2.9

Monica Ayuso

English - California State University Bakersfield (CSUB)

2.9
Quality
3.7
Difficulty
51%
Would Retake
124
Reviews
2.9
Quality
3.7
Difficulty
3.0
Helpful
2.8
Clarity

51%

Would Retake

124

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official

5

39

4

12

3

16

2

22

1

35

What Students Say

Very unclear on the directions for papers

ENG300 - 1.0 rating

Never take this class for English 110

ENG110 - 1.0 rating
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

92%

Textbook Required

33%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B+

95% confidence
Based on 40 grades
Most common grades:
A (13)
Not sure yet (9)
B (8)
Grade Distribution
A(14)B(11)C(6)D(0)F(0)A-/B+(9)
Based on 49 reported grades
A: 13
Not sure yet: 9
B: 8
B+: 6
Common Tags
Get ready to read (23)
Tough grader (15)
Gives good feedback (12)
Participation matters (8)
Lecture heavy (8)
Respected (5)
Tough Grader (5)
Graded by few things (5)
Rating Trend

Improving

+0.21 avg change
Mar
Apr
Aug
Sep
Nov
Dec
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

300

5.0

(1)

ENG580

5.0

(2)

ENG200

5.0

(1)

ENGL94

5.0

(1)

ENG294

5.0

(1)
+44 more courses
Difficulty by Course

370

5.0

366370

5.0

GRAD

5.0

ENGL94

5.0

ENGL3000

4.8

Reviews (124)
1.0
4.0
ENG
Dec 12, 2002

doesn't test fairly, shows favoritism

1.0
2.0
ENG366
Feb 28, 2003

Misinterprets many theoretical approaches to literature; neglects to cover all topics listed for the course; extremely unclear in her teaching; does not appreciate multiple points of view.

1.0
5.0
GRAD
Mar 15, 2003

Very unclear, completely unhelpful, extremely biased.

1.0
5.0
ENG366
Apr 15, 2003

Dr. Ayuso is a faculty member who specializes in ethnic literature. Unfortunantly, her explaination of the subject is very unhelpful to her students. Her grading system is arbitrary and makes classes into popularity contests.

3.0
5.0
366370
Apr 15, 2003

THe content of Dr. Ayuso's ethnic lit classes are great, but she is a hard grader, and if you ask her a question she will answer a compleatly different one. She is alright for ethnic classes , but whatever you do don't take her for anything like Eng 300.

1.0
5.0
ENGL300
May 1, 2003

Students in ENGL 300 (spring 2002) actually screamed outside the classroom after taking her recondite and inane final exam. And, she should receive a negative score for clarity-you actually loose knowledge after sitting through her class-it's just BAD

2.0
5.0
370
May 7, 2003

Be prepared to write formalist essays (ask someone who has taken 300 if you don't know) that are full of technical jargon words. yuck!

4.0
4.0
ETHNICLIT
Aug 21, 2003

i wouldn't consider Dr. Ayuso hard but challenging. She does tend to beat a dead horse when attempting to explain a literary concept and when it comes to opinion is quick to excuse anything that is contrdictory to hers. i did learn in her class.

5.0
3.0
300
Nov 19, 2003

I learned so much from Dr. Ayuso. She is an expert in her field. I have truly enjoyed every class that I have taken from her.

3.0
2.0
ENG101
Nov 20, 2003

She is very nice, but does not give clear explainations. Class is very long, she lectures the whole time from the class time starts untill the last second. Very repititive of unclear definitions. Boring, but not a difficult class.

1.0
4.0
ENG101
Nov 21, 2003

The class is an intro course, but the expectations are very high. This prof. lectures the entire time. The class is very boring and the prof. is also very repeticious.

5.0
3.0
ENGLISH
Feb 20, 2004

Quite a few of the brightest English majors consider her the best teacher in the department. Lazy students don't like her. They don't get away with not reading. Go get 'em, Dr. Ayuso!

2.0
3.0
366
Mar 11, 2004

She is a very nice lady, but not a gifted teacher. She takes 45 minutes to explain what most could ssy in 3, she grades with bias rather than with logic, and her tests are completely arbitrary, often not even dealing with the actual material studied.

2.0
4.0
ENGLISH
Mar 19, 2004

She's educated but not a good educator. Lectures wander and often aren't reflected in exams. Chooses her favored students early in the quarter.

5.0
4.0
ENG370
Apr 3, 2004

The complainers are at it again. Ignore them. Wonderful person and an excelent teacher.

3.0
3.0
ENG366
Apr 4, 2004

Odd; a bit incoherent. Seems a decent person. Good selection of literature. Class was undermined by passive blobs satisfying a course requirement, making the quarter torturous.

1.0
4.0
ENGL300
Apr 23, 2004

No Comments

2.0
2.0
ENG101
Jun 5, 2004

The papers are easy once you figure out what she wants.If you listen well, she almost tells you word for word what to write, no individual thinking involved. Not much room for personal opinion or interpretation of material.

3.0
3.0
ENG
Jun 9, 2004

I like Dr. Ayuso a lot. Interesting lectures and class discussions. Her testing is a bit obscure, but if you pay attention you can make it out of there with a B.

4.0
3.0
ENG
Jun 17, 2004

She is a nice lady. I thought the class was easy. She was helpful.

3.0
2.0
ENG207
Jul 9, 2004

Don't argue with her, just keep your mouth shut.

5.0
5.0
ENG207
Jul 30, 2004

Do you want to get a decent grade without putting in the time, or do you want to learn? If you want to learn, there is no body better in the English Department than her. Great selections, and she'll go all out to help you write better if yu care.

3.0
2.0
ENG366
Aug 8, 2004

Lectures are not focused and are not relevant to what she tests on. Our final included 13 questions out of 25 which did not pertain to material read for this class. Wow. Great perspective for fantastic material read, not taught well.

1.0
4.0
ENG373
Oct 27, 2004

It would have been a great class, but she wasn't good at all. She was very unclear with what she wanted on midterm and in papers, and seemed to be biased towards those she liked and those she didn't. I liked the class atmosphere with other students, but not her.

4.0
2.0
ENGL370
Dec 1, 2004

I really enjoyed this class. The discussions were so interesting that I looked foward to every class. I enjoyed Ayuso's opinions and interest in the subject. Ayuso was always friendly and approachable.

5.0
2.0
ENG580
Dec 8, 2004

Fantastic class! I've never learned more. Very good books and very interesting discussions. She cares so much about our writing, she makes so many corrections. Hard worker. Really helps. Thanks, Dr. Ayuso!

2.0
4.0
ENGLISH366
Grade: A+
Dec 8, 2004

Very unclear & confusing on papers & exams. Too many books to read. Some of the reading material is enjoyable, but I did not like her teaching. I don't recommend, but you'll probably have to taker her.

5.0
4.0
ENG580
Grade: B+
Dec 17, 2004

She is a true professional. She leads wonderful discussions and assigns terribly interesting books. This was a memorable course that changed my outlook on ethnic minorities. Students who don't like her must be lazy or asleep. She will hurt you if you don't read. As it should be.

1.0
3.0
ENG373
Dec 26, 2004

Ugh. I'm pretty sure she doesn't read the stuff she assigns. She has a warm character, but she is brutal as a professor. Brutal brutal brutal.

5.0
4.0
ENG366
Feb 5, 2005

This is a great class. She encourages discussion of the material and is flexible. The papers are reasonable. She goes over everything in class, so any questions are answered

5.0
3.0
ENG490
Apr 2, 2005

Dr. Ayuso was extremely helpful. Her writing tips are excellent assistence. Senior Sem was difficult, but it is not supposed to be easy. I enjoyed reading Virginia Woolf's novels. I highly recommend her to any English major, she knows her stuff...

2.0
4.0
ENGLISH207
May 5, 2005

Professor Ayuso has good intentions, she tries really hard, but ultimately she comes up short. Her expectations are not clear, and she can be somewhat abrasive or dismissive in discussions. Her choice of reading is not well thought-out. She's not very helpful, either, especially answering questions.

2.0
3.0
ENGL207
May 10, 2005

Dr. Ayuso tries to be a good teacher but doesn't succeed. She doesn't explain what she wants out of student papers even though she attemts to do so for thirty minutes per day for the week leading up to the paper. She is also dismissive of comments and tries to force connections that don't exist.

1.0
5.0
ENG310
Aug 8, 2005

Doesn't clearly explain what she wants. Doesn't explain the grading rubric...we think she grades on a curve, but we're not sure. We haven't been sure of what our grades are since term began. Also, she took off on vaca. w/o posting grades. Class ended 7/29/05, but department personel doesn't believe she'll post grades until 9/3/05.

3.0
3.0
ENGLISH366
Nov 2, 2005

When i began my career at CSUB Dr. Ayuso was my idol!!! She actually made me want to become an English teacher. However, by my junior year i began to notice changes in Dr.Ayuso. Her effectiveness and approachablity seemed to wane...and she was a different professor.I miss the old Dr. Ayuso....

4.0
4.0
ENG310
Grade: B+
Nov 3, 2005

Dr. Ayuso is a very sweet person. Had a hard time cutting through the accent at first, but after some time I was able to appreicate the class and her approach to grammer/syntax. Also, what can i say? I dig older women.

3.0
4.0
ENGLISH101
Grade: A
Nov 24, 2005

Let's just say after taking her class I began to HATE Enlgish! She will grade English 101 as if it is one of her Upper Division English class, which is just ridiculous! She is nice and sweet, but it takes much more than that to be a good professor!

2.0
4.0
ENGLISH310
Dec 19, 2005

Her accent is hard to understand, and the way she breaks down sentences into somewhat mathmatical structures lost me. Comments that she writes on papers are overly harsh. I survived the class...but hate english now.

5.0
4.0
ENG
Dec 22, 2005

These comments are horribly unkind. Dr. Ayuso is one of the kindest and most caring teachers at CSUB. It's totally unfair to diss her because she's a prof who makes students work. And to criticize her for her accent is so like redneck Bako.

5.0
4.0
ENG
Mar 17, 2006

i have never had a college instructor who cares so much about her students as she does. Tyhank you for all your hard work.

5.0
3.0
ENG200
May 24, 2006

Excellent professor! Accent is not a problem and although she gives work, shes always willing to help and care alot about her subject and students. Wonderful person and a great professor. I recommend her.

2.0
4.0
ENG
May 25, 2006

No Comments

2.0
1.0
ENGL207
Nov 18, 2007

Ayuso is nice but not a very good teacher. The class is easy but very boring. She just lectures the whole time giving us her thoughts on the readings, not encouraging discussion at all. She assigns a LOT of reading and can't even keep up with it herself.

2.0
4.0
ENG207
Jan 16, 2008

mrs ayuso is an over the top overachiever scholar but far from a great teacher. her teaching is maticulusly incomprehendable. she tries to hard to impress the students with her fancy speach and tounge twisting language full of her intellectual lingo that she forgets that shes talking to an undergraduate class.

1.0
4.0
ENGL300
May 5, 2008

Ayuso is about the worst teacher I've ever had the displeasure of taking a class from. She is incomprehensible and places emphasis on every word so that everything streams together in an endless series of contemplatinve pauses and forced vocabulary. I will never take a class from her again.

2.0
4.0
ENGL366
Jul 6, 2008

Very unclear about what she wants. Holds Engl majors to a higher standard.Eight books assigned, a great deal of easy reading for the quarter. Our first paper had nothing to do with the books we read.

5.0
5.0
ENG366
Jul 9, 2008

I had Dr.Ayuso for several classes; she is top of the line. Yes, she is tough, but this is a UNIVERSITY. If you can't hack it, pick a different major. For those who can write, she will do nothing but expand your skills and thinking to another level. A must for anyone who wants to be educated by one of the CSU's finest.

5.0
5.0
ENGL94
Jul 9, 2008

Okay folks enough of your bellyaching.Dr. A is a grand teacher with very high expectations, and she doesn't take crap from anyone. She wants you to think and to be informed. While she does have what some may consider a heavy accent I found her to be crystal clear. Just read the material and form educated arguments and you will do well in her class

5.0
4.0
ENGL370
Nov 4, 2008

I can't believe how many negative comments there are about this professor. Dr. Ayuso is extremely knowledgeable about her subject matter. Yes, her tests are difficult, but if you do the reading, you should do alright. She does like details in one's analysis. She's great, highly recommend.

4.0
5.0
ENGL370
Dec 11, 2008

I was happy with Dr. A's class and reading material the tests were easy. I worked really hard on my final paper but was essentially told that a non-english major would not get an A in her class. While frustrated and disappointed I did enjoy the class and Dr. A very much.

1.0
5.0
ENG300
May 29, 2009

She constantly loves to hear herself talk. She is not clear of what she wants and constantly will talk down to you. It is unfortunate that she is still teaching. Regardless of the bad feedback I heard about her, I gave her the benefit of the doubt. Biggest mistake of my life. Highly discourage her if from English majors or other majors.

2.0
4.0
ENGL366
Mar 28, 2010

Loathed this class. Unless hard up for the units, avoid this class. Books are interesting, but going to class is a waste of time. Felt like a bad book club.

4.0
2.0
ENG366
Apr 4, 2010

Took her class, there was 10 books assigned all like 300 pages and above, each book you should read because she only does two papers, one is on a book and the other is more a creative assignment. Participation is key, although attendance isn't really really mandatory. She is so strict on grammer and on the papers. Class was relatively easy.

4.0
4.0
ENGL300
Aug 18, 2010

Took this as part of my minor. Extremely difficult class if you don't read and, though she's willing to help, her accent sometimes hinders that. Takes the 'Critical' part of the class title very seriously. Make sure you read for class as it is very much discussion based lecture.

1.0
4.0
ENG370
Sep 7, 2010

I took an online class with this woman and she was the worst professor I have ever had to deal with. I got a good grade in the class, but she was hands down, the laziest, careless, and most apathetic professor I ever had. Great subject, horrible professor.

3.0
4.0
ENG370
Jan 15, 2011

She really is passionate about ethnic literature and she does seem to know what she is talking about. Unfortunately, her tests can be difficult to answer in the way she wants to read it. Overall the tests aren't that bad, but you have to understand her way of looking at things before you'll get good grades

2.0
2.0
ENG366
Jan 26, 2011

She makes you read fictional books about soldiers shooting babies and Indians having sex with river monsters... Don't see how that has anything to do with learning about ethnic diversity but ok. She doesn't email you back if you have questions.

5.0
1.0
ENGL294
Mar 17, 2011

Great Professor! Read (research) and use the writing skills you learned in ENGL 1a everything will go fine. Quizzes are short, easy and open book. Strict on grammer so use MLA and proper quotations.

1.0
3.0
ENG490
Jun 13, 2011

I have unfortunately had to take Ayuso for several classes and she has not changed one bit.She always has a few students who suck up and they become her favorites. Even though their writng is subpar they will consistentanly recieve higher marks than they deserve. Ayuso is not interested in any but her own interprtation. If you can take someone else

1.0
3.0
ENG311
Jun 13, 2011

This professor is a joke. She is vague in her instruction and you can never pin her down on what she wants. Yet she will hold you to her ridiculously high standards. You will only recieve an a in her class if you are one of her brown nosing minions.

5.0
2.0
ENG294
Jul 10, 2011

She was one of the best professors I have had in my short time at CSUB. She was very clear at the beginning of the course about what would get a good grade and what wouldn't. All a student needs to do is read the material. Nonetheless there are students that just dampen the quality of the class because of their laziness.

2.0
5.0
ENG207
Aug 24, 2011

Prof. Ayuso will dock a letter grade for punctuation errors, particularly with MLA citations. She also criticizes word usage if she doesn't think it is strong enough. Try to approach this class like a technical writer, and she may give you an A. I never got lower than that in any English class until hers, it was disheartening.

5.0
3.0
ENGMULT
Dec 1, 2011

She's a great professor. She is a tough grader, but I believe she made me a better writer. Her class is very challenging, but she's very fair in her demands.

5.0
4.0
ENG490
Jun 6, 2012

I love Dr. Ayuso and am frightened by her at the same time. She is a brilliant woman with high expectations. I have taken multiple classes with her and would recommend them all.

1.0
3.0
ENGL294
Jun 20, 2012

Ugh. If you're not an english major don't bother taking this class. She will look right through you.

5.0
4.0
ENG300
Nov 1, 2012

Dr. Ayuso is an incredible teacher with an abundance of knowledge! And her work ethic is truly inspiring. While Ayuso's expectations are extremely high, and she is fairly intimidating, she will do everything in her power to help you learn and grow as a student. I cannot express how grateful I am for her constructive criticism in grading my papers.

1.0
5.0
ENG311
Dec 4, 2012

She is extremely unorganized. She was 2 whole weeks behind this quarter because she "had a lot to grade". She constantly pushed back assignments and they'd pile up. She rambles a lot, belittles, and doesn't stay on topic. She is not an easy grader, she will dock you if you don't use an advanced vocabulary or if you make too many grammar errors.

3.0
5.0
ENG366
Nov 19, 2013

Dr. Ayuso is an average professor. She requires lots of reading, and some of her reading is not very clean. She also will give you a small amount of time to complete a LOT of assignments. We were assigned a final and given one day to complete it. As I said, average. Take with caution.

3.0
5.0
ENG366
Nov 19, 2013

Dr. Ayuso is an average professor. She makes you read texts with explicit material, and expects you to keep up with the reading material when she assigns 300 page books every other week. She has given us a final in which she expects us to finish it in 24 hours. Take with caution.

5.0
4.0
ENG311
Jan 19, 2014

Dr. Ayuso is a brilliant woman, and an excellent teacher. She has high standards, and if you put the work in, her classes can help you improve in knowledge and writing. She may seem intimidating at times, but she's incredibly helpful if you take the time to seek her out. Highly recommend.

2.0
5.0
110
Grade: Not sure yet
Nov 19, 2014

Professor Ayuso is the most unorganized person i have met. Her Lectures feel as if they last forever. She goes off topic, and instead of explaining your assignment she spends way too much time whining on how much papers she has to grade. She turns in graded papers far too late and is rude when trying to get help from her. Avoid her is my advice.

2.0
4.0
ENG207
Grade: Not sure yet
Nov 21, 2014

She is passionate about her ethnic studies subject matter. However, her lectures are just that. Lectures. They do not lead students to the next step. Students flounder when it comes time to write essays and take tests. Her lectures are not helpful if you are looking for information that guides you in the writing process.

5.0
4.0
ENG300
Grade: A
Dec 9, 2014

Dr. Ayuso one of the best professors I had at CSUB. She is passionate and her lectures were well thought out. I took it as a senior and I only wish I would have been able to take more courses from her. If you are a serious student and want to improve your criticism skills, take 300 from her. The course was invaluable to me.

1.0
4.0
207
Jan 20, 2015

Wost professor i've ever had. She's never clear with what she wants in papers and doesn't tell you exactly what she wants until after the paper is turned in. Her lectures always go on and on and consfuse you more than just reading the book. Her grading is unpredictable. I would not recommend her for anyone.

1.0
4.0
ENG110
Grade: Not sure yet
Feb 12, 2015

Never take this class for English 110. She is an upper division instructor and grades English 110 with the upper division mindset. Terrible lectures that are veered off topic. She is rude when you ask questions and answers it loudly for the whole class to hear. MWLP will be eternal with all the work she assigns there... Not recommending her!!!!!!!!

3.0
4.0
110
Mar 2, 2015

seriously the worst english teacher at csub like ok we get that you teacher upper level english or whatever but you act like english 110 is already is ready for that!! definitely a tough grader, she has no patience, she's rude, you can only ask a few questions, shes not even helpful, she makes you feel like you're a horrible writer!

5.0
3.0
ENGLISH110
Mar 25, 2015

Professor Ayuso lectures were long but interesting. She has a clear grading system and requires a lot. You can tell she is passionate about her class. She honestly helps out a lot. If you are willing to put your time and effort, you will pass this class.

5.0
3.0
ENG355
Grade: A
Apr 24, 2015

I love her! She is always open for discussion, assigns GOOD books, and is simply amazing! Her grading on essays are a little tough, but she tells you exactly what she is looking for. Always willing to help her students! Put in the work effort and you will do well.

2.0
5.0
ENGL300
Nov 24, 2015

Although she is passionate about the course material, she is clearly not a great prof. She is not clear what she wants in her essays, we had students in our class argue with her about what she said when it was assigned v. what she said she wanted AFTER we turned them in. Lectures are not helpful either. Not a good prof.

1.0
5.0
ENG300
Grade: C
Dec 10, 2015

UGH. Okay. Super nice lady. BUT. Very unclear on the directions for papers. And her grading is insane. On one of my papers, she crossed out "I" and re-wrote "I" above it. Seriously. Also, after an assignment was due and turned in, THEN she posted an example on Blackboard of how we should have done it. Yeah. That might have been helpful before.

3.0
4.0
ENGL397
Grade: B-
Dec 21, 2015

This was the first time I had this professor and just like I was told she is a very tough grader who loves assigning a lot of essays and reading. She's a good professor but very confusing as to what she wants.

5.0
4.0
ENG490
Grade: B
Jun 22, 2016
Would take again

Dr. Ayuso is an absolutely amazing professor. Sure, she may be a tough grader, but you are guaranteed to learn quite a few things; and it is always accurate. She does care about her students and is always willing to help and dedicate as much time that is needed. All around inspirational and so intelligent. It is astounding how knowledgeable she is.

5.0
4.0
ENG490
Grade: B
Jun 22, 2016
Would take again

Also, she is very kind, approachable, and sympathetic. She is always available to answer questions, and responds quickly when you email. The lectures were always insightful and I just can't stress enough how knowledgeable she is!She always encouraged students to share their thoughts and it made for very interesting class sessions. Took her 4 times.

5.0
2.0
ENG490
Grade: B
Aug 3, 2016
Would take again

I wrote about Ayuso previously. She is one of the few that is empathetic toward those who are mentally incapable. I definitely recommend her. We need more of Dr. Ayuso. Most professors just aren't able to understand .............

5.0
4.0
ENGL300
Grade: A-
Sep 24, 2016
Would take again

I always looked forward to reading the feedback Dr. Ayuso would provide on my papers. My grades would always improve on my next paper. I went from a C to an A student in months. Take her feedback serious, and she is always available to give advice outside of class.

Gives good feedback
Participation matters
Amazing lectures
5.0
4.0
ENG3430
Oct 28, 2016
Would take again

I'm an English major, and I've avoided taking Dr. Ayuso for as long as possible because of what people were saying. I finally had to take her, and she is one of the best English professor I have had here. If you take time on your papers and READ, you will do fine. If you have trouble, she'll always help you during office hours.

Gives good feedback
Get ready to read
Caring
1.0
1.0
ENG110
Nov 10, 2016
Wouldn't take again

Corrupt grading policies. Doesn't return papers and lies when asked about them. She is a boring lecturer and her exams do not reflect her syllabus.

Hilarious
5.0
3.0
ENGL1109
Grade: B+
Nov 15, 2016
Would take again

Willing to help out, does her best to push you on the right path. Have a question? She'll answer in detail. She grades well, a bit more stern than others but she points out the little things to help you improve.

Gives good feedback
Respected
Get ready to read
5.0
4.0
ENG3430
Nov 28, 2016
Would take again

This professor is EXTREMELY knowledgeable. Her lectures are very enjoyable and explain everything you need to know about the reading. The stories read are enjoyable. The papers are difficult but not impossible if you read. I enjoyed this class and would recommend her. You don't need to be an English major to pass or enjoy this class.

5.0
4.0
ENG3430
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 12, 2016
Would take again

Dy. Ayuso is AMAZING. Show up for lecture, do your reading ahead of time, and participate in class; its worth it, trust me! She makes the material interesting with her passion and vast knowledge. She is challenging but in a good way. She is good at challenging students intellectually.

Gives good feedback
Get ready to read
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
5.0
4.0
ENG2208
Grade: A
Dec 16, 2016
Would take again

I did well, but many people had trouble with essays. She has a higher standard than usual, but is always willing to help outside of class with your essay. Advice: Don't underestimate that first essay. Show her a draft before so you know what she wants. Very helpful, caring, intellectual. Great novel picks. Understanding about extensions.

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
Caring
1.0
4.0
ENGL2220
Grade: C
Dec 20, 2016
Wouldn't take again

She is a likable professor. But when it comes to grading, she is very harsh. Doesn't matter what major you are, she will rip you a new one. She is kind and knowledgeable about the readings, but it is mainly students teaching students on everything. Very disappointed with this class. Even taking her my rough drafts helped me get C's on the papers.

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
4.0
4.0
ENGL3128
Grade: B-
May 9, 2017
Would take again

Took her class for my GWAR requirement. One of the toughest graders I think I've ever had, but gives very detailed feedback on your papers so you know exactly how to improve next time. She's helpful in office hours and will look at your rough draft if you want. Very understanding with extensions; she wants you to do your best work and not rush

Tough Grader
Gives good feedback
SO MANY PAPERS
5.0
4.0
ENGL2408
Dec 6, 2017
Wouldn't take again

MUST READ BEFORE CLASS, otherwise you will be lost. Really tough grader. But does give specific feedback on papers. She's extremely nice and always available during office hours. I say participate and show up to office hours to standout and show you try. Takes attendance.

Tough Grader
Gives good feedback
Get ready to read
2.0
5.0
ENGL3000
Grade: B-
Jan 2, 2018
Wouldn't take again

The most difficult grader I have ever experienced. I am an English major and struggled on almost all of her papers. She IS available for office hours, however, when I took advantage of meeting with her, she was less than helpful. She is terrible at explaining her expectations for papers until after they are graded. Must attend class to pass.

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
Skip class? You won't pass.
5.0
3.0
ENGL2220
Grade: A-
Jun 1, 2018
Would take again

I loved her class! It was pretty simple to pass the class. I just read the assigned readings before class (which were often quite short), participated in the discussions stating my opinions, and consulted with her during office hours on three paper assignments. Her feedback and recommendations improved my confidence dramatically.

Gives good feedback
Participation matters
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
4.0
4.0
ENG110
Grade: Not sure yet
Oct 23, 2018
Would take again

Her class may feel tough but she is great at her job. Tough shell but a softie at heart. Offer to answer lecture questions, even if you are unsure if you are correct because it gives the impression that you care enough to try.

Gives good feedback
Respected
Participation matters
5.0
5.0
ENGL3000
Grade: B
May 29, 2019
Would take again

Super tough grader, but she makes you a better writer. Tell her if youre having difficulties meeting a deadline, as shes super understanding. The readings matter. Her office hours help. Sometimes she cant think of the right word (English 2nd language), but she has taught most of us more than almost any other professor.

Gives good feedback
Get ready to read
Tough grader
4.0
3.0
ENG3250
Grade: A
Aug 21, 2019
Would take again

Dr. Ayuso has high standards, but not unreasonably so. Although I always get A's from her, my writing is not A level writing IMO. I am a good writer, probably a B level, however. She is friendly and engaging and gives thoughtful, specific feedback on papers.

Gives good feedback
Get ready to read
Tough grader
2.0
4.0
ENG3000
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 19, 2019
Wouldn't take again

As an English major I went into this class with comfort and confidence. However, as the semester continued I grew uncomfortable and anxious. She plays favorites. Often using the excuse that the class is "difficult to teach" for poor explanations. I went to her office for help with my paper and I left more confused, feeling unsupported.

Get ready to read
Lecture heavy
Tough grader
5.0
4.0
ENGL3000
Grade: A
Jan 2, 2021
Would take again

Once you get past the first couple of literary theories, the course becomes much easier to handle. If you have questions, don't sit there and complain -- contact Dr. Ayuso with your concerns. Totally approachable and an absolute sweetheart.

Respected
Participation matters
Accessible outside class
5.0
4.0
ENGL3248
Grade: A
Jan 2, 2021
Would take again

Loved the diversity of readings for this class!

Respected
Inspirational
Caring
2.0
4.0
ENGL2220
Grade: Not sure yet
Mar 27, 2021
Wouldn't take again

She expects you to read like 10 books. You only get a week and a half to finish a whole book. If you're a slow reader like I am it's extremely hard to finish. Although she doesn't assign actual homework she makes you do a TON of essays. She also doesn't grade those essays quickly either. I had no other choice, but to take her class.

Get ready to read
So many papers
1.0
5.0
ENG3248
Dec 15, 2021
Wouldn't take again

If you are not an English major, this class will be extremely challenging. She assigns you a lot of books to read. Every week, you must read around one book. Exams are not tough if you read the material, but they can be challenging if you make a minor error. Essays are the most difficult, as she espec you to provide something out of the ordinary.

4.0
4.0
ENG3248
Grade: A-
Oct 25, 2022
Would take again

Everyone complaining about Dr. Ayuso clearly didn't listen to the syllabus she provides. As long as you do the assigned readings and actually follow the structure of the syllabus, the class is easy to understand. You have to actually do the material. Amazing professor overall, would take one of her classes again.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Lecture heavy
1.0
5.0
ENGL3248
Grade: Not sure yet
Jul 30, 2023

She does not make things clear on what she wants & expects for assignments. 1/3 essays she failed me with a condescending comment. The comment was not helpful or necessary. She has changed the due dates to assignments without notice of the change. If I wasnt paying attention to Canvas I would have easily missed the deadline for an essay worth 50pts

Tough grader
Participation matters
3.0
3.0
ENGL2220
Grade: B
Dec 15, 2023
Would take again

She's very nice as a person, but probably one of the harshest graders I've experienced so far. If you're not good at English then you're already on the fence with passing. She does provide useful feedback with papers but I definitely felt anxious any time there was papers due for her class

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Respected
1.0
1.0
ENG3000
Grade: A
Dec 21, 2023

Avoid. Very wishy washy with her grading. She is slow to give out grades too. I recommend picking another professor if possible.

Tough grader
Lecture heavy
Graded by few things
5.0
3.0
ENG3248
Grade: A
Mar 21, 2024
Would take again

I really enjoyed Dr. Ayuso, and I loved the book selection. At her core, Dr. Ayuso is just a nerdy academic that wants to have conversations with her students. She is supportive and kind, and gives good feedback. It's a lot of reading, so be aware if you work and attend school full time like myself--it wasn't easy, but it was worth it.

Get ready to read
Participation matters
Graded by few things
1.0
5.0
ENGL3000
Grade: B+
Aug 9, 2024

I got A's on all of the essays, but got 7/10 on an assignment which somehow made me end up with a B. She picks favorites and least favorites. Despite my dedication to her courses, she didn't like me. And made it clear. I don't know what else I could have done for an A.

2.0
4.0
ENGL3128
Grade: B
Oct 15, 2024

It's difficult to follow her points in lecture. Her grading is subjective based on her personal style preference. She treats the course as if it is solely for English majors. She is Kind, but lacks the clarity she expects from her students.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Graded by few things
4.0
4.0
ENGL2220
Grade: A
Dec 16, 2024
Would take again

Dr. Ayuso models great close reading skills. She is a very harsh grader. I would definitely attend her office hours. Through her critique, I improved my writing. There is a lot of reading, but the selections are great. The class is discussion-based.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Gives good feedback
1.0
3.0
ENGL2220
Grade: C+
Dec 16, 2024

Professor was kind at times but due dates arent displayed on canvas so you'd have to be in class to be aware. Very harsh grader since she docks points for the smallest things. I missed one essay and somehow ended up getting my grade dropped by a lot. Made it hard to do the readings especially if you work.

Tough grader
5.0
2.0
ENGL2220
Grade: A
Mar 8, 2025
Would take again

Dr. Ayuso is one of my favorite professors at CSUB. Yes, she is a tough grader, but she is also more than willing to help those who seek it. I have taken rough drafts to her office hours; she would help me work through them. Very knowledgable in he field and a lover of literature! I learned a lot from her course!

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Caring
1.0
4.0
ENGL2220
Grade: B
Apr 5, 2025

Not convinced this person could be a professor if her classes were not mandatory to progress. Despite her class being mandatory she has an inflated sense of self-importance and is as pretentious as she is rude. This is a class where you find out what the prof wants to hear and repeat it for a good grade. Best of luck to newcomers.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Lecture heavy
1.0
3.0
ENG3248
Grade: C-
Apr 5, 2025

This course was not necessary to my major and the professor often spells things wrong and shouts loudly at the end of sentences for no apparent reason. Mandatory class that shouldn't be mandatory and the prof lectures go on and on. Work requirements are vague, grading criteria is vague, due dates are vague. Mandatory. Stressful.

Get ready to read
Participation matters
Lecture heavy
1.0
3.0
ENG2208
Grade: B+
Aug 12, 2025

By far one of the worst classes I've taken. She dominated lecture, don't bother raising your hand if you have a different opinion than her. She also had horrible organization and made students pay for it. Don't bother using words she doesn't recognize either. She'll mark them against you in grading, even if used correctly. So much more to say .

Tough grader
Lecture heavy
1.0
4.0
3119
Grade: Not sure yet
Sep 11, 2025

Her canvas page is an absolute nightmare and extremely hard to find assignments since they are all posted in different places. Due dates and times will be at random. Her lectures go on about nothing important, but unfortunately attendance is mandatory.

Tough grader
Participation matters
1.0
4.0
ENGL2220
Grade: A
Nov 8, 2025

She is a terrible teacher. Attendance is mandatory so get ready to enjoy a book club where you can't have differing views or she looks at you funny, desperate for any form of class participation. You must answer how she wants you to or you're wrong. Terrible grader, she is looking for specific answers, any form of opinion is wrong.Avoid Avoid Avoid

Get ready to read
Lecture heavy
Graded by few things
3.0
4.0
ENG3250
Grade: A
Nov 14, 2025
Would take again

I don't think she's too bad everything is doable. Her canvas is a mess tho, and almost all her coursework is vague and always changing. I will say she is lenient on late work and her grading isn't like awful. I did really enjoy the readings, but there's a lot. Needs to work on a couple things as a professor, but she isn't as bad as people say.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Graded by few things
3.0
3.0
3119
Grade: B+
Dec 9, 2025

To succeed in this class, actively engage in class discussions and stay informed about all activities, as the assignment deadlines and essay instructions can be unclear, requiring extra clarification from the instructor.

Get ready to read
Gives good feedback
So many papers
1.0
4.0
3119
Grade: C-
Dec 14, 2025

16 weeks I'll never get back. But hey at least you got to talk a lot about stuff that has nothing to do with anything, including my major, and you got to power trip over your lecture hostages. Please don't forget to thank whoever controls the humanities budget Mrs. Ayuso, without them there'd be more alternatives and you'd be out of a job quickly.

Get ready to read
Lecture heavy
1.0
3.0
ETHNICLIT
Grade: C+
Dec 15, 2025

Don't ask questions or she will be passive aggressive, even if it's a valid point. Her grading is very difficult ie, I followed her rubric to a T for the Final Paper, but didn't cite the work I reflected (it was assigned by her) so she gave me a 60 hence the C. Or at least I assume that was the reason cause she never responds to emails, good luck

1.0
4.0
ENG
Grade: B
Dec 16, 2025

Terrible professor who will grade you according to how much you talk in class and your opinion, regardless of performance on course work. Very rude and passive aggressive to students who question her. Work load generally isn't too hard, but grading system is difficult to figure out.

Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

92%

Textbook Required

33%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B+

95% confidence
Based on 40 grades
Most common grades:
A (13)
Not sure yet (9)
B (8)
Grade Distribution
A(14)B(11)C(6)D(0)F(0)A-/B+(9)
Based on 49 reported grades
A: 13
Not sure yet: 9
B: 8
B+: 6
Common Tags
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Tough grader (15)
Gives good feedback (12)
Participation matters (8)
Lecture heavy (8)
Respected (5)
Tough Grader (5)
Graded by few things (5)
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