Fumerton was fun. Despite the constant tech issues, she was witty and really cared about the material and her students. As long as you do the readings, take notes during lecture, and participate during section and lecture, you'll be completely OK for the plot/lecture-based tests. The essays have been replaced with weekly, easy-to-write journals.
Lecture seemed a little heavy, but interesting to understand the context of the three Shakespeare plays (Taming,Richard II, Hamlet). She can be hilarious at times, especially having tech difficulties during lecture, but seems passionate to teach. Read each play and go over notes carefully bc exams are testing on plot and character analysis.
Professor Fumerton is a character. She's quite eccentric during lectures which makes it interesting and distracting at the same time. I personally didn't pay much attention in lectures because of this and did poorly on tests so make sure you're paying extra attention. Also I had a rough TA so my experience wasn't very positive. DO THE READING!!!
Prof Funerton was super nice and very understanding and kind when I got COVID and couldnt attend lecture. Not super enthusiastic, but she makes really interesting points and makes jokes, I really liked her and the course
If you are looking for an easy class, this is not one. However, if you are looking for an easy english class as an english major, this is it. Patricia is very caring, especially in her honors lecture, where she goes far more in depth with the material.
LOVED my TA and the professor was nice, hated this class though. I took it pass/no pass so it ended up being fine but honestly it was so much work. 5 plays, 2 papers, and exams are hard (you must read all plays in detail because you have passage identifications which require play and character). Way too much work if you don't LOVE Shakespeare.
Very energetic. Lectures were always interesting, and sometimes had her TAs do guest lectures. iClickers were new this quarter, but it was an easy A in participation for just going to lecture. Likes to call out the people in her honors section and in the front row of lecture. Gets to know students in lecture my name.
She is a nice grandma type of professor who cares about students, but only take this course if you're a 1st year; her easiness gets annoying if you're an older student. Easiest english class ever. Readings are a must to pass, but she sometimes mentions useless background info in lecture that might show up in midtermfinals.
She's funny. Her lectures are helpful and adhere to test material, readings are always relevant and easy and fun. She shows films which is pretty cool. Grading was very fair: not an easy A, but fairly easy multiple choice tests. Only complaint is that she was disorganized at times, but she always cleared things up. I loved this class.
She is so good! She made me appreciate Shakespeare. Attend lecture because they will be important in tests. Essays are okay. Overall good class! Would recommend it!
The class is really interesting, and the quizzes are basically taken directly from the lectures. She is very helpful, and the two essays are not bad. I definitely recommend this class,
Entertaining, funny, enthusiastic, eccentric in a good way and easy to follow. Puts all the lectures online. Just study lecture notes for tests (easy multiple choice), show up for free iclicker points, 2 short essays. Easiest and shortest honors section I've ever attended. Her TAs were not that great.
Awesome teacher, really fun to listen to, and the class over all dealing with shakespeare is really fun. Great stuff!
Even though the concepts are hard she makes it fun! The tests are easy as long as you attend lectures. Pretty easy class and the prof is really funny.
Her lectures and theses are WAY too complicated and intricate. This makes lecture hard to listen to and (hate to say it) boring. BUT some of her points were interesting, and she has a cute, quirky personality. The exams and papers were not too bad (1 4pg &1 8pg). Lecture is very important for final.
Professor is AWFUL...can't understand her lectures, she has the MOST ANNOYING voice you've ever heard...for hours after her lecture the croaking squeakiness of her tone will haunt you. Her arguments are not only weak but generally incomprehensible. Wears maternity pants most of the time. She refers to outside sources w/o connecting to text.
If you are good at bsing about themes and what not then this is the class for you. Do not take this for a fun intro to Shakespeare. This class is work heavy (2 essays [4&8 pgs], midterm, long final, weekly assignments in section with mandatory discussion and attendance). Unless you love analyzing plays to the point of absurdity, find something else
Hard exams, I worked very hard for a B+. But I walked away with a newfound appreciation for the course material...which I was not terribly fond of to begin with. I enjoyed the material and the lectures, but the tests were very hard.
Prof. Fumerton is a great innstuctor! She covered the material throughly and kept her lectures interesting. She loves to tease and use the TA's as examples. I recommened her only if you have an interest in reading, she has very tough exams.
I, too, was dreading mid-evil English; but Paddy's approach allowed me to appreciate it, and actually enjoy much of the reading. Her exams can be a challenge, even when you've done all of the reading. But a challenge can be a good thing.
Before I began this class, I DESPISED the course material, but am now fascinated. This prof is extraordinarily knowledgeable in her chosen field, and her enthusiasm is infectious. Still not my primary time period of interest, but the class was a pleasant surprise. Grading: tough. I'm a good student, and I worked my @ss of for a b+
Professor Fumerton was a great professor. She turned a subject that I wasn't very interested in into a class that I never wanted to miss. The assigned reading is interesting, and Professor Fumerton has fun pointing out things that are dirty or controversial. I would love to take more classes with her.
One of the BEST classes I took at UCSB! Loved her lectures, her style, her film screenings, her multimedia approach... HIGHLY recommended. I was a non-honors student and took her Honors section and I loved that too.
I love Prof. Fumerton. She has so much energy and always puts it towards the class. Take a class from her because you'll be glad that you did!