The only reason why the other people here are complaining is because they don't understand Mullen. Yes, he's hard. Mullen forces you to think outside of the 5 paragraph essay and write from the heart. He teaches you how to do it too. He's funny, smart, helps you learn how to write, and worth taking.

Mullen is highly, highly underrated. He can be tough, but he's warm, approachable, helpful and very knowledgeable.

I love him. Yes, he's hard, but his grading is anything but arbitrary. He expects a lot from his students. People have to get a backbone. It might feel like he's "talking down;" he's actually he's just very honest; hey, you never "don't know" what he thinks of your paper. Take him!

I loved him. His honesty, although sometimes brutal, helps everyone become a better writer. There is no way that, if you apply yourself, you can take his class and not become an exponentially better writer by the end. He is funny and helpful. It is possible to get an A -- and you'll be really proud when you do because you will have EARNED it!

Mullen is awesome. I got an A and you can too. I wasn't an accomplished writer of research papers; I worked my butt off and took his advice on my drafts. People who take things personally shouldn't take him; people who can use criticism to improve definitely should. Highly recommended.

Good class. If you work, you'll do well. Mostly research oriented as opposed to actual writing.

Contrary to what other people said about Mark, he is not a heartless man. He was one of my best teachers so far. He really cares about making you a better writer. Just be ready to work hard and actually EARN the grade you deserve. The assignments are fair and he grades them fairly. Welcome his criticism because it really helps improve your writing.

Prof Mullen was easily one of the best teachers I have ever had. My writing has really improved over the semester. He is availible outside of class and is always willing to help you with your projects. He is very fair and does not sugarcoat anything, which is where some people have a problem with him but I think it makes him a much better teacher.

Brilliant. Unlike most professors, he's open to new ideas and doesn't try to box everyone into his own mold. He's genuine and looks forward to reading your pieces and helping you improve. And he's just a likable guy...my favorite professor at GW so far hands down.

Mark is an awesome guy. He helped me with my writings a lot. Please take the course if you want to be good at making good arguments because that really is the core of this class. He is nice, you don't have excessive amount of reading at all, and every class is a discussion class. You have nothing lose but everything to learn.

If you like reading 50-100+ pages the night or 2 before class [that's all the time you get], you should definitely take this class. Especially if the articles bore you to death. I haven't exactly experienced his "heartlessness", but the time you have to put in to this class if you want to do, at best, average is ridiculous, even for a 4credit class

Great professor, really makes you a better writer. The people who don't like him are the ones who didn't put any effort into the class and wrote BS drafts. He's blunt but gives very constructive criticism. There's a lot of reading but it's not horrible.

Class involves a lot of reading. The criticisms of papers is extensive so its not for the faint of heart...the class is all about building a strong argument. he can be really funny and then 10 seconds later be very rude. but if you are doing his twice a week class and online section, he bumps the grades up alot if you just participate in the blog

Class called Video Games and Culture; funnest class ever. We played games and wrote about them. Papers are tough but only if you leave them til last minute. Really funny sense of humor. Super knowledgeable about topic. I'm a much better writer now as a result of this class.

Unless for some reason you REALLY like blogging you should not take this class. In addition, there is a short writing paper due every other class and the big assignments eat your time up like no other. He also added a random 5 page papaer about our research papers that we hadn't even begun yet. Not Easy at All.

If you're taking Mullen, get ready to do some work. Lots of reading and writing, sometimes little time to complete it. If you put in the effort, it really pays off. Tough critic, but really a cool guy that'll teach you to be a great writer. If you take UW seriously, his class is so worth it.

Don't listen to the people that rate him down just because they could not get through his class. Yes, I pretty much had to focus purely on his papers just to get them done, but, in the end I worked hard and got very constructive feedback from him and became a better writer. Hes ruthless in his critiques of your papers but he is nothing but fair.

Mullen is a hard grader, but he is very good at teaching you how to be a better writer. He also provides easy ways to get a boost on your grade. The only thing you really have to do in this class to do well is put for an effort. He's brutally honest and will let you know if he doesn't think you're trying in the class.

Professor Mullen is a great teacher. He is not that hard a grader if you make use of his comments. Before you turn in a paper you must submit a draft. Some people say he is harsh but he is just really truthful, doesn't hold anything back. If you fix everything he says you will get a good grade. There is a lot of reading but he is very fun.

I took his covering chaos class because it seemed interesting. He's definitely super knowledgeable about what he's teaching, but if you're looking for an easy UW this isn't it. He'll give you extensive feedback but he has so many requirements. I had to focus a lot on his papers. However, he is a nice guy and if you his readings you'll be fine.

TAKE THIS CLASS. Signed up last minute. Not a gamer at all. Best writing teacher I've ever had. I was a kinda worried when I saw that it wasn't "easy" (in O-Chem at same time), but it was no problem. To do to get a good grade, communicate with him and put in a little bit of effort. You decide your grade by how much work you're willing to do.

This is a challenging class but that's what college is all about. I've definitely seen my writing progress as a result. Moreover, the teacher is very intelligent and a pretty funny guy. If you're willing to work, I recommend this class.

Professor Mullen is truly one of the best english teachers I've ever had. He's engaging, fun, inventive, and so helpful. He can be a tough grader, but if you put in the effort you should do pretty well. Go to office hours!!

Look, people say his class is difficult and it is. However, you can get B on all of your papers like I did and then if you do the simple extra credit he gives out (which is a lot) you can easily get an A. Also, great personality but probably a class recommended for people who are kinda really into video games.

The class itself is interesting in the range of material it covers. The assignments are complex and take up a lot of time so don't count on an Easy A and don't take the class if you can't devote yourself to it. He is super sarcastic in his feedback but will probably be one of the few professors that I remember 20 years from now.

Mark is a pretty nice guy. The class is structured differently, which makes it kinda fun sometimes, but it can also be a pain. Since it is a UW, be prepared to write A LOT. He's a tough grader but I felt like I got a lot out of the class.

Brutally honest grader but his feedback is extremely helpful, and if you follow it, you should do alright. Positive feedback feels like a real accomplishment because of how harsh he can be. Definitely a sarcastic, funny guy and his classes are interesting. He offers a ton of extra credit, which is great. This class made me want to switch into SMPA.

I had Professor Mullen fro UW 1020 (Covering Chaos). I am not a journalism major nor was I interested in studying the practices of journalism ( I am a business major). I found his class to be very interesting and the way he sets up the grading essentially allows you to choose what you get based on the amount of work you want to do. 10/10

A good professor even if you aren't interested in games. The lectures are pretty boring but the assignments aren't impossible and there are LOTS of chances for extra credit. Show up to class for bonus points. A nice guy who is willing to help.

He makes GW worth the tuition but don't take Choose Wisely. It's fun but there are easier options with MUCH less work. It's a game, you get points, not grades. Gold doesn't mean A, just you do extra credit and you'll be fine with silver or bronze. He grades with 18 minute audio files telling you why you suck at life. He also makes great cookies.

This class is how all university classes should be. It emphasizes tea learning in that you can not do well learn and learn from it but you also have enough extra credit to recover from those mistakes to an A. Also Mullen as a person is the best guy really has fun in his classes an it's infectious.

If you can read, pay attention to detail, and aren't dumb as hell, you'll get along great. He really cares about his students. However, he requires a LOT of time. I actually failed (too much on my plate, gave up mid-semester) But I really enjoyed the class and I'd take it again if I had the time. You can absolutely do well if you put in the work.

This was one of the best classes I have ever taken with one of the best teachers. Mullen is really funny and takes a personal interest in students he likes. He even invited my friend and me to his house for a dinner after the semester was over. If you like a challenge and are willing to put in the work, you will do well in his class.

Professor Mullen is a fantastic teacher, but his course is definitely not one of the easy UW courses. My writing skills improved so much, so I'm very thankful. Mullen is witty and has a sarcastic sense of humor that made class interesting. Also, he offers a ton of extra credit. Class isn't mandatory but you earn points for going.

This man will improve your writing. He's brutally honest and has an odd sense of humor (he's from New Zealand, so get ready for a great accent in lectures), and he grades tough, but the way his class is set up is odd but means you can do as many assignments as necessary to boost your grade to an A. If you put in work, you'll do well. Simple.

If you're looking for an easy UW, faking democracy isn't it. There's a ton of readings, written assignments, and Mullen can be a tough critic. Overall tho I loved it. Mullen is a really great and engaging professor who will definitely make you a much better writer even if at times you hate your life in the process. Take if you're willing to work.

Professor Mullen is hilarious and caring even if he can come off a bit harsh with his feedback. He's the type of Professor I always look for: someone who will go out of his way to help his students succeed but will make them struggle and stress in the process to forge improvement. On a personnel level he is an awesome person and makes class fun!

Professor Mullen is extremely intelligent and clearly cares about his job. However, there is an excessive amount of work associated with this UW in comparison to what I have heard about others. He offers many bonus quests that you can take advantage of. He is a tough grader, but if you work for it you can receive an A. Not easy but engaging class.

I loved UW with Mullen. The topic of the class is unique and makes you think about your view of the world. It's set up so he can harshly grade papers but an A is possible for anyone who does the extra credit. If you came to college to be challenged, drastically improve your writing, and can take tough feedback, take this class! You will love it.

Topics of discussion were engaging/inspired a lot of reflection. While the topics could be heavy, I found him to still be lighthearted. Papers are intense! Many times I got a 0 and had to redo, but the next time I'd make an A. This class was a lot of work, but also more rewarding in my opinion. If you're looking to b.s. this class, don't take it.

Professor Mullen is my favorite professor this semester. I loved how much time and effort he puts into every student in this course. His assignments are extremely interesting because he gives you a lot of freedom while writing. The whole course is designed as a game with "quests" and competitions. Overall, his classes are amazing! Highly recommend!

You will not find a better UW prof than him. The ratings on this page feel irrelevant and don't do him justice, because he will invest SO MUCH time in you. It was such a personalized class, I know I became a much better writer. He really pushes you to think and is the most creative teacher I've ever met. It's an easy A if you care. TAKE THIS CLASS!

This class is demanding but will improve your research and writing skills. The major assignments were challenging, yet thought provoking and interesting. He sets the class up in a very beneficial way, as you can work for the grade you want through extra credit/bonus assignments. Put in the effort, and you will get a decent grade. Awesome course.

Professor Mullen is incredible. Yes, his class is a ton of work, and at times I was overwhelmed, but this is certainly one of the best classes I've taken in college. He has very creative classes and prompts, gives many opportunities for extra credit, and provides the most thorough, insightful, and enthusiastic feedback.

Professor Mullen is a challenging, but amazing professor. He uses an innovative grading system where your grade can never drop, but only go higher. He does give a lot of work, but he always gives thorough feedback and wants you to succeed. Take this class if you want to improve your research and writing skills.

Every assignment you do raises your grade, so there's no way for it to drop. You even get points for doing the assigned readings and going to class. Professor Mullen is knowledgeable, funny, and passionate about his topic. He's very helpful and gives personal feedback on anything you need. He cares about us and wants to help us succeed.

Professor Mullen was a very strict grader but also invests a lot of time in to you. He also provides plenty of extra credit opportunities including attendance to boost your grades. Class is not for the faint of heart he will rip you to shreds, three assignments make up whole grade.

Don't take this class if you're looking for an easy A. Mullen is very passionate about the subject and incredibly smart, and my writing/research has absolutely improved, but the drawback here is that the class is very involved. You get points for showing up, lots of extra credit, but the assignments are tricky and his feedback is very blunt.

I took Professor Mullen during the spring 2023 semester. Although this class was difficult and he is a tough grader, I enjoyed the subject of the attention economy and expressing myself through different mediums of writing. Even though this course is difficult, it is manageable, and Professor Mullen is very approachable.

Not an easy A but difficult not to pass unless you do no work at all. Honestly I liked his grading system bc you can only go up/get a better grade. extra credit was also interesting + it's not hard to get a lot of XP early on, readings/persualls were also pretty easy + interesting. his comments can be mean af tho and he will call you out in class

Class is graded using an XP system so your grade cannot drop. Not an easy A like some other UW classes, however if you do not get one of the 3 passing grades on an assignment Mullen will let you re-write it based on the feedback he gives. Tons of opportunities for extra credit so your grade should be fine.

Overall, I'd recommend the class but make sure to understand what your getting into. you will write a research paper plus 3 other big papers.There's up to 2 readings a week but most of them are interesting. The topic is extremely interesting and educational and Prof. Mullen is very nice and helpful. Don't take this class if want an easy UW class.

Professor Mullen is an interesting guy. He is incredibly smart and knows so much about the topic (the attention economy). As someone who doesn't really have interest in that, he made it interdisciplinary so there is something you can find interesting. Compared to other UW profs his research paper is much harder - worth the struggle tho learned alot

Mullen's class can be challenging, but engaging with his teaching approach pays off. The XP grading system provides flexibility, and Unstuck AI was a helpful study tool alongside the readings. Overall, a rewarding experience for motivated students.

Had this class for the Spring 2023 semester. This class was so hard I relapsed but it really helped me become a better and more confident writer. I was sure I was going to fail but Mullen helped me out a lot outside of class—he really cares about his students. Hardest class I've EVER taken but it was worth it.

This was certainly a class you have to actually try in, but it's worth it in my opinion. Professor Mullen is a really cool teacher and cares a lot about whether you learn or not and is always there to help with papers if needed. It's not the easiest UW, but I really loved this class.

Very demanding, expects 110% all the time, four big papers, some other reading assignments. Way easier UW's out there BUT very rewarding if you can meet his expectations. Very knowledgeable and brings really great discussions to class, super intellectually stimulating. Attendance not mandatory but is huge extra credit.

I got lucky- the class revolves around his specific set of knowledge, interests, humor, and attitudes and I get why some people hate it, especially as a gen ed. Additive grading and lots of extra credit opportunities, showing up and completing homework will boost you a fair amount, but he will call you out for being lazy so expect the dignity hit.

Brilliant guy but you will earn an A. If you're competitive, how he sets up the class like a game will make you want to do well. Honestly, do your due diligence, and you will be fine. He gives good (sometimes harsh and snarky) feedback, but you need that if you want to be a good writer. Also gives leeway to redo some assignments for a better score.

Do not take this course if you're looking for an easy A, but an A is attainable if you're willing to work for it. If you attend office hours early in the semester before he gets busy, you can establish a good relationship with him which is 100% worth it (he gave me extensions, movie/ show recommendations and overall was very respectful and helpful)