2.6
Quality4.2
Difficulty20%
Would Retake89
Reviews20%
Would Retake
89
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
18
4
16
3
10
2
15
1
30
What Students Say
“Worst instructor I have had by far”
WR121 - 2.0 rating“Very hard for Wr121 I would never recommend him to anyone”
WR121 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
67%
Textbook Required
64%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.49 avg changeRatings by Course
WRT123
5.0
(1)WTR121
5.0
(1)123
4.0
(1)WRIT121
4.0
(1)WR123
3.1
(9)Difficulty by Course
20862
5.0
WRITING
5.0
WRI121
5.0
WRI211
5.0
WRIT121
5.0
Reviews (89)
mean, ill tempered, unwilling to cooperate, nit picky, just plain mean mean mean, he's got to be totally burnt out, made my best friend cry in class!
Definitly, not very helpful with any concepts from class if asked... likes to reverse your questions so he doesn't have to answer them. Find another teacher....
He is kind of a jerk and sometimes very rude. Easy class, though, if you have higher than an eighth grade writing level (for some reason, a lot of my classmates didn't).
LOVED HIM! He didn't put up with crap or stupid questions when the answers were already given nor did he allow students to waste others time inconsiderately. He treated the classroom like the workplace with real deadlines and expectations. Not an instructor for whiners or anyone who hasn't worked a real job with expectations before.Highly recommend
No Comments
This guy makes going to class as pleasant as being beaten with baseball bats for an hour. It's only obvious why he is so rude. With a last name like Skupsky, wouldn't you be angry at the world? dont waste your time with this guy, he'll make you hate school.
Interesting lectures, and he seems to know his stuff. BUT: He's also an arrogant jerk. Can be very belittling. Great at telling you what he DOESN'T want, but he's lousy at telling you what he DOES want, which means you constantly end up playing 20 questions. Very frustrating.
No Comments
The class was pretty easy and you did not have to go if you got all of your work done. You have to write a 10pg paper and you have 3 progress checks and 3 peer evaluations. Any WR123 is not going to be fun, but I found his painless compared to others I have heard about. If you are top of your work and not retarded you'll be fine.
He was one of the best instructors I had at Lane. I learned more from his class than all of my others put together. A lot of people got scared off the first week, but I think his style drives home the point. He was very easily approachable and I have learned how to write awesome papers since that class. I recommend taking writing from him.
Skusky is terrible. he has done things to students that deserves firing. he is completely rude and unprofessional. avoid this guy at all cost.
He was a very tough teacher, but I finally understood what he was trying to teach us all term, almost all the way through the term. Now that it clicked in my mind, it will stick with me and my writing forever. Tough teacher, but worth the extra work. His office hours helped me out a ton. He's very helpful if you listen to him.
Arrogant, conceited, and too wrapped up in himself to teach.
Stunningly abrasive and consistently demeaning of my writing and of me personally. Easily the most apathetic person I have encountered working at Lane in any capacity. Comments he scribbled in the margins of my papers included "so what?" and "dumb statement." The only thing I learned from this man is to research my instructors before registering!
It's been said before, but this guy tells you what he DOESN'T want, but will never tell you what he does want. F---.
There are lots of teachers who will baby you and tell you all the answers without ever encouraging you to think for yourself. Skupsky is not one of them. He is constantly trying to guide you to find the answer for yourself. Great teacher, and great concepts. I passed his class years ago and still use the tools I learned every day!
The most aggravating teacher I have ever had! He has you write papers in specific styles which he fails to explain clearly. He grades VERY harshly. He is extremely rude. BOO THAT MAN!!!! (BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!) He is just plain awful.
He teaches through definitions. If you are able to comprehend these definitions then you will probably do well in the class.
he is in no way an easy teacher. if you put in the effort you will get a good grade. contrary to many other comments he is a super nice guy. frustrating at times, but i will never forget anything i learned in his class. i would take his class agin for sure!
When asked he question in class found "stupid" because we should know the answer, he would say "I'm fishing in Idaho right now." I hate fishing but I would rather be "fishing in Idaho" than take another class with him. I may not always recommend another teacher but HIGHLY suggest anyone but him.Half the class dropped by the end of term for a reason
I do not ever rate teachers, but I felt compelled to do so with Michael. He is an excellent teacher, and he truely cares if you are understanding the concepts. I only wish I would have had him for WR121 and WR122
He's a pretty entertaining guy with a confusing sense of humor. We could never figure out if he was serious or not. There is no text book for his class which I found unhelpful. Not an easy A. Overall a frustrating class. Make sure you meet dedlines and when you trade papers for evaluations trade with someone who will give you good feedback.
understanding to my particular learning mode(i.e. oral repetition)
Worst teacher I've ever had. He was incredibly rude to people that were asking questions relevant to the assignments, and graded very harshly. If you asked a simple question he would pretty much call you a moron in front of the whole class. A few months after I took that class I got a phone call which seemed that the school was investigating him.
He really pushes you and encourages you to do your best. No textbooks, which was great! His class was fun, he was funny, we all got to know each other very well.
He is very clear about what he expects from your writing. For WR123 attendance was optional for the second half of the term. Follow his rules and put sufficient effort into your paper and you'll do fine. I recommend one on one help often and paying attention to your peer reviews!
This teacher will metaphorically pluck you from your seat and spin your mind through the skies of thought and reason. Around week four, you begin to get your bearings. Spreading your wings, you start yelling I?ve got it! That?s when he points to the stars and says That?s where we?re going.In this class you will see what you can really do!
Extremely intelligent teacher. He is different, he won't let you slide by. But he will TEACH you. He will help you any time you ask, but he's not going to GIVE you answers. He will treat you like an adult, you will EARN your grade. And if you can't format your paper properly to not lose 25 points, go back to high school. I recommend him!
Michael's lectures are a bit unclear. There are no books or handouts in his class, which would make things easier for students who are struggling in his class. You will get a decent grade in his class if you simply follow his guidelines, which he is very clear about. He is always willing to explain things or go over papers during his office hours.
Skupsky is the most sarcastic teacher I have ever had. He is also not very helpful. If someone were to ask a question he would leave them feeling thoroughly confused and incompetent, thus not helping the student whatsoever. Total jerk. He even yelled at a students' son because he was being "distracting". How rude.
Michael is the best teacher I have ever had. His classes are hard with a very high drop out rate. If you can't produce a paper above high school level, he is not for you. If you love a challenge, and aren't afraid to free fall without structure, you will not just become a better writer, you will become a more critical thinker. He's brilliant.
The most valuable class I've taken so far. If one comes to class, pays attention to lecture discussions, and spends quality time on papers, he'll do fine. I just finished Writing 122 which was a breeze because of how well prepared I was by Michael's 121 class. If you're looking for an easy A with little work required, this isn't the class for you.
This is the only class I have taken in college that actually was worth the money. Skupsky is a terrific teacher with a challenging curriculum; if one values their mind, choosing this class is of interest.
Michael Skupsky teaches the material somewhat clearly and the material is valid and quality writing knowledge, however he does not apply it well to showing how you should write your papers, which is what your grade is based on. He is also a VERY HARD GRADER. On the upside he has a decent sense of humor in class.
Very difficult teacher. The four papers were all on different argument styles. He was still covering how the type of argument should be written less than a week before the paper was due. He is very unclear when answering questions. If you asked him the same question two classes in a row, he would give you a different answer each time.
What he teaches for wr121 IS different than other wr121 teachers, but he has a great sense of humor to help you relax. All you need to do, just like any other class, is attend regularly, pay attention, and ask for help when needed (like I did). Asking for help SAVED my grade! I would not recommend him for the "lazy type", but he is a great teacher!
Michael Skupsky is awesome! He is tough, but gets you thinking and is a very rewarding teacher. He has an awesome sense of humor. No text books are required, so be prepared to take notes. He is not rude like many people on here are saying. If taking notes in a fast paced environment is too difficult for you, then I would consider dropping out.
Attendance may not be mandatory, but the small 5-question quizzes he gives at the beginning of class allows extra credit points to add up!
Michael is a terrible teacher. He'll tell you what he doesn't want, but will never tell you what he does want. To make things worse, he doesn't use a book, and his lectures consist primarily of profanity (he once drew genitals on the whiteboard for a laugh). He's immature, and inappropriate. He says he never gives A's and he's not lying. Avoid him.
Michael is amazing! By FAR the best teacher at LCC. I learned so much from him because he challenged me. I ended up getting an A+ because I worked hard and sought help from him. Not only is he great in the classroom, but he put extreme effort into a scholarship reference form for me. I respect him so much and hope I get to take WR 122 with him.
Michael tells you to write a paper, but doesn't tell you HOW to write it until after it's time to turn it in. He has little quizzes that allow for extra credit, so the points can add up. His writing is very hard to read when he writes on the board. There is no textbook, so his lectures stray from the topic to be discussed.
I loved this class he was extremely helpful and very clear. Micheal is funny and very witty. Micheal could answer our questions with an example of the question, while answering the question. I learned a lot from this class and would recommend it to anyone.
Michael's pretty awesome. I tested into WR 121 but I think I tested in too high. Michael was really awesome about working with me to get into a lower class. I hear he's the hardest writing teacher but if I had any experience writing papers I think I would have done okay.
Thing with Michael is he's intense. I won't lie. I took this class in the summer and as a freshman, it's really tough to get through it. However, he was absolutely engaging, and I apply what I learned from him in daily life all the time. Granted, I will never take another class from him again, but I appreciate the experience.
Michael is definitely intense, this is a fact. His class is not easy, by any means. Michael doesn't require a textbook, so there's a lot of lecture, you'll definitely want to show up. If you're willing to put in the work, his class is great. I would definitely take a class with him again.
Michael is very unclear as to what his expectations are on his papers. His directions for in class assignments are vague. Many have dropped out of his class due to his frustrating teaching methods. If you ask him a question, he responds by asking you a series of questions. Worst instructor I have had by far. His sense of humor is also revolting.
He is a great teacher! Alot of the previous comments say that he strays from the topic, which is true. However, he is attempting to reach all different learning styles. But if you ask direct questions he will answer. Just be open to the experience and you will definitely learn!
Michael is the most influential teacher at Lane college. Anyone who does not understand his requirements for an essay does not understand the content of the class, and was clearly not paying attention to his lectures. He teaches argumentative dynamics at a community college! He is an asset to anyone trying to actually learn.
I still wish he'd explain for more than a few minutes what he wants in his paper. I know what a Direct Object is, as well as, what Rogers did for a living. I still am very vague 4 papers later what he is looking for.
Did not give enough guidelines. did not help answer questions. was very disrespectful when I asked questions. told us things had to be on papers that were not previously taught. lectures very confusing
He's different, he's not an easy A, but if you FOLLOW DIRECTIONS, you will do fine. If you need help, all you need to do is ask. If u want to goof off and not come to class, not do any work at all like a little kid, then he is not for you. 5 years later, I can still repeat the definition of an argument, word for word. One of my favorite teachers.
Great professor. Every student that wanted to learn got his attention and guidance. I learned something new in every class.
I did not enjoy Michael at all, I feel bad because I don't like to say rude things about people. He does not teach well at all, he's not helpful and he never shows you your grade throughout the whole class. I would get my papers back, and they would be low C's, and I would take them to the writing resource center and they were shocked.
Great teacher! He makes you work for it but he will reveal all the weaknesses in your education. Make sure your papers are mistake free. 4 sentence level errors are a full grade on papers! Really would like to take another class with him in order to make my writing stronger.
I do not agree with this teachers teaching aspects. He does not make things clear and does not help yoU. Do not take his class.
He answers questions with questions. Grade hard for a WR 121 class. I would never take his class again. I also would never recommend him to anyone.
Michael was one of the best teachers I have ever had! He is more than willing to help his students without issues. He focuses on the students actually learning and not about how well they can memorize something. He also had the whole class get to know one another which really helped when it came to group work. I would definitely recommend him.
He's a wonderful teacher. He is one of the best teachers I've ever had. He makes me want to learn and come to class. You have to be willing to put the time and effort into his class. You can't just expect to receive an A. If you are willing to work hard, you do fine in his class. I loved his class and would definitely take another from him.
Very fun class, but the essays are hard. No textbook, so you HAVE to go to class or you'll miss a ton. Focuses on argument styles like aristotelian, rogerian, etc. It was hard & I hated it when I was there but in retrospect I'm very glad I was in his class, I learned a LOT! Choose him if you want a challenge, he keeps you guessing.
Great class! Fast paced but fun and engaging, definitely take lots of notes because there is no textbook. I would take this professor again in a heartbeat.
I am new to Lane and on the second week I dropped his class because he was obsurd. Very hard for Wr121 I would never recommend him to anyone. He doesn't make any sense in class and he doesn't go over essays in class. you are basically on your own and go to class just to listen to him ramble about Aristotle.
He is confusing at the start of the class, but makes more sense as time goes on. At the very end of the class, everything starts to come together and make sense. If you put in the work, your desired grade is achievable. If you want to learn how to properly punctuate and write good papers, take this class.
Great professor! There is no textbook so take lots of notes and don't miss class. The quizzes and tests don't hurt your grade, but they can improve it which is great! His handwriting was pretty hard to read at first, but after a while it gets a lot easier. This is not and easy A class, but if you work hard it'll really pay off!
Michael will teach you much more than your average writting 121 professor. If your goal is to learn, take his class. If it's to get an easy A, I wouldn't recommend it. I never dreaded showing up to class because Michael always kept us entertained. It is vital that you meet with him outside of class to make sure your paper fits what he seeks.
Very unique teaching method, but very effective if you like to use your brain.
Horrible, makes you create your own test so he doesn't have to. Can't read his hand writing. Very confusing when he grades your paper and is not helpful when needing and explanation.
Does not tell you what you need for your essays. Drills for 11 weeks sentence structure and what a noun is but only briefly covers what he wants in his papers and what he expects from you in class. If you ask a question he answers with more questions and belittles you in front of the class. Will never give you a direct answer.
Essays do not have clear grading criteria. Does not give clear feedback. does not answer questions directly. has a pop quiz every week that isn't worth anything unless you get 100% on it. doesn't correct said pop quiz, giving you no study info. makes you do group projects, then forces you to chose only 1 person to receive all the points.
Super tough grader, doesnt respect his students, doesn't explain essay expectations at all. His lectures are only in person & he doesnt use moodle so you're left in the dark on your grades & notes if you miss class. You teach yourself half the time. Will assign group projects but only give 1 person in the group points. Would not take again.
Michael was funny, nice, and attempted to answer people's questions - except his answers never really answered the question. For essays, even if you made minimal mistakes he would not give you an A. He spent a lot of time on parts of speech, and very strange sentence analysis. People were constantly confused. Extra credit & showing up helps greatly
I'm not sure what to say about this class. You could spend all the time in the world on an essay and never get anything over and 88%. There are bonus opportunities, but you have to give him answers word-for-word and theres a lot to memorize. He seems like a nice guy outside of class, but I wouldn't recommend him as a teacher.
Michael Skupsky wants to help his students succeed. Although that means lots of memorization and papers and quizzes, I learned a lot from his class that will be valuable to me in the future. He does a lot of group projects and class participation as well. If you want to be challenged and expand your writing skills, this would be the class for you!
Michael was probably the worst English teacher I've ever had. He did not make his expectations clear for the class at all. He constantly assumed that we would study outside of class even though we were never made aware of what we had to study. He will give out pop quizzes and those do not hurt your grade, fortunately. He also tends to ramble on.
This is my second writing class at lane... and wow. This guy "answers" questions with questions like he's teaching philosophy, never clarifies anything. Never had to study for a WR class until now. Got stuck in this class due to it being the last one available. don't recommend unless you like someone to stand in front speaking gibberish all class.
Michael Skupsky should quit his job because he is horrible at teaching. Anyone who is horrible at teaching should quit their job.
I have never been more confused in a writing class like I am in his. He has not once told us what he wants out of our paper, deadlines dont seem to be super important to him as he doesnt collect anything until your final paper is due. Pop quizzes are never graded when you get them back and dont count for anything unless you get all answers right
First of all, he refuses to use moodle and there's no way to check your grades all term. He grades harsh and compares students to each other. He doesn't grade anything until you turn in the final paper and instead has you do peer edits. He's really frustrating to talk to as well as he won't really answer your questions and talks down to people.
NEVER have I been so confused in a class. For example, he will tell you what you're doing is wrong but he won't tell you why it's wrong no matter how many times you ask for clarification. I was made to feel like an idiot. He sends out emails to the class like "None of you guys except for ______ did the assignment right."
If you're taking Skupsky's class, I'm sorry. The class is so hard because of how unclear he is about EVERYTHING. In WR121, you write two papers all term. For these papers you can write about anything you want (mostly). He will tell you when you're doing something wrong but won't tell you why it is wrong or what you can do to fix it.
Doesn't accurately use Moodle. Makes taking the class more difficult than it needs to be.
I understand the frustration with this prof. He is a very tough grader, can be confusing when you need help, doesn't grade quickly, and has some other quirks. If you are stuck in his class, ready EVERYTHING he puts on Moodle. Although it's unclear what his expectations are, he sometimes posts examples you can use as an outline. I did learn from him
This guy was a horrible communicator. I really don't recommend the class because he was not clear what so ever.
My first impressions from his class was that of boredom. Not a very engaging or helpful teacher. Was pretty critical when grading assignment but did not recommend areas of improvement. Was slow to respond to emails and after an agreed submission of a late essay stopped answering all together and didn't grade the essay. Take anyone else for WR121
If you turn anything in late, then everything else after that late work will be marked as a 0 for the rest of the term. This is non negotiable. When i asked him about this, he kicked me out of the zoom class. He also does not reply to emails.
THE FIRST HALF OF THE CLASS IS PACKED! BE PREPARED! Great class though. The professor jams all reading into the first five weeks then rest is repeating writing styles understanding. IF YOU ARE ONLY FIVE WEEK INTO THE CLASS look at the rest of the syllabus before getting discouraged. We went from 32 students to 14. Easy class after the fifth week.
it was a hard class in person and online due to a very short list of grading and leaves essays to the students to research and follow his requirements with very few examples. However he is willing to talk with you to figure out a good example in whatever topic you go for after class. He will NOT FOCUS on current work if you have MISSING WORK.
Goals are not clear, full essay not explained until half way through it, gave us an incorrect essay as writing example, super tough on late work, grades super harshly, doesn't care about what you actually write about, just a mess. Most of the work is grading your classmates before you know what you are doing. Not worth your time.
Literally feels like you're being tricked into getting a poor grade. Everything is peer-reviewed which I find so annoying, as the feedback is often unhelpful. Your writing skill doesn't matter at all. Lectures are boring and unclear in addition to poor feedback on assignments. Also will not fully fix deadlines on moodle, making due dates confusing.
The way the online class is set up is awful. Deadlines are placed at strange times during the week, and it is also confusing to find out when those deadlines are because some deadlines are put into assignments that are from weeks before. It's unfortunate too since the majority of your grade comes from turning things in on time. Not worth it.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
67%
Textbook Required
64%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.49 avg changeRatings by Course
WRT123
5.0
(1)WTR121
5.0
(1)123
4.0
(1)WRIT121
4.0
(1)WR123
3.1
(9)Difficulty by Course
20862
5.0
WRITING
5.0
WRI121
5.0
WRI211
5.0
WRIT121
5.0