 8 english courses later, i would still say he's the greatest english prof there is. you have to do the work and put in the time, but it's worth it. excellent!!!
The most horrible prof ever! Very negative and way too concerned with attendence! Never is clear on his expectations and the first mark you get will be your mark for the course.
The man is an idiot, he is more concered about telling us about how good of a prof he thinks he is. Dont expect to give your own opinion there is only one right answer, his answer. Avoid this charater at all times
Tough, but fair! Made me a better writer
obvious that he is a city kid. claims he loves nature when the only nature is seen is a park in the middle of the city. so if u live in the country, don't even try to tell him what real nature's like
he has no idea what he wants his students to do. He's asks for details of what the poem/story is about but then tells you not to give a detailed plot summary!
The worst prof ever. Does not matter what answer you give him, they are all wrong. Just shoot back what he tells you. Thinks he's a victorian scholar, not even close. STAY AWAY!!!!!!!!!
No Comments
Terrible, just terrible. The English faculty should really consider giving him the boot. He is tainting the literature, and adding negative stigma to the books he lectures about. Get rid of him, I love English, and he has turned me from it.
No Comments
Very unhelpful, makes you feel inferior in his classroom, I absolutely love doing english but he sucks the fun straight out of it with negative comments and his own display of confusion.
excellent!!! this man re-instilled the love of english literature within me.
Just not a good prof. He does not want the students opinion or any original thought. He spit back at him what he tells you. He uses the class for validation for his own thoughts on English literature. I had a horrible time in this class.
No Comments
If you are a woman, you stand no chance and you will definitely be given a hard time. His incessant plot summary ramblings are very boring and unhelpful. If you want to take a course that is useless, by a prof who offers no direction, Dr.C is for you.
thinks that there is no one smarter than him
This prof is ridiculous. He is the worst I have ever had, he thinks he is a smart man who is the only one who knows anything about English. He doesn't see different point of views and his own is the only one right.He is a disgrace to MUN.
Loved this professor--I worked harder for him than any other, and he really helped my writing. He's about the literature, not the theory, and I liked that. One of the best--demanding but fair.
great prof
A smart man (he'll be the first to tell you). But he's a researching, not a teaching, academic. Oozes negativity. To cite a positive attribute, he did let flow an impressive landslide of condescension, using a sophisticated range of barbs.
I don't know who the other people were rating negativly, but this guy is great! He is very helpful, always encouraging to students, and gives very funny, interesting, and clear lectures. He is concernec with the texts themselves, not obscure theory. He makes you think.
WORST PROF EVER. He's so hard, doesn't give you a chance and there is no way to get a good mark in his classes. IMPOSSIBLE. I rewrote a paper for him three times and I still got a horrible mark. I always do good in English! I would not recommend him to anyone.
This man is smart, I have to admit. I cannot believe that he is allowed to get away with the things he does. He makes people rewrite papers (sometimes 3 or more times) and it is impossible to get a good mark. He is very unhelpful and extremely condescending! He chastizes more than he teaches
I think that he is a very good professor. He gives interesting lectures and is very approachable. I think that it is wonderful how he gives students chances to do better on their papers. I really don't agree with the negative comments that I have read here.
STAY AWAY!Made class rewrite paper 6 times,class avg. was still 60% have final paper. Makes you feel as though you cannot write. Thinks that his course is the only course that you are doing at Memorail. Stay Away.
This professor can look his students straight in the face and make them feel like a worthless piece of crap.This is unfair, discouraging and proves that he only does this to make himself feel better.He gets away with way too much. A professor is supposed to help and encourage his students!!!
I took this class with him a while ago now, I had to drop it. I was doing horrible, when i went to go ask him what i was doing wrong all he said was maybe i shoulden't do the course. Very unhelpful. had a way of really making people feel bad about themselves. Also the fake Brittish accent has to go.
What an idiot! If you enjoy being told you're a worthless piece of crap who can not write then by all means take him. If you are a good English student coming into this course you will not get above a 60% with him even after you (and the class) resubmit papers 5 times or more.
What a horrible professor. I've never felt so dumb in my life. I have an 80 avg and have been on the dean's list twice...but I could only scrape a 55 on his class. Sign a petition to dismiss him!
I have to agree with the majority here. I personally did not find Dr. Cumming at all helpful and very unclear. It was good that he let you rewrite papers, but his comments and suggestions were not helpful in achieving a higher grade in most cases. I do agree that he does know his stuff though.
I couldn't believe the comments here! I think Dr. Cumming is the best! He is so passionate about literature and that rubs off on students and makes class much more interesting. He's a very fair marker and topics are things that we have discussed in class. Don't believe everything you read here!
The majority of comments speak for themselves!!!
OH MY GOD he is the most arrogant man i've EVER met in my life. He's an expert in the course and although says he doesn't expect so from you,he completely does.He doesn't tell you what he wants on papers until you pass them in, or have passed them in.he'll call you stupid if he wants to. Marks hard
I have to agree with the majority here, he knows how to make you feel like crap; very unclear in what he wants and thinks that students are only doing his course at MUN..WRONG...
I loved this class. I've learned more from him than any other prof I've ever had. He's a bit tough, but you earn your marks and can feel proud of them. He challenges you to grow too, and shows you how if you GO AND TALK TO HIM! He actually reads thru whole essays you bring to him too - that's rare.
This man is the biggest **** on campus. He is arrogant, completely unhelpful, and the most difficult person to deal with. Re-writing papers did not help, and speaking to the man was useless. If you can avoid taking a course with this person, please do so.
I found that Dr. Cumming was an amazing prof. Very smart, very interesting, and extremely helpful. I signed up for a class next semester simply because he's teaching it (EL 2214). The guy made Wordsworth interesting! How could you possibly ask for more???
I can't help but notice that most of the comments here are coming from fairly young students. If it's your first or second year, you probably are a bad writer. If DR. Cumming told you that you can't write, you probably can't. Oh, and he doesn't call people "stupid", or "worthless pieces of crap". Grow up, take his advice and learn how to write.
No Comments
DON'T HAVE ANY CONTACT WITH THIS MAN!
This is in response to the comment that only young students were responding and that they found him hard because they couldnt write. I was only 3 courses away from my eng major when I had him with a 77 average and I can easily tell you that he is the worst eng prof EVER! Hes interesting in class but picks fav, if your not it you wont get a B. BEWAR
expections are way to high for a course at this level
Dr. Cumming is a good teacher, though he marks very hard. I would advise anyone taking one of his courses to take their essay drafts to him before you pass in your final product; he will make a huge effort to guide you down the right track. He does have a nasty tendency to read "good" papers in front of the class, which is aggrevating.
this prof was very happy and funny and for the most part interesting but he was brutal with the marking. his expectations are wasy too high for a 2nd year course, so I really do not recommend taking this course or any course with him for that matter, especially if you want a good mark
5 years later, I remember him as one of the best professor I ever had. Tough - yes. He didn't dumb it down just to make students happy. I actually learned from him...
Very interesting and eccentric prof. He demands creative, well written work. Very clear, very helpful, very encouraging. If you actually want a good education in Literature (but can't afford Yale) take his class and work for your B+. He's worth the student debt. I got an 80. Had to work hard for it. But proud of it.
Excellent teacher! I learned a lot in the 2 courses i did with him. Fun and very energetic. Livens up even the most boring books. Loves literature A LOT! Very hard marker. Expectations ate a bit high for lower level courses. He is easy to talk to and will help you a lot if you go see him. A visit with him can turn a 60 paper into a 70 paper.
He was great! Intimidating in the first class, but I think the tough edge is more for effect. Not so bad if you give him a chance! Very serious about wanting to teach his course, and displays little patience for laziness. He is fair underneath the strict veneer!
A fairly easy marker but not always very clear. Classes were interesting. Be careful when you go see him one-on-one, he can make you feel stupid.
pretentious, bull headed know it all
Currently doing a course with Dr. C. Does not deserve the tough reputation he has. Expects that you are going to do your work and be prepared, which is what a UNIVERSITY prof should be like. Has been extremely helpful and flexible with papers and deadlines. Go and see him if you are struggling.
A Very nice man overall, but there were a few things about him that bug me! He seems to favor those who suck up and have no problem hogging the floor all class. If you dont like talking in class, DONT get him. He will try and squeeze ideas out of you! Tests are harder than they need to be. You can see him for papers, but he makes you feel stupid!!!
This guy is a real doozey. I can understand why he got good ratings-they were probably from the suck ups who major in Engl.I'M an English major, and I found it very hard to swallow his pretentious ****. He is obsessed with people's attendance in class, and read up on material, because he likes to call on you.office visits can be nerve racking!
No Comments
Demands good, creative original writing from his students. This professor is not for the student who wants just to obtain their degree, but for the student who actually would like to "better" their writing technique, style or creativity. He does offer excellent tips on how to improve. I went from 50's at the beginning of the course to end up with a
A terrible professor. No feedback on papers, unclear about expectations, this man taught me nothing. I've always thought that it was a sign of rudeness and ignorance when a professor tears apart a student's paper in front of their class. It makes me feel sick, knowing that someone in the room feels stupid, and for what? What does it teach us?
*Sigh...* If he didn't spend as much time ranting about attendance, how were most likely going to fail, or making people feel like an idiot then he would probably have A LOT more time to talk about the stories he knows nothing about. If you love English before you take this class, stay away from this guy because he will demolish your love for it...
This man is a horrible professor, he is not interested in the way that you interpret the stories he assigns you. He thinks that there is only one way, his way.
Expectations are very high when most students are doing five courses and some are even working.
Terrible prof and so condescending. You can go to him with drafts and get help, but he'll make you feel like an idiot. He has a weird obsession with attendance and kept taking class time to lecture those that did show about how important it is. Also, he reads huge chunks of the text out loud, waste of class time. Useless man, shouldn't be teaching.
Arrogant, condescending jerk. He seems, to me, to be insecure, and is condescending toward students to make himself feel good. In class he refers to students comments as "questions", and is basically not interested in what you have to say, even if it is relevant or insightful. He is awful. I would recommend avoiding him at all costs.
Must echo the comments here: he cares most about attendance in class, marking harshly if you don't parrot back what he tells you in lectures, rewarding original thought only if it is in HIS style of writing (as he passed around a sample of his writing as an ideal form). Egotistical, pretentious, unsympathetic towards students. Avoid his classes.
attended every class understood the material very well. His explanations were clear but none of which mattered. Could not explain how to fix particular things he marked wrong in my essays, when i went for extra help. Had to drop out, took English next semester with no problem and walked out with a B. would not recommend to anyone.
attended every class understood the material very well. His explanations were clear but none of which mattered. Could not explain how to fix particular things he marked wrong in my essays, when i went for extra help. Had to drop out, took English next semester with no problem and walked out with a B. would not recommend to anyone!
The worst English prof at MUN. Arrogant, close-minded, and insulting. Avoid at all costs.
Complains to the people who attend class regularly about all the people who don't attend class. Really high standards and expects you to use his ideas/views ONLY!
worst english professor i ever had. boring in class, and if you do bad on an essay, he won't even write a mark on your paper. Constantly complaining about how people don't attend class
Spends lots of time trying to help students but never seems to make a difference. He is very closed-minded and complains a lot about class attendance. I got extra help from him but it didn't make much of a difference. Void at all costs.
worst prof i ever had. close minded, condescending, and its his way or the highway.. seems to care about his students, and i also went for help, but when i went to his office he belittled me, and made me feel like crap. Horrible professor, avoid this class AT ALL COSTS.
Dr. Cumming is not an easy professor, but that does not make him a poor instructor. Very interesting lecturer, great novels and poems, and helpful. He, at times, laments too much to the students who attend his class about those who skip. Dr. Cumming is a hard, yet fair, marker. Your writing will improve after taking this course.
This prof by far is the worst prof i have encountered so far.He loves to belittle students and make them feel like crap.Avoid this prof at all costs.unless you are a sucker for punishment.
Very mean.Makes you feel like you are dumb.Marks all over papers with things that dont make sense.
Take English 1080 with GAVIN MURPHY... his TA if the opportunity is available.
Hard to say with this guy. If you show up and do the assigned readings he's not too bad in class, but talking to him one on one is a trial. Never remembers your name, and makes you feel like an idiot when looking over your written work. He's quick to point out every mistake, but unlikely to give constructive advice on how to really improve.
So hard to deal with and is not clear on what exactly he wants. He assumes alot nd make negative critiques about someone`s effort.I always ran to his office to seek for help yet heobliged me to drop the course instead of helping me out.I had to take English again the next semester and that cost me alot of time and money, I wont recommend him!!!
Mark Cumming is a good and fair professor. For all the people that commented about attendance - you were probably the students who seeked extra help outside of class and then didn't bother to show the next morning - or showed just to turn in a paper and walk out while he sat at the desk right in front of you.
Worst prof I've ever had. If you work hard, come to class, ask for help, you can get a good grade. He is very rude which makes it hard to want to come to class and to approach him although he is clear on what he wants. He complains about attendance to the people who attend and he is easily angered if no one speaks up in class. Wouldn't recommend.
He is rude and its like his goal is to make sure you fail. Stay away from him if you can! Worst prof ever
The worst prof I've ever had. Condescending towards students and never fails to make you feel like an idiot. I was in a introductory english course and he treated it as if it was my last course before I obtained an english degree. Even if you see him numerous times he will never remember your name and rarely gives anyone over a 60. AVOID!!!!!!!!!!!
Rants about those who don't show up to those who do. You must attend every class. You must talk in class. If you don't he assumes you aren't working and your grades will suffer. Will encourage the class to drop every class, by email, even write it on the board DURING THE FINAL. Very good at explaining the course but can't stay on track. Avoid.
Make sure that you speak up in EVERY class; cannot stress this enough, even if your contribution is mundane. Make appointments with him, he is glad to offer them, and will be glad to see you. He is extraordinarily passionate about the learning process, which is admirable, but it causes him to lash out at the class frequently. Overall, make time!!
A very harsh marker. Extremely passionate about what he teaches and is very hurt when students fail to put the entirety of their attention into the course. If you are willing to put in the work, you'll find that your writing greatly improves.
Has outrageous expectations, is unclear with guidelines, gives vauge assignment guidelines then complains about quality of work. Arrogant, self-important and hypocritical. Berates and insults his class for the quality of work. Appears to care about students at first but is actually not engaged with them at all. Will talk at you instead of to you.
Not a fair professor. Has no problems to make you feel stupid when you go to see him and acts as though he does not know who you are. Worst professor I have ever had. AVOID AT ALL COST
AVOID AT ALL COSTS. I'm serious. I went to every class and tried to avail of his help on assignments. Although he does give some guidance for the most part he is very unhelpful. I'm an English major & did my last Engl course with him. I never struggled more with a course in my life. Just stay away unless you're a sucker for punishment.
JUST BAD!
My experience with Dr. Cumming was very poor. He would tell you what he wanted in an assignment, you would give him exactly what he wanted, and then he would fail you because it 'wasn't what I asked for". Very animated and funny guy though, when he wasn't ranting about the class.
Dr cumming is a little hard to take.. He tends to be quite rude to the class! it's a pain in the ass, but if you can bear his rudeness he's actually a very good professor. He DEMANDS attendance and participation, but if you read and speak up a little, he will be a very fair grader!
I've never had a more difficult prof to deal with. Everything everyone says it true. I've tried to get help with essays and assignments and hes been no help. He literally said, "let's just hope you do better on the next one." No help. Unclear with requirements and will make you feel like an idiot. He has no problem giving 0. Beware, seriously.
hated everything i wrote even had me rewrite my final paper outline. I suspected something was up and had my friend (hes been called a genious by his profs) to help and he still didnt like it. He is obsessed with the bronte sister and keira knightly
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
75%
Textbook Required
100%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
+0.12 avg changeRatings by Course
2000
5.0
(1)20004251
5.0
(1)ENGL4251
5.0
(1)ENG4060
5.0
(1)EL2001
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
2000
5.0
20004251
5.0
ENGLISH20
5.0
ENG2000
5.0
ENGLISH221
5.0