Feedback

Eng 165RD, Fall 2011

How to Read a Book

This course is a survey of literary theory.

“Please rate the overall quality of the instructor’s teaching”

Average rating: 4.9 of 5 (♣♣♣♣♣ Excellent; ♣♣♣♣ Very Good; ♣♣♣ Good; ♣♣ Fair; ♣ Poor)

♣♣♣♣♣ Excellent at facilitating classroom discussion. Very respectful of ideas.

♣♣♣♣♣ Really intelligent, great teacher. Content is both fun and stimulating. Would like to see a little more lecturing and a little less group work. Other than that, he is excellent!

♣♣♣♣♣ Great teacher; facilitates discussion well and has a thorough understanding of the subject. He is an approachable person. Sometimes lecture could seem unstructured.

♣♣♣♣♣ A really interesting class that pose unique questions to students to think about the value/ purpose of reading as well as how we perceive education. Helpful, insightful, thought-provoking!

♣♣♣♣♣ 165RD was an enjoyable class. The assigned readings and class discussions were extremely relevant.

♣♣♣♣♣ This was one of the most unique and interesting classes I’ve ever taken, and has actually shed light on why I am an English major and has made me appreciate literature so much more and the impact it has on society.

♣♣♣♣♣ Amazing professor, I loved the discussion-based lecture. Always readily available to talk and is extremely approachable! A+!

♣♣♣♣♣ Class was not very structured which allowed for open discussion and discourse. Overall, very great!

♣♣♣♣♣ Loved the focus of the course. Learned to think of reading and works in an entirely new way.

♣♣♣♣♣ This class was a breath of fresh air. Infinite thanks!

♣♣♣♣♣ Excellent class, helpful, insightful, intelligent professor. Would definitely recommend to future students.

♣♣♣♣♣ Wonderful! Great subject for a class. Ken is funny, encouraging, on point, informative, very open and just great.

♣♣♣♣♣ Professor Hiltner was a great professor. Extremely helpful. He is always willing to accommodate students. Furthermore, he’s very positive and always open to student’s suggestions about the class in general, and about the different readings. Lastly, he’s very understanding. Great prof!

♣♣♣♣♣ Prof. Hiltner is great! The set up for the class is excellent, there is always good class discussions, and the reading materials were all very interesting. Excellent professor and I’m very glad I got to take a class of his.

♣♣♣♣♣ One of the most enjoyable and educational classes I’ve had at UCSB. Hiltner expertly leads discussions in class and chooses works that further the class in very illuminating ways

♣♣♣♣♣ I very much enjoyed this class, but would’ve liked more time. It was very interesting. I appreciated the freedom in paper topics. I think it was great to use texts to start discussion on contemporary events. Thank you

♣♣♣♣♣ This was an excellent class and I really enjoyed Professor Hiltner. He engaged everyone in discussion really well and made the class interesting. I like that the structure of the class was loose because it didn’t feel rushed and it left more time for in-depth discussion. Really, really enjoyed it.

♣♣♣♣♣ Wouldn’t change a thing. Very talented professor.

♣♣♣♣♣ One of the most caring and attentive professors I’ve ever had. Great at facilitating discussion and at encouraging students to speak their mind confidently.

♣♣♣♣♣ He was my favorite teacher this quarter. Actually treats us like intelligent adults. He doesn’t take attendance, which is great. Very approachable. The laidback teaching style was perfect for class intellectual conversations.

♣♣♣♣♣ Just an excellent forum for provocative and intellectual/contemporary relevant conversations. I think this would function much better as an honors seminar with less students. Great facilitator of discussion. I have to stay in touch as a tackle more “great books”. Thanks for the insight.

♣♣♣♣ Professor Hiltner is brilliant and so kind. His classes are always enjoyable and I have greatly benefitted from being in his class.

♣♣♣♣ I think Prof. Hiltner did a great job teaching this course, especially considering that is a newly designed one. It was a welcome change from most English classes in that it was 100% discussion-oriented and that the discussions were more limited to the texts provided. If it were going to be taught again, I would get through How to Read a Book first, maybe in a few weeks, then do other readings later.

♣♣♣ Very kind and helpful. Kept class discussion going. Wide variety of readings.

♣♣♣ The syllabus is very vague and the lectures weren’t very organized. I did enjoy the readings. They were very interesting, and I would not have read them on my own.

♣♣♣ Some readings very good, while the textbook (How to Read a Book) left something to be desired. As Prof. Hiltner suggested, it could use a rewrite. Hiltner is masterful at leading in class discussions though, so they were obviously enjoyable.

Unrated I really enjoyed this class. I appreciated all of the in-class discussion. I feel that is a great way to stimulate one’s mind and learn. Thanks for picking excerpts to match the direction the class was going rather than having a set-in-stone reading list. I read to better understand myself.