Professor
Debora Shuger
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2020 - Professor Shuger's class was chaotic and difficult to put it simply. She ensures that it is impossible to get a decent grade with her unreasonable focus on grammar rather than on your understanding of the content of the readings itself. The workload throughout the quarter is made up of weekly short essays where she asks students to pose a question about the reading and attempt to answer it. While this may seem simple, Shuger takes a ridiculous amount of time to line edit each essay based on the grammar she prefers and grades harshly if you misplace a single comma or use what she deems to be the incorrect use of common words like "as" and "similar," often barring them completely from use in the essays. On top of all of this, she grades on a check, check plus, check minus scale, which translates poorly into legitimate letter grades. All of the lectures are scattered and poorly planned – often with problematic anecdotes thrown in every now and then. They do little to none in terms of aiding in student understanding of the complicated readings, leading to essays that she once again deems as subpar. The only positive thing about this class is Shuger's absurd fascination with the power of the internet and that everything has a wikipedia page. But that does not make this class worth your time. Do. Not. Take. This. Class.
Winter 2020 - Professor Shuger's class was chaotic and difficult to put it simply. She ensures that it is impossible to get a decent grade with her unreasonable focus on grammar rather than on your understanding of the content of the readings itself. The workload throughout the quarter is made up of weekly short essays where she asks students to pose a question about the reading and attempt to answer it. While this may seem simple, Shuger takes a ridiculous amount of time to line edit each essay based on the grammar she prefers and grades harshly if you misplace a single comma or use what she deems to be the incorrect use of common words like "as" and "similar," often barring them completely from use in the essays. On top of all of this, she grades on a check, check plus, check minus scale, which translates poorly into legitimate letter grades. All of the lectures are scattered and poorly planned – often with problematic anecdotes thrown in every now and then. They do little to none in terms of aiding in student understanding of the complicated readings, leading to essays that she once again deems as subpar. The only positive thing about this class is Shuger's absurd fascination with the power of the internet and that everything has a wikipedia page. But that does not make this class worth your time. Do. Not. Take. This. Class.
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2023 - I had to pass/no pass this class. Honestly, it was a rough quarter so I can't fully say it was Shugar's fault, but please don't take Shugar. Her lecturing is all over the place. She jumped from one topic to another and then back to the first topic and then another topic. Her slides aren't very helpful either. The readings were difficult. She grades papers on grammar rather than intellectual thought. What was cool was that you could've turned in a project with quotes from the readings or other prestigious snotty sources instead of a paper. I just wouldn't recommend this class.
Winter 2023 - I had to pass/no pass this class. Honestly, it was a rough quarter so I can't fully say it was Shugar's fault, but please don't take Shugar. Her lecturing is all over the place. She jumped from one topic to another and then back to the first topic and then another topic. Her slides aren't very helpful either. The readings were difficult. She grades papers on grammar rather than intellectual thought. What was cool was that you could've turned in a project with quotes from the readings or other prestigious snotty sources instead of a paper. I just wouldn't recommend this class.
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Most Helpful Review
Spring 2022 - Professor Shuger is an extremely credible instructor at this University. She is highly knowledgeable about the class content and passionate about what she teaches. In this class, she assigns various legal readings which were actually interesting to read. The course is intended for pre-law students, therefore, it wasn't easy. There were dense readings and short weekly papers, but there was no final paper which you won't find in a lot of English seminars. Professor Shuger is also very kind and willing to meet with her students to help them stay on track with the course. The knowledge gained from this class will actually help students if they aspire to become lawyers. Yes, English legal history isn't American legal history but there are some similarities and trends between the two which can help any pre-law student gain some knowledge in the legal field before applying to law school. I personally genuinely enjoyed this class and have no regrets about taking it. It has helped better my writing skills and has prepared me well for my future career aspirations. If you're trying to find a seminar to take for your Senior seminar requirement and are intending to use your English degree to go to law school, take this class with Professor Shuger. It's genuinely worth it and you will learn a lot.
Spring 2022 - Professor Shuger is an extremely credible instructor at this University. She is highly knowledgeable about the class content and passionate about what she teaches. In this class, she assigns various legal readings which were actually interesting to read. The course is intended for pre-law students, therefore, it wasn't easy. There were dense readings and short weekly papers, but there was no final paper which you won't find in a lot of English seminars. Professor Shuger is also very kind and willing to meet with her students to help them stay on track with the course. The knowledge gained from this class will actually help students if they aspire to become lawyers. Yes, English legal history isn't American legal history but there are some similarities and trends between the two which can help any pre-law student gain some knowledge in the legal field before applying to law school. I personally genuinely enjoyed this class and have no regrets about taking it. It has helped better my writing skills and has prepared me well for my future career aspirations. If you're trying to find a seminar to take for your Senior seminar requirement and are intending to use your English degree to go to law school, take this class with Professor Shuger. It's genuinely worth it and you will learn a lot.
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