3.5
Quality4.4
Difficulty57%
Would Retake94
Reviews57%
Would Retake
94
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
94 total ratings5
42
4
15
3
9
2
15
1
13
What Students Say
“I would not recommend this professor to anyone”
EGL1A - 3.0 rating“One of the worst classes I've taken”
LIT36 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
100%
Textbook Required
100%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
-0.13 avg changeRatings by Course
ENG67
5.0
(1)ENGLISH
5.0
(3)ENG1
5.0
(2)ENGLI1A
5.0
(1)LAT1
5.0
(3)Difficulty by Course
ENGLISH67
5.0
ENG1C
5.0
ENGL67
5.0
LAT1
5.0
LATLANG
5.0
Reviews (92)
He's a good teacher that cares if you care. Kind of strict with the rules but that's what makes learning from him worth while.
DO NOT TAKE. Actually I didn't do that bad in his class but I would reccommend ANY other english teacher besides him. You have to write, ALOT. Assigns more papers than many other instructors and then grades them with regard to his own high expectatatio
This guy is very tough, but if you try, you will learn alot. Lots of reading and writing, but worth the effort.
I've learned a lot in this class; yeah, he expects you to write well, but he's clear about his expectations and helpful in correcting problems.
Whoa he grades hard, but not a mean teacher. He cares if you care. Tends to want things exactly his way. If you want to have a hard class to prep you for a UC school go for it but be prepared to work hard.
Hey is was to hard for a 1A class. The purpose for our class was to define justic and it all revovled around the book plato the republic. That was the whole class. Lets put it this way. The class was full the fist day and it ended with 5-7 people.
he is really hard...however if u really want to improve your writing skill... take his class... i've learned a lot from his class...
hes a good professor. you'll learn alot but you have to work for it... grades hard... worth it in the end...
He was a hard, picky teacher but still a great teacher. By the end of the class there were only about 5 of us and the class had started out full. This class is not an easy A or even B. You do learn a lot but who wouldn't with all that work!
it his way or the high way, NO EXCEPTIONS!!!!!!
Mr. Edson's class is really helpful. You learn so much in preparation for Eng 1A. I recommend him if you want to improve your writing abilities; otherwise, this class is really difficult!
Very dificult grading. The entire class had to re-write papers until he had to accept them the last week of school. He wanted everything to be his way and to be written like you were at an ivy league school and knew everything there was to know in the english language.
Prof. Edson is very difficult with his grading, however, he's helpful and a kind person. But be prepared to re-write your paper to his standards, which are exceptionally high. If you are shy or not into politics, don't take his class. All in all, good teacher if you want to write at university level
First of all, i love english and after taking his class i dont think i love it anymore. hes really hard and he'll humilate you in class when you dont know answers. i get sweaty palm nervous before each class. hes mean and hes all about politics.if you dont know anything about politics dont take him.
Go to every class meeting, do all the work, pass both finals, and you'll MAYBE get a B in the class. He is a good professor but pushes you to work hard. Take this class if your willing to work hard at improving your writing skills. Otherwise, this is not the class for you.
He was very hard and terrifying for the first 15 weeks, but myself and another student agreed that because he was tough we learned a lot. We even planned on taking him the next semester, but it ended up not working in our scheduale.
Very tough teacher, but helpful. He might make you nervous, but he really opened my eyes to how horrible my writing skills were.Just make an effort to learn and show up to class. If you are serious in learning, you can pass. Just make sure you read the newspaper before class to avoid humiliation. This class is for those seeking a challenge.
No Comments
Edson is a great teacher...but..he's tremendosly hard and thats no joke.But i still have to admit that he's a great teacher. He'll push your buttons and expect only the best from you. Homework is easy but there are a handful of essays.If you like Bush..then you shouldnt take him. lol He's polticlly informed and has a sense of humor.
Prof. Edson is a very tough professor, nevertheless, I really enjoyed his class. I know I learned so much in that class, and I would totally recommend it (especially is you're anti-Bush), Edson has a sense of humor! If you seek for help he is always there to help you.
This professor was never much help on the side. He had no office hours. The class started out almost full, but by the drop date 50% of the class had dropped, and even more dropped after the drop date. We ended up with literally 7 students in the last 4-5 weeks.
i can't believe so many people put good comments about him! i think he's pretty much the worst teacher i ever had! way too tough (unreasonably) and in the class i took...about 75% dropped. english is one of my best subjects and i barely made a C in this class. i would only reccomend him to english majors.
No doubt about it, Edson is a hard instructor, but this was a summer course and I still learned alot about writing. He was really helpful and offered written criticisms of each paper. I really recommend him if you want to improve.
Summer course was hard--alot of work in a short time, but the instructor gave us a lot of written feedback on each assignment. He was clear about his grading. Good discussions in class.
This is THE worst teacher I have ever had, period. I worked my ASS off in this class did my best on every single paper, I he shot down every great idea I had. %80 of the class from the begining dropped. He played mind tricks. I thought I was gonna fail, but I ended up getting a C. AVOID AVOID AVOID....at all costs!!!!!
This professor was very hard. But in all fairness, I must say that he helped me to not only see my grammer mistakes, but also to recognize the state of the world through a few essay assignments. This guy is by no means one of the easier professors on campus, but his course will almost guarantee you much enlightenment. SLACKERS STAY CLEAR!!!
I gave this guy a pretty bad rating last semester, but now that I have experienced the next level of English, I have really began to see how much his class helped me. If you don't want to strugle with your next English class, Chose Edson; don't forget to take it for credit no credit if its a pre-collegiate course.
No Comments
This was the worst teacher I have ever had. DONT TAKE HIM!!!!!!!!!!!! He wants everything his way, which makes this class harder than it already is. He expects you to write at his level, which would take 20 yrs to accomplish and expects you to know everything. He makes everyone feel STUPID and bases the entire class on politics.
Good course for people who really want to learn. If you don't, suggest you find someone else.
DO NOT!!! take him, he does help you learn (ill give him that much credit), but if you work hard and do all the work doesnt mean he'll pass you. I did a fair share of my work and 6 of 8 essays and he did not pass me. I also knew some one else who did almost all of their work, and also spoke up in class for questions, who also did not pass.
edson is a HORRIBLE teacher. if you can effectively learn by viewing a massive amount of erroneous illustraions that he has drawn and have no relation to the assignment, but acctually cause more confusion then take his class. For anybody else who enjoys a comprehendible learning atmosphere and the self-esteem that they have AVOID T. EDSON.
Take this teacher only if you are willing to build a solid foundation.
This man is a true educator. He is a College level professor. If you want to be a slacker and just pretend your in college by taking easy classes than dont take him. If you want to be a great writer than he will guide you. If you plan on transferring to a UC his class will give you an idea of what to expect.
Very good professor. Those with bad comments are the type of students we intellectuals try and avoid. So, needless to say those types bail within a couple weeks and you get a true higher education enviorment. He challenges you to think and some people are not up to the challenge. That should not be a knock on his teaching ability. Best Ever!
Very helpful for the next level.
Clear about his expectations of you. Hard work if you want to act as if this isn't a college level class. We put an essay together a piece at a time and that was really helpful.
He is a Hard teacher but when you are through with the class you will be ready for English 1A. He is a college professor so be ready for a challenging, but good class. I would reccomend this teacher if your work hard and wanting a college level education!!
Took him a year and a half ago...And I still hate him. I was 1 of 4 students left out of a total of 30 in the beginning. Terrible teacher. And I wouldn't be suprised if he himself left those good comments. Never EVER take this teacher. Avoid at all costs! stay an extra semester before taking him
Professor Tom is a sensitive person. He would like to help his students who can do well in writing.
this man destroys not only your transcript, but your self esteem. english is one of my best subjects and ive never gotten lower than an A until he gave me a C. He had went as far as to tell us our our writing isnt good because we probably didnt have good english 1a teachers.
He's really picky. When we were going over our essays I revised mine exactly the way he told me to, and he still gave me an f. When people were struggling with the material, he just got frustrated and waited for us to figure it out. NOT RECOMENDED!!
On one of my essays he wrote that I had missed several assignments, and the number he listed was more assignments that we'd had in the class so far.
I am an honors student. My grades are consistently good. I care about learning and pursuing my education. I like English. I like a challenge. With these things being said...DON'T TAKE THIS PROFESSOR HE IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE. I TRIED SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND HIS LOGIC BUT HE MAKES NO SENSE. HE IS NOT HELPFUL. HE DOES NOT PRESENT A CHALLENGE BUT W
Prof. Edson is by far one of the best at SAC. His class is not easy, but you walk away with more knowledge than you ever imagined. I got a B in 1A, but in 1C, I have an A. I had not taken an english class in over 5 years prior to taking Edson's class. If you are looking to cruise and not work then avoid him. He is very willing to help.
my major is english... i wish i wouldn't have taken his class, but.. im still trying. i know that if your good at lit. u would really enjoy this class, im not good with mythology, so... i think that is why im bad in this class.. there are 2 mid terms and 1 final, and some harrrrdd quizzes.. soo... yeah... but he gave a study guide for 1st mid term
The best professor to prepare anyone looking to transfer. His method is used by 4 year professors, so to most CC students he will be hard. One must realize that at 4 year schools there will not be anyone there to hold your hand. He is very available and he will go out of his way to help. I recommend to anyone who wants to improve as writer!
My favorite english Prof. to date! his class is extremely helpful for future classes of any kind! he chalenges you to open you mind and look at things from a different angle. hes not extremely clear, but thats part of the class. he challenges you to figure it out. this is college now, dont look for the easy way out...his class is really worth it!!!
Good Prof. Doesn't he remind you of the Sandman from Spiderman 3?
He expects his students to work hard for their grade and works hard himself. If you are not willing to put in the effort, do not take him. He is very helpful and always giving extra explonations encouragement to the students who did thier work and studied. This is not a class for slackers! Slackers slowed down the pace and made learning difficult.
Took three of his english classes from English 67 to English 1A. After four years, I must say, it was worth it. He is the only teacher who ever taught me to write well.
Very, VERY DIFFICULT. "expects alot from his students" i will agree. its worth it, he is a very good teacher. so before you take him make sure you have 1. LOADS of Time (not a class for people with 40+ hours of work) and 2. MONEY (about 3 textbooks + Reading Materials)
He's an excellent teacher. Expects a lot from his students, but he will teach you to write! Great critical thinking class!
If he is teaching a Lit class, TAKE IT! I had survey of Shakespeare it was an easy class, with lots of reading. He knew history and literary referneces like the back of his hand! One of the best Lit professors I have ever taken!
Great professor!! Always willing to help his students out- and go beyond what "typical" college professors do for their students. He wants you to learn, but also push yourself.
prof. edson is impressive with his knowledge on the material. i learned more than i thought i would. lots of reading required, don't slack on it so you can participate in class discussions. most exams are essay, a few multiple-choice quizzes. i loved this class just wish their was less reading. i would definitely take him again.
The only thing I have learned in this class is stress and low self esteem. Teacher is not helpful at all! This teacher is just a bad egg that needs to be removed from the rest!!!!
Took prof. Edson for Latin 1. He was by far one of the most, if not the most, challenging professor I have ever taken, despite the fact that I was taking Latin (which is a hard subject to tackle in the first place). He is very committed in helping his students to succeed in his class. As a professor, he was excellent!
One of the best professors at Mt. SAC. His knowledge of classics far surpasses anybody else at the school. Extremely intelligent and approachable, and his teaching goes beyond the subject matter to apply to thinking about everything.
Edson is an amazing teacher! Extremely knowledgable about the subject and about college in general, he genuinely tries to help every student he has. He's somewhat intimidating in the beginning and the class is challenging but its also a great experience.
I had this teacher for about 6 weeks in a "hybrid class", and he is responsible for the worst learning experience I've had at Mt. SAC. First of all the "hybrid" class is anything but hybrid. We meet once at the beginning of the semester, then we are left by ourselves. It is very very difficult to get a good grade,and he seemed anything but helpful.
One of the worst classes I've taken. I wouldn't recommend him to anyone.
This Hybrid class (Engl 1A) was the most difficult class I have taken yet. It required lots of writing and work, but is passable. The course also yielded a sense of pride after passing it, due to the amount of work. I think he is simply trying to help prep those that plan on attending a 4 year college. Recommended for those seeking a challenge.
Professor Edson respects his students and their efforts. His classes are challenging, but the knowledge gained from them is definitely worth it. This professor truly wants you to succeed.
I will start off by saying this class is not an easy A. However, the educational gain is highly worth it. His teaching style is very unique and will offer students a great deal of insight. Very important to respect other people's opinions in this course, after all that is the purpose of critical thinking. Bring the book to class everyday!!
I would say Latin is the "Trivium" to learning to read and write well. It's also going to help you absorb a great deal of latin-based vocabulary in your other classes. If you must learn an inflected language, you need Latin. This class is extremely hard though.
I would not recommend this professor to anyone. His online classes are very difficult and he gives a lot of homework. I had difficulties understanding his instructions, and the course required extensive computer knowledge. He cares more about the writing structure, than the actual content.
Professor Edson is sort of a critical thinking machine. He is so knowledgeable in English that it's sort of scary. He is pretty critical of people but will definitely help you in class. My writing greatly improved from this course. Just go to class and follow exactly what he says to do and you will pass.
He is an excellent teacher and expects a great deal from his students. He will work with you as long as you attend and actually try to absorb the knowledge. Latin is a difficult class but extremely rewarding at the end. However, do not take this class if you are not prepared for the challenge, this is not an easy A.
All I can say is wow. This professor is very detail oriented. He wants exactly what he says, and frankly, if you want to transfer to a university, this is the type of professor you will have. He will prepare you for university courses but this is not an easy A. You have to work hard and do lots of homework.
Tom Edson is a great teacher for the serious student. If you want easy, take someone else. If you want to learn & be pushed, take Edson. He imparts an understanding of Latin as a major root of English & dispenses a vast knowledge of the Roman culture. Extremely interesting class if you have a curiosity about Latin~difficult but gratifying.
Where was this prof when I started college? You might be scared off at first, but STAY IN HIS CLASS - He's worth his weight in gold. When you get your essays back, review them for help with future essays; not only for this class, but for any class. Thank you Mr. Edson!
Edson is an amazing teacher. This class isn't easy,and he definitely pushes you to your max, but it is well worth it. I enjoyed his class & learned a lot. I wouldn't have picked a better teacher for this class, he is very knowledgeable. You MUST read to keep up in class. Essays for midterms & final. But once again, well worth it!
All I can say, if you want to learn than this is the class for you.I have no idea what I will be getting a C or an F but one thing I do know. I am learning a lot and I think that's more important.Why are we in college? To learn, right? We learn from our mistakes and I feel like that is very important. If you want to learn than take Professor Edson.
He gives vague prompts and wants you to figure them out. This class is extremely tough for Mt. Sac, but very helpful. For English 1C you learn how to write a Literature Review. You'll write the 15 page paper over the course of a semester. Do your reading and work hard on your essays. Also, he uses big words when he talks-bring a thesaurus.
Professor Edson is a great teacher. If you want to learn something take his class. The material he uses is great which makes the assignments a lot more entertaining and thought provoking. Be prepared to work for your grade.
This professor has this weird philosophy of not believing in helping students with their essays because in his opinion that's "cheating". The reading material is difficult. Going to the writing center is required and there's a form you have to fill out to turn in with your paper. He's very strict. Do not take his class.
If you are taking Latin with Edson, you have got to practice grammar, memorize, use the info, and do notecards. Not for fun, but for serious writers. If you want to learn Latin for fun, just Google "Lectures to Accompany Wheelock's Latin Chapters 1-15" and buy the $30 course on Udemy. You can also try Rosetta Stone with coupon, or find at MOOC.
First off, he's a very good professor. You will definitely learn something in this class, but in order to grow as a student you have to face challenges. By far the most challenging English class I have EVER taken. Words of advice? Make friends and help each other Ask him questions, he'll give you his honest opinion about your ideas. HELPFUL
He's very passionate about his subject, however, sometimes he drones on about stuff that can get a bit boring. He likes to relate the material to the USA in anyway possible, so if you learn from comparisons then he is the teacher for you. There is a bunch of reading, a lot of note taking, and tough exams.
Do NOT take this class if you are unwilling to put in the work and accept the difficult challenges. This may be the most difficult class I have ever taken, and it certainly is one of the best in my experience. Even though I was scared for my life for my final grade, I was happy that I took this class. It gives a real taste of college level writing.
prof Edson, he's a tough grader, could be boring at times but is a rare gem, he actually teaches unlike many other professors, if you want a challenge that will make you a better writer, definitely take this professor. Class consist of 4 4-7 pg essays And a 16-22 page final research paper (depending on how long your previous essays were)
Thomas is an amazing professor. He really wants his students to pass, which is why he is a hard grader. He pushes students to success and yearns for them to step up to the plate. You must put in all your time for his research paper. I put in about 4 hours a day researching, making sure my essay was worthy. In the end, my hard work earned me an A.
He was passionate about the criteria and although he jokes every so often, he speaks in kind of a monotone so it can be hard not to tune out. Nice man. If you don't read the textbooks (He assigns a couple) you won't pass
Professor Edson is a tough professor. He gives you small assignments in the beginning, then guides you into doing four 5 pg (min) essays throughout the semester. Show up to class since he tends to give great advice for the upcoming paper. He tears into your essays, but he really makes you a solid writer. He helps anyone struggling as best he can.
If you're not prepared to work for your grade, this isn't for you. Not easy. His tests are hard, in essay form, and wants specific details. Write really good notes because his tests rely heavily on his lectures and how it all ties together. But he's very passionate about what he teaches and you will learn. Pay attention to the learning objectives!!
So far I have 29 units here at MtSAC and these are the only four that I don't regret. Edson: 4/4 ... MtSAC: 4/29 Only take this class if you're ready to learn. Prof. Edson really knows what it means to educate. I had a really great and fulfilling semester with Latin this year. He's something special, show that you care, don't be quiet!
Professor Edson is an excellent professor. He truly cares for the students. If you put in the time, and show that you are actively trying to learn, you will do great. He may seem a bit stern at first, but he is very passionate and is eager to share his passion with students who show they care about their education.
I went in excited to take his class because I love Rome. Turns out it was all about the architecture pretty much. He is very monotone and can make you fall asleep if you care about that. He grades hard and very fast paced, reading doesn't even help it's all based on his lectures If you need the class take it, but avoid him in any classes he teaches
I thought I was taking an English class but this felt more of a government/politics class with a bit of philosophy involved, to be honest. Not recommended unless youre interested in these topics which most of the reading was focused on. Class discussions involved as well. Also the professor himself is strict.
I took the class under the guise it would be a fun class about Roman history and art, I was far off. Not only is everything on slides he goes super fast he presents the material in such a manor it bores you to sleep. He's also a tough grader and his tests are difficult even if you've read the material and taken notes. AVOID THIS PROFESSOR.
Great course on Rome and its history. Only two exams--mid-term and final, but professor provided questions ahead of time and essays were written at home. Lots of material on Rome, history, and culture. Really good class IF you're willing to attend class and take notes. If you don't attend you'll probably won't do well on written essays.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
100%
Textbook Required
100%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
-0.13 avg changeRatings by Course
ENG67
5.0
(1)ENGLISH
5.0
(3)ENG1
5.0
(2)ENGLI1A
5.0
(1)LAT1
5.0
(3)Difficulty by Course
ENGLISH67
5.0
ENG1C
5.0
ENGL67
5.0
LAT1
5.0
LATLANG
5.0