2.8

Phillip Beard

English - Auburn University

2.8
Quality
3.8
Difficulty
17%
Would Retake
131
Reviews
2.8
Quality
3.8
Difficulty
2.9
Helpful
2.7
Clarity

17%

Would Retake

131

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official

5

26

4

24

3

25

2

26

1

30

What Students Say

Unengaging, unorganized, and awful

ENGL2260 - 1.0 rating

Expect 2 hours of reading every night

ENG2250 - 2.0 rating
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

56%

Textbook Required

25%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B+

95% confidence
Based on 50 grades
Most common grades:
A (12)
B+ (11)
B (8)
Grade Distribution
A(16)B(14)C(6)D(1)F(0)A-/B+(14)
Based on 53 reported grades
A: 12
B+: 11
B: 8
B-: 6
Common Tags
Get ready to read (26)
Beware of pop quizzes (17)
Tough Grader (16)
BEWARE OF POP QUIZZES (12)
Tough grader (11)
Lots of homework (8)
Skip class? You won't pass. (7)
Participation matters (5)
Rating Trend

Declining

-1.35 avg change
Dec
Jan
Apr
May
Jun
Sep
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

2260

5.0

(1)

ENGLISH1100

5.0

(1)

ENGLISH2200

5.0

(1)

GREATBOOKS2

5.0

(1)

WORLDLIT2

5.0

(1)
+29 more courses
Difficulty by Course

1120

5.0

ENG101

5.0

WARLIT

5.0

ENGL1020

5.0

ENGL001

5.0

Reviews (131)
5.0
3.0
ENGL2200
Sep 21, 2004

Mr. Beard has a real passion for literature and was very helpful in equipping me to change my major to English Literature.

5.0
2.0
ENGL1100
Oct 20, 2004

Dr Beard is very helpful and overall a very good teacher. His enjoyment for what he does makes it easier for you to work hard in his class.

4.0
1.0
ENGL2200
Oct 22, 2004

Beard is HILARIOUS! He doesn't believe in brief chuckles, but leans back in an oh-my-gosh-the-artery-in-his-neck-is-going-to-burst laughter. We were supposed to have 3 papers and a final- we've had one paper so far, and we might not even have a written final! He rocks, definitely take him.

4.0
2.0
ENGL2200
Oct 25, 2004

This guy cracks himself up as well as the whole class he is nerdy guy but it makes class interesting. We have only written one paper so far and we have class outside and act out plays its quite humorous. Take him even if u get bad grades at least youll be laughing the whole time

4.0
3.0
ENG2200
Nov 18, 2004

he's pretty cool. i like the class. very knowledgable teacher.

5.0
3.0
ENGLISH1100
Grade: A+
Dec 13, 2004

Dr. Beard was a little hard to figure out at first because he laughs at himself alot, but he's a nice guy. We usually talk about pretty interesting stuff in his class. He grades his papers by some standard I've never been able to figure out, but other than that I would definitely recommend him.

5.0
2.0
ENGLISH2200
Dec 13, 2004

Dr. Beard is hilarious and a really fun guy-he makes the literature a little more interesting that it really is. He really loves what he does and is always in a good mood. Great teacher -take him.

4.0
2.0
ENGL2200
Jan 2, 2005

Dr. Beard was definitely an interesting character. Go to class, even though i didnt learn much i usually got a good laugh out of it. Disorganized with assignments and the final was rough but overall a nice guy and an easy grader.

5.0
3.0
ENGL1120
Mar 20, 2005

fun class, likes politics

1.0
5.0
ENG101
Apr 26, 2005

He was a horrible teacher. Not funny at all, infact most of the time he ended up laughing at his own jokes while we made fun of him. Hard grader, essentially just a jerk. Finally sucked, dont take this class!!!!!

5.0
1.0
ENGL1120
May 9, 2005

Whoever wrote that last review is clearly a miserable, blithering idiot. Dr. Beard is a hilarious genius; an excellent professor of english.

5.0
3.0
GREATBOOKS2
May 27, 2005

His class was fun because he says some funny stuff. He is a harder grader than expected, but I came out with a B in the class. Great teacher for a boring subject! Take him!

5.0
3.0
ENG2200
Aug 2, 2005

I loved Beards class. Hes a funny guy and he really made subjects interesting. Im not sure I understand the way he graded papers, and we would have pop quizes, but other than that, he has interesting views on subjects and loves for you to participate! I would definately take him again!

5.0
1.0
WORLDLIT2
Aug 16, 2005

very interesting class, goes very in depth and provides the historical context necessary to understand and appreciate the material. My favorite part of the class is that there are no political twists. He teaches the works for what they are, not what he wants them to be. He is a great teacher, and a cool guy too.

1.0
5.0
1120
Oct 21, 2005

he is not helpful at all and is kind of a jerk and he also thinks he is funny but his jokes are really lame and kind of ****.

2.0
4.0
ENGL2200
Dec 10, 2005

He was a boring teacher who probably reads the dictionary for fun. I would compare him to Mr. Rogers teaching Literature. I wouldn't recomend him unless you really like to read.

4.0
4.0
ENG1120
Dec 23, 2005

Class content felt more like a political science class rather than an english class. He was indecisive on how he wanted papers to be constructed but he was more than happy to assist you on them. Get to know him so he knows that you're a hard worker. I got a B in the class. If you like current events,take him.

2.0
3.0
ENG
Jan 8, 2006

Dr. Beard seemed like a good teacher at first, and was very nice. I have always done very well in English up until this class and that is solely because he teaches history or, as one other commentor said, political science. Every paper you write and your final will either be about history or current events. Basically, he doesn't teach any Englis

4.0
3.0
WORLDLITI
Feb 1, 2006

Dr. Beard was a very knowledgeble person. I really enjoyed class and found him very helpful on papers.

5.0
4.0
ENGLCOMP2
Apr 18, 2006

He is a very nice man and is very willing to help his students. It is true that this class is pretty much a political science class but it really isn't that bad. He gives a pretty big load of work but it is managable. He grades fairly. Class is expensive because you need to buy a lot of books.

4.0
2.0
COMPII
Apr 27, 2006

Do not take this class if you dont want to learn about politics. Its more history then english and he makes you read articals you dont understand and then quizes you on the history behind them. Seems to be a fair grader on papers, but getting through each class is a drag.

5.0
1.0
ENGL2210
May 9, 2006

We only had two papers and a few "pop" quizes and a final. He's not a hard grader. Basically, read what you're supposed to and you will be fine!

4.0
3.0
COMPII
May 12, 2006

He was an ok teacher. This class was more history than english. I ended up with a good grade in the class, but was very boring and hated going to class. Good grader on papers though.

1.0
5.0
ENG1120
Jul 22, 2006

this is the worst teacher I have ever had. I was an English major untill I took his class. He is mean and mocks people. He is a hard grader and ridiculously boring. I went to his office several times for help and received just about nothing. I would not take this class. BEWARE

4.0
3.0
COMP2
Aug 15, 2006

just about everything on here is correct, easy grader but class is so dull

5.0
1.0
ENGL1100
Nov 11, 2006

Dr. Beard is a very nice man. All you have to do is get on his good side and pretend like your paying attention. Keep your phones out of sight and make sure you add to class discussions! There is never a wrong answer in his class so don't be shy. All together this is a very easy and somewhat enjoyable class and you do get a lot out of it.

5.0
2.0
COMP1
Jan 8, 2007

He is easy and somewhat funny. He laughs at his own jokes, but keeps your attention. Not hard to get an A in his class. Grades pretty harshly on papers, but his in-class test are so easy I never made less than a 100 on them. I ended with a B because of the final.

1.0
5.0
ENGL2210
May 4, 2007

No Comments

4.0
3.0
ENGL1120
May 7, 2007

You've got to enjoy discussion on current events and a number of random history topics to enjoy his class. Papers were not too bad, though his grading comments were on the vague side, and the final was ridiculous. Very nice guy, loves to laugh at his own jokes!

2.0
4.0
ENGL2200
May 9, 2007

No Comments

4.0
2.0
ENGL1100
Sep 5, 2007

Pretty good. Tells you basically what he wants.

4.0
3.0
ENGL1100
Dec 6, 2007

Beard tries to keep class interesting, and is usually somewhat successful. In contrast to another rating of him I had never before recieved an A on a paper, but recieved a couple in his class. It really helps to ask him specific questions about your paper once you complete your rough draft.

3.0
4.0
ENGL2200
Dec 9, 2007

Dr. Beard is a really sweet guy-extremely quorky. joke around with him and seem interested and he'll love you forever. His class discussion is painfully boring and you'll want to skip class everyday. but if he likes you he'll take care of you throughout the whole semester--email him alot to show that you care

4.0
3.0
ENGL2200
Dec 12, 2007

Beard is a nice guy. The material is SO painfully boring but its not his fault. Hes not THAT hard and getting a B doesnt take too much effort. He's a funny man and cracks jokes so just laugh at them and he'll like you. He's not out to get you and is always willing to help. Just be prepared to read the worst books ever.

5.0
3.0
ENGL1100
Jan 7, 2008

Dr. Beard is da bomb.

5.0
3.0
COMP1100
Jan 22, 2008

This is a good guy. I really enjoyed writing in his class because he chose very good topics. We wrote movie and music reviews. I would recommend taking him.

5.0
4.0
ENG110
Feb 24, 2008

I had Professor Beard in Fall '06. Others in my class were bored by him, but I personally thought his quirky jokes were endearing. He's a cool guy and gives awesome assignments, although the final was a bit ridiculous. I had to memorize Afghanistan's history since 1970 and then write a full-length essay about it, in class, no notes allowed.

5.0
2.0
ENGL2200
May 3, 2008

Pretty cool guy, real into whatever he teaches about, enjoys engaging in discussions of the works with the students. Formula for success = Read + Go to class + Participate.

3.0
5.0
ENGL2020
Dec 14, 2008

If you have him get out while you can. He makes you buy 10 more books than any other class has too. The final is a pain to study for. He's really nice and his jokes are not funny, but laugh at them and hopefully we will like you.

5.0
4.0
ENGL2200
Dec 17, 2008

Very good teacher, class can become extremely boring. He grades relatively easy but the final is incredibly difficult. He requires a ton of book purchases. Read all of it and be prepared for pop quizzes. Overall he is a great guy and a great teacher but not my favorite class ever.

4.0
3.0
ENGL1100
Jan 5, 2009

Dr. Beard tried really hard to be funny and entertaining which I applaud him for, but the information itself is quite boring. The whole semester all we did was write paper after paper (he is a pretty hard grader) and the final was absolutely ridiculous...He gave us three historic topics to research and memorize, then write a 5 page essay on exam da

3.0
3.0
ENGL1100
Oct 16, 2009

god, i dreaded going to class EVERYDAY. the papers we wrote were completely ridiculous. we wrote bout donkey kong, a music review, and a film review. i didnt learn a thing. just that donkey kong was cool back in the '80s. him and his GTA contradicted each other all the time. it was terrible.

3.0
5.0
ENGL1100
Dec 6, 2009

The amount of work for this class as just english comp is ridiculous. The essays are on ridiculous subjects and his grading is extremely hard. He never makes any sense whatsoever and no matter how closely you follow the paper guidelines or his guidelines after a conference you will still get mediocre grades. Get out now.

5.0
4.0
ENGL2200
Dec 7, 2009

Beard is so sweet! The class is boring (its world lit, cant have expectations too high) but he tries to make it entertaining through jokes and lets you go outside if its pretty out. There is alot of work involved and it is not an easy class but he does what he can to help you and tries to do what he can to help you.

4.0
4.0
ENGL1100
Dec 26, 2009

Nice guy and willing to help.Go to him for help/participate in class!Don't distract him or your grade will be damaged.Final isn't that bad. Talk to him a/b all papers several times and you will atleast get an A/B on them!

3.0
5.0
ENGL2200
Jan 10, 2010

I would not recommend this guy unless your a total book worm and enjoy reading ridiculously boring junk. Its not hard to make a B if you try, but it was very hard to make an A. Most of your grade comes from 2 essays that he grades very tough (mostly grammar) and the final was a mofo. He is funny, and his class isnt bad, but dont expect an A.

4.0
4.0
ENGL1100
May 7, 2010

Kinda an odd dude decent teacher. The papers are fairly interesting, he can grade hard so meet with him several times to make sure your paper is looking good. He gives grammar quizzes which are easy if you study and can boost your grade. Kinda hard for a comp one class but a decent teacher

3.0
4.0
ENGL1120
Jun 22, 2010

Hard class especially if you aren't an English major! He is not a bad person- very corny and laughs at his lame jokes- but isnt a good teacher. Grade depends on your papers and the final which is an in class essay. go to his office hours to have him look at your paper but most of the time it doesn't work! IF YOU GET HIM LOOK FOR SOMEONE BETTER!!

3.0
5.0
WARLIT
Jun 23, 2010

Waaayy too much reading. Thankfully I only had his class during the first summer mini-term. Doesn't really do a lot of talking himself.. let's other students do it then gets off on some other topic. Nice guy but hard class.

1.0
5.0
ENGL1020
Mar 29, 2011

He is terrible. So hard. Dont take! So rude and inconsiderate! I hated him so much.

1.0
5.0
ENGL1120
Mar 29, 2011

Hard Hard Hard. Don't take if you can help it. i dont think he could make an A on his own paper if he graded it. He rips your papers to shreds and doesn't give concrete information why. If it isn't the exact style he likes, good luck making a C. I will never say a good word about this guy

2.0
4.0
ENGL2260
Apr 20, 2011

DR BEARD IS A REALLY NICE GUY. HIS LECTURES MIGHT BE THE MOST BORING THING EVER THOUGH. HE TALKS AND TALKS AND TALKS AND TALKS. HIS READING ASSIGNMENTS ARE PRETTY RIDICULOUS, BUT YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH NOT DOING SOME OF THEM... GET READY TO WORK HARD ON PAPERS AND FINALS THOUGH, BECAUSE HE IS A STICKLER ON EVERYTHING. I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND HIM...

3.0
5.0
ENGL2260
May 5, 2011

Dr. Beard is not a bad guy at all, but he is SO boring. Like...it is painful. Requires an insane amount of reading and grades papers very hard. The final was absolutely ridiculous. I would NOT recommend taking him...he is just SO UNBELIEVABLY BORING

3.0
4.0
ENGL2200
Jun 14, 2011

Boringggg. Thinks hes funny. Talks way too much. Assumes the whole class is English majors

5.0
2.0
ENGL2260
Nov 28, 2011

If he likes your class, he gets really into the material. I know he made several comments to our class about his other class and how he didn't enjoy teaching that class because they didn't talk to him during lectures. Talk to him and you're golden. His class was pretty alright for me but English has always been easy for me but it's not my major.

3.0
5.0
ENGL001
Dec 8, 2011

He is ridiculously hard!!! He gives extremely hard and complex essay topics and then rips them to shreds when he grades. His mid-term and final are just as hard and do not seem to be graded any easier due to the fact the you are writing almost impromptu. I would not recommend him and even plan on writing a letter to the English dept complaining.

2.0
5.0
ENGL2260
Dec 8, 2011

DO NOT TAKE DR. BEARD! If you are not an English major, do NOT take him. He is destroying me 3.9 GPA. This is one of the hardest courses I have ever taken. He treats his 2000-level American Lit class as if it was a Sr. level ENGL course. He expects WAY too much form his students, who are mostly non-English majors who do not care about the class.

2.0
4.0
ENGL2260
Dec 9, 2011

Dr. Beard's a nice man, but his essay topics and prompts are complex and require a high amount of analytical commentary. He is nitpicky and he expects a much deeper thinking than what should be expected from a sophomore-level class.

3.0
4.0
ENGL2260
Dec 12, 2011

Dr. Beard required a ton of reading. The reading that he assigns is either boring or complex. We never read anything that I was interested in. The quizzes on the reading material were graded pretty fairly, but he never got the grades back to us in a timely fashion. 50% of our grade was also determined in the last week, which is not okay to me.

5.0
4.0
ENGL2260
May 1, 2012

He's a little strange, but he is so helpful. He really wants you to do well. He's very approachable and going to his office hours is super helpful because he will basically tell you straight out what you need to know. He's really awesome. I missed my final because I wrote the date wrong and he let me make it up with no penalty! TAKE HIM!

5.0
2.0
ENGL2260
May 6, 2012

Dr Beard is a strange guy, but he is also a very nice guy, very approachable, and very helpful. Study guides are exactly what is on the test. Very easy to make a B in the class and he makes that clear. All you have to do is put forth a little effort and pay attention and you'll do fine. I would suggest taking him!

1.0
5.0
ENGL2260
Dec 4, 2012

DO NOT TAKE HIM. He expects an absurd amount of work for a 2000 level class. As much as I tried I could never comprehend a thing, not to mention being exceptionally busy with my upper level Business courses. Unless you are an English major, do not take him.

4.0
4.0
ENGL1300
Dec 7, 2012

SUPER nice guy. A little quirky and loves literature. He is a really nice guy but he does grade relatively hard. If you're not a Lit buff then his class is hard. I didn't like literature but tried relatively hard and got an A. He is so nice and will be willing to help you out.

2.0
3.0
ENGL1100
Dec 18, 2012

He was pretty cool at the beginning of the year but at the end of the semester he started loosing it. Grades pretty harshly for a Comp 1 class. 4 papers (4-5 pages each) and a few quizzes. Take another teacher if possible.

3.0
3.0
ENGL1120
Apr 30, 2013

He takes this class way to seriously. He grades pretty easily, but the final was stupid. We were supposed to make reference to 3 sources in our final and not allowed to bring any extra materials with us. He expects you to know a lot and you have 4 quizzes that aren't very easy. I got a 64 on one of them. I definitely recommend another teacher.

2.0
5.0
ENGL2260
Dec 13, 2013

DO NOT TAKE. HE IS EXTREMELY HARD AND HIS LECTURES ARE SUPER SUPER SUPER BORING. HE THINKS EVERYONE WANTS TO GET THEIR PHD IN LITERATURE!! WORST CLASS EVER.

2.0
5.0
ENGLLIT
Dec 14, 2013

Do not take him! He expects you to want to learn American lit. He is super boring just talking all the time and not showing us anything interesting. He doesn't make you want to learn or engage in the discussion. Everyone was freaking out by the time the final came.

5.0
3.0
ENGL2260
Grade: A
Dec 31, 2013

Dr. Beard requires a LOT of reading, but as long as you go to class and do most of the reading, you'll survive. He's very into big themes, hidden meanings, and cultural relevancy. He wants to hear what you have to say. He was super open to helping, but as the end of the semester approached, he wouldn't respond to my emails and wasn't in the office.

5.0
5.0
ENGL2260
Grade: A
Apr 21, 2014

The amount of reading he expected us to accomplish in the time frames given were ludicrous; it has made me despise literature. He takes forever to return graded material. Dr. Beard is very enthusiastic, but he does a very poor job of teaching the course, in that he inundates his students with excessive work loads and thereby shuts off their minds.

1.0
4.0
ENGL2260
Grade: Not_Sure_Yet
Apr 21, 2014

DO NOT TAKE DR. BEARD! HE MADE THE COURSE MATERIAL WAY MORE COMPLICATED THAN NECESSARY. THE COURSE REQUIRED ABOUT 5 BOOKS HOWEVER, WE ONLY USED ONE. SO THAT WAS A BIG WASTE OF MONEY. AND LASTLY HE WAS EXTREMELYYY RUDE TO ME. HE MADE RUDE COMMENTS ON MY PAPERS AND HE NEVER RESPONDED TO MY EMAILS. THE MOST UNPROFESSIONAL TEACHER I'VE HAD. EVER!

2.0
4.0
ENGL2260
Apr 24, 2014

This is the most difficult core class I have ever taken. He assigns 2-4 hours of reading every night, with a full course load, this class will take up ALL of your time. There are pop quizzes with questions comparable to a 3000-4000 level literature class test. Rubrics are unclear and impossible to understand unless you were Beard. DONT TAKE!

4.0
4.0
2260009
May 1, 2014

Be prepared to read every single night frustrated at the amount of work he assigns. Extremely hard final!

2.0
4.0
2250
Grade: A
Jan 2, 2015

His class is honestly the most difficult core literature class you can take at Auburn. If you do all of the reading, expect to spend 2-4 hours per night. His tests and papers are rather difficult. They are definitely the sort of thing you would expect to see in more of an upper level English course than a core credit.

3.0
5.0
ENGL2260
Mar 5, 2015

I have never taken a class that requires this much effort. This is a core literature class that requires you to read legitimately 2+ hours every single night. He has two papers which require a disturbing amount of writing. He is an incredibly tough grader as well. He also expects very high level analysis of everything you read. Avoid if possible.

1.0
5.0
ENGL1120
May 4, 2015

If you have any chance to take another professor. Take them. For a core credit class he took it way too seriously. His grading is somewhat fair, although his feedback is confusing. The final is ridiculous. He requires three source references and absolutely no notes. This should be a last choice, if that, professor.

5.0
3.0
2260
Grade: A+
Sep 25, 2015

This was one of my favorite classes I've taken. If you show him that you care through in-class participation and actually reading the texts, he will show you the same respect. The papers were very clear and he gives you a list of possible essay questions for the midterm and final and 2 or 3 are randomly chosen. I'd take him again in a heartbeat!

3.0
4.0
ENGL2260
Grade: A
Nov 19, 2015

Beard is interesting. There are no tests in this class- just 10 quizzes, a midterm and 2 papers. He is a tough grader and his lectures are kinda all over the place. Don't skip because he will not like you very much. Although I once I missed class without an excuse and he let me re-take a quiz. If I wasn't an English major, I would be failing.

2.0
5.0
ENG2250
Grade: B
Apr 4, 2016

Expect 2 hours of reading every night. The readings are very boring and hard to read. Take another teacher if you have the chance. Very difficult class

3.0
4.0
ENGL2250
Grade: A-
Apr 11, 2016

Do not, under any circumstances, take this class. Each reading requires at least 2 hours and the assignments are ridiculous. He gives 10 quizzes randomly throughout the semester, so you have to read to actually pass them. I never really know what he's talking about in class bc he jumps all over the place. Also, the readings are the worst. Beware.

1.0
4.0
ENG1120
Nov 9, 2016
Wouldn't take again

Way too hard for a Comp 2 class. Takes his class too serious by treating it like all of his students are English majors. Take ANY other teacher

Tough Grader
SO MANY PAPERS
2.0
4.0
ENG1120
Dec 14, 2016
Wouldn't take again

Take another professor if you can. Gives the same grade on every single paper and takes over a month to grade. Feedback is very vague and he never replies to your emails.

SO MANY PAPERS
3.0
5.0
ENGL2250
Grade: B+
Jan 5, 2017
Wouldn't take again

You have to read 50 page passages every single night because he discusses them the next class. If you don't show up for one pop quiz then your grade can drop almost 4 points. Very boring. My genius friend who is in the honors college took the class and made a B because of the super hard cumulative final. Other teachers might be easier.

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
BEWARE OF POP QUIZZES
2.0
1.0
ENG1120
Grade: B
Jan 12, 2017
Would take again

The lectures are so boring and he makes the class so pointless to go to. There are 4 papers and they aren't hard at all, he is a fair grader. The final is hard; he gives a topic and you have to research it and come up with 3 sources and then write a 1500 paper without any notes. I made a B in the class with average effort.

LOTS OF HOMEWORK
BEWARE OF POP QUIZZES
SO MANY PAPERS
1.0
5.0
ENGL2260
Feb 18, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Unengaging, unorganized, and awful. Top 3 words that describe this class. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. He is boring, you have to read 50 pages a night because you're going to have a pop quiz the next class, and good luck trying to stay awake. Dr. Beard almost makes me disappointed in Auburn. Good thing my other professors are amazing. Makes up for this.

Get ready to read
BEWARE OF POP QUIZZES
Skip class? You won't pass.
4.0
5.0
ENGL1120
Grade: A
Feb 27, 2017
Would take again

He's a really cool dude. Unfortunately though, he's not a cakewalk. If you want that A, you'll have to work (often) in Beard's class. Good Luck!

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
Hilarious
1.0
4.0
ENGL2260
Apr 13, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Would not recommend taking this class. You can tell he loves what he does but just doesn't quite know how to teach it. Very tough grader gives confusing feedback and makes this class miserable to sit through. He is very hard to pay attention to and if there is another teacher teaching this course I would highly recommend taking that teacher.

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
BEWARE OF POP QUIZZES
2.0
4.0
ENGL1120
Grade: B+
Apr 25, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Going to class always just seems pointless. Pretty bad class organization. Takes 3 lifetimes to grade and doesn't really know what he is trying to have you learn in the class. Massive waste of time for a class I got nothing out of. I don't mind making me work for a good grade but the work seems so pointless.

Get ready to read
LOTS OF HOMEWORK
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
1.0
4.0
ENGL2260
Grade: C
Apr 26, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Takes forever to get grades back, is not quick to reply to emails and is downright just a rude person. I would do anything to avoid this professor.

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
BEWARE OF POP QUIZZES
3.0
4.0
ENGL2260
Grade: A-
Apr 26, 2017
Would take again

A good professor, but doesn't give very good feedback on papers or tests. He has a specific idea of what he wants, and if you don't it that then he will take off points arbitrarily. The reading is not too bad; he posts the work on Canvas and tells you exactly what to read for the class the next day. You have to work for it, but an A is attainable

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
BEWARE OF POP QUIZZES
1.0
4.0
ENG2260
Grade: B-
May 1, 2017
Wouldn't take again

The main problem with Beard is that he gives no direction. Classes are discussion based. Read every day, there's at least 9 pop quizzes. Write notes every day, he collects them at least 3 times. Finally make sure you have specific examples in your writing. He expects you to memorize quotes for the tests, but no one can. His expectations are high.

Get ready to read
Skip class? You won't pass.
LECTURE HEAVY
1.0
4.0
ENGL1120
Grade: B-
May 4, 2017
Wouldn't take again

By far the worst teacher I have ever had. Barely responds to e-mail, and when he does, it's rude and snarky. Did not grade my papers until close to the end of the semester, so I had a 0.75% in the class until last week, and now I have a B. Not a good lecturer and gives ambiguous instructions. I wouldn't wish this professor on my worst enemy.

1.0
5.0
ENGL2260
Grade: B+
Nov 3, 2017
Wouldn't take again

BEWARE.. BEWARE!!! DO NOT TAKE ! SERIOUSLY. HE ENJOYS HUMILIATING HIS STUDENTS.

Get ready to read
Skip class? You won't pass.
BEWARE OF POP QUIZZES
1.0
5.0
ENGL2260
Grade: B-
Nov 10, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Ok. So he assigns a "short" story every night or up to 3. So you have like 100 pages to read and you better do it since he loves POP quizzes. He tends to arrive late to class and makes you stay late. There are 10 quizzes, midterm, and final. Don't take this class

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
BEWARE OF POP QUIZZES
3.0
5.0
ENGL2200
Grade: C
Dec 5, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Not a bad teacher, but the class is tough. Tons and tons of reading and at least 1 quiz a week, often unannounced. You don't have to actually read the books/short stories to do well on the quizzes, but you should definitely read a detailed summary because doing poorly on the quizzes can kill your grade. Midterm is easy if you prepare well.

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
BEWARE OF POP QUIZZES
3.0
5.0
ENGL2260
Grade: B
Dec 12, 2017
Wouldn't take again

very hard class

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
TEST HEAVY
3.0
3.0
ENGL2260
Grade: B
Jan 5, 2018
Wouldn't take again

It is definitely a good idea to take notes while he is giving a lecture. There is a pop quiz at least once a week he assigns many many readings.

BEWARE OF POP QUIZZES
LECTURE HEAVY
1.0
5.0
ENGL2217
Grade: A
Apr 24, 2018
Wouldn't take again

I seriously cannot stress how much reading is required. It is ungodly. We are talking novels per night folks. This man is definitely not a bad guy, just expects way too much from students.

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
BEWARE OF POP QUIZZES
1.0
4.0
ENGL2260
Grade: B-
Oct 2, 2018
Wouldn't take again

What a horrible professor. On top of being rude and disrespectful towards the class as a whole, he assigns a ridiculous amount of reading. I LOVE literature. I received credit for two years of English at Auburn through AP testing. Unfortunately, Dr. Beard ruined any enjoyment I might have had. Do not take this class.

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
LOTS OF HOMEWORK
2.0
5.0
ENG2260
Oct 3, 2018
Wouldn't take again

Dr. Beard is the hardest teacher that I have ever had! He is very rude to the class as a whole!

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
BEWARE OF POP QUIZZES
1.0
4.0
ENG1120
Grade: B-
Oct 31, 2018
Wouldn't take again

Class is always incredibly disorganized and it feels pointless to go. Assignments are unrelated to each other and he has zero direction during class, like he showed up without knowing what he's going to talk about. He takes forever to return grades on papers, and often never even grades class work he claims is mandatory. Avoid if possible.

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
SO MANY PAPERS
3.0
4.0
ENGL1120
Grade: B
Dec 18, 2018
Wouldn't take again

Professor Beard is a teacher that will make you work for your grade. Getting an A will take determination and hard work, while getting a B will take showing up to class and paying attention. Be ready to write and work for a good grade on papers. He does not give out A's you must work for it.

Tough Grader
Gives good feedback
Get ready to read
2.0
4.0
ENG1120
Grade: A
Jan 8, 2019
Wouldn't take again

Dr. Beard was a decent teacher at best that was fairly flexible toward his students and his behavior. He was not very organized and graded everything at the very end of the semester. However, he was easy to talk to about your paper and did provide some feedback. I would not take him again though just because of the lack of structure in the class.

Tough Grader
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
1.0
4.0
ENGL2020
Grade: B+
Jan 11, 2019
Wouldn't take again

Boring lectures, disorganized, heavy reading

Tough Grader
2.0
4.0
ENGL2260
Grade: B+
Mar 5, 2019
Wouldn't take again

Dr. Beard is a smart man, but he expects everyone else to be on the same level of understanding as him. He treats it like we all have a PhD too. First B I have ever made an English/Literature course. Lots of reading, pop quizzes over readings, midterm and final were all essays, short answer, and defining. He does NOT give out A's willy nilly.

Get ready to read
Beware of pop quizzes
Tough grader
2.0
4.0
ENGL2260
Grade: B
May 6, 2019
Wouldn't take again

This class has random pop quizzes in class on nightly readings that take as long as 2 hours every night. The authors he chose were extremely boring, and included lots of poetry. Our final essay and final exam were within three days of each other at the end of the semester. I cannot say that I learned much in this class. Very unorganized.

Get ready to read
Test heavy
Beware of pop quizzes
1.0
5.0
ENGL2210
Aug 1, 2019
Wouldn't take again

Worst professor I have ever had at my time in Auburn. Took him over a study abroad and he gave the class so much readings to the point I had no time to enjoy being abroad. Quizzes everyday and two papers where on is due AFTER the course was finished. Does not like to reason at all and nor listen to concerns. This class makes me never want to write

Graded by few things
So many papers
Tough grader
1.0
4.0
ENG1120
Grade: B+
Dec 5, 2019
Wouldn't take again

Hear me out. This class should not be as difficult as it was. He grades ridiculously and when asked for feed back, he gives nonsense/pretty much tries to make you feel dumb for what you have said in your papers. His assignments make absolutely no sense. Professor barely responds to emails and when he does, he is rude and snarky.

Lecture heavy
So many papers
Tough grader
4.0
1.0
ENG1120
Grade: A
Jan 13, 2020
Would take again

Beard tells you whats up and what he expects on each rubric for his papers. Class is mostly papers and an occasional quiz that you dont have to study for if you know your english grammar and sentence structure. He's such a sweet soul. Participate and it will carry you far when it comes to grading time. Hes very very film centric

Participation matters
Clear grading criteria
4.0
3.0
ENGL1120
Grade: A
Apr 10, 2020
Would take again

Professor Beard is a nice guy who wants everyone in his class to do well. Despite the other reviews, I had no issues getting valuable feedback on my papers from Beard. He holds an optional class on the days that a paper is due, and if you show up to those and have him read your paper he will correct the mistakes before it's due. An A if you try.

Gives good feedback
Caring
3.0
4.0
ENGL2217
Grade: B
Apr 19, 2020
Wouldn't take again

He's super passionate, but he is extremely specific with his grading and what he wants from his students. If you don't like sci-fi, do not take this class! Out of the approx. 20 books we read, 15 were sci-fi. So if that's not your thing, you'll hate this class. He also has pop quizzes a lot so you have to go to class and be prepared.

Get ready to read
Participation matters
Beware of pop quizzes
5.0
4.0
ENGL2217
May 1, 2020
Would take again

Dr. Beard is a really great professor and super considerate towards his students. Lots of people have complained about the reading but it honestly isnt that bad and most things we read you could look up the plot if you were in a pinch. He gives lots of quizzes but theyre not difficult if you do the reading. Hes super understanding and helpful!

Gives good feedback
Caring
Respected
4.0
3.0
ENGL1100
Grade: B+
May 1, 2020
Would take again

Dr. Beard is a character. You either love him or hate him. Teacher aside this isn't a difficult class (coming from someone who's weakest subject is english) and I am taking him again in the fall. He is a cool guy, if you participate in class and put in effort, this is a piece of cake.

Accessible outside class
Participation matters
Inspirational
3.0
4.0
ENGL2217
Grade: A
Jul 21, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Gave out a lot of reading but shmoop helps. Some books dont have a gradesaver or shmoop description towards the end. Quizzes aren't graded too hard. Tests are all writing but he tells you exactly what hes looking for. The final's average was a C+, both papers averages were higher.

Get ready to read
Clear grading criteria
Beware of pop quizzes
2.0
4.0
ENGL2217
Grade: B-
Apr 16, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Unless you like reading 4 hours of sci-fi a day, don't take this class. He focuses on analysis way more than the plot. Final is impossible unless you read every page of every book. Easily my hardest class of the semester even though it's a gen-ed. Class is very boring- you just talk about the book you read. Pop quizzes usually once a week.

Lots of homework
Get ready to read
Beware of pop quizzes
3.0
5.0
ENGL2210
Grade: B
Apr 26, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Last 2 weeks of the semester is worth 50% of your grade (final paper 25% and final exam 25%). Takes a WHILE to grade quizzes

Lots of homework
Get ready to read
Beware of pop quizzes
2.0
4.0
ENGL2217
Grade: B+
Apr 27, 2021
Wouldn't take again

A very nice teacher but gives TONS of homework. Be prepared to read at least 40 pages a night. It is very overwhelming.

Get ready to read
Beware of pop quizzes
So many papers
1.0
5.0
ENG1120
Grade: C+
May 3, 2021
Wouldn't take again

He was not really helpful at all. Gave too much assignments. Graded every assignment too the max as if we should be top tier english majors. Be aware of long boring quizzes and papers. Papers never made any sense even if you put all your hard work into it, he will find a way to deduct a lot of points off your assignment. Most frustrating class ever

Skip class? You won't pass.
Beware of pop quizzes
Tough grader
1.0
5.0
ENG1120
Grade: C
May 3, 2021
Wouldn't take again

If you can avoid this teacher, please do so. He does not care about your grade. He finds ways to make you feel like you did everything wrong. He deducts a lot of points due to his ego. This class was a waste of time. He makes english 2 harder than what it should be. Class was not fun at all as well. Very nit-picky teacher. Lots of work/quizzes too.

Test heavy
Beware of pop quizzes
Tough grader
2.0
4.0
ENGL2217
Grade: A
May 4, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Dr. Beard is a cool dude, but this class was extremely time consuming for a gen-ed. I enjoyed the reading, but there is a lot of it. There are pop-quiz writing assignments that aren't graded too harshly, but it's hard to get an A on them. It was annoying that there was a final exam and a final essay; it made it hard to balance other classes.

Lots of homework
Get ready to read
Beware of pop quizzes
4.0
3.0
ENGL2210
Aug 10, 2021
Would take again

This was my third time looking for a good Lit teacher and loved Dr. Beard. His book selections were great and entertaining. This is a lit class so you got to read them and there is class discussion about the books and he can tell who reads and who doesn't.

Gives good feedback
Get ready to read
Participation matters
1.0
3.0
ENGL2210
Grade: A+
Oct 15, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Because of Covid he switched his pop quizzes to writing assignments but in order to get an A on them you basically have to write 5 page essays. Oh and the best part is that he doesn't tell you when these quizzes are and doesn't open them until 2pm but makes them due at 10pm completely ruining any thursday night plans if you had any. DON'T TAKE HIM!

4.0
4.0
ENGL1120
Grade: A
Oct 18, 2021
Would take again

I really liked Dr. Beard. He definitely is willing to work with you, if you work for it first. The class I took had only 4 papers and each was built upon each other. Most of the work for the paper was done in class, so participation and going to class is HIGHLY recommended. It can be a challenging class if you're not a strong writer so beware.

Get ready to read
Skip class? You won't pass.
Lecture heavy
2.0
4.0
ENGL1120
Grade: C+
Dec 14, 2021
Wouldn't take again

This man is just annoying tbh. 4 major papers, not clear feedback. First one I did morning of at 6am and made an 87. Second one I went to writing center and tried, made a 77. HE GRADES ALL ASSIGNMENTS AT END OF SEMESTER. Screws your grade up and so you don't know what assignments are for a grade and not.

Participation matters
Beware of pop quizzes
Tough grader
2.0
4.0
ENG1120
Grade: B+
Dec 17, 2021
Wouldn't take again

His lectures are very repetitive, and you really do not learn much. The essays are also a bit of a hassle because we are not given enough direction. It was boring and disappointing.

Lecture heavy
Tough grader
1.0
4.0
ENGL1120
Grade: B+
Jan 24, 2022
Wouldn't take again

This class was torture. Do whatever means necessary to avoid it. For the final exam, you're given three sources and have to find two of your own to write a 1,100 word essay on. The kicker is you're not allowed notes or sources of any kind while taking the exam. So you better be good at memorization.

Lots of homework
Graded by few things
Tough grader
3.0
4.0
ENGL2217
Grade: B+
Apr 26, 2022

Professor Beard is hard to reach on email and you have to do a reading before every class in case there is a pop quiz, which are basically the only grades. He is not a tough grader, but it is a lot of work for a literature class. Take someone else if you want an easy class.

Clear grading criteria
Lots of homework
Beware of pop quizzes
2.0
4.0
WORLDLITI
Grade: A-
Apr 26, 2022

There are readings for homework every night and the possibility of a pop quiz everyday, and the questions can only be answered if you did extremely thorough reading. His grading is sporadic and he does not answer emails. Not the worst teacher I have had but can be very frustrating and annoying.

Tough grader
Beware of pop quizzes
1.0
4.0
ENGL2217
Grade: Drop/Withdrawal
May 5, 2022

Dr. Beard made me hate literature and poetry. This course was supposed to be Honors World Literature, but he decided on a whim to make it Survey of Modern Poetry. His readings were extensive and boring, he gave difficult quizzes and his lectures were dense and hard to follow. I dropped this class. Save yourself the trouble.

Lots of homework
Beware of pop quizzes
Lecture heavy
1.0
5.0
ENGL2217
Grade: C+
May 9, 2022

50% of the grade is decided in the last week of the class by weight. It is almost impossible for one to balance the workload of this and the entirety of the course. This is a gen-ed and has almost nothing to do with my major and it will now negatively impact my gpa. This teacher made me feel like a terrible student. I wish we never crossed paths

Tough grader
Lots of homework
Beware of pop quizzes
1.0
5.0
ENGL2217
Grade: Rather not say
Jun 13, 2022

I took Honors World Literature after 1600, semesters ago. Lots of class discussion. Readings are sci-fi and unconventional, may be more interesting than a typical English class. However, for the amount of work you put in, you won't get back out the grade you want. Most grades at the end of the semester, and final is heavily essay-question based.

Tough grader
Beware of pop quizzes
Graded by few things
2.0
4.0
ENGL2217
Grade: A+
Sep 19, 2022

Tough, but not the worst I've taken. Lots of reading, fear of pop quizes.

Get ready to read
Lots of homework
Beware of pop quizzes
Class Info

Online Classes

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25%

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95% confidence
Based on 50 grades
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Grade Distribution
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Based on 53 reported grades
A: 12
B+: 11
B: 8
B-: 6
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