While the premise of this class is very good, Samolsky is a VERY difficult lecturer to follow. He is looking for the "right" answer in a discussion-sized class, which is frustrating and can make the class hard to participate in. This course was frustrating, with only 2/3 graded items (participation + final paper (or a midterm/final paper combo)).

It's stressful that the class is just two papers and participation, but I loved Samolsky as an introduction to upper division English. He's really knowledgeable and I swear he improved my vocabulary. I really like that he is a professor who seems genuinely interested and excited by what you have to say, he never cuts you off when you're talking.

Good seminar. Lot of reading but the books are all short. Felt like a good capstone to my degree. One 15 page paper like any seminar but numerous prompts were given with the option to choose our own as well. Graded fairly, you'll get the grade you deserve. Take if you want a seminar with a great author handled by a great prof

One midterm, one final. takes attendance but wasnt transparent with our participation grades. Some of the books seemed outside of the scope of the class. don't give away all ur good ideas in class bc he requires new, original, unheard of ideas for your paper so u can't repeat what u said in class even if it was YOU who brought it up initially.

I absolutely loved having Professor Samolsky; he definitely changed the ball game in terms of class-taking and being an English major for me. For the first time I've decided to take classes based on brilliance of the professor, more than an easy A. Professor Samolsky was inspirational, brilliant, eloquent, and extremely chill. I love him!

Outstanding professor. Samolsky's seminar was by far the best led seminar I have taken at UCSB. He really sharpens your analytical abilities and gives you all the tools you need to be a better writer. By the end of this class, you will appreciate the work of Coetzee, no matter how you feel when the course starts.

Prof. Samolsky provided for a very interesting and engaging class. He is good at leading discussions and keeping them going. He's friendly and very easy to get along with too. He's a fair to generous grader. Do the reading, show up, be active, and you'll do well. I would take him again.

Really funny and giggly. Books were interesting to read. Easy grader. Would definitely take another one of his classes!

awesome, awesome professor. wacky and giggly and certainly knows his stuff. he is kinda hot too. really sparked my interest in South African Literature and the history. Teaches really well in a small class. Do the reading and you will enjoy this class so much.

Amazing professor. I seriously want to take every class he offers. Always bring your book, always come to class, and speak up. If you do those three things, you will get a good grade. Essays are a bit tough though.

Best Professor!

Surprisingly unpretentious. For once I actually followed and agreed with what an English professor was saying. The lectures were interesting and his accent is nice. Readings were all great, the class was a treat. PS I'm in love!

class was easy, papers were fair, but final was ridiculous and pretty much impossible to do.

Absolute garbage. He pretty much typed and read an essay for each class instead of teaching. Luckily the books he assigned were actually good so it wasn't a complete waste of time.

awesome professor. loved this class. didn't think i would like british literature, but his accent made the class more appealing somehow. topics were very interesting and lectures were enjoyable. he's really nice and helpful.

Great professor!!! I love British literature and his reading selections were wonderful (heart of darkness, passage to india, poetry, zadie smith's white teeth). Very insightful, charming, great sense of humor as well. (south african accent isn't to hard on the ears either) Assignments were fair (2 papers, in class final), good TAs too.

Can I marry him? I love his South African accent and go to lecture just to hear him speak. Not to mention he is a brilliant man. I have such a crush on him.

Professor Samolsky is truly awesome - his lectures are very entertaining and his reading selections were really good.

a rather grim subject (atrocities in history) but he kept the class from being depressing. Good personality and really want to talk with the students. grades fairly easy on the 3 five page papers. Attendance is a big part of your grade, no final was a plus. 9 books assigned, you get get away with only reading 3 if you wanted, 1 for each paper.