BERMAN J (ENGL)

This class is called "Fiction." Of course you have to read for it! The reading is very manageable as long as you don't procrastinate. Berman was quite a character. He doesn't own a cell phone and seems like the kind of guy who would live alone in a barren, wood-floored apartment with a mattress on the ground and endless rows of novels as furniture. He is very understanding in his grading. You can't make below an 85 on the mid-term or final if he feels that your paper shows that you read the book. In fact, you can take the test (of any grade) to his office, have a few minute conversation, and if he feels that you read and understood the book then he'll bump it up to an 85. There are no excuses in this course - other than being too lazy to read the books. He even says on the first day of class that if you read all the books cover-to-cover, then you will almost assuredly make an A.

This class requires a lot of reading and writing. If you like to read, take this class. If not, definitely don't. The only grades you get in this class are for reading 7 books throughout the semester and writing a 2 page paper on each one. You also have a midterm and a final exam, which take quotes from the novels and require you to determine what novel they are from and write about how it relates to the book as a whole. Not too bad.

honestly, the only thing that matters for this course is the instructor you get. i had aatkinson and he was THE BEST. your instructor grades everything you do so it berman or whoever that guy is doesnt mean anything to you. he gives lectures two days a week VERY QUICKLY, you can barely get all the information down. 7 awful books you MUST read. like i said, if you have a good instructor the class is somewhat enjoyable and fairly easy. the only thing berman does is give two impossible exams, which our teacher had to forcibly bring up our grades.

Dr. Berman is great, he's really smart and well-traveled and brings a lot to the discussions. He chooses interesting readings. Grades come from several short papers and 2 exams. The exams may seem difficult but they're really easy if you've read and gone to class.

lots of reading, there are seven novels. mid term and final are difficult if you don't read. seven papers, but as long as you read and pay attention, you'll be fine

I've spent so much time reading 7 books in this class for the semester and I wasn't happy with the result. The class helps you improve analytical skills and reading skill but the exams were challenging. But Dr. Berman seems to be very nice.

Dr. Berman actually cares about you as a person. He made the class personal, and was more than fair. He is one of the few teachers at LSU who actually impacts you as a person. Great man. Very highly recommended

I liked this class much more than I thought I would, mainly because of Dr. Berman. He is a new prof & is really into it. Read some interesting stuff, not the same ol' crap. You'll freak about exams but then they are easy, if you read!