he is very dry and boring at times, but a good all around guy. he'll help if you need it, and wants to make sure you do well. if you can bare with him for the first few weeks youll be ok

People either love him or hate him. He's very serious. One of my classes with him started with over 30 people, but the end there was 8 of us. If you're not committed to writing, don't bother taking a class with him. But if you are serious about improving your writing and are willing to work hard, then go for it. He tells you if something you wrote was crap, so you know his compliments are sincere. There is no b.s. with this guy.

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Wonderful teacher - definitely knows his stuff and is able to translate that to teaching. Lots of grading/review opportunities so you always know how you're doing. If you want to improve your writing - take this class!

Great Teacher. You need to be committed and work hard in his class but its well worth it. Hes upfront and honest about your writing, good or bad. If you can handle the work, it pays off big.

Summer Term. Very easy. Probably would not be same for a regular semester. Rates papers very fast, no time, good grades! No wasted time for sure. Let us out early everyday!! Awesome teacher for the summer term!

Summer session. Fast paced. Lots of typing and some reading. Some what fair on his grading. Just make sure you know how to set up a portfolio the way he wants, or he will dock you an entire letter grade. Over all, it is easy to get an A if you do the work and it is a fun class.

he knows his stuff.

He is overall a really nice guy and a good teacher. He has a tendency to not explain things well enough. He is very open to your questions and willing to help you in anyway to pass as long as you do your work. In the beginning that class is very dull and it drags on and on with him, but over time it gets better.

good teacher. extends deadlines a lot. very helpful when needed. he loves literature and drops your lowest 2 quiz scores.

Mr. O'Donnell is a nice person, but the class I took was very hard. He is strict and grades partly from a creative writing point. If you take a class with him, take it at the beginning of the week, he is drained by the end. Don't take online or web inhanced classes. I think he's a fine teacher but the class requires a lot of hard work.

Freshman composition! You will only understand him if you are a writer; like he is. He loves F. Scott & is very very nice. unorganized though.

Somewhat disorganized about assignment due dates and getting material to you. Critical on use of "cliches". I learned a bit but there was never any discussion or in depth learning from this teacher. It was here's your assignment, what i expect, read this, do that. Was nice enough but a little slow to respond or post grades/feedback.

He was an amazing teacher. I wasnt sure how I would like him at first but he was truly a helpful and respectable teacher. Sure he had his flawsa like some disorganization and a bit strict toward certain mistake in writing, but his grading was very fair and he was happy to help you understand not only how to fix you mistakes but improve your self.

He's a wonderful teacher. If you can keep up with his lectures he shows you a DEEP understanding of the material he's working with. He'll chop apart your writing, and you'll love him for it. He has few essays with many drafts, which will help you to produce a high quality piece of work that you can look back on with pride.

Very nice teacher but LOVES to talk. Overall, an easy class but you have to do all the work and can't skip more than 4 class days (or else you literally fail the class.) I would recommend.

He takes his time explaining the text and history of Shakespeare. We spent a whole month at the Guthrie Theater and it was a great experience. Great class discussions and he knows his stuff. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS CLASS FOR ANYONE WHO LOVES LITERATURE. FYI: he doesn't post grades on D2L, so you'll have ask him where you are in the course.

Overall I enjoyed his class. He does come across harsh at first, but, very knowledgable and interesting to listen to. He does lack in keeping up with the grading. He does expect a lot and pushes for the best. I think that only helps to make your work better. Hard class for me, but I would recommend.

He's an easy teacher if you just follow his instructions. He's usually considerate if you're late to class on an exam day. Lots of readings, but not bad. Not as hard as other freshman comp. classes but not an easy A.

He is a very good teacher. Grade is based on the quizzes and tests but as long as you actually do the homework and reading you'll do fine. He's always willing to help so if you're struggling you can easily ask for help and you will do fine in his class.

Fairly good as teachers go. He incorporates history into Shakespearian literature, which is impressive. However, if english is not your strongest suject, pick another class. I am a phyics major, and I regretted taking such an advanced class. If English s your best subject, this class is a blast!

Very intelligent man, and very well versed on Elizabethan history which was particularly enjoyable when learning about the world Shakespeare grew up in. Expects perfection in writing and analysis which may be difficult for some. A very kind man.

Mr O'Donnell was an awesome teacher! By far one of my favorites at Normandale. A lot of quizzes, but he was lenient on your answers (usually got 100% when i didn't even do the reading). He has a sense of humor and discussions are always interesting. He always was there to help and gave great advice. Oh! And we only had to write TWO papers.

A lot of my classmates seemed not to agree, but I thought the class was easy. He did come off a bit disorganized, but not to the extent that it bothered me. He was funny in class, and had a real passion for the material.

Patrick has a passion for what he teaches. He provided insight into the material that would not have been readily apparent. The class was a good mixture of reading, writing and discussions.

My favorite professor by far! He loves his subject and his knowledge of the topic is crazy vast. He gives you ample opportunity to succeed, but won't hold your hand through every paper, he expects some self direction. If you have a passion for literature, take him, it's great to have someone who can draw the best from you and still make it fun.

loved this class, and this was the class I dread through out high school He made it fun but still challenging Very free of thoughts in this class

Hands down the best I have had in two years. Omg cool

Amazing professor.

Hands down, by far the best I have had at Normandale.

One of the best teachers I have ever had. Very friendly, smart, and a very good teacher.

Loved Mr. O'Donnell. His passion for literature along with his sense of humor and Irish accent make for an awesome Freshman Comp class. He allows you to pick topics that interest you to write about and makes it very clear what's expected. Was always in his office to help, and really wanted his students to learn and earn an A. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Prof. O'Donnell is very knowledgeable and passionate about Shakespeare. Despite my anxiety it was a very pleasant experience.

If you love the 16th and 17th century English monarchy, then this is the class for you. You will hear the words "deep practice" more than you breathe. Overall, he's a pretty good teacher, but gives quizzes that don't really make any sense. Plus he's really scatter-brained and disorganized.

Very clear instructions. Get ready to read a lot (it's freshmen comp so what did you expect?). As long as you follow his guidelines for papers you'll get an A.

I took Honors Comp. He does expect quite a bit out of you, but then, it IS college. He's happy to help if you just ask. All tests except the final were more of a game - teams, categories, etc. Seems odd, but helps in understanding the material. He's so passionate and excited about what he's teaching that it makes you actually want to be there.

A great Prof for someone who has the determination to learn. You need to read to survive and he makes you think really critically. Also, he goes into history a lot, but mostly as a basis for teaching composition. He'd be a way better history teacher. Expects a lot, so do the work and pay attention, but he's very understanding and eager to help.

I took this course as a part of my AFA in creative writing and LOVED it. Using a produced screenplay, he walks you through important plot points needed to write a successful story. The final project, which you spend just about half of the semester on, is writing an original screenplay. Sounds intimidating, but I had a great time with it.

There are a lot of quizzes, so going to class is key. While not difficult, Patrick does expect students to think outside the box, compared to making typical literary connections. He looks for original ideas, in depth understanding, and being able to support claims in essays, class discussions, and tests. Both midterm and final were essays.

I took his American Literature II class, and the books, short stories, and plays we studied were all phenomenal. He comes off as intimidating, but he's actually really nice. He knows his stuff, and I learned so much about art, literature, and culture through this class. I suggest actually reading the material though, otherwise you won't do so well.

Best teacher I've ever had. He's a funny one, straight to the point on the first day. Open my mind to creativity. He doesn't fudge around, he's the real deal.

In this class, you will learn everything there is to know about the Renaissance. Why? Couldn't tell ya. I signed up for a composition class, and instead got a recap of an entire period of history on the first day. To be fair, he is a fair grader and assignments are clear (rubrics are given). He is organized and will treat the class with respect.

A lot of people have told me that this professor wasn't the best choice, and I honestly think the exact opposite. He can be tough on grading, however he isn't necessarily too picky when it comes to your paper. All you have to do is follow his guidelines and you should be fine, and just go with the flow. Overall an excellent prof. Easy A, imo.

I really enjoyed his Fiction class. If you have an interest in writing he is a great professor. His lectures are very valuable, and it's not a class you should plan on skipping more than once per semester. If you are a writer, there is a lot you will learn from taking his class.

I don't think I've ever had a more compassionate professor! He truly cared about the work I did and was extremely encouraging and very generous. I highly recommend Professor O'Donnell. I learned so much from him and class always flew by. I wish I could have him for all my classes!

I took him for an online class last summer (American Lit II). Be prepared for a lot of reading. When he grades, he takes of 2 points for every grammar mistake. Some of the books and plays we read for that class were cool (we read "The Shining" by Stephen King).

Professor O'Donnell is a great teacher, he understands what us students go through and he cuts you some slack. He also gives good feedback to help you get a good grade on papers.

Honestly it's a composition class and I dont know why people are getting mad that he's a tough grader when it comes to papers. Overall he is an excellent prof and explains various aspects and techniques of famous author's writing very well. He makes you work for your grade, but in the end you'll be a better writer.

Don't expect an A, but you might get one. We had to read a bunch of books and do a lot of story grids that some people were annoyed by. There were hard essay quizzes unless you actually read the books assigned, and three essays. But he really wants to make everybody a good writer.

He is a very nice professor and cares about making his students better writers. Only had 3 papers in the semester with a lot of buildup to them but when it came to grading him i had to take my paper back because he made errors, thankfully he gave me my points back. VERY heavy on reading, sometimes the class feels more like the history of authors.

Definetely the most interesting, gripping, rewarding composition class!

He was incredible in opening our eyes to literature and what authors mean. We read stories from Night Shift by Stephen King, The Martian by Ray Bradbury, and On Writing by Stephen King. Attendance is mandatory, but his lectures are fun and simple. You will succeed if you enjoy reading and writing.

Mr. O'Donnell is one of the best teachers I've ever had. His Freshman Composition class is based around American Gothic Horror which is my favorite genre, and I feel like I've really grown as a writer this semester. He's a tough but fair grader. I had to write really detailed essays, but they were challenging in a good way. Take this class!!!

As they say "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.", and in this case the quote applies. The amount of work and interest you invest in the class is commensurate to what you will get out of it. However, if you do take his courses you will be a better student, thinker, and the transition to a quality 4 year college will be cake. Great teacher!

Amazing class with lots of good reading. Forever helped me with methods of writing papers. Professor very interested and passionate about every single part of the class which really helped me get into it. I usually hate English and writing but I truly looked forward to this class and I use the things we learned in it in every class since.

Great professor, he really taught me how to write better. Teaches in a very smooth and quick way. Has conferences on every paper to make sure you are on the right track. He makes freshman comp manageable.

Tough on grammar, takes about 3-4 points off a paper for each mistake. Plus any format/other mistakes made. If you ask for help he'll gladly give it, and is pretty clear on what he wants in his graded works. Definitely makes you work for the grade you receive. Good guy and really loves what he does and encourages you to do your best.

He was an amazing professor, he really put in effort to give students the best feedback possible and deeply cared about your writing techniques. He only made us read 5 books (and not even the entire book) and write 3 papers. He made you put your full effort into your work but gave you time and helped you along. Quality over Quantity.

Patrick is such a wonderful professor. He gives amazing feedback and is accessible outside of class. He really cares about the success of his students. He really knows his stuff, and is an amazing lecturer.

He is easily one of the best professors I've had. I would actually look forward to going to his class and was sad that we only had 50 minutes. His lectures are always helpful. He does really let you pick whatever essay topics you want which can be very difficult but also beneficial. Just be ready to read and comprehend some large novels.

There are a couple of things that Mr. O'Donnell does well and some that he doesn't. What he does well: 1. He lays out exactly what he wants and expects 2. Lectures are usually pretty good 3. Really teaches you how to write. What he doesn't do well 1. Grades mainly on grammar instead of content 2. Homework and reading heavy 3. 3 weeks or so to grade

He did really well putting things online when covid killed real classes. there was always plenty to get done but nothing overly difficult. A balanced class, nice teacher, but it is a decent amount of work.

The class was way more interesting than I assumed it would be. Its clear that hes very passionate about the writers & books he selects. The subject matter was great but I can see why the reading can be strenuous, I was lucky that I was interested in the books he chose. Would love to take more classes that he teaches. Hes also very helpful.

His assignments are very straightforward and easy. The only thing is he grades very slowly, so it's hard to do your revisions on drafts of your essays.

This semester, I took English 1101 and it went really well! He only assigns about one homework assignment every week. If you need assistance, there are excellent examples available. It's great because you can see everything you'll be accomplishing for the entire semester right away in the grade book.

Good semester! Because the books are so large it is very annoying that he is so interested in old literature. I enjoy the class because we typically have one assignment per week and he provides excellent feedback on it.He made both of our Zoom finals due on Sunday at 11:59 instead of the two that were originally scheduled.I definitely recommend him

I enjoyed his class, but it's not for everyone. I'd recommend it if you're a history enjoyer; that was at the forefront of many of his lectures. He "doesn't pass out A's like candy" in his own words, but I appreciated that; my grade was an honest reflection of my performance. As long as you stay on top of the reading and (3) essays you'll be fine.

I had Professor O'Donnell for two classes in the same semester, and gosh, it was hard, but amazing. His lectures show his intelligence and knowledge for each subject like you wouldn't believe. Although his classes were pretty hard (a good amount of reading and writing), Professor O'Donnell is there to help. His personality makes you want to stay.

Beware! Professor O'Donnell teaches a very book heavy class. We had to read 2+ books (Considerably more time spent on the first over the other two, and we read specific chapters of book three) and write a total of three big papers (a 100, 200, 300 point). You will either love or hate his lecture style. Great Books, keep ahead, literature professor.

I had a good experience in Mr. O'Donnell's class! We had 3 books that we needed to read for this semester so be aware of that. Also be prepared for lots of writing exercises! I had a good time in this class, and I personally felt that it was very easy! Only major critique would be that sometimes his weekly announcements felt very last minute.

If you were a good student in highschool, you will be just fine in his class. I was one of the attentive students in his class and still got a B, pretty tough of a grader. lectures are insightful and cool. With Patrick, it feels more like a Philosophy/world history class. He knows lots of things so don't be afraid to ask/email him. Very nice guy!