2.3

Victoria Barrett

English - Ball State University

2.3
Quality
3.4
Difficulty
14%
Would Retake
86
Reviews
2.3
Quality
3.4
Difficulty
2.3
Helpful
2.3
Clarity

14%

Would Retake

86

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official

5

19

4

8

3

3

2

18

1

38

What Students Say

Professor Barrett is extremely narrow minded, but pretends to be "outside the box"

ENG104 - 1.0 rating

I've always excelled in school, believe me when I say she is BAD

ENG104 - 1.0 rating
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

74%

Textbook Required

54%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B

95% confidence
Based on 18 grades
Most common grades:
B+ (6)
Not sure yet (4)
A (4)
Grade Distribution
A(4)B(3)C(2)D(0)F(1)A-/B+(8)
Based on 22 reported grades
B+: 6
Not sure yet: 4
A: 4
A-: 2
Common Tags
Tough Grader (5)
Get ready to read (5)
Tough grader (5)
Skip class? You won't pass. (3)
Participation matters (3)
So many papers (3)
Lots of homework (2)
LOTS OF HOMEWORK (1)
Rating Trend

Declining

-0.59 avg change
Jan
Mar
Jul
Feb
Mar
May
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

ENGLISH103104

5.0

(1)

ENGLI103

5.0

(1)

ENGLISH

3.0

(1)

ENG114

2.8

(4)

ENG103

2.7

(24)
+7 more courses
Difficulty by Course

103

5.0

104

5.0

ENGLISH104

5.0

ENGLI103

4.0

ENG104

3.6

Reviews (86)
3.0
2.0
ENG103
Oct 2, 2004

No Comments

1.0
3.0
ENG103
Oct 27, 2004

Poor Teacher. Her curriculum consists of her opinion mixed with alot of the old "i like you" "i don't lik YOU" with crazy biased grading thrown in. I have had only one prof worse than her ever and that was a speach teacher with no degree outside of seminary at a public college.

2.0
3.0
ENG103
Oct 28, 2004

Not helpful.... not a good prof... was not a fun class. Watch out for this one.

1.0
4.0
ENG103
Nov 29, 2004

Very unclear about instructions. Not a very good teacher, and is always moody and ****y. My advise make sure you don't get her as an english teacher; you will want to kill yourself.

5.0
2.0
ENG103
Nov 30, 2004

Victoria is an awesome lady and does not necessarily throw her biases into class, she gets you thinking about your own and where you stand- all to make you a better reader/writer! She goes over assignments like crazy and lets it slip by if even the enitre class forgets to read an assignment.

2.0
4.0
ENG103
Aug 29, 2005

No Comments

2.0
1.0
ENGL104
Grade: B+
Aug 30, 2005

Victoria's class was very interesting because we learned nothing about English. The discussions and readings in class were focused on censorship in the US. If you need help in writing papers Victoria's class is not one you want to be in.

5.0
3.0
ENGLISH103104
Aug 31, 2005

No Comments

3.0
1.0
ENGLISH
Aug 31, 2005

not the best at teaching. didn't seem to care

1.0
1.0
ENGLISH103
Grade: B+
Sep 1, 2005

Horrible teacher... not helpful, didn't learn much- if anything. Also she was pretentious, biased and she spoke down to her students.

2.0
5.0
103
Sep 13, 2005

No Comments

1.0
4.0
ENG103
Sep 26, 2005

she just doesn't care what anyone says, this is the way it has to be... very precocious.

1.0
3.0
ENGLISH103
Sep 28, 2005

No Comments

1.0
5.0
ENGLISH103
Sep 28, 2005

No Comments

1.0
4.0
ENG103
Nov 15, 2005

She is the most biased prof I've ever had. Also, she seemed to discriminated against all the males in class. Dont even try having an opnion with her.

1.0
1.0
ENG114
Dec 11, 2005

Horrible teacher...if you are republican, or even if you are a democrat who isn't radical don't take her course. Also if you believe in any type of marriage you will more than likely be verbally abused for your comments and beliefs...avoid at all costs

2.0
1.0
ENG103
Jan 12, 2006

I had an OK time in that class, and I never truly cared for her disposition.

1.0
1.0
ENG103
Feb 16, 2006

Terrible person, biased grading. Should not be teaching because she has so little of an understanding of the subject. Also, her grammar is terrible

5.0
4.0
ENG114
Mar 13, 2006

on the contrary of most people here i enjoyed her class. she brings up a lot of controversial issues to get you to think, not to indoctrinate you. i think most of these people didn't make that realization, they were just mad that they had to think and do work. i can say not only did i develop as a writer, but also as a person from discovery proked.

2.0
4.0
ENG103
Mar 28, 2006

She changes her mind constantly, and never agrees with anything that anyone says. Completly biast towards some students, and she is lazy. HOPEFULLY YOU DONT HAVE HER!!!!

5.0
5.0
ENG103
Apr 20, 2006

I had her for 103. The class is not my cup of tea, but she is a good teacher. She is a great writer and demands that her students take their own writing seriously. She rejects stupidity and carelessness and laziness. Her readings prompt critical thinking. These comments remind me how ghetto BSU students can be. Completely easy, if you do the work.

2.0
1.0
ENG114
Apr 20, 2006

While Victoria is a decent writer, she is not a very good writing professor. I learned nothing from her class except that she hates George Bush and all things republican. Her discussions were not to get us thinking about our own beliefs but to persuade us into believing hers. I constantly felt like I would be punished for voicing my opinions.

3.0
4.0
ENG114
Apr 27, 2006

She is very opinionated. If you do not agree with her, she will make you feel like an uneducated person who does not deserve to be in her class. Her assignments were clear, and they made me think. Her grading was not consistant. She gave me a 70% on a paper, and then she let me rivise it (nice of her), but without many changes gave me a 98%. OK

1.0
3.0
ENG285
Aug 8, 2006

Barrett is extremely opinionated... she doesn't like ideas other than her own. She ruined creative writing for me. I hated every assignment. Overall, she is just mean and rude. Lectures were so boring. She thinks too highly of herself as a writer and was always bragging about her book. I can't STAND her!

1.0
2.0
ENG103
Sep 24, 2006

TERRIBLE prof. I did do well in this class, but did NOT like the professor at all. Very opinion oriented. Readings SUCKED. Stay away from this one. It didn't help that she hated teaching 103.

5.0
2.0
ENG103
Jan 29, 2007

She is a good professor. She is not a grammar stickler. Your grade is determined by the content of your papers. Just do the work, and dont screw around in class and you will succeed.

2.0
3.0
ENG103
Nov 9, 2007

Thinks that she is teaching you how to become a better writer when she is really killing your joy of writing. She only likes her opinion, doesn't care about what you want to write about. She thinks that telling you "So what?" everytime you propose an idea to her is going to provoke your thought process, which only leaves you in more confusion.

5.0
5.0
ENG103
Mar 24, 2008

She makes a sheet for each assignment. The assignments flow together and make sense. I'm doing much better than my classmates in 104 because she held me to a higher standard and made sure I knew what I needed to know. My friend was in another section of her class and it was the same with them. She works you hard, but you'd be worse if she didn't.

5.0
4.0
ENG104
Apr 4, 2008

She is a tuff professor and will challenge you, but if you go to her for help, she WILL help you! I love her as a professor and I wouldn't rather have anyone else!

2.0
2.0
ENG103
Dec 8, 2008

Well, she always seems to me to be pushing her beliefs on the students. Basically everything she said was either praising Democrats or praising Macs. Kinda worried now, my final project is about gun control and why it's bad. Hopefully she won't judge it just as "I don't agree with this politically, and he made a video using Linux, F."

5.0
2.0
ENG103
Aug 24, 2009

Awesome, really fun class- love her.only homework is work on one of the four papers you do in the class. no ridiculous busy work. Really helped my writing but was not ridiculously hard. As long as you're not a deadbeat she won't not like you. Just do the work.

5.0
5.0
ENG103
Sep 1, 2009

Doesn't write comments? Please. My papers had a full page of comments, and so did the papers of students I knew and sat by in class. Having an opinion is not the same as pushing an opinion. A lot of these are guys, I can tell, because BSU is full of guys who fear smart, capable women. Victoria is my hero. I'd take any class she taught.

4.0
4.0
ENGL104
Nov 11, 2009

I really liked her. She seemed to really like English and literature. She didn't push her beliefs on my class. The best part was that we all pretty much got A's on our final projects because the weather was terrible and she couldn't make it to our last class meeting. Easy class, if you're willing to do more than you do in high school.

2.0
1.0
ENG285
Apr 12, 2010

Thought very highly of herself. Due to the fact that I was outside of her discipline I stopped adding my opinion, because frankly she didn't care. Honestly I'm strictly an academic writer and was trying to go outside to write for a wider audience. I honestly wanted to learn, however with comments like "make it not what it's about" Beware.

4.0
2.0
ENG104
Apr 27, 2010

She was awesome, EXTREMELY laid back, and helpful. Just go to class and do you work and it's super easy. She only allows 5 absences. I can't believe all of these negative comments!

2.0
4.0
ENG104
Apr 27, 2010

Awful teacher. Assignments were pointless and never explained well. Her grading scale is the stupidest grading scale I've ever seen. She doesn't have plus or minuses so people that slack off in the class and get C-'s are benefitted by getting a C and the people that work their butts off and get B+'s get screwed over and get B's. Would not recommend

1.0
5.0
ENG104
Jun 21, 2010

God awful! I have never had a worse english teacher. She judged you before she got to know you and refused to think otherwise for the rest of the semester. She thought very highly of herself and refused to see any opinion that wasn't her own. So if you want a good grade your going to have to bend over backward to make her and her alone happy.

1.0
4.0
ENG104
Jun 21, 2010

This woman should not be aloud to teach! She clearly gets up every morning pissed at the world and wants everyone else to suffer with her. Those e-mails telling you that you might or might not have failed the last paper are ridiculous! She is too opinionated and needs to get off her high horse. STAY FAR FAR AWAY!!!

5.0
4.0
ENGLI103
Oct 18, 2010

She's awesome. If you are an idiot and you actually put in a little effort, she's the most helpful person in the world. If you don't feel like actually trying in college, then yeah you won't like her. But she won't waste your time with pointless information. Victoria is a great teacher!

4.0
4.0
ENG104
Oct 19, 2010

Cool prof. some may be intimidated by her straight forward approach to pretty much everything. Can come off ****y but you need to understand shes all business. Great prof very helpful and ready to answer any q. you may have. and the class is not hard you j have to put in the work and time.

5.0
3.0
ENG103
Nov 8, 2010

Real cool teacher. She was very helpful. she does make you do work and some stuff is a little challenging but if you pay attention and ask question you cant get lower than a B.

5.0
5.0
ENG104
Nov 27, 2010

Victoria was awesome. She met with me two times outside of class to help me with my last paper. If the semester would have been a few weeks longer, I may have earned an "A" -- but I did improve b/c of her, and I'm doing fine on current papers in other classes b/c of what I learned about research writing from her.

5.0
4.0
ENG104
May 9, 2011

Victoria is amazing. The class is by no means easy, but this is college people, it's supposed to be difficult and challenge us. And that's exactly what she tries to do. Challenge us as writers and help us improve. If you care about the class other than just for getting a required credit, she will be very helpful. She also dresses very well.

4.0
4.0
ENG103
Aug 4, 2011

She is a great teacher, and totally changed the way i think about thinks on a day to day basis. With that being said, she is not easy, and will make you feel completely stupid for asking questions and if you do something she doesnt like and get caught she will make you feel even dumber and hate you the rest of the semester.

1.0
5.0
ENG104
Oct 31, 2011

Victoria is an awful teacher. She makes you do a ton of pointless work and is one of the hardest graders i have ever had. She will make you feel like the dumbest person ever no mater how hard you try. STAY AWAY FROM THIS CLASS!

1.0
4.0
ENG285
Dec 17, 2011

Victoria is very unclear about what she wants. She is very unhelpful and will kill any joy you find in English. She acts as though she is all-knowing and talks more about her publishing company and life as a writer/friends than anything else. Do yourself a favor and STAY AWAY!

2.0
3.0
ENG285
Nov 14, 2012

No one in the class ever really knew what was expected for the assignments. We all kind of stopped joining in on discussion because we were tired of always being told our thoughts and opinions were wrong. She can be nice if you agree with her, but it can be tense sometimes too.

1.0
1.0
ENG103
Dec 10, 2012

Not helpful Professor. Don't bother doing discussion and disagree with professor. If Writing or English is not your strong point find a different professor. Very little book usage, Quiz over one section, and Quiz over the assignments section on her website. Slow to get papers back to students. Most Ambiguous answers given to inquires about writing.

2.0
4.0
ENG103
Feb 15, 2013

Always left class saying C. U. Next Tuesday..

4.0
2.0
ENG104
Feb 26, 2013

Very knowledgeable, and very proactive to keep class engaged. If you don't like group discussion or participating with your class mates find a different prof. Side-bar one of the hottest teachers I've had at bsu.

4.0
2.0
ENG104
Apr 11, 2013

She centers a lot of class around discussions is very interesting and tries to make everything applicable. She teaches a class that everyone has to take regardless of if they want to, but she tries to make it as painless as possible, and sometimes it's even fun. She's great.

5.0
3.0
ENG104
Nov 14, 2013

VIctoria is a WONDERFUL teacher & person. I have had some of the best discussions in her class. I hate english and writing research papers suck but you have to for 104 and she makes it as painless as possible. She is a very knowledgeable person and great to go to for help. I really really really recommend her.

1.0
5.0
ENG103
Nov 30, 2013

THIS WOMAN IS A HORRIBLE TEACHER. She is completely inappropriate, she clearly hates her job and is absolutely impossible to please. She could care less what you think, wrong or right. If it doesn't match up to what she believes you might as well not bother doing any of her assignments. Good luck getting her to help you with anything.

4.0
1.0
ENG104
May 22, 2014

Her class is so much fun. She is very honest and expects students to be able to write a decent paper. Most of the class is four assignments which she helps you with leading up to the due dates.

2.0
4.0
ENG104
Jul 14, 2014

DO NOT TAKE HER CLASS! She is not a very good teacher. Her feedback on assignments is very unhelpful. Her instructions are very vague, so it's hard to know if you're doing things right until you've already turned it in. She will not answer your questions very well, except to have you reread instructions. Again, pick another English teacher!

1.0
5.0
104
Oct 29, 2014

She does not respond to e-mails and her instructions for assignments are very difficult to understand.

1.0
5.0
ENGLISH104
Nov 13, 2014

I've always been good at English and enjoyed English classes but her class was the worst class I've ever taken. She is rude and does not care about what the students have to say. She is not willing to listen to your ideas on a project and will take it out on you if you don't do the topic she wants you to do. Take a different professor for this clas

1.0
5.0
ENGLISH104
Grade: A-
Nov 13, 2014

Do not take her class!

1.0
5.0
ENGLISH104
Grade: B
Nov 13, 2014

Worst class ever

1.0
5.0
ENG104
Grade: Not sure yet
Nov 13, 2014

I can normally write a paper without having problems, but in this class, that is all I had. Her instructions were way too vague and you didn't know what to expect. She'd say to look at the rubric, but that doesn't help at all because all professors grade differently. I wouldn't recommend this professor.

5.0
3.0
ENG104
Grade: Not sure yet
Apr 8, 2015

This is not a class you can just slide by and get an A in. You HAVE to read what is assigned, you CANNOT start the assignments the night before, and you HAVE to ask questions if you don't understand. If you actually care about your grades and aren't trying to just slide through unnoticed, you will learn a lot from this class and enjoy yourself.

4.0
4.0
ENG104
Oct 15, 2015

Victoria is very blunt, and if you can't handle that, she may not be the best option for you. Her typical response regarding questions on a project is "Did you read the syllabus/listen to the lecture?" That being said, I have definitely learned a lot in her class, and feel like she pushes her students to have higher expectations of their work.

5.0
3.0
ENG104
Grade: Not sure yet
Mar 29, 2016

Wonderful professor. She is very helpful. Everything is laid out on her website she gives you. Extremely easy and a pleasure to have as a teacher. I wish she would give more feedback to help you write better but I understand she has a lot to grade.

2.0
4.0
ENG104
Apr 11, 2016

She was very nondescript and vague. She rarely went into details about the papers and there were even less details on blackboard. If you take the class don't do the half in class and half online, it's AWFUL!

2.0
4.0
ENGL104
Aug 2, 2016
Wouldn't take again

Surprised she knew my name even when I didn't participate as much and I was in "half-online half in class" She cares, you just have to put in the work. It was a tough class b/c I like structure and not a "free-for-all mindset" it just wasn't a class for me. If you are a creative writer and like picking your topics u may enjoy it.

2.0
4.0
ENG104
Grade: A
Sep 1, 2016
Wouldn't take again

She is very vague when it comes to outlining what you will be doing for a project. The examples she uses are often inaccurate or not useful in any capacity. It is not wise to disagree with her, she will continue to argue her points until you give up. She also cuts you off to the point where you feel unappreciated and stupid.

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
LOTS OF HOMEWORK
2.0
5.0
ENG104
Grade: A-
Oct 11, 2016
Wouldn't take again

Go back to your advisor right now and escape this class. If you can't please read the readings and have good feedback about it or she will literally have a personal vendetta on the whole class. She literally loves herself and dislikes opinions that don't match with her own. If you get the chance ask her something about herself. She'll love it.

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
Participation matters
1.0
5.0
ENG104
Grade: F
Nov 30, 2016
Wouldn't take again

Ridiculously tough grader. Deceptive regarding attendance, changing her policy the day after withdrawal date to three absences then automatic fail. I did my work but due to this, failed. At least one absence was due to my anxiety because she bullies students in front of the class. I've always excelled in school, believe me when I say she is BAD.

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
Skip class? You won't pass.
1.0
4.0
ENG104
Grade: B-
Dec 1, 2016
Wouldn't take again

This professor is ridiculous, do not take this class. She bullies students. I laughed in class once and she yelled at me in front of the class and told me I couldn't sit next to my friends anymore. She's a horrible grader, horrible at replying to emails, very disrespectful. DO NOT TAKE unless you want to be disrespected!!

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
SO MANY PAPERS
5.0
3.0
ENG104
Grade: B+
Dec 12, 2016
Would take again

She's very understanding. There's a lot of reading, but she kept the material relatively interesting. It's a project-heavy course and a lecture to listen to every week (usually less than 20 minutes). She posts the book on Blackboard so you don't need to buy anything! She does allow extensions and revisions, as long as you're a decent student.

Gives good feedback
Get ready to read
Participation matters
1.0
2.0
ENG104
Grade: A
Feb 23, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Don't try voicing any opinion other than hers, you will be shot down without any basis other than "no that isn't right". Professor Barrett is extremely narrow minded, but pretends to be "outside the box". Be prepared to listen to her gloat for 70% of the class, and then be berated like a middle schooler for not picking up what she wanted.

Get ready to read
1.0
3.0
ENG104
Nov 26, 2018
Wouldn't take again

This class is a waste of time and is very boring. She didn't teach us anything.

Tough Grader
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
1.0
3.0
ENG104
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 2, 2019
Wouldn't take again

This class started out fine, but now its clear that Mrs. Barrett punishes any ideas she doesnt completely agree with. On the largest paper of the semester I received a poor grade and the reasoning she gave was unacceptable. The only comment was that she didnt agree with my opinion. Nothing about my actual writing or grammar. A waste of time!

1.0
3.0
ENG104
Grade: B+
Jan 7, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Victoria is the worst professor I've had. I took her online course, and did just fine all semester (staying at 105% after extra credit) until she graded our final essays, she failed me simply because she didn't like the topic I chose even though it was in the topic list she gave us. It ended up bringing my grade from 105 to 89.8.

Graded by few things
Tough grader
1.0
5.0
ENG104
Grade: C
Apr 30, 2020
Wouldn't take again

If you need to take this course, please choose another professor. She does not explain directions clearly and will degrade you for not understanding her the first time.

So many papers
Tough grader
1.0
3.0
ENG104
Grade: A
Dec 2, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Professor Barret is very rude when responding to submissions where mistakes have been made. The professors job is to teach. I don't understand why this professor believes it appropriate to state that the work is wrong and leave it at that. I don't believe in hand-holding, but seek to understand conversations go a long way in teaching.

1.0
3.0
ENG104
Grade: C
Dec 15, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Barrett made me hate English this semester, and it was my favorite subject. Recently, she tanked my grade from a B+ to a low C just halfway through finals week just because I did not do the assignments she listed as optional. I am afraid she doesn't know what the world OPTIONAL means.

1.0
3.0
ENG104
Dec 24, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Truly miserable. I cant imagine anyone has ever had a pleasant conversation with her. She hates everything. Her job. All writing that isnt hers. Works too much and takes it out on everyone around her. Bestselling writers cant write. Only she can. Maybe she should run her publishing company FT instead of teaching which she clearly hates.

1.0
2.0
ENG104
Dec 27, 2020
Wouldn't take again

I understand strict. I understand high standards and high expectations. I dont understand being downright mean to people and making them feel bad. I have a friend who was feeling down the entire holiday because this woman made them feel bad about themselves. And she doesnt care when she makes you feel bad. Shes just cold and miserable. Run away.

1.0
2.0
ENG104
Jan 4, 2021
Wouldn't take again

You cant say anything to this prof without her getting defensive and dismissive. She will take offense to something you didnt even mean, and if you try to explain yourself she wont listen. She assumes she knows what you will say before you say it. Not good for anyone with anxiety or stress.

1.0
5.0
ENG104
Mar 24, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Never in my entire life have I experienced such a rude, terrible professor. Please do not take this woman's class. She is genuinely bad at her job, her canvas page is so confusing, doesn't explain assignments at all, and somehow she makes this class so much harder than it needs to be. She's a horrible professor, and will ridicule you. So awful.

5.0
4.0
ENG104
Grade: A
Jul 27, 2021
Would take again

Overall, I really enjoyed her class. I took the her class during the summer, so I might be different to take the class during the Fall or Spring semester. It is not an easy class to pass. You have to do a lot of weekly reading and up to 2-3 discussions. You will have 4 main assignments to do.

Get ready to read
So many papers
Tough grader
1.0
4.0
ENG104
Feb 4, 2022
Wouldn't take again

She is not a professor in the sense that a professor is supposed to teach. She is rude and unwilling to actually help students who need guidance. If I had a choice I would take a different professor.

Lots of homework
1.0
5.0
ENG104
Grade: B-
Mar 8, 2022

This professor is extremely unkind and is forcing all of us to do work during the university's spring break, so now we do not even get a break because of her. This class makes me feel extremely overworked and unmotivated because it has such a large workload. The professor is taking her spring break while we are being forced to work. Unfair.

Tough grader
So many papers
Lecture heavy
1.0
5.0
ENG104
Grade: B+
Mar 22, 2022

please whatever you do, do not take this class. I literally want to cry.

Tough grader
Lots of homework
5.0
3.0
ENG104
Grade: B+
May 9, 2023
Would take again

Sets you up for success.

Participation matters
Clear grading criteria
Online Savvy
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

74%

Textbook Required

54%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B

95% confidence
Based on 18 grades
Most common grades:
B+ (6)
Not sure yet (4)
A (4)
Grade Distribution
A(4)B(3)C(2)D(0)F(1)A-/B+(8)
Based on 22 reported grades
B+: 6
Not sure yet: 4
A: 4
A-: 2
Common Tags
Tough Grader (5)
Get ready to read (5)
Tough grader (5)
Skip class? You won't pass. (3)
Participation matters (3)
So many papers (3)
Lots of homework (2)
LOTS OF HOMEWORK (1)
Rating Trend

Declining

-0.59 avg change
Jan
Mar
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Feb
Mar
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Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

ENGLISH103104

5.0

(1)

ENGLI103

5.0

(1)

ENGLISH

3.0

(1)

ENG114

2.8

(4)

ENG103

2.7

(24)
+7 more courses
Difficulty by Course

103

5.0

104

5.0

ENGLISH104

5.0

ENGLI103

4.0

ENG104

3.6

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