3.3
Quality3.8
Difficulty35%
Would Retake233
Reviews35%
Would Retake
233
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
78
4
56
3
27
2
28
1
44
What Students Say
“(The best Professor I've had at BCC”
LIT2020 - 5.0 rating“Professor Burks is an awesome professor”
ENC1102 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
97%
Textbook Required
46%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.68 avg changeRatings by Course
AMLENC1102
5.0
(1)ENG102
5.0
(1)LITABCS
5.0
(1)ENL2330
5.0
(1)LIT200
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
ENC11O1
5.0
TECHWRITING
5.0
ENCSECT
5.0
1101
4.3
ENC102
4.3
Reviews (233)
Dry sense of humor, but makes you laugh alot. Tends to be very specific about what he asks for. Very fair.
This is the worst english teacher I ever had!!! He's horrible and no he is not hot unless u like aliens.
He's a good and personable teacher who talks about irrelevent subjects a bit too much.
He's the biggest nerd of a teacher I've ever had. He spends more time talking about Star Trek and Lord of the Rings than actually lecturing on English. His grading scale for papers is ridiculous. He takes off points for any little thing. Awful professor.
Oh boy, was this guy awful. He would just assign papers, he never explained ANYTHING, yet he was an extremely picky grader. And he wonders why a lot of kids did poorly on his assignments. What a moron.
No Comments
He is a tough teacher towards females. I do not think the class was fair. His comment that girls would rather be shopping pissed me off. Stories about Lousiana and the dolphins get old.
Very fair... Very clear... I don't know what people are talking about... Very understanding as long as you talk to him.
Pretty straight foward,got an A in the class. His tests were a bit long but easy. Overall good class.
No Comments
He's a tough teacher but very entertaining and insightful. He'll give you all the extra help you need and he definitely cares about teaching. If you are rude in his class, however, he will hate you forever.
Eh.... he was cool as a teacher sometimes, just criticized professional authors too much for being a smalltime community college prof. Grading was HARSH.
He does not engage his students at all. Instead of lecturing about American Literature he spent most of the time complaining about young people; hello, they're paying you're salary.
Hard, but in a good way. The comments he left on papers were helpful to me, and as the semester progressed, my grades got better. All these comments about him not being a good teacher must've been from students who didn't try hard enough.
He likes to mumble comments under his breath or out loud. He is a Harry Potter hater! He sucks as a teacher and his grading on papers is harsh. I had to drop him because I was failing and I love to write!!!!
He is hard but definatley a good class is your 100% dedicated. Not an easy "A" however.
Burks is awesome! Some of the other ratings say that he's tough on girls and thats not true. The man speaks the truth in regard to harry potter etc.he's extremely intelligent and instead of complaining you should stop and think about what he says. Only the intelligent make it in his class.
he is helpful and clear,but the class is hard. You learn a lot but its still hard, and he's also insane!! makes me laugh a lot, he comes up with some weird crazy comments out of nowhere,he's mysterious and interesting.
harsh grader!
If you are going to become a writer, this is the teacher you want. Tough grader -I did have a 4.0 untill I took this class. Cool guy, but be prepared to do a lot of work.
Professor Burks is a superb teacher that is highly interested in producing thoughtful, ethical, and skilled writers. Don't take this class if you are looking for a quick and easy A, but if you are interested in learning how to write, this is where you should be. Good teacher and a good man.
I have mixed feelings about this class. It wasn't hard for me, so that wasn't a problem. His teaching methods, while eccentric, still are helpful if you actually listen to what he's saying. A tragic accident involving a member of his family caused him to leave;I don't think he'll be at BCC anymore.
He is a good teacher if you are serious about writing and/or become a professional technical writer. He grades fare, if you wait to the last min to do you paper than it you bad grader not his, but if you work hard on it and spend time you will get a good grade. Overall I think he is a good teacher
if you can't form a correct sentence this is not the class for you. No babies. The guy knows what he's teaching. So if you want to challenge yourself a little this is the class. He will help you.
Great teacher! he is smart, easy to understand, and funny in his own way. He sometimes goes off topic to talk about his beliefs in modern entertainment, the enlish department at bcc, and even his own family, but still keeps the class interesting.
Burke is an awesome professor, but not one to hand out his grades. He can be a bit tough if you're not willing to put in the extra effort, but he can teach you an incredible amount if you simply pay attention. Inspiring writers, he may be a good test to see if you could hack it in the real world!
Great professor, but harsh on the grading wouldnt reccommend to anyone if you cant write a good essay with 10 mistakes or less
very strick..you have to be focus!!!!
he is the worst teacher at BCC DO NOT TAKE him he has no compassion for students. His motto seem to be "I WILL FAIL AS MUCH STUDENTS AS POSSIBLE" stay away from this professor. Disguting teacher.
He thinks that he is almighty king of english and he is only an assistant professor... totally sux!!!
No Comments
well i learned about his views on government, politics, family, school, and other subjects, but this was a short story class. He graded pretty easy on quizes, test were a bit harder but noting to bad. it was a little boring but if you like reading old stories take the class, Easy A/B.
DO NOT TAKE THIS PROFFESOR! This guy is very strict which is expected in college... but he wants to fail you... and it's very easy to give him liable reasons to fail you...
He's nota first draft kind of guy. He'll give you a better grade if you show effort(3rd draft). Sometimes he'll go off onhis soap box but he's funny in his own way. He hints when the "pop" quizes are andif you read the story even once, you'll get an A. He assigns the min amount of work, but he's sparing on giving A's on papers unless you write well
he likes to talk about a lot of things longer then he does the stories assigned. quiz are easy if u read the story, u have to write a lot on the tests he grades a bit harder. this class is an easy B
No Comments
He won't just hand out an A or B if you don't deserve it.You will have to earn your grades on your papers; however, he's very helpful and although he goes off on tangents, he still assigns pretty easy stuff.If you are looking for a pushover,he's not your answer.
He is a very "real" teacher. Your taking college classes, so don't act like a baby and you'll do fine. He can teach you alot, this specific class really gets you to work with your papers and apply them to your interestsand job skills. And he loves to share his little insights on things
thinks your a scholar writer
Great professor. Someone you can really learn something from. He does not hand out grades. His assignments are straightforward and pretty easy...after all you are in college, so suck it up and do the work...don't look for the easy way out!
He's ok. Do not take this class if you do your papers overnight
Was a straight-forward teacher, but acted as thouigh he wasn't happy about teaching at the community college level
THIS GUY NEEDS TO RETURN TO HIS HOME PLANET HE IS A SPACE CADET HE IS RUDE OBNOXIOUS AND NEEDS TO TAKE RITALIN. HE IS SO NEGATIVE AND DOES NOT HELP WITH ANYTHING NO JOKE HALF CLASS DROPPED THE FIRST WEEK STAY AWAY TAKE PROFESSOR sEVANA bUDHA TOUGH BUT HELPS AND TRULY IS A GOOD TEACHER
This Professor was not very helpful. He graded as if I should have already been writing at an advanced level, which was too strict. I don't mind doing the work but not for someone who is not going to teach me.
Enjoyed the class, but was very difficult - he's not an easy grader and expects the student to give their best.
ONLY TAKE HIM IF ITS YOUR LAST RESORT, NO OTHER OPTION, ESPECIALLY IF YOU STRUGGLE W/ ENC!! Theres a HELL of a lot of reading and writing (essays, journals, analysis). He will put you to sleep. Students drop class w/in first week. Gives A LOT of material and expects you to know it when taking test! Talks about his personal life thats irrevelant.
He seems to be tough, but if you pay attention and do the reading, he's not. I think he is one of the most interesting professors I have ever had. Yes, he rambles about "the man," but he is animated, entertaining, honest, and REAL. It is possible to get an A in his class, you just have to try.
Burks is great! He's interesting and passionate about what he's doing. I suspect he's extremely intelligent. The class isn't easy, but a level 2 english class should be challenging.
He is an excellent teacher; he will grade you strictly, but if you deserve an A, he'll give you an A, based on your skills. As to the person who graded him poorly using this quote in their reasoning: " His motto seem to be 'I WILL FAIL AS MUCH STUDENTS AS POSSIBLE'", perhaps you failed because you can't even construct a proper English sentence.
He is GREAT! He is the dog that barks but does not bite. He is vehement, hilarious, always in disagreement, always expecting to read something really excelling, extraordinary...but YOU are the one who should write it! Very interesting person. He exhorts his student to do their best:" College is not for everyone." Smart guy from Tennessee.
Burks is a pretty horrible guy. He makes it very clear that community college is beneath him and loves to brag about his short stroy writing career. Judging by his teaching method, which appears to be making life seem as bleek and hopless as possible, I'm not even sure if BCC is a nice fit for him.
I dropped the class to take it with another teacher after he claimed that we (the students) were his sheeps and he was the sheppard !!! Is that a philosophy of your Mr Burks ???
I have this professor for Great Ideas in Poetry so I will only speak for that class. I can see why others have said some of the negative things they have said - he is a stickler about attendance, sometimes he assumes you know things you don't know, and he gets to business, but I don't find him mean or rude at all. I was reluctant to take this class
(..continued) b/c of these ratings, but I am so glad I did - he is great! He brings out the universal and timeless ideas, concepts, and questions in each poem - it is so thought-provoking! The class is really interesting, time goes by fast, and you learn a great deal. It's early on and I'm already impacted - he must be doing something right!
His class is difficult but if you are planning on going to a "strong" university take his class. I don't think any other professor can prepare you like he could. He is very challenging and believes that "College is a game" and you have to find a way to beat your professors. Once you get to know him, you will love him. See if you can "beat" him.
At first he seems very strict and condesending, but he has this ability to sort of grow on you. Very helpful with tips on writing well and very clear on what he expects from someone writing on the college level. Good professor overall.
Professor Burks is one of the most intelligent and interesting teachers I've ever had. He has personality and does not play favorites. I can only assume that those who have rated him poorly either can't read and write or have some sort of emotional problem.
Burks is the worst English teacher I'e eer had! do not take him!
a unique man with a terrific mind and a kind soul. he only expects that students are capable of writing at the level they should be able to as college students. his bark is worse than his bite; if you have an appreciation for an instructor's passion for their subject and current events, he is the professor you should take.
I took his class 4 semesters ago and I owe my graduation to him today. Thank you Professor!!!! RS
He grades tough! You will never get an A on Compositions.
I took Mr Burks for English 2 and I'd like to take him for another writing class. He is extremely intelligent and interesting! Highly recommended professor!
This professor was really not very good. He didn't tell us exactly what he wanted, then graded down if we missed the idea. I think he would make a great teacher for a different class, but not for freshmen ENC. He was a little boring, but a fair grader. If you show up and do all the assignments, you may be able to get a "C"
I enjoyed the class but that's because i love to read and write. He grades tough and expects your best. It's alot of reading and the writing about it. He goes off on some weird tangets, but i think it's because he doesn't want to waste time on the trivial. he is very thought-provoking and has alot to say about the "college game"
He is an amazing teacher!! His quizzes are super easy if you've done the readings and he even tells you what he expects for papers. The people who rated him poorly just dont have a clue. It is possible to get an A, but you have to earn it. He is insightful, thought-provoking and I will definitely take him again
He is interesting to say the least, he talks more about society and lord of the rings rather than subject matter. He is very "in" to literature and if your not he looks down upon you. His quizes are easy, that is true but he grades his comps very difficult. I feel like he is someone i would enjoy having a convo with about certain subject matters b
Do not take this teacher unless you are an awsome writer. this guy is off in his own little world and if you see anything as simple he will tell you how wrong you are. But as long as you attempt the work you can possibly still manage to pass. And MAKE SURE to do the journals, or you will fail. Dont procrastinate, youll end up overwhelmed
this guy sucks! he is not concerned about teaching rather proving how smart he is about lit. he is degrating to women and rude and inconsiderate person. if you want to learn how to interpert english dont take his class he does not teach anything. if your stuck only worrk bout your grammer in your papers thats all he cares about!! GET OUT!
Burks is the best teacher I've ever had. He is an amazing human being and carries wisdom like no one I've met before. He will change your life!
Burks is a pretty easy teacher as long as you do the work and are a fairly good writer. He will put a C on anything clean and simple. If you fail it is only because you didn't do the work or make an effort. Miss one assignment and receive an F for the semester. I hate writing but I got a B or above on all papers.He's a funny guy, I recommend him.
He was very hard on his compositions. The only way you will pass his class is if you are a good writter.If i were you I'd run the other direction!!!!!
DO NOT TAKE THIS TEACHER PLEASE SAVE YOU SAVE THE TROUBLE IT WILL BE YOUR WORST CHOICE IF YOU CARE ABOUT GPA DONT TAKE HIM I DROP HIM HE IS A TERRIBLE TEACHER.
His class shouldn't be any easier at the college level. I say he's a good teacher cause he tells you how to get a good grade on his papers. If you fail his class, you didn't do the work period. He practically outlines essays for you in class. Take his idea, find quotes to back them up, throw in some extras (that he tells you) and you'll get an A.
awesome teacher! one of the best i have had in college thus far. In the beginning he might get off topic but if he does he talks about real stuff and how the worls really is and that is better than any thing you can read off a textbook. loved him!
he's very BORING. he doesn't teach about enc, it's completely useless to take him. he'll give you jorunals to do and turn them in end of semester and give you great grade but when it coems to in class essay or research paper its a flat failing grade strict on that. apparently all thsoe commetns on him are wrong. not ag ood teacher to take.
Very interesting professor, loves using irony and redundancies in his teaching. does encourage you repeatedly to get the work in, will only assist if you have a written paper prior to due date.
.I'm an inter. student and he doesn't help me at all,he's not fair in grading and he keeps telling me that college is all about what you know.I'm leaving this college next semester bc i'm dissapointed of BC.Now that i don't have straight A i can't get a schoolarship even though i stayed more than 40 hours to submit his journals and research papers
Grab your glass, go out the door & Hit the city.... RUN,CORRER(for you spanish people) as fast as you can n dont look back!!!!!! if you fall BEST GET UP!!!! find another teacher!!!
He is exactly what a professor should be: he helps you when you ask questions and tries to make you a better writer but doesn't coddle you. He is fair when grading and there isn't a large amount of work. 3 in class papers, a 10-page journal, and a research paper that you're to work on the whole semester. I enjoyed the class and would recommend him.
WARNING, dont take this proffesor, he is srict when it comes to grading essays and research papers and can be very discouraging at times,he doesnt not care about his students, he just comes for a paycheck. The man makes it impossible to get a passing grade, he is very horrible, one of the worsest professors bc has to offer. I strongly reccomend pi
Great professor. Not an easy "A" at all but you'll be satisfied if you earn a high grade.
This prof. is the worst possible prof there is do not take him. He is much toooo strict, Does not give much as was indicated before but you will be punished for that. DO NOT TAKE HIM!!!!!
his lectures are actually quite funny. hes a hard grader but you can write poorly and he'll stick a C on it. quizzes are a must to study for. do journals early! its a lot of work but well worth the effort
Hes an amazing COLLEGE level prof. If you want a teacher that's gonna baby you through eng then don't take him, but if your in college and your serious then he's great! He fully impressed me, and even though i had to work hard to make my A, I really feel that I grew as a writer in his class.
I love this Professor's class. He's eccentric and a little out there but that's what makes him such an interesting teacher. If your writing skills are horrible DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. It is a hard class, seeing how the semester started with 28 students and ends with only 5 or so. I've had this professor 2 semesters in a row and got an A in both.
Professor Burks is colorful and entertaining, but unforgiving when it comes to poor writing. If you are not a competent writer, you may want to find a different professor. Expect to do a lot of work...
This professor is horrible. He lacks patience and clarity. He is not very helpful and treats everyone as if they are trash. He degrades people when he speaks... he is totally off the wall.
I just finished eng comp 1 and don't know my grage yet,however, i believe this professor is great; he tells you exactly what a professor is looking for. He constantly encourages students to turn in papers early and rewards them for doing so. Once you pass his class, you will feel pride of the grade because you know what you can do.
He thinks you can't write because your 1101 teacher passed you on because they can't teach and you're young so you're stupid and you don't know anything. He does not teach, he even said so, his job is not to teach us, his job is to five work and grade it. He gets off topic and he doesn't tell you what he wants in your writing. Do not take him.
He is the worst teacher and he doesn't teach anything. Loves to criticize every other teacher on campus.very negative
SUPER HARD CLASS !!! though his in class discussions are intresting, he critizes everything and everyone
Prof. Burks will grade your writing at a level that should be expected of a college student. He is intelligent and kind, and he actually cares about the qualtiy of your work. He will help if you ask. If you know that you can't write, and you don't want to learn, then take another class. Don't leave nasty comments on here because you can't write.
Great professor, tells it like it is. Not an easy A, great for people that want a challange.
"College isn't supposed to be easy. We want you to give it your all." Problem with most of this guy's ratings is that they are from people who want an easy A. He's not. Majority of your grade is based on writing assignments so don't complain about writing too much. Interesting class with interesting conversations. Would take again. Got a B.
Just don't take him, he's not a "challenge", he's just a jerk. Find another professor, anyone is better than him.
Great professor. People here that complain about him being hard, are lieing. He tells it like it is and will criticize almost everything in a funny way. Had him in the summer term 2nd session and trust me, it goes fast but if you stay on top of things, you'll do fine. All he wants you to do is think at a college level. Challenging but great overall
A very hard teacher. his class discusions are interesting and tells it just like it is and doesnt sugar coat anything. a challenge? he is! i would very highly recomend a different teacher!!!!!!
Funny thing about ratemyprofessor.com is that any slob can show up and write something moronic about a teacher because he/she didnt pass him for sleeping. Professor Burks is truly one of BC's finest, challenging yet somewhat easy, funny and he knows his stuff. He truly cares about your grade and will go out of his way to help out.
I had Professor Burks nearly 15 years ago, and he's clearly had the most impact on my life to date of any professor. I've co-authored two books, been published in a few magazines and print anthologies in addition to many online publications, and I owe my understanding of style and structure to him. A fantastic teacher.
Excellent teacher, he knows what he is doing. Don't take his class if you want an easy A, he wont give it to you. Take his class if you love to write essays!
Hard professor, very interesting to listen to in class but he lectures all class and is boring. Cant see grades online, and grades very hard. I put a lot of time and work into that class getting B's and got a "c" as my final grade. I would not recommend unless you like a good challenge.
Very hard teacher but he knows what he's talking about. You MUST read the book (every single story) and if you do not like to write essays, don't take his class, but if you love essays, go ahead, he'll help you better your writing and understanding of english lit.
There's a lot of good info to be learned in his class, but I didn't really care for it. On one hand he doesn't BS with you, which makes him admirable but frustrating sometimes. The few times a student had a dissenting opinion, however, he completely shut them down. Good if you can learn solely through lectures, but I learn best through discussion.
Certainly his class is not an easy A, but he gives his students ample opportunities to help raise their grade. A student needs to be extremely motivated, ambitious and open to challenges, in order to get a good grade. He is very helpful and is willing to help dedicated students.
By far the best professor at BC, you will learn more in his class than in any other lit course. He does go off topic sometimes but its always to give you helpful information about life, or to make you laugh. He is so blunt and ironic he had me laughing every class. If you like a challenge take him, always do your work ahead of time! Had an "A".
Best professor I've had at BC. His class is a challenge, but it prepares you for pretty much any other course. He lectures for the whole class period, but I found everything he said to be 100% useful, either for the class-work, or just life in general. He doesn't bs, so you have to work for your grade, but its not hard to receive an A
Professor Burks is a very well prepared person. He absolutely knows what he is talking about, and won't hesitate to be straight forward to you. His class is a bit challenging, but if you really pay attention and try your hardest you can achieve an A. I absolutely loved him and recommend him to anyone that needs this course.
I personally thought he was a great professor, however, I can understand why some students might not like him. The work isn't hard, there's a large amount though. Put forth the effort, read everything! He knows what he's talking about & is often straight forward. I learned a lot from this class. definitely recommend it.
Great man. His opinions on life aregreat to hear. Sitting in his class is a very educating experience. He will open your mine to new perspectives on literature and life. He is a bit crazy about grammar and structure in essays, but as long as you support youself well and take on his advice you can getn A in his class.
I recommend those who want a fun and challenging class. He is very insightful and smart and you can tell he's been teaching for years. I had no trouble in that class. All you have to do is STUDY and do the work early so you don't struggle last minute and you'll be fine. Overall, great professor!
I adore this professor, so much so that I've taken two classes taught by him. He's humorous and blunt, patient but by no means a pushover. Don't expect a handout from him- he makes it quite clear that he is not like the other professors that spoon feed their students. If you can't handle him, you can't handle higher education.
Ok let's get this clear! He is someone that definitely knows what he is doing; he has taught this class for years, and he knows Shakespeare perfectly well, but he is not an easy A. I consider myself a good writer, but unfortunately, I couldn't keep up with all the work, so I ended up dropping the class, but he is a great professor overall.
Very good teacher. I've been exposed to writers and stories I wouldn't have thought twice about. As for whether or not the class is easy, it all depends on the student. If you do the work, it shouldn't be too hard. WARNING: he is incredibly blunt, borderline rude. Regardless of his character, i enjoyed his class very much.
Very smart man. Gave helpful corrections on papers. VERY FUNNY. He often went on tangents. Some might argue they were distracting to the material, but I felt like he went beyond the textbook and taught very helpful lessons on life, in addition to literature. P.S. DO THE RESEARCH PAPER AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE!
Very inappropriate teaching style constantly ridiculing administration and belittling school. Avoid this very poor teacher at all cost !!!
awesome prof. he knows what he teaches. a little intimidating at first, but very fair. no easy A. Hard work.
He does not give many As but, if you put in the work, you'll get an A. I took his 6-week class in the summer, which I would not recommend to those not strong in writing. He goes through material quickly, so you need to stay attentive. Don't underestimate the time needed for the research paper. His comments on essays are useful, I'd recommend him!
His expectations are high but he makes them clear. His lectures are interesting although taking the class in a 6-week summer term feels a little rushed. Quizzes are easy and the class requires a lot of writing but he is very fair and helpful.
He expects a lot out of you. He's really challenging. His lectures are interesting lol. I wouldn't really recommend the class he doesn't give out a lot if A's
Horrible teacher, do not take
A bit on the eccentric side (LeBron James haters may not fare well), but the best English teachers always are. This is the English class for students who really enjoy English.
If you have a good history with English, then you'll like his class. Me, as a math major, had a really hard time with his class. Read his assigned paper work, study and start the journals and research paper early. He talks a lot too
He gives you opportunity to turn EVERY assignment in early to be pre-graded. ( Essentially giving you an A if you do the work early )... I only turned a few things in early, did most the night before and never got less than a B.. ( I'm not the best writer ) Hes interesting and a great professor.
Professor Burks is absolutely incredible! If you have a passion for English and want to challenge yourself to become a better writer, take Burks. If you're intimidated by working hard, you're better off taking a BS professor that'll hand you an A.
He is very tough on essay grading and expects a lot for a enc1101 class. The class consisted of 2 in class essays, and 3 take home. Again I repeat harsh essay grading! But his lectures are entertaining and interesting. I did become a better writer but it didn't reflect in my grade. I had perfect grades and this messed up my gpa :(
Excellent professor, I took him back in 04 and had to come on here and leave a review. Class was not impossible all you have to do is show a little effort. Classic and unique teaching style , I still remember him to this day as one of the best teachers in my academic career. Have since graduated UNF 10'
if you like a challenge and are EXTREMELY PUNCTUAL then take this man, otherwise, don't. hes very strict and is very harsh while grading. everything counts with this man
I took 1102 with this professor over the summer. I attend FSU, but wanted to get ahead on credits. This man is INCREDIBLY wise as well as highly entertaining with good personal stories to boot. I am in my jr year (still at fsu) and of all the teachers, he's my alltime favorite. Suggested, just for the engagement of it
Funny, smart and challenging, Mr. Zachary Burks has taken over the minds of my class beyond the two hours we sit in his lecture. His strong opinions about writing, hard work and morale demand us to "strive and not just survive," as he likes to say.
He is definitely a character, but keeps the class entertained. I took the class years ago and to this day his words have stuck with me. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
He is one of the best. Students really learn. If you came for an easy A, and don't like earning it, yeah, NO. LOTS OF ESSAYS, but you choose the ones that interest you. 10 Journal entries people. INTERESTING, FUN, HELPFUL, FUNNY, and more. CHECK him.
This professor definitely knows what he's talking about. I took his class one year ago, and I still take his advice with writing. He's a little bit on the radical side, but that's because he's passionate about what he teaches. Also, start the research paper as early as possible and turn everything in early; he looks over it before the due date.
Professor Burks is certainly the most passionate theacher I've had, at least when talking about Shakespeare. His life is dedicated to literature and he is an expert on it.
He is one of the best, lectures are never boring and you learn a lot. All you need to do is pay attention what he says during the class time and you'll be fine.
Great teacher, he is there to work. He is honest and fair, and very sharp. He doesn't just give A's, you have to Earn them. No fluff and no unnecessary nonsense.
He does not just give A's, you have to earn them. You have to pay attention to what he is saying in class because it can help you on your parpers
Prof. Burks was one of the best professors I've taken. His lectures are very clear and detailed, and hilarious. He wants to see you succeed and try your hardest, so he'll push you to the limit to do the best you can. He just wants to see improvement, and if you can give that to him you'll get a good grade. This class is not for the soft though.
highly suggest not to take him, he's lectures are long and often goes off topic. he's a tough grader, your papers can be extremely well detailed but if you have too many punctuation mistakes you'll only pass with a D or C-, do not take him!!!
Even though at times he can get off track this professor is a remarkable teacher. He makes class time very interesting with his opinions of life and he really does give a lot of insight about the school. As far as an actual teacher he really is a great teacher, every class be prepared to learn something new. READ EVERY NIGHT, POP QUIZZES A LOT!
He takes his class very serious. if you are late, or absent he takes it offensively, be there in class on time. Funny from time to time, and does harsh grading, but if you do what he tells you to, you'll be fine. The book from under his name, you need it, but you only reference to it.
He's one of the toughest graders I've ever met. I made the mistake of taking him in Session 3 which proved too difficult for me considering my schedule. He's very intelligent and has been teaching for a long time. Don't expect to be writing papers on cartoons its like a real college class which is great if your serious. Good Luck!
As an 18 year-old, I started at a somewhat selective private school but didn't finish. Now that I am returning to school, I have found the faculty at BC very different from those at my previous university. Most are like high school teachers. Burks was my only BC teacher who was a REAL professor. He's tough, but you'll learn how to think and write.
I am currently more then half way done with ENC1101 with Professor Burks. I already registered to take him again for ENC1102! Professor Burks is definitely one of the smartest professors that I have ever had. He is also worldly, shockingly hilarious and compelling. His classes are not for the brain dead or merely competent. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Burks is without question the most helpful professor I ever had. Thanks to him, my upper division papers were a snap. I laughed when I read the student below who said if you make "too many punctuation mistakes you'll only pass with a D or C." Hello?!? It's an English class!! If you are a serious student with serious ambitions, you MUST take Burks.
He's really helpful and clear, but tough grader. If your paper is not perfection, you won't get more then a "D" or "C-".
He is tough on you the 1st few days to see if you will stay. That way we have choice to not waste our time or vice versa. If you make any effort in your work, then you will do just fine. Definitely tough grader, but passionate of his profession and prepares you for the outside world. Also he loves TOOL! Keeps class alive! Definitely chose him!
Worst English teacher ever. No matter how much effort you put in your essays the grade will always be a C/D. I highly recommend NOT to take him.
He is a great professor but a tough grader. Very funny
For being a freshman in college, this was definitely the toughest class I had. He shows no slack towards anyone and his grading is very tough. His lectures are long, but he is funny.
Great professor but tough. Don't take him if you want an easy A. I had to work for my B, but he definitely taught me a lot about writing. Also, his lectures are FUNNY! Very entertaining. His comments on life are priceless.
His class is not a class for slacking. It is not hard to achieve a C or B in his class, but an A you must really know what you are putting in the essays. Mr Burks loves his details. Overall, he is a very well rounded, entertaining, and fair teacher.
This was definitely one of the toughest class I've taken. Burks really knows what he's doing and takes his class very seriously. If you are not willing to put in your best effort, you're most likely not going to pass. He is a tough grader but he is very clear and specific on how he wants your papers to be written.
this is by far the worst English class i ever took. he doesn't really teach he just lectures the entire class and assigns quizzes and reading assignments. he also makes you do in class essays about the reading material. wont not recommend and definitely would not take again.
I took Burks for ENC1102 & LIT2000. He knows so much about literature and can be really inspired about some of the authors. He was always willing to allow revisions providing you submit your paper before the due date. Not many students take him up on that, though, which I didn't understand. I'll remember some of his comments about Hamlet for years.
Professor Burks is an awesome professor. He is not the typical professor at a community college that will pass anyone with a high school degree. He is a college professor that demands college level work. If you want to get better with your writing, his class is worth it. If you are a slacker or lazy you will not pass, YOUR EFFORT IS REQUIRED!
Prof. Burks is all in all a pretty good professor, he is a tough grader but this makes you work harder. The assignments he gives are REALLY long and he makes you read like crazy so if you're not into that then don't even bother registering for his class.
One of the toughest teacher I've had. He really makes you work for your A or B. He's very pessimistic and gets off topic most of the time in his lectures. Very bright man but it seems like he hate what he does. Don't take the class if your not willing to put in the work and effort.
I'm a non-traditional student, so perhaps my perspective is a bit different but I am a real fan. Burks is an old-school professor who has high expectations, a unique perspective on the world, and a love of literature. As a grader, he's tough, but fair. He really dislikes when students disrespect the classroom (come late, play on phone, etc.).
Professor Burks knows what he's talking about. Don't ever question his intelligence. He tends to go off topic a lot during lectures about nothing interesting. His work is done his way or no way. If your lazy don't take his class.
He's horrible a teaching. Personally, if you want to pass take another professor. He is too hard on the papers for you to pass at all. Too many pronouns F too many adverbs F not descriptive enough even though you're not using adverbs or pronouns F . Be prepared to fail.
Like everyone says, he's tough. And he doesn't like students who aren't serious. If want to skip class or come late everyday and pass, then you need to look for another professor. If you want to learn how to write, take Burks.
I took him because I wanted a challenge. The papers he asks you to write cannot be summaries, but your own interpretations of the material assigned. He gives you a lot of opportunities to earn a better grade on a paper by submitting stuff early. The lectures made me a little sleepy, but he is still great.
He was not the easiest professor I've ever taken, but he also wasn't the worst. His lectures can get a little boring and off topic. However, if you think it'll be an easy class. don't take him. It's a lot of reading and paper writing.
This is my first year in college and I have to admit this professor isn't easy to deal with, he's tough on his grades. Even if u try hard he still seems not to care and shows absolutely no sympathy. He also talks down on students that don't good a good job on their paper...
Awesome "old school" prof. You'll learn a lot, but expect to work.
He is amazing at teaching especially during his lectures. His responses to emails are within 24 hours and he makes sure you learn the subject. This is the second class I had him (before was for ENC 1101) and I do not regret it one bit!! As long as you attend each class and complete the work on time, you will pass for sure with a B.
Professor Burks is a hard and demanding teacher. However, if you do the work and excel at meeting deadlines he will reward you in the end. When writing you have to be very descriptive or plan on get a C on the paper. Attendance is MANDATORY, MyWritingLabs is MANDATORY, Discussion Post are MANDATORY. Don't take him if your lazy!
Professor Burks may be strict and he is a very harsh grader, but he will help you to not be lazy and he gives good feedback that might be tough to some people or motivating to others. Just don't be late to any of his classes.
Although he's a really tough grader and strict, I don't regret taking his class. He motivates and pushes you to do your best. For me, the work wasn't that easy. He gives tough criticism and talks down upon those who don't put in much effort but I saw this as a challenge and motivation to be good enough and excel in my writing.
I would never take him again! do not take this class
There is a lot of reading and work to do, but that's what you are in school for. He's fair and honest so go to class on time do the work and you'll be fine. The essays were not that hard just have to take time to write. It is a writing class
This professor was horrible, his grading criteria is fair and he is knowledgeable, but his teaching method is awful, he stops class to complain about his personal life and how the world is today, in average 45 minutes of class are wasted on an hour and a half long lecture. DO NOT Choose THIS PROFESSOR IF YOU ARE NOT A GOOD READER OR WRITER.
Professor Burks is a tough grader but he knows what he is talking about and Ill admit I started off poorly in the class but worked my way up and actually passed the class I took his advice and I actually learned something so I highly reccomend taking his class but if your lazy dont even bother
Absolutely love this professor! He's the best teacher I've had so far. He's hilarious, caring, real & he definitely makes you work for your grade. He is pure old school. Do the work & take his advice seriously & you pass. He cares about students who care& is def. reasonable if you need help; Don't show up if you don't like challenges or are lazy.
Professor Burk is very knowledgeable; his lectures are amazing. I enjoyed them very much. (The best Professor I've had at BCC.)
This class is hard if you do not do a head start on the essays and assignments that he gives to the class. Yes, he does rant about politics and everyday life but some of it is true. Be sure to be correct with MLA-8 formatting and be sure to submit on time. You have to work extremely hard for the A or B. As long as you show you care, you are fine.
If you're a self-motivated student that can handle teaching yourself and doing the work on your own (online), this professor will probably work for you.
Burks is a tough professor but worth the effort. I considered myself a good writer, but I was able to take my writing to the next level with his feedback. He has his own unique views and you may disagree, but I found him to be very motivational. Don't skip class or the reading. Also, he's "old-school" about tardiness and late assignments.
Best English teacher Ive ever had! Always finds a way to compare some poems and storys that I have no interest to something I can enjoy, lectures great, essays are tough but if u put in the work are going to pass. Gives excellent feedback on every essay and is very HONEST. Highly recommend taking this class!
VERY TOUGH GRADER. He is very obnoxious and talks a lot. He loves to call people out and put you on the spot. He tries his best at times to be as lenient as possible once it comes to grading but its not in him. If you're someone who isn't punctual and is not good in writing, I suggest you stay away. Work hard and go to class at least you'll get a C
Really a great professor! Analyzing, understanding and writing are my weakest abilities and he really helps you organize your thoughts. I am very quiet and dont ask many question but he is very thorough in explaining ideas leaving me with no questions to ask. If you do all your work and at least Put some effort in you will you will pass!
Professor Burks is a great professor if you love English as a subject. I personally do not as it is my weakest subject. He grades vigorously but if you ask him about your grades and papers he will help you out to strive. He does have these personal outbursts in class, but i liked them because some helped connect the stories to real life understand
By far the worst professor I've ever had. The outbursts in class scare you and makes you want to leave the class. He sucks at grading. He should not be teaching at all.
His lectures are clear and he explains everything really well. You always know what's expected in each essay. He gives really great feedback and gives you pointers on how to become a better writer. He tends to rant during the lectures but you kind of get used to it, and it usually ties back to the lecture. Attendance is required to pass.
If you are a new student picking classes and you want an easy professor to pass, please save yourself and the professor time do not take a class with him. In other hand if you really want to learn and improve your writing this professor is for you, I personally learned a lot and worked very hard to earn an good grade even with a good background.
Professor Burks is the hardest grader Ive ever had! I received a C on every paper I wrote. I even elicited help from another professor and STILL GOT A C! I was extremely frustrated but my saving grace was the homework. So, if you have him DO THE HOMEWORK!
Professor does not care for the student's success. Not inspirational, excessive amount of work with little guidance and help, not accessible as often as it should be. No reason to pay him if students are left to swim or drawn. I withdrew his class due his lack of concern and guidance. Will never taken his class.
He was a very tough grader. I definitely enjoyed his lectures plus hes very funny and does give a lot of chances but you can try try and try on your work but I dont think it will ever please him.
You'll get a C on everything you do. "Underdeveloped in style and content". If you really work hard, he won't care because it doesn't make a difference. Never take him.
Do not take this class online... he shows you a powerpoint, reads it word for word, types everything in the chat; instead of talking, and then yells at you for making him rush
Will just lecture the whole class on why some individuals will not pass the class because they have missed some assignments. Honestly could do this class without the professor. Very annoying and constantly reminding you that your going to fail if you don't start assignments early and so on.
What do you know? Another C.... Be prepared to get a C on every paper you turn in regardless of who helps you and regardless of how much effort is put in.
You can put in so much time & effort and it will still not be good enough. He treated us like we were in medical school. most kids there came straight out of high school and he treated us like we had all the life experience in the world. nothing was ever good enough for him. literally gave everyone a C on everything.
He literally yells at everyone I was terrified to even move my head. do not take him. horrible person.
choose a different class it will save you from stress
I took this class thinking that it was going to be just three essays as every other ENC1101 classes. we had to do almost 7 essays, with the lab and the discussions. the homework was extremely long and he grades like if we are professional writers. he made fun of me in front of the whole class. He is disrespectful an he is very rude.
MAN! This professor gives a C for everything! If you work really hard, it still wouldn't be good enough. All he talks about in his lectures are about students from the past not being good enough. There are 6 assignments which are only essays. Every single response he gives for all the essays is the exact same response he gives to other students.
a ridiculously hard grader you have to try extremely hard to at least pass this class. if you wanna save yourself the stress and aggravation avoid taking this teacher at all costs. only positive thing is that your writing does improve but not worth it with all the stress you get from this class
Professor burks is by far the worst professor of all broward college if you want to pass enc1101 never take him he is a selfish guy fails you for every Single essay for no reason. the biggest mistake I made was taking this class with him as my professor because he needs every little thing to be perfect, thats impossible Im not a professional writ
He is a very hard teacher I wouldn't recommend him at all I think I only took him because, it was my last choice but he basically requires perfection and since English isn't my strong suite it was a struggle so if English isn't your best subject don' take him
This was a VERY hard class. I put in a lot of work and time and felt like I was neglecting my other classes because this professor expected so much. I am an older student returning to school and couldn't imagine taking this class right after high school. He needs to realize that it is an Associates level course, not a masters level writing course
HORRIBLE PROFESSOR! He makes us sit through these extra long zoom lectures where he literally is just rambling on. He's a super tough grader and expects you to be a perfect, professional writer or something. Essays due literally every two weeks it's crazy. Would not recommend taking his class unless you want a easy F.
Professor Burks is direct, and lays out his expectations very clearly and thoroughly. This is is the kind of professor you want if you truly want to become better. He will not coddle you and overlook major errors on assignments but gives fantastic feedback and fair criticism. If you want to be challenged to actually be better, this is your class.
Professor Burks class wasnt hard hes very honest , direct and Slightly rude. I had to tell him to watch how he spoke to me. Hes a tough grader expects perfection. My biggest issue is he doesnt teach he rambles about nothing the entire class and at the end tells you whats due and dismisses class. He releases you on time only positive thing.
I took his remote class and he talks a lot, just about anything and sometimes says the same things but his grading was very clear, just follow the rules. His topics are usually about YOUR opinion so its easy. He gives very detailed/honest critic land gives lots of time on essays so thats why no extension. He also ends class exactly on time.
Extremely tough grader
Prof Burks talks a lot, but never about the subject we're supposed to be learning. He gets side tracked very easily and will spend an hr talking about something random and then dismisses class. He grades very harshly and is very strict on citing sources but will never teach anyone how to do so properly as he claims that is below him.
Very tough grader! But at the end of the course improves your writing so it balances out! Super strict on what he expects on his essays. Follow his feedback!
Although he didn't have problems with grammar or other writing-related issues, he still had problems with stylistic choices and other things that another professor couldn't have problems with since this is technically an introductory course. Please be prepared to write professional pieces. I do consider myself to be an above-par writer.
He talks about anything else but the lesson. He expects us to magically learn to be amazing master-level writers by reading online notes that are difficult to understand. He is a super hard grader and just rambles a lot in class when he could be teaching us how to be better writers.
Very strict about what to do on papers. Expects perfection on his essays and there is one dur every two weeks. Rants about random stuff for post of the class period. Gives detailed feedback after papers and tells where you need to improve. He is a good professor if you can get over his ranting and does allow you room to grow.
He is a tough teacher and a tough grader but you will become a better writer at the end of this class. His lectures aren't amazing but his feedback is awesome. This class is NOT an easy A but you will be able to write quality papers. He really cares when you show up, sit in the front, and take notes. Pay attention and he will notice. Good luck :)
Honestly his class wasn't bad at all. he just goes on random rants a lot, mumbling to himself. But overall if you do your discussions and essays you will pass.
Professor Burke is lenient as I may say, he is understanding once you don't challenge him. Your writing will become A1 with his grading. Please attend class on time; even though he just talks on and on. Complete all the Discussions and bonus essays, they are life savers. I tried my best and was almost at a C but with his understanding I got a B.
The professor is alright, however he loves to ramble on and on about politics and I personally feel like going to his class is a waste of my time. The class is easy however you have to work hard for a decent grade which I understand.
I wouldn't reccomend Professor Burks he rants and rants instead of teaching the class I was 1 point away to passing the class but the final. But the only thing I can say that helped with my writing is his feedback overall do not take this professor ever
Best English professor at Broward College. Get ready to write a lot (obviously), you definitely can't just phone it in with him. If you plan to be an English major, I definitely recommend him, he'll help prepare you for higher levels of collegiate work.
Professor Burks was not the worst professor I've had, he does rant a lot while lecturing. He does give a lot of papers to do, but he always gives good feedback. He cares about you putting effort into your work. AND do not miss a class it would be hard to come back from.
He was an awful, careless professor who ranted during his entire lecture, hardly even teaching; that being said, he knows English and provides good feedback, but I'd never retake him. My recommendation Is don't ever take him for your own sanity.
Not the worst professor I've had. However, he is a very tough grader and it seems he expects you to be a professional writer. Attendance is a grade, even though he pretty much just yaps about nothing the entire lecture. What I do like about him is that he gave great feedback on all of the assignments. If you aren't a good writer, don't take him
Talks majority of the time throughout the lecture sometimes not about the assignment itself and grades very difficult
Prof. Zachary Burks provides excellent feedback after you submit your essays for review. Yes, he does rant during the classes but there are few gems that he drops here and there. Please note that if you choose his blended class, you only meet one time for the week and you have to do additional work on your own.
All he does is rant sitting in class is a waste of time. He accused my class of using AI for essays which was insane because our essay was about our lives. He's very quick to fail you even if you put the effort. I was never under a B in high school, starting college I realized quickly he didn't really care he just fails you pretty quick.
Prof. Burks is known for his engaging yet lengthy lectures. While his feedback is invaluable, be prepared to write extensively. Stay engaged, and unstuck study AI can complement your study efforts. Overall, a rewarding experience for aspiring writers.
yes he rants, but his feedback and knowledge is so valuable especially if you are in a related major. put in your best effort and you will see your writing improve. i recommend working on the class a little each day whether that's reading or writing, be consistent. make sure to attend class!
He rants and mumbles a lot in his lectures and gives a lot of analogies, but if you listen and pay attention, you will learn what he is talking about. He is very helpful and knowledgeable when you ask questions. He is a tough grader and wants you to be more descriptive in your papers. Gives optional bonus assignments.
Be prepared to work as hard as you've ever worked for an average grade. EXTREMELY tough grader! He never actually teaches the class and instead just rambles on about politics or his personal life. Expects you to write like Shakespeare and anything less than will not suffice for him. If you're not an excellent writer STAY AWAY.
He is a interesting guy. Rambles more than he teaches and is a very tough, specific grader. If you're looking just for the credit and not interested in real tough feedback on your writing, dont take him. He seems a little mean and tough but is smart and cares. The class was a bit tough but it taught me a lot. (5papers total)(1research)
This man is not a bad teacher if you want someone straight forward. However, you will spend most your class time being lectured about anything and everything other than english. You will gain most of your learning through online notes rather than class time. Class is mandatory and he will drop you if you dont attend.
I would not recommend taking him at all. I cried throughout the semester before figuring out that he just wants us to use as atleast 10 references, semicolons in every paragraph and copy people's writing style. I took Dr. Dewey for ENC1102 and he helped me improve way better that Prof. Burks ever could. If you are not a good writer...run.
Mr. Burks was my first eng teacher and, I was SO shocked at how he was always ranting for 1hr+ about how much he hates kids these days, AI/tech, the English department, or politics. So, very unprofessional but always talks about professionally. Work wise DEF a tough grader! he expects you to write like Mary Shelly or E.A.P..
I do not like this professor at all. It's crazy how i've learned better in English 1, unlike his class and he was my English 2 professor. He uses the class time to just rant about AI, politics, his life sometimes; he yaps more than teaching the class and I haven't learned ANYTHING from him. Expects the class to write like Shakespeare.
all he does is talk for the entire duration of the class about everything except english. he's a tad bit of a tough grader but it didnt bother me, although i felt like we had quite a bit of papers and discussions. one thing worth mentioning, is he did blatantly say that if he doesn't like how you are as a student it'll reflect in your grades.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
97%
Textbook Required
46%
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