As a newly minted professor, Professor Weaver is, unlike some of the professors in the English Department, quite grounded, practical, and understanding in the way she deals with students. Despite clearly being brilliant and immensely knowledgeable in her area of expertise, she lacks anything resembling the self-serving academic ego that can at times be common in the department. Accordingly, she makes every class an active discussion – without the anxiety and pressure of strict participation requirements or cold-calling. Beyond this, she has one of the most welcoming office hours presences I’ve encountered and was always more than willing to talk to students.

On the more pragmatic side, the course had a relatively straightforward breakdown:
20% participation
30% weekly responses on CCLE
25% Midterm Paper
25% Final Paper

The 50% coming from participation and weekly responses are straightforward and shouldn’t be an issue as long as you keep up with the readings. The participation requirement is fair and if you speak up once or twice per class or make the effort to talk with her in office hours, shouldn’t pose much of a concern.

As far as the papers go, Weaver is a slightly harder grader compared to other professors I’ve had but does so out a desire to help you grow as a writer. I received more feedback, genuinely thoughtful feedback, on my papers from her than I have from any other professor. On the topic of her being understanding of the student experience, she allowed us to each individually select from a few dates to turn in the papers, such that we could limit stress by planning our quarter to not have numerous deadlines fall on the same day.

All in all, I can’t recommend taking a class with Weaver enough. Whether it be for the historical requirement or elective enjoyment, she manages to make even the densest Medieval material provoke interesting considerations and discussions that are contemporarily relevant. Honestly, my only gripe would be that her effort, and success, in conducting class in this organic manner occasionally limited the extent to which we got to hear her own thoughts on some of the works.