2.1
Quality4.3
DifficultyN/A
Would Retake113
ReviewsN/A
Would Retake
113
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
16
4
10
3
10
2
24
1
53
What Students Say
“This was the WORST class I have ever taken”
ENG262 - 1.0 rating“She is definitly a great teacher”
ENG323 - 4.0 ratingClass Info
Textbook Required
100%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.51 avg changeRatings by Course
A
5.0
(1)BIS470
5.0
(1)ENGLISH262
5.0
(2)ENG321
4.5
(2)ENG327
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
201
5.0
234
5.0
SCIFI
5.0
ENG323H
5.0
ENGSECT
5.0
Reviews (113)
She grades hard. Don't take her
Oh good God, where to begin... she won't give decent grades to decent papers
Very harsh grader. Eccentric personality.
Horrible
ahhhhhhh! run! hide! She is mental and gives E's out like they are nothin
No Comments
Obviously, you don't know how much work I put into it to get an E!
I definately agree that she is the worst at cmu
Does not explain anything, and expects you to know a lot more than you really do
I hated this class
She prides herself on the fact that the highest grade she gives out is a C!!
This woman is freaky, and she hates students
She was the worst prof I've ever had
I got a good grade in the class and I still think that she is a horrible teacher
the weirdest, oddest person I've ever met--avoid her at all costs
Hard grader. Don't take if you can help it
No Comments
Uniquely combines meanness with an inability to teach
This lady makes every other teacher at CMU look so much better!
Didn't learn anything...and hated seeing her at 8 in the AM
Sucked. She is the worst teacher I ever had. Take it credit no credit!
What, in the name of God, did CMU see in her when they hired her?
No Comments
Loved the class, had to work hard but learned a lot.
What the hell is wrong with her?!?!
This woman knows her stuff, she is very enlightening. She is a tough grader. If you don't know spelling or grammar, she isn't the teacher for you.
She hasn't said anyting in the class that won't be covered in another english class. A hard teacher is worth having if they make you learn, but she has nothing to teach. Be prepared to be talked to like an eighthgrader if you have her.
What the hell was that? - You after class
No Comments
Tough, tough, tough.
WOW! She is a walking piece of science fiction. I got a D on my final because my interpretation of the book was not what she wanted. I backed it up with evidence, but it wasn't what she thought was right. I tried to dispute, but I kept getting hosed.
Oh my...this lady is absolutely terrible. She doesn't respect anyone elses opinions unless they match hers. DO NOT EVER TAKE HER! Trust me on that one. If you must, take the class credit/no credit. You will thank me for that later.
The weirdest, oddest person I've ever met. Stay away from her. Everybody I had that class with agrees with me on this. When I bring up the name Ronnie Apter, people cringe and usually have a few stories from class that just make you shake your head.
Just flippin through and noticed she had above a 1.0 and decided that can't happen. She's the spawn of evil!
From first day of class, expects students to be fortunate if they get a B- or C+
Dr Apter clearly loves her job, always smiles, and gives excellent lectures. She may grade harshly, but the constructive criticism she gave me truly helped me become a better writer. I have to say honestly, that she ranks among my top 5 cmu professors.
Person below this comment is on crack...this chick is crazy! Eng. department said they cant do anything about her because of her tenure... oh yeah, about 6 of us complained about her with no help! Good luck taking her!
I can't believe how nuts this lady is! She actully tells you not to expect to get anything better than a C or B. I'm a junior and I have never got a B in an English class until hers. She seriously is not all there. She sings in the middle of class.CRAZY!
I did fine in her class. She's clear about her expectations for the course work. Sure, she's tough, but I learned something from her.
This teacher is a **** for a grader. consider yourself warned.
This professor needs to keep her head in books and out of the classroom. She demands students to provide publishable essays or they won't get an A. Seriously, they have to be publishable works. Anyone worried about their GPA should avoid her at all costs.
This lady is a complete nut case. She does not respect anything anyone says..you must agree with her, or else she will humiliate you in front of the entire class. She sings horrible opera, is not clear on what she expects from you, and is a HARD grader.
I thought this class was easy. I am a good writer so she liked me. I also, went out with here for a while.
SHE TRIES TO SING. She tries really hard, but she does care. To get a decent grade, you need to really ask lots of questions and GO TO CLASS. She is great about that.
A 300 level class should take a much more critical analysis of the work rather than intro to poetry level explication. Idea for class flawed. Asserts her ideas as correct but will allow for others if proper evidence is provided.
Okay, so admittedly she isn't a great singer. But she is very fair and kind. You do have to be a good writer to survive in this class however, so if you're not, forget it.
Easily the worst teacher I have ever had, from kindergarten through my fifth year of college. Completely unfair grader, and you realize at the end of the semester that you haven't learned a single thing. Take her and you have wasted your money.
ONE WORD: CRAZY!!!
she is crazy. i got a B in the class but i had to struggle really hard. i would advise you not to take a class that this nut teaches. just wait untill the first day you see her. then you'll know what i am talking about.
She's very sweet, I don't think it's fair to call her crazy.
nope, wrong... she's crazy fo sho
I loved English until I took this class. This class could be a great class with a different professor. Granted this was her first semester teaching the course, but why should the rest of the class suffer while she figures out how to teach it.
Two words .... Run Away
Easily, the craziest woman ever to be responsible for a classroom. I had to drop because I didn't learn a damn thing in there. DONT TAKE HER CLASS
She is seriously one of the worst teachers I have ever had!! She is absolutely psycho and crazy, and I totally recommend NEVER taking her if you can avoid her!!
One word for this woman - Weird!! Also is very hard grader that can't sing!
This woman definately knows her Shakespeare and loves it. Hard grader, but really, very fair - you have to have textual evidence to back up your opinion if you want a decent grade. Very challenging, but probably won't take her again.
She is an extremely hard grader....i hate this class. DO NOT EVER EVER VER TAKE THIS CLASS!!!
Professor Apter was a really great teacher, she knows her poetry, sure she is a hard grader but if you show her how much you are willing to work to understand the work she will treat you better. take poetry 321 with her, she take the class to kaya.
Dr.Apter has a way to make you understand and remember. She's a great teacher,but a very hard grader. Take the class if you want to learn alot, not if you need the grade. Make sure you learn how to speak your mind in class before you take one with her.
Dr. Apter is great! Sure, she's a little eccentric, but she's so passionate about the material that you'll find yourself actually learning. You have to work to get a good grade, but it's a very worthwhile class - minus her opera singing!
Apter is odd, which would be fine if I felt that I learned or grew mentally during her course. I love Shakespeare, but she nearly ruined it for me. I found nothing redeeming about her teaching style. She is vague, inconsistent, and dull (despite singing).
PARTICIPATE. Even if it is a really stupid answer, say it. She marks you down points by how much you participate. Also she is an unclear grader. I was sitting all semester with a B, until she gave me a d- on my final paper and there went my GPA.
Apter's rubrics 4 grading R unclear & she wont explain them. If U disagree w/ UR grade she will not respond to U. I am uncomfortable when she sings in class, & I am discusted w/ the amount of political opinions she gets away w/ saying. She is very liberal
Spends most of the time talking around and not about the important topics. Does not explain the nuances of her exam questions and is shocked when students fail to understand her obtuse statements. Exam questions have no relevancy to class discussion.
She is a horrible teacher! I learned nothing from her class and did not enjoy the opera singing or out right political opinion! She should not be teaching adn tells students the first day that "You will not get an A in my class!"
The worst prof ever!! Please do no take this class with her!!! She tells you the first day of class that she does not give out A and rarely B's. She does not clarify anything and her grading is very un-fair! I honestly think she may be a psycho! Not jokin
Although she expects her students to perform well on papers and quizzes, she also prepares students for later classes. English majors should take this class with her, if possible.
One of the worst professors that I have had in my 4 years of college. She is not clear on what she wants on the tests, papers, and quizes, then marks you down if you do not provide what she wants. Take this class if you want to lower your grade. Her grading system is rediculous. Bad, very bad.
She sings, dear God does she sing. It is a rough class to begin with, doesnt analyze the text at all. Disorganized. Do not take if you are a serious ENG major. And she sings, nonstop.
I could not do well in her class as a senior English major with a 3.7 average. On my first exam she wrote on my paper that I had absolutely no chance of getting anything above a D+ in her class even if I go a B on everything else. Do not take her class. Very unclear. Not helpful. Exam's are vague!!!
Horrible teacher. she gave me a D on a paper, not because of content, but because i had some spelling errors. it was an in class essay. it took me the entire time to write it, i didnt have time to proof read. your opinion on the essay does not matter. whatever you do, it will always be wrong.
Ronnie is a horrible teacher unless you are a total dork like she is. If you have to take her class, when you write papers only write what she says its about and not what you think because your opinion doesn't matter. SPELL CHECK and GRAMMAR CHECK your papers. DON'T TAKE HER CLASS!!!
Worst professor I've EVER had, and I even had a B+ in her class. She won't explain her grading, or the correct answers to quizzes. I don't know how she ever got tenure. She doesn't deserve it. For a UP course, she is extremely unfair. DO NOT take this class with her. Try Carol Riddle instead.
I actually thought that I would enjoy this class...I was wrong. She's tangential and rarely makes sense She sings in class and is sometimes seen as being quite insane. And who wants to take a prof who has so little faith in her students to say "you will not get and A in this class"? I don't
Great person; great professor.
You will never get an A with her. She will don something to completely ruin your grade. I had an A up until the last few weeks of class and then she sabotaged my grade with no time left to fix it. She is insane. If you can take the class with a diff professor do it!!!
This woman is insane. How and why she ever got tenured is beyond me. She is unclear in expectations, has you buy her own inane publications. If you are not an English major -DON"T take a class for UP with her - you will not suceed. Eng majors barely do.
Dr. Apter is a very hard teacher, but last time I knew it, we were in College. Sure she expects a lot of of her students but who blames her. She tells you exactly what she expects on day one. It is a great class with great material, and a professor who is serious about the class and the material.
Trust all sane opinions on this! She is nuts, the most horrible prof I have ever had...sorry to be so cruel, but I am just trying to be honest. Also for the other comment...I am an English major and sometimes we don't even succed in her class! Don't take this prof...save yourselves!!!
This class is hard, but it isn't that hard to get good grades if you do your work and be creative. Professor Apter is a bit eccentric, but who isn't?
Texts are interesting, but this woman is opinionated. Feels the need to insert her thoughts on religion and politics into discussions. While I agree with some of her ideas, they could (and should) just as well not be included. Very strict grader, hardcore MLA/grammar-thumper. Not recommended.
ronnie is super smart and a challenging prof. don't take her for a class unless you are actually interested and want to learn. she's one of the most unique and interesting teachers i've ever had.
One would think that being a college student results in having some rights. For example, the right to know exactly how one's writing will be graded. For the paper, if she likes the story, you will get an A. If she doesn't, she will give you a D, and not explain it. I got an A, but whatever. Not good
Dr. Apter is a fantastic professor. I learned a lot from this class AND I got an A. This is college, folks-working hard is expected. If you want really hard, take a science class. To do well, ask her for help when you need it-she's glad to. Pay attention to her usage tips and syllabus inclusions.
I found her to be a bit off balance, and she spent more time talking about arguments with her husband, and her own viewpoints on religion and politics than she really needed to.
Not a good teacher
No Comments
No Comments
just because a professor is hard doesn't mean that she's not good. so what if she's a little quirky? the people who don't like her are the ones who sit with their friends in the back of the class, talk the whole time, and didn't learn anything. or are just plain stupid. this chick i know was telling me horror stories about her before i took her class, and i found that if you do the work assigned (including reading) and discuss with her the problems that you have, everything will work out well in the end.
I'm sorry but Dr. Apter is one of the worst profs I have ever had and I have taken several English classes as well as countless others. She is un clear, un helpful, gives false accusations, and talks about her son most of the time and how intelligent he is. Also tells you she does not gives A's...Seriously DO NOT TAKE ANY CLASS WITH HER.
She is a great professor, if you get in over your head she is there to help pull you out. Just ask her for help because she is always willing to guide her students.
Apter is a very knowledgable teacher with a vast base of knowledge. Her only shortcoming is that she doesn't make it exactly clear what she is grading you on, and that can lead to a feeling of "Man, she's just making up my grade." All in all, if you bust your ass to make her happy, you will succeed and get a decent grade. You'll learn cool new info
As a junior with 70 credits I had a 4.0 GPA before I took this class. I got a B- but only because I worked extremely hard to get that grade. If you don't constantly talk about Shakespeare, she won't give you a good grade. MY class started with 35 students and we only had 12 left on exam day! If that doesn't tell you anything, I wish you luck!
This was the WORST class I have ever taken. You can't hear what she is saying in class because she mumbles and is quiet. She goes off on random tangents, makes you sit on a stupid discussion panel in the front of class (very uncomfortable) and the class is RIDICULOUS! I'm an eng major and she is the worst eng professor I've ever had! Avoid her!!!
Horrible. Don't take her if you don't have to. She's very unclear and her grading makes no sense. You spend most classes watching movies and then doing pointless assignments that she grades completely randomly.
I definitely love Shakespeare- and I really liked that she showed movies of the plays we read but when it came to assignments she was very unclear. I honestly believe I would have gotten a higher grade if her grading system was actually precise based on a rating scale and not based on personal opinions. She can be nice but I wouldn't take her again
This woman could be compared to the devil... nope I think the devil has a heart... STAY AWAY!! If you see that name drop the class and take it at a community college if you can!!
absolutely cant stand the woman. she decides who she likes and who she doesnt...if you arent liked then forget it.
Ronnie was amazing and I loved every second of her classes. I especially loved her usage of music, espeically opera, in her lectures! She truly loves and knows what she's talking about. I'm a better student for taking her classes.
Ronnie's odd but very, very smart and focused and, well, charming in her own way. I like her.
No Comments
She is definitly a great teacher. She really knows what she is talking about. But if you are not an English major, don't expect above a C on your exams, which are essays. She grades them like she expects you are at a 500 level who has only taken English classes for your entire college career. Fun class, but her grading ruined it for me.
This class is for English Majors. If you are not an English major, DON'T TAKE DR. APTER'S CLASS!! Her final exam will ruin your final grade. I took her and I got a C, which ruined my chances of making the Dean's List! I was so close but oh, I'm quite upset about this. If you are an English Major, go ahead. You'll be the only ones to do well.
Ronnie is an intersting person and a very knowledgable professor. She is genuinely intersted in teaching her students, but she lacks the ability to fully empathaize with her undergrads. Unless you think and speak in perfect written English and have a natural talent for understanding theme, it's very easy to find her grading more than a bit daunting
Ronnie is extremely interesting to have as a teacher, but is a grading Nazi. I am an English major with a 3.5 GPA, and she gave me a D on a paper which was half my grade. I had to withdraw
I don't understand what everyone on here is talking about, really... I barely ever went to class, wrote every assignment the night before it was due, and still got an A-. All these people complaining that she's a hard grader, you shouldn't be able to pass a 300 level ENG - or GRADUATE - class if you can't write a coherent essay. Wise up.
Had Ronnie for Masterpieces of European Lit. We read such long books (Dante's Divine Comedy, some plays and WAR AND PEACE!!!) Also she has discussions where you come up in front of the class and are supposed to wow her with your observations. You are graded on how good your observations are. How do you impress the lady who translated the play?
It's a standard literature class: whether or not you read the material, just attend class and hang onto everything she says. I heard students complain because they didn't agree with her interpretations, but those interpretations happen to be the easiest to justify in an essay. Personally, I enjoyed her teaching, and would highly recommend her.
She is the worst teacher ever! She does not listen to anything you have to say and she marks you wrong for your opinion. If you don't kiss her ass in class she will fail you
I wanted to die in her class. DO NOT DO NOT take this class ever! you will regret it
I did not like this teacher, I tried on numerous accounts to meet with her and discuss options but she had no time for me. I didn't like how she graded down opinions and how she overall didn't seem to care about a lot of things. Very hard to follow, and very 'out there'...
Apter hates hates HATES anyone else's opinion but her own. After the second week of class when I had a public debate with her about an interpretation, I'm fairly certain she decided she hated me. The only way to pass her class is to give her what she wants: spit back her opinion. Oh, and be prepared for her singing. She is...different.
Class Info
Textbook Required
100%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.51 avg changeRatings by Course
A
5.0
(1)BIS470
5.0
(1)ENGLISH262
5.0
(2)ENG321
4.5
(2)ENG327
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
201
5.0
234
5.0
SCIFI
5.0
ENG323H
5.0
ENGSECT
5.0