Plan ahead for courses where students have earned lower grades.
Lowest historical GPA first. At least 100 letter grades over the five years through the selected term. Grades reflect past outcomes, not workload or a guaranteed result.
40 courses
Ranked courses have at least 100 recorded letter grades.
Introduction to British and American literature through particular writers and themes, analyzing their relevance and relationship to society.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Anja Jovic-Humphrey
One student noted the class met in three-hour night lectures, which the instructor helped make more bearable through invested teaching.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Examines the relation of culture and genetics to language properties, covering American English dialects, language disorders, and social identity.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Thomas Purnell
Weekly homework and a paper were described as pretty easy, though the course scope can feel vague.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Thematic introduction to modern literature in English from the early 20th century to present, covering U.S., British, Irish, and other Anglophone writers across various genres.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · David Zimmerman
One student reported that the course required a lot of reading, which contributed to a moderate difficulty rating.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Survey of English literature and culture through the 18th century, covering genres from epic to sonnet and developing critical reading and writing skills.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Joseph Bowling
The course involves significant reading but minimal assignments, with grades concentrated in a portfolio of reading responses and reflections. Bowling does not grade these assignments; TAs handle grading based on rubric interpretations.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to using literary texts to engage with class, race, gender, equality, immigration, and social justice.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Sarah Wood
Students reported lots of reading assignments in a short time, which allowed classtime to be used for productive and helpful discussions.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to oral and written literatures of native North America, examining forms like oratory, autobiography, and contemporary poetry across historical periods and tribal groups.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Susan Dominguez
Assignments, including full essays, were worth only 3-4 points, meaning small errors like citation mistakes resulted in significant point deductions.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Literature and Popular Culture examines the intersection of literature and popular culture across various forms and media.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Óscar Useche
Under Useche, one student reported reading 10-20+ pages or watching a 2-hour movie before each MWF class, plus endless discussion, a group project, and a paper with little instruction.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Structure of English covers linguistic methods for analyzing and describing English syntax and morphology.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Anja Wanner
The class required mandatory attendance, weekly quizzes, and a group project. Material could move quickly, so students were advised not to miss class. One student noted the course was not an easy A, though the instructor was a fair grader.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Explores English literature reflecting ethnic and minority experiences, focusing on multiculturalism and critical analysis of cultural texts.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Kristina Huang, Christine Goding-Doty
The workload included a decent amount of work, but students found it worth the effort. Reviewers emphasized the importance of completing readings and homework on time to succeed.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025Survey of historical, political, and aesthetic roots and directions of Latinx/e and Chicanx/e short stories, novels, poetry, music, plays, films, and essays.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Literature by American Indian Women presents a broad range of literatures from diverse Native traditions and eras to provide basic knowledge of major issues and best-known texts by American Indian women authors.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Susan Dominguez
A past student reported that attendance was mandatory, and that essay and discussion-post instructions were vague, with points deducted for missing details.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2023–Spring 2026Survey of English literature and culture from the 18th century to the present, covering world wars, empires, and new genres like the novel, while developing critical reading and writing skills.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Monique Allewaert
A 2018 student reported that grades were based on five papers and participation, and that the reading load was manageable.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to Theatre and Dramatic Literature covers reading plays, attending productions, and critical writing to develop analytic skills in theatre.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Scott Campbell
The course involved reading ten plays, with weekly quizzes and open-note online exams that were easy to pass.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to the interplay of literature and film in English, focusing on analyzing novels, stories, poems, and other writings and their representation and transformation in film. Specific topics vary.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Joseph Bowling
Students found the books extremely convoluted and incomprehensible. The class involved very few movies, and the ones selected were described as strange.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to the linguistic study of child language within the generative theory, covering Universal Grammar, syntax, semantics, and cross-linguistic influence.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Examines the depiction and valuation of other academic disciplines in British and American literature, including their intellectual influences on selected works and movements.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Joseph Bowling
The material can be dense, requiring close attention to understand, but the workload is generally described as light. Assessment typically includes two papers and a group presentation.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Creative Writing: Poetry Workshop focuses on writing literary poetry, including lyric and narrative forms.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Traces the role of Asia and Asians in American literature and culture, including Chinese and Japanese influences on modernism and distinct cultures produced by Asian immigrants.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Timothy YU
The class required two essays with multiple prompt options, but weekly discussion posts accounted for a significant portion of the final grade.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2025Introduction to TESOL Methods explores contexts, methods, and materials for teaching English to speakers of other languages.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Joseph Nosek
Students described a workload involving reading and watching videos, followed by answering questions. Exams were characterized as take-home and fair, with one student noting the professor was not a harsh grader.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Special Topics in Gender & Literature investigates a rotating specific topic connecting gender and women's studies with literature.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Advanced English major seminar focusing on critical reading, writing, and analysis of literary and theoretical issues.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Eileen Lagman
Readings are often long and concepts can be abstract, but students found the material fun and easy to navigate if they engaged with the content.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to Modern American Literature covering selected fiction, prose, drama, and poetry written by Americans from the early twentieth century to the present.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Anja Jovic-Humphrey
In past feedback, one student reported a light classload, mostly reading plus three easy writings/projects.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2025–Spring 2026Variable-topic course in Asian American literature emphasizing critical thinking, questioning assumptions, and participation in a multicultural society.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Timothy YU
One reviewer noted they could have skipped readings, while essay expectations were described as very clear.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025This course studies a specific topic in American literature and culture from 1900 onward. Students identify and critique topics, apply analytical methods to texts, and use writing to convey critical analysis.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Ramzi Fawaz
Students reported the class was reading-intensive, requiring hundreds of pages per week, though individual assignments were few in number.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026A workshop for writing literary fiction and poetry that involves reading selected contemporary writers as models.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Amy Quan Barry
You were required to complete all readings and homework before coming to class to ensure engagement with the texts.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026An introduction to creative writing focusing on fiction and poetry workshops, featuring readings of writers as models.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Kathryn Harlan
Grading emphasized effort and visible improvement over the semester rather than raw talent. Weekly sessions included open discussions where a few students' short stories or poems were critiqued.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to College Composition focuses on developing rhetorical reading, listening, and writing skills, with an emphasis on written communication and information literacy.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Elizabeth Capdevielle, James Eberhard
Elizabeth Capdevielle’s course required multiple drafts, peer review, and two large essay portfolios; James Eberhard’s took too much effort for three credits.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Study of a rotating topic in English language and linguistics, focusing on analyzing linguistic structures and constructing arguments about language, society, and literature.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Introduction to English literature about the natural world and humanity's relationship with it. Topics vary by section.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Frederic Neyrat
One student reported that the class had required eight of eleven weekly reading responses, one short paper, and two multiple-choice exams, and that lecture attendance was not required.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Women in Ethnic American Literature examines American literature by and about women from ethnic groups, focusing on key themes and the contemporary relevance of these works.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Kay Yandell
One past student rated the difficulty as very low, though they expressed frustration with the teaching quality.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026