Does your mind go blank during the five minutes they give you toward
the end of the semester to fill out a course evaluation
sheet? If so, you're not alone. Prepare to give a memorable evaluation
and study the following list.
"This class was a religious experience for me...
I had to take it all on faith."
"Text makes a satisfying 'thud' when dropped on
the floor."
"The class is worthwhile because I need it for the
degree."
"His blackboard technique puts Rembrandt to shame."
"Textbook is confusing... Someone with a knowledge
of English should proofread it."
"Have you ever fallen asleep in class and awakened
in another? That's the way I felt all semester."
"In class I learned that I can fudge answers and
get away with it."
"Keep lecturer or tenure board will be shot."
"The recitation instructor would make a good parking
lot attendant. Tries to tell you where to go, but you can never
understand him."
"Text is useless. I use it to kill roaches in my
room."
"In class the syllabus is more important than you
are."
"Help! I've fallen asleep and I can't wake up!"
"This course kept me out of trouble from 2-4:30
on Tuesdays and Thursdays."
"Most of us spent the first 3 weeks terrified of
the class. Then solidarity kicked in."
"Bogus number crunching. My HP is exhausted."
"The absolute value of the TA was less than epsilon."
"TA steadily improved throughout the course... I
think he started drinking and it really loosened him up."
"Information was presented like a ruptured fire
hose: spraying in all directions, no way to stop it."
"I never bought the text. My $60 was better spent
on the Led Zeppelin tapes that I used more while doing the problem sets
than I would have used the text."
"What's the quality of the text? 'Text is printed
on high quality paper.'"
"Recitation was great. It was so confusing that
I forgot who I was, where I was, and what I was doing--it's a great stress
reliever."
"I am convinced that you can learn by osmosis by
just sitting in his class."
"He is one of the best teachers I have had... He
is well-organized, presents good lectures, and creates interest in the
subject. I hope my comments don't hurt his chances
of getting tenure."
"I would sit in class and stare out the window at
the squirrels. They've got a cool nest in the tree."
"He teaches like Speedy Gonzalez on a caffeine high."
"Problem sets are a decoy to lure you away from
potential exam material."