Professor
Stephen Dickey
1 of 3
Most Helpful Review
OVERALL: Professor Dickey’s Introduction to Poetry (ENGL 91A) was an enjoyable, rewarding class. The course overviewed various forms, functions, and techniques of English poetry. Course readings range from poems many centuries old to contemporary poetry. The class is not hard, but it takes some work. STRUCTURE: The lectures were roughly structured as follows. Professor Dickey provided a list with assigned readings for each class, organized by themes (e.g., sonnets, elegies, or love poetry). The reading was not long—maybe ten to fifteen poems per class—and the time it takes to complete them depends on how much one would like to analyze the poems. In class, Professor Dickey would typically begin with a introduction to the day’s theme and then go on to create a class discussion in analyzing one or a few poems. His introductions were insightful, organized, and well thought out. The discussions were a pretty interesting experience. The room is filled with about one-hundred fifty smart people and anyone can raise a hand and contribute an understanding to the poem under discussion, which was deconstructed line by line. In my experience, sometimes this was fun and sometimes it was dragged out. GRADES: Midterm, essay, discussion, and final. - Discussion work is not stressful. My TA, Miss Tally Ravid, was an incredible person and teacher. Her sections were enjoyable. Both the TA’s for this class were great people. - The midterm was pretty similar to what was in the test bank—includes some vocabulary, scansion for two poems, and a free response essay. Makes up a nice chunk of your grade, so do or die. It’s not hard if you put in an adequate amount of work. - The essay was pretty open to however you approached it. Professor Dickey gave a couple of topics and you can choose to write about any poem in the Norton Anthology of Poetry (the class text). If you are a good writer and put in the time, you will do well. -The final was similar to the midterm, but with two free-response questions. -There were two ungraded assignments: a poetry reading in front of the class by heart and a poem that you write yourself. Could be horrible or wonderful. It’s truly ungraded. ADVICE: - Go to the test bank and get the old tests. - The class textbook is available as a torrent if you’re into thievery. - Do the readings to make the most of the class. Try to engage with them when you have free time. The texts are popular and you’ll encounter them later in life. If you want to really walk out of this class gaining a lot, you will have to be proactive. - Know how to write before you take this class. - Use Quizlet to learn the poem identifications he puts on the exams. Just search for his class and there are a bunch of sets already made. - Consider taking this class during your freshman year, especially if you are a premed student. Getting the A is not difficult, and the style of the class is conducive to making new friends. I took it as a freshman in fall of 2013 and it definitely helped me transition into college. The instructors were really nice, too, and will give you good feedback if you pursue it.
OVERALL: Professor Dickey’s Introduction to Poetry (ENGL 91A) was an enjoyable, rewarding class. The course overviewed various forms, functions, and techniques of English poetry. Course readings range from poems many centuries old to contemporary poetry. The class is not hard, but it takes some work. STRUCTURE: The lectures were roughly structured as follows. Professor Dickey provided a list with assigned readings for each class, organized by themes (e.g., sonnets, elegies, or love poetry). The reading was not long—maybe ten to fifteen poems per class—and the time it takes to complete them depends on how much one would like to analyze the poems. In class, Professor Dickey would typically begin with a introduction to the day’s theme and then go on to create a class discussion in analyzing one or a few poems. His introductions were insightful, organized, and well thought out. The discussions were a pretty interesting experience. The room is filled with about one-hundred fifty smart people and anyone can raise a hand and contribute an understanding to the poem under discussion, which was deconstructed line by line. In my experience, sometimes this was fun and sometimes it was dragged out. GRADES: Midterm, essay, discussion, and final. - Discussion work is not stressful. My TA, Miss Tally Ravid, was an incredible person and teacher. Her sections were enjoyable. Both the TA’s for this class were great people. - The midterm was pretty similar to what was in the test bank—includes some vocabulary, scansion for two poems, and a free response essay. Makes up a nice chunk of your grade, so do or die. It’s not hard if you put in an adequate amount of work. - The essay was pretty open to however you approached it. Professor Dickey gave a couple of topics and you can choose to write about any poem in the Norton Anthology of Poetry (the class text). If you are a good writer and put in the time, you will do well. -The final was similar to the midterm, but with two free-response questions. -There were two ungraded assignments: a poetry reading in front of the class by heart and a poem that you write yourself. Could be horrible or wonderful. It’s truly ungraded. ADVICE: - Go to the test bank and get the old tests. - The class textbook is available as a torrent if you’re into thievery. - Do the readings to make the most of the class. Try to engage with them when you have free time. The texts are popular and you’ll encounter them later in life. If you want to really walk out of this class gaining a lot, you will have to be proactive. - Know how to write before you take this class. - Use Quizlet to learn the poem identifications he puts on the exams. Just search for his class and there are a bunch of sets already made. - Consider taking this class during your freshman year, especially if you are a premed student. Getting the A is not difficult, and the style of the class is conducive to making new friends. I took it as a freshman in fall of 2013 and it definitely helped me transition into college. The instructors were really nice, too, and will give you good feedback if you pursue it.
AD
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2022 - This class was a rollercoaster for me. As previous reviews have noted, there are really no assignments other than the midterm, the essay, and the final. The midterm was difficult. We were asked to write an analytical essay on a poem we have never seen within 1.5 hours. We never went over writing analytical essays, so all the students kind of went in bad. I came out of the exam not very confident and was extremely surprised when I had received a A+. A few weeks later in week 9, a 6-8 page paper on a poem was due. I was super proud and confident that I did well - I got a C. At this point, this class became frustrating as we weren't being graded on what we were learning. In lecture, we went over poems in a seminar style - not once going over any techniques. Going into the final, I was scared. We were asked to basically memorize 100 pages on poetry and asnwer questions on them on top of writing 2 essays within the three hours. After the final, I was convinced I had failed. This class that I was acing through 9 weeks felt like it just suplexed me and my GPA into the ground. A class that required little no no effort that was going to give me a C really pissed me off. I check myUCLA during spring break and my official grade is marked as an A. Professor never told us about any curve or the grade distribution. I still don't even know my final. I have to reccomend this class as an GE becuase it is by all definitions an easy A, but a surprsing one, if that makes sense.
Winter 2022 - This class was a rollercoaster for me. As previous reviews have noted, there are really no assignments other than the midterm, the essay, and the final. The midterm was difficult. We were asked to write an analytical essay on a poem we have never seen within 1.5 hours. We never went over writing analytical essays, so all the students kind of went in bad. I came out of the exam not very confident and was extremely surprised when I had received a A+. A few weeks later in week 9, a 6-8 page paper on a poem was due. I was super proud and confident that I did well - I got a C. At this point, this class became frustrating as we weren't being graded on what we were learning. In lecture, we went over poems in a seminar style - not once going over any techniques. Going into the final, I was scared. We were asked to basically memorize 100 pages on poetry and asnwer questions on them on top of writing 2 essays within the three hours. After the final, I was convinced I had failed. This class that I was acing through 9 weeks felt like it just suplexed me and my GPA into the ground. A class that required little no no effort that was going to give me a C really pissed me off. I check myUCLA during spring break and my official grade is marked as an A. Professor never told us about any curve or the grade distribution. I still don't even know my final. I have to reccomend this class as an GE becuase it is by all definitions an easy A, but a surprsing one, if that makes sense.
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2020 - This class is great!! The plays we read (2 a week, usually 50-70 pages each) were very interesting. His lectures can become a bit dry but overall they're very helpful. One essay, a midterm, and a final. The midterm and final are pretty easy if you've read the plays. Overall, it's not a huge workload but you definitely need to read the majority of the plays.
Fall 2020 - This class is great!! The plays we read (2 a week, usually 50-70 pages each) were very interesting. His lectures can become a bit dry but overall they're very helpful. One essay, a midterm, and a final. The midterm and final are pretty easy if you've read the plays. Overall, it's not a huge workload but you definitely need to read the majority of the plays.
Most Helpful Review
Professor Dickey was a great teacher! Class discussions were wonderful. My TA was AWESOME! Get Conor O'Sullivan if you can. The midterm was reasonable. There is a scansion part and an essay writing portion. The final was more difficult, as it was 66% essay writing. All in all, a very rewarding class and a fun experience.
Professor Dickey was a great teacher! Class discussions were wonderful. My TA was AWESOME! Get Conor O'Sullivan if you can. The midterm was reasonable. There is a scansion part and an essay writing portion. The final was more difficult, as it was 66% essay writing. All in all, a very rewarding class and a fun experience.
AD
Most Helpful Review
Professor Dickey is very knowledgeable and I definitely enjoyed that he made the class very interactive. Going to class is important since he loves to give out quizzes. I liked that his papers topics were on very short passages, thus forcing students to really close read. The only problem I had was that he didnt' have too much structure with the TAs. I had Holly Moyer and I'm telling you now AVOID HER AT ALL COSTS. She's condescending, takes forever to answer e-mails and is a very harsh grader. She wants graduate level work but doesn't work with her students to achieve this. Other than that, it was a good class and as long as you read the final was pretty simple.
Professor Dickey is very knowledgeable and I definitely enjoyed that he made the class very interactive. Going to class is important since he loves to give out quizzes. I liked that his papers topics were on very short passages, thus forcing students to really close read. The only problem I had was that he didnt' have too much structure with the TAs. I had Holly Moyer and I'm telling you now AVOID HER AT ALL COSTS. She's condescending, takes forever to answer e-mails and is a very harsh grader. She wants graduate level work but doesn't work with her students to achieve this. Other than that, it was a good class and as long as you read the final was pretty simple.
1 of 3
