He is very reasonalble and very very helpful if you take the time to talk to him

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Easy to understand; pretty straightforward. Helpful outside of class

the best!so confident in you, always there

He explains things well, but the tests are still pretty hard! Very nice!

great teacher, interesting, helps when needed, always willing to answer question

very good professor, tests aren't too bad

no 7:15 class! no ChemSkill Builders, hes great if you pay attention, very helpful, tests arent too bad

The tests are hard, study a lot and you should be ok.

great teacher, explains things nicely, wish i had him for lecture too!!

go to class and it is not as hard as other profs make it, i suck at chem but he helped me pass the second time around

Great teacher, very helpful, work hard and you will be fine. Always willing to help and is very clear and easy to understand.

The class is difficult but he tries to help out and will explain things to you whenever you ask. The class is just fast paced and its hard to skip. There are quizzes every week.

Great teacher, very helpful...the material is not easy but he will help and is wonderful at explaining and clarifying. I DEFINITELY recommend him for ANY chem course!

dropped the class. he rocks, but the material sucks. put in the hard work and effort in the beginning and you'll be straight.

love him! he makes organic bearable

i like him a lot but i dont like chem, its too much like learning spanish, they give u rules to follow but theres millions of exceptions, not his fault though. I feel kinda lucky i have him after seeing all the work my roomie puts in to get a C.

Organic Chemistry is just HARD, but if you must take it, take it with Dr. Lewis, he is very helpful and easy to talk to

The class is hard as ****! HOWEVER.....Mr. Lewis is a great teacher. He is willing to help you anytime. Take him!!!!!!

He will bend over backwards to help you do well in this class. Great professor.

one of my favorite teachers...class is really hard but dr. lewis does everything to make it as easy as it could possibly be. very approachable and takes time out of class to help students

awesome teacher! even though the course itself is hard, he explains everything well so you understand. It's a lot of work, but he's always there to help.

Excellent teacher, tough class, but go to him for help, he will do whatever he can to help you pass the class, trust me I know

This man is the best teacher I have ever had. Organic will be hard no matter what, but he is amazing! I actually enjoy Organic if you can believe it!

He pares down his notes from the textbook and is usually very clear in his lectures. As long as you study enough and put in the work outside of class, you should do fine.

Possibly my favorite professor. I managed a B just b/c of him. He is so helpful. Classes are pretty interesting and clear - quizzes every week but if you study the notes they are easy. Only 2 tests too. Definately take him!

Dr. Lewis is a great teacher, but the class is still hard as****. Very organized and helpful though. Brings his dogs to review sessions!

he's funny and laid back, good clear teaching, understands students pretty well, too bad you dont know who's teaching your chem class before you go the first day

AWESOME professor. Very willing to help. Makes the class tolerable. Very understanding and realistic.

Dr. Lewis does everything he can to help students get through a crazy hard course.

Dr. Lewis is THE BOMB. He is an INCREDIBLE professor, knows his stuff, and is so willing to help in office hours. He's also really funny and a cool guy to talk to if you are having problems with the material. I have not once hated going to that class. A really enjoyable and interesting course du

Both semester tough but Lewis is cool

Organic Chemistry is hard no matter where you go, but Dr. Lewis is an amazing professor who is always willing to help you...your best bet is to make your presense known, go to office hours, read ahead and ask questions. We're lucky to have him as a professor.

Dr. Lewis is great, he will do whatever he can to help you through this extremely difficult class. He's funny and keeps the class optimistic even when you get back that first test grade:-0. Some people may never grasp chemistry but Dr. Lewis will do all he can to help

Dr. Lewis will help t his fullest potential. The course is difficult so be prepared to study, ask questions, and do homework...thats the only way you will survive organic.

awesome

Anyone who says this class is "hard" should try taking organic at ANY other school. JMU is damn lucky to have him as a teacher. He teaches this class the way it SHOULD be taught, and hes not just willing to help outside of class, hes awesome at explaining things until you understand.

Nice guy once you get use to him. Really enjoyed him as a lab instructor; however, the lab instructor is not posted on e-campus until lab had already started.

great professor! he really tries to help you understand the material, so def go to office hours. the only problem is that the class material is really really hard! make sure to keep up with the class because you can get behind really quickly!!!

I LOVE organic chem!!!! Dr. Lewis rocks! Definately take this class. I thought it would be boring crap, but it's the most fascinating class I've taken at JMU! Make sure you study though and DON'T CRAM (doesn't work with this class).

BEST professor at JMU. Wants you to come and ask him questions. Study a little every night and you'll be fine when if comes to the exams.

His lectures are fairly clear, and his office is usually open, but he's cocky as hell, and his tests are extremely hard. Hates pre-med. students, loves getting his ass kissed. Some people love him, the majority don't. I wouldn't recommend him, but alternatives are few and far between.

Great teacher. Easy to understand and extremely helpful outside of class. Holds study sessons every sunday night to help students who have questions or need extra practice.

wow, whoever gave the comment about "likes to get his ass kissed" is prolly stupid. this class is easier than Chem 131 (augustine). BUT! i give credit for the relative ease of the class to his weekly quizes, if it weren't for those quizes i'd be lost too, cuz i wouldnt be studying. material builds on itself. study a lot and keep up = ur fine

Really Great Teacher, Very Clear and comes prepared for each lecture with the same format. Definately a good idea to study periodically and go by for help during office/review sessions. Definately recommend but subject material in general can be difficult but its Ochem.

Excellent Professor! Very clear and makes chemisty interesting; even taught us how to make moonshine and TNT. Just pay close attention to his lectures and do not bother using the book. His tests come straight from his lecture notes.

Although in a class you must work your butt off like no other to do well, Dr. Lewis's personality makes class ten times more enjoyable. He is always in his office at any time of the day and knows how to keep such a hard subject entertaining.

Clear, well prepared, helpful, knowledgable, and funny! Like a short Jay Leno. Dr. L made a potentially difficult subject understandable and occassionally entertaining. Great professor overall. He is available and accessable. Do the homework in the book; problems frequently show up on exams and quizes.

Good person but the class is way too hard

Dr. Lewis is the man. He was the most compassionate teacher I have had so far and will go out of his way to help you do well. He gave weekly review sessions and made bonus worksheets very often. The only reason you would do poorly in his class is your own laziness and not utilizing what he has to offer.

really nice guy. tests and quizes require a LOT of studying and even then grades will be low. don't worry though he curves at the end of the semester. great teacher with lots of review sessions. take him.

The best teacher on this campus. Cares about his students above and beyond what is expected. If you want to do well, he will give you every advantage to do well.

He really lets you know what he expects of you. Very clear in his lectures. Go to the review sessions, they make all the difference.

Dr. Lewis is very laid back. He only requires you to wear goggles during the labs and you never have a lab quiz or too much to do on the lab reports. He is very hard on the grading of the lab reports but the midterm was easy enough to help make up for it.

Dr. Lewis Rocks as Usual. peace :)

Dr. Lewis is a great guy. Really laid back and helps out alot if you have a question during the lab. Grades the Lab reports really hard, and midterm is hard too. Doesnt really tell you what is going to be on there. Not real clear bout his grading policy. I thought for sure i would have a C or C-, but ended up with a B. Fun teacher though.

The best and only teacher to get if you have to take organic chemistry. I really enjoyed this class.

organic itself is a hard subject. Dr Lewis is one of the most down to earth prof Ive met here, especially out of the chemistry department. He's very helpful, and I would suggest going to office hours and study sessions!

If only all the chemistry professors were as nice and helpful as this man is... Take him. Chemistry is going to be hard no matter who the professor is. Go to his office hours, study sessions, and take detailed notes. If you do this, you're golden. Great guy!

Dr. Lewis is great whether this course is easy for you or not. I felt like I was really rewarded for my studying and comprehension, which is great because often I do not feel that way in chemistry classes even though I find it easy to understand.

He is a very nice guy who genuinely cares about his students. Do not miss class and do go to any extra review sessions he holds. His tests are tougher than the other ochem professors' as he likes to integrate information, which can be a pain but it ensures you understand what you're doing. He loves acid/base chemistry!

Awesome guy. Use the book to clarify if your confused, other than that just straight up study the notes. Notes are all examples of problems you will be expected to know, so KNOW your notes and you will be fine. Makes a hard class very understandable and he is hands down the BEST prof. at JMU. SIDE NOTE: DODGE JIM GRAY FOR LAB...NO JOKE!!!

Outstanding professor, end of story.

class is difficult, but he made organic very clear, and was always willing to help.. doesn't try to trick you. don't miss lecture-- you'll regret it. he made me like organic chemistry, which i've always heard horror stories about. but be prepared to try, or else you'll fail. the amount of work you put it in definitely pays off.

Favorite professor. Although Organic chemistry is hard and a pain in the ass, I have grown to appreciate chemistry even more because of this professor. This professor is by far one of the best professors that I have come across at JMU. His lectures and expectations are very clear. Yes his test are super hard, but he is fair with his grading. :)

A fair teacher. Although he is a tough lab report grader, he is sensible and helpful to his students. I've heard horror stories about other lab teachers, so be grateful if you have him.

Lewis is the man! He is super clear and more willing to help you than any professor I have ever had. Ochem is hard, but Scott Lewis is your best chance at passing, or at least learning more than you imagined possible- Great guy, Great teacher!!

After one semester with Dr. Lewis, I outright like the guy. He's funny and entertaining in lecture and pretty good at explaining organic chemistry. He does not know how to use technology very well, so the only communication you'll really have with him is in person. After taking the final, I felt a little unprepared in comparison to the other class.

Even though organic chem is nearly impossible, Lewis made it do-able. He loves when people come to his office hours & will take as much time explaining something as you need to understand. He is an awesome guy. HARD class, use the book, work problems, go to class, go to office hours & you will pass. Great guy, hard class, would deff recommend.

I like him a lot better than the other orgo teachers. He's easier, but not in a bad way. His lectures and tests are clearer. Very straight forward, doesn't try to trick you. The other two chem teachers teach chem majors so their classes are much harder. Lewis is a doable challenge for non chem majors. He's also very approachable.

I had Dr. Lewis for a repeat course after taking Dr. Caran. Not sure if it's the repeat talking but things seemed more clear with Dr. Lewis. Nice guy who gets students. Class is hard but he's definitly approachable and helps you out. Also very good at teaching organic from a bio perspective...things just make sense with him. Highly recommended

Dr. Lewis is awesome take him if you can!!! Very clear during lecture and gives many examples that are similar to tests. If you go to class and do all the book work he suggests there is no reason to not get a B or even an A.

O chem is hard. Get over it. But Lewis is the man that can get you through it. Hes super clear about what you need to know for tests. Just do 100000 practice problems and you're set. I ended with an A.

I LOVE LEWIS!!!! HE is the best teacher I could have ended up with for Organic chem. His teaching style is purely note taking, which is awesome to help reach various learning styles (visual, hearing, sensory)... Do all of the suggested book problems and then some. Tests are pretty close to the notes from class. He is SO helpful in office hours too!

If you must take this class, this is the professor to get. While the subject itself is difficult, he is clear with his expectations and his lectures were helpful. Doing the practice problems in the textbook are IMMENSELY helpful. Granted this class comes with quite a bit of work, attending the lectures and doing the practice problems will help.

Dr. Lewis is extremely helpful and brilliant. He knows what he is talking about and is always available to help. The class itself it hard, but he teaches with hand written notes that make so much sense. Just practice problems, and you can even ask him for more practice problems outside of the book. I studied in a small group and got an A.

I'm so glad I had Dr. Lewis for Ochem. The class is difficult and will be no matter who your professor is. There is a lot of outside work and studying required. Dr. Lewis is great about answering questions and he is willing to help. He will joke about making our lives miserable but he genuinely does care.

Dr. Lewis is really helpful when you ask questions and is very encouraging when you are worried about the material. If you do practice questions, study, write down questions to be answered, and put some time in you will do fine.

Best Organic teacher! Took it with Caran and barely passed, retook it with Lewis and got an A-. He made it so clear and his tests were very fair. Caran's tests had so many more problems to do and the multiple choice was super tricky. Lewis used stuff straight from the book/lectures and is very approachable. Loved him!!

Lewis is one of my favorite teachers so far. He is actually hilarious; if you go to his office hours, he is very helpful and will review material and explain it until you get it. Makes you work for it, but you can do well if you dedicate yourself to the material.

Lewis was a good teacher but made tests impossible. Class averages were 55-60 on each exam. The final was gut wrenching. Don't bother memorizing, it won't help. You have to really understand chemistry to do well.

OCHEM sucks but Lewis is awesome. He goes to SMLC and will meet with you at any time to help. No such thing as an easy A. He eats jelly beans for breakfast and butterfingers for lunch so please feed him. The thing you'll struggle with the most is figuring out if he wrote an N or an H when taking notes... I'm still not positive on a couple of them.

Dr. Lewis is incredibly invested in his students. He will make every effort to offer help as organic chemistry is tough material. However, it is 100% on you to make sure you're putting in your hours studying each day (but actually, every single day). He wants to see students do well.

Great for people who have a hard time with organic chem. He goes slower than Caran because he draws out the his lectures and talks you through the logic, which I like. Tests are straight forward, no tricks, only what's covered in class. GO TO CLASS, take notes on everything (even the stuff he doesn't write out). It'll help you get the answer right

Organic chemistry itself if a difficult subject, but Dr. Lewis does a great job explaining things as simply as possible. Do not hesitate to go to his office hours because he does a fantastic job explaining things. Listen to his tips for studying and DO THE HOMEWORK even though its not mandatory (and go ask him about the questions you don't get).

Dr. Lewis is really good at explaining things. He makes it easy to understand but his quizzes and tests are IMPOSSIBLE. His averages are pretty bad on all of the quizzes and tests because they're just miserable. He is really funny though and willing to help so if your willing to put in the work I'd recommend you "stay for the whole show".

Lewis was a great professor for Orgo. I took it over the summer - 8AM five days a week for three hours, four weeks. It was tough, but he was clear and concise, drew out structures on overhead projector instead of using PPT which gave me time to take in material. Put in the work and go seek help when needed and he's a great guy to have for OChem.

Dr. Lewis is the best prof for organic chem!! The class is very challenging but hard work will pay off. Study everyday is needed and going to class to take notes is necessary. He is very helpful and willing to help whenever you need. i like org chem so much better than gen chem

Lewis is an awesome professor. He knows his Organic like the back of his hand. He was also willing to help when needed. Two things i hated about this course: how hard he graded. On his test, one problem could be worth 20 points and if you only got half the reaction right, you maybe got 5 points. Lastly, he never put grades online.

Never thought an organic chemistry professor would care as much about his students as Lewis did. He wanted everyone to be successful, even if he joked about making us miserable. Go to his office hours and don't just simply memorize practice problems. WARNING: Second test is absolutely brutal and you must actually understand the material to do well

take lewis.

Obviously ochem is hard. Lewis is the best teacher at JMU for chem 241. Caran has higher test averages than Lewis but if you are taking any more chem classes past 241, you will know the info better from lewis. He's also hilarious and lectures go by really fast. Study every day.

He's really good at teaching and you will be amazing at organic if you take him, but he tries to trick you on tests, so your final grade will be awful despite how much you've learned. He doesn't curve, either, so If you want an A, take someone else. The textbook and practice problems are like not really helpful in this sequence.

Organic Chem. It's tough, but Dr. Lewis makes it easier to understand. I highly recommend to take him out of everyone else, and go to his office hours when you can. Definitely saved my semester grade. Tests are fair, and will be completely awful if you don't study. Approachable and friendly, he will 100% help you. He gets the struggle. Love him.

He is a tough grader and his exams are tough. He is probably the best chem professor but be prepared to work very hard, live in his office/math and science learning center. His curve is tiny and will not save you. His lectures are thorough and clear. He is extremely helpful in office hours.

The tests are relatively hard but not impossible to do well on. Attendance is necessary to understand organic chem no matter who the teacher is and practice needs to be done every day to be able to perform well.

Great Professor and will learn a lot, but exams are hard, not impossible is properly prepared for and utilized office hours. Given worksheets with extra practice problems on it that he made himself. Only grades are 4 exams, but one is dropped. Must read the book and study everyday to supplement lecture. Gives tons of tips/tricks in class.

Great guy, fun to listen to in lectures, good lecture style. The drawback is that the tests are notoriously tough. You really have to study/do practice problems everyday or most days to get the material inside your head.

This class is hard and requires a lot of work, but if you put in the effort you can do very well! Required over 10 hours of work a week! He is a great teacher, his tests are just harder than they need to be. 4 tests and 1 final, drop lowest test grade.

My favorite professor at JMU, he gives you all the tools to be successful. Also a great guy in general, but be prepared to work this will most likely be the hardest class you have taken at this point in your college career.

Dr. Lewis is awesome, love him, hes a great lecturer but he should not teach the Non-Chemistry majors. Organic chemistry is hard no matter what, but you would be better off taking it with a professor who curved the tests and who gave easier exams because he expects mastery of every concept and reaction and some tests are unnecessarily hard

Lewis is probably the best professor I've had at JMU. Course is difficult but his lectures are great. Consistently available outside of class. Ask questions, go to his office, study a lot. He makes Ochem enjoyable, funny guy.

Difficult course, great lecturer, ask questions and go to office hours, be ready to work.

Dr. Lewis is an organic chem genius, he explains the material in such a way that I rarely left class confused. Although he is a great teacher, you really have to know your stuff. I spent hours reviewing notes and going over practice problems. Even with hours of review, exams are near impossible. Lewis makes them harder than they have to be.

Dr. Lewis is my boy! JMU should fire every professor they have and let Lewis teach everything. 10/10 would take again.

Dr Lewis is a great professor and person! So approachable and wants his students to do well! Orgo is a difficult class no matter what, but it was very manageable with him. Also no homework assignments!

Exceptional Professor! Show up, work hard, dont give up, study study study, and then some more. Dont hesitate to ask for help!

Took him over the summer. Orgo241 was not bad at all. I highly recommend going to the SMLC (science and math learning center) and ask for help. The class is difficult but it is 100% possible to *earn* the A. He wont give it to you because you "worked hard." There is a decent curve at the end of the semester but the A line will not drop from a 92.

Class isnt bad if you put in the work. Try to go for understanding the material rather than memorizing it all. If you try to memorize it rather than understanding it, it will be a lot harder than it needs to be. Always try to connect the things you learn in class. ie. if rxn A is able to make X, what rxn(s)are need to make the reagents for rxn A.

Lewis is the best! He is almost always available outside of class and is always willing to help! Orgo is hard but he makes it bearable and will take the time to help you understand things. HIGHLY recommend taking him!

Dr Lewis is by far the best professor I've ever been taught by at JMU. He explains complex problems and ideas in a way that makes it seem so simple. If you are willing to work hard and yes, study everyday, there is no reason you can't pass. Dr Lewis does an amazing job at removing the negative stigma associated with organic chemistry. TAKE HIM!!

Having a lab online was hard enough and Dr. Lewis was super understanding with that, he was accessible when needed. I did struggle with this lab course but he curved well for us since he knows we tried throughout the semester. I recommend!

Scott Lewis might have been the best professor I could have taken for Orgo lab. Such a sweet man and really cares about your understanding during the experiments. Some post labs were kinda difficult to write, but he is so helpful and easily accessible outside of class. TAKE HIM!

Lewis is a gem, I had him for 241 and 242. Don't bother buying the textbook, everything you need to know he will lecture on and have you write down in the fill in the blank notes he provides. He really cares for his students, and loves it when people stop by his office hours. Take advantage of the optional worksheets, they're great study tools!

Dr. Lewis was a very good lab instructor. Even though orgo lab is hard, he made it easier to succeed. I recommend going to office hours often because it'll help you in the end. He curves your final grades, so don't worry if you think you are doing terrible.

organic chemistry is HARD. however, Lewis is a phenomenal professor. he explains things so clearly and is ALWAYS willing/happy to help you and answer your questions. 10/10

If you are PPH take him, stop reading what everyone else is saying. He is extremely tough however...if you need to take the MCAT, DAT, or any other acceptance exam he WILL get you there. Flash cards will be your best friend and I promise you will walk away KNOWING organic chemistry. Tip, practice until your hand knows more than your head.

Dr. Lewis is an amazing professor. I can't imagine taking orgo without him. He is very clear and up front about what you need to do to succeed. When he tells you to practice an hour a day, you need to practice an hour a day. Very accessible outside of class too. There are 3 exams, 6 quizzes, and a final and he tells you the material on each.

Orgo is just a hard class there's not much you can do about that. Lewis's notes are very detailed and he's very willing to help. No matter the professor you have to study for this class. Don't skip class, he doesn't post his notes on canvas and he mentions a lot of helpful things in class. If you're having trouble go to his office hours.

Dr. Lewis is by far the best professor I have had thus far at JMU. I had some huge life struggles this semester that I did not anticipate, and he was very encouraging and kind. He is always helpful, is always willing to answer questions. If you have to take the MCAT like I do, take him. He actually prepares you!

Dr. Lewis is by far the best professor I've had! Organic chemistry is hard but he lectures in a way that makes it so much easier to understand. He is also super welcoming and helpful during office hours so don't be afraid to reach out to him. Your grade is test-based but if you put in the work from day 1, I promise you will get a good grade!

I loved this class. Organic chemistry is difficult but if you put in the work it is not too bad. Dr. Lewis is very clear with his expectations, and his lectures were extremely helpful. I recommend studying 2 hours a day even on weekends for the first 5 weeks or so. After that 1 hour a day will suffice. Be ready for hundreds of practice problems.

Took CHEM 242 over summer. He prepares you well and was MUCH harder than peters/amenta for 241, but even the summer section of 242 was doable if you put in atleast 1-2 hours a day recopying your notes and doing practice problems. His practice sheets and optional HW problems are exactly like his exams. STUDY A LITTLE EVERYDAY IF YOU WANT TO PASS.

Dr Lewis is an awesome guy and an even better teacher. Orgo is a difficult subject, and he wants his students to really understand it, but he wants to see effort. He grades honestly and with a heavy hand, but gives great feedback so you can improve. This is who you take if you really want to grasp organic chemistry. For an easy A, see Hollinsed.

This was one of the hardest classes I have taken at JMU. It is not an easy pass. With that said, if you need to understand ochem, definitely take his class. He is great at explaining topics and making sure you have the resources to understand the material. I highly recommend him if you are pre-med or heading down that direction.

Professor Lewis makes organic chem more manageable. Attend class, study daily, and utilize resources like Unstuck AI - a great study tool. The workload is heavy, but Lewis provides guidance to succeed.

Great professor if you are willing to put in the work. Spend an hour every day doing practice problems, and rewrite your notes and you'll be chilling. He pretty much tells you what is going to be on the exam so if you can just get it down those are easy points. Take him if you need to understand o-chem

Organic chemistry can be confusing and different from the beginning compared to general chemistry, but Dr. Lewis made things simple to understand and he wants everyone to do well in the course. His exams can be challenging and that is the only thing you're graded on, but if you practice with the resources he provides on canvas, you will be okay !

Dr.Lewis was honestly amazing at explaining things in class and was super helpful whenever you asked questions during lab, but the assignments were graded so harshly. Lewis is so sweet but he contradicts himself often when it comes to what he is looking for in the lab reports which is difficult when trying to get a good grade.

Difficult, but rewarding class. In my section, about 5-7 people got an A. He teaches the material well, sometimes tells you exact problems on the test, and is very helpful in office hours. Good bet if your profession needs you to be good at orgo.

If you need to actually understand orgo, take Dr. Lewis. His lectures were very clear and easy to follow and he is very accessible outside of class. GO TO HIS OFFICE HOURS. His office hours are very helpful and he will walk through problems and concepts with you. It is still a very hard class, but he actually teaches you and is easy to understand.

Stop reading what everyone else says hard work does pay off... Have never studied harder every office hours every weekend doing problems but if you put in the work it will show, and you will master orgo by the end especially if you need for future exams. Also he is the best person, friendly and helpful whenever he can. Class is exam only however.

Professor Lewis is a genuine and funny person, he truly cares about his students. He is very accessible outside of class so feel free to reach out if you don't understand something as he has lots of office hours available outside of class. His lectures are very easy to understand, as long as you show up for them, you will be successful.