Stauffer, Erma  

This is a lame site. The comments are statistically insignificant. Most comments lack basic grammar and spelling skills.

Erma was an awesome teacher. She gives no homework (other then the speeches themselves.) And there were two semi-easy take-home exams. PLEASE TAKE ERMA FOR SPEECH 101. You'll have a blast and become friends with everyone in your class.

She's hot!

There is nothing bad you can say about this lady. She is just an awesome person/teacher. You will have a great time in this class. Easiest A I have ever recieve. TAKE HER PLEASE!!!

stauffer is by far the best speech teacher ever! she makes you feel like you arent giving a speech when you are. i liked her because she was clear with what she wanted and gave you a lot of feedback. the class environment is relaxing for those who dread speeches

Stauffer was so easy! She said she hates grades, and wishes that learning was based on problem-solving, instead of getting the grade. Basically, she is a great woman, and gives you the grade for effort. I loved this class, and was sad to leave it on the last day! There is no final, just a third test, and a take-home assignment. There's barely any homework, and there are 5 graded speeches that are very fun. Take this class!

Erma is an excellent professor. She is very sincere and passionate about teaching. She has a great sense of humor. She will work with anyone who wants to improve. She is a great teacher, and will make you work for an A.

If you really want to learn to improve in speech, take Stauffer. She makes sure that students get to know each other which puts you in a comfortable environment to speak in. She's not the easiest grader, but it's one of those courses you take if you acutally want to learn. Her tests are really specific. She gives good feedback and gets the class very involved. Even if youa re scared of speaking, Stauffer seems to bring you out of your shell. She cares a lot about her students which really shows.

Stauffer is definitley one of the best teachers at Cal Poly. She really helps you with your speechs and understands that getting up in front of a crowd to speak can be nerve racking. She is out to help you improve and get better at speaking along with feeling more comfortable in front of a crowd. If anything, I'd recommend to really try and improve from speech to speech instead of just blowing off her comments. She has 3 quizzes that are 15 questions each and if you look over what she tells you to study you will get A's on each one. She's great, take her if you can!

She is a fun instructor to take, but it is very difficult to get an A in this class. We have 8 speeches to do, 2 for credit and 6 graded. She combines the grades the students gave to that particular speaker and takes the average of that, and then decides whether or not she should push it higher or pull it lower. What sucks about that is you have to win over your classmates to get a good grade on your speeches because most of them (in my class at least) are really hard graders. Unless you make them laugh and not bore them to death with your speeches, you'll have a chance to even get a B or higher. But Erma is really cool -- one thing for sure is you won't fall asleep in her class. If you have her early in the morning, she makes you do yoga and all these other exercises that will keep you awake for the rest of the day. Also, she gives take home tests, all true/false questions because she wants you to read and look for those answers so you understand more of the concept, instead of having to memorize steps and definitions. Good class overall!

TAKE ERMA!!! She was an awesome professor. She made everyone feel comfortable in front of the class, she explained the speeches that we had to do really well, and she was very open minded and accepting of different things. There are only 2 take home tests which are very easy, and you have about 8 speeches throughout the quarter. Her grading policy is awesome; the other students in the class grade one another's speeches and that's what Erma bases the grade she gave you off of. I highly recommend taking Erma for this class.

I can not say enoght nice things about Erma. She is the best teacher I have had at Cal Poly! I was dreading taking speech. I was prepared for this to be the worst class I had ever taken but it ended up being one of my favorates. She made everyone feel comfortable and relaxed even if we screwed up. She is funny, lively and unique. If you have the chance take this class from her!!

Erma was awesome! She works hard to make you feel comfortable and find your own speaking style. Grading is fair. She goes over most speeches right after you do them but doesn't embarass you. This is one of the first time that I feel I've actually learned something in a GE class.

I had Erma for SCOM 101 and she was excellent. SCOM can be a scary thing but she makes everything so easy and comfortable. i was upset when i had to miss this class because it was always so much fun. Take Erma no matter what time the class is, you will be very pleased.

Pretty much the best teacher I could have ever asked for. I hate public speaking, but she made it... not so horrible. She's understanding and sympathetic to lifes mishaps and she gets you to open up. She has a sense of humor and will give you honest feedback. Loved her.

Stauffer is awesome...i personally dont love giving speeches all that much but she made it so easy. the classes are small so its a good atmosphere and you get to know your classmates really well too. She critiques you in a positive way and i would say 100% of the class improved. Its really easy to get an A in this class.

Too much fluff, no real material

O.k. class. Made me think about myself.

There's really not enough to say about Ms. Stauffer. She is a great person as well as an amazing professor. It really says something about a professor when not one person missed a class the entire quarter (excluding sicknesses). The homework load was not that much - learn how to balance the speeches and written assignments between your major and support classes and you'll be fine. She's always willing to help you improve your speeches as well as your delivery. She's really funny and low key - completely takes the scare out of public speaking if you have a big problem with it. As long as you take your work seriously and try to do well, she'll reward you for it. And you'll probably gain a friend in the process. I COMPLETELY RECOMMEND HER!

Stauffer is legitimate. One weakness, she's too cool. So in reality, her weakness is a strength. You have to work hard for an A, but it's worth it to become a better speaker. She makes public speaking feel like you're talking to you friends. Legitimate.

not gonna lie... erma is pretty fabulous and her class is amazing. i had her class from 5-7 at night and i still loved going to public speaking every time!!! she makes you talk to everyone in your class the first day so you end up being freinds with your whole class in no time. taking ermas class is more than enjoyable... you wont regret it!!! barely any hw at all, just a few written assignments and preparing 7 speeches. 2 are not even graded. she grades pretty hard on speeches, but it is within reason. though her "raised scale" for grading making 90% only a B... i must say is ridiculous.

Erma is badass you do relaxation drills your second or so day of class and she really gets to know all of the students in her class. I'm still good friends with a lot of people in my class, probably the most relaxed and fun class I'll have at Poly since I'm engineering :(. You should for sure take her

Erma is amazing, public speaking can be a somewhat scary class but she has the ability to make everyone feel comfortable and really wants to help everyone become a better speaker. I highly recommend her to everyone. However don't underestimate her tests just because she seems really easy actually look at the material prior and it should be an easy a.

You only get to take SCOM101 once (hopefully) so you might as well take it with Professor Stauffer. Wait a few quarters if you have to -- find a way to make it work. Excellent professor, highly approachable. Has a knack for understanding students\' difficulties with speaking and finds a solution. Her take-home midterms are meaningful and always get you prepared for your upcoming speeches. Stauffer delivers.

You only get to take SCOM101 once (hopefully) so you might as well take it with Professor Stauffer. Wait a few quarters if you have to -- find a way to make it work. Excellent professor, highly approachable. Has a knack for understanding students\' difficulties with speaking and finds a solution. Her take-home midterms are meaningful and always get you prepared for your upcoming speeches. Stauffer delivers.

Erma is seriously one of the best teachers everrrr at Cal Poly. Don\'t ever miss a chance to take her! This class is so fun. I still keep in touch with people in my class. There are two midterms and one final. Do well on those (I always got at least a 31/35). Make sure to take her take home final seriously because they really prepare you for the upcoming speeches. I did average on the speeches and was able to get an A in the class. Do her homework/work!! Those are suppose to help your grade. She really care about her students and she want all of them to succeed. I honestly believe that she made me a better speaker.

Erma Stauffer is probably one of the best professors I have ever had! I won\'t lie she does pick on you a little bit after you give your first couple of speeches, but trust me this only helps you become a better speaker. I am the type of person that blushes and makes absolutely no eye contact when I speak. Mrs. Stauffer helped me put this fear aside by working with me in office hours. She has got to be the most down-to-earth helpful teacher ever after class and during office hours. If you are afraid of public speaking or want to improve your speaking skills, take her she is amazing.She is a very fair grader. She creates a fun speaking environment,(our whole class was friendly and fun thanks to her exercises) and makes you feel as comfortable as she can. Thank you Mrs. Stauffer you are amazing!

She's sooo HOT

Stauffer is A M A Z I N G love her she makes this class super fun. Dont take 101 take 102 with her for sure

You will love Erma's class. She is a great person. I used a priority this quarter and got in to her class. Best decision ever.

Erma is absolutely wonderful. Her class is pretty easy, and you actually do learn a lot of skills to become a better speaker. She makes the class really fun and is a super sweet lady. If you have a chance to take her, don't pass it up! You also know she is wonderful when she gives every student a hug after you finish the final. :)

I love erma!!!! take her! Tests are easy as LONG as you study/read the material at least twice. If you don't know how to answer some problems on the midterm/final, she'll give you points if you put in a funny answer. You should worry more on the speeches though. She grades harder on the speeches than the exams.

Erma is a beyond excellent professor! She makes you look forward to coming to class. Take her as your first pick!

Best. Class. Ever. If not the best, definitely in the top 5. It was the type of class that you don't mind going to everyday because it was actually enjoyable. 5 speeches, but only 3 are actually graded. Midterms and the Final are actually pretty difficult, make sure you actually read thoroughly multiple times what she tells you to read. Her questions can be really picky. I pulled off an A simply because I prepared for my speeches and made flashcards for the tests, because getting an A in this class isn't the easiest thing ever. Still, you WILL get better at public speaking in this class. You see the improvement in everybody, because she seriously takes the effort to give you feedback and does things that makes you improve. If you're not a good public speaker, take this class. She will be a godsend.

Probably one of the best teachers to have, and the hardest one to get! She is an amazing teacher for COMS, she really makes you comfortable with your class group and you'll never dread wanting to come to class. For the tests, make sure you read what is required. It's not a hard read, but you should be familiar with the concepts in the book. tl;dr Awesome teacher, you won't regret taking her

Erma is the BEST! If you have to take a class and she's teaching it, and by the grace of God it isn't full, TAKE IT!!! You will not regret it! Right off the bat she makes class fun by doing ice breaker activities (not boring elementary ones) and you soon know everyone in class! I can say that I befriended everyone in my class and knew a lot about people. I still talk to a lot of the people I met in that class! You do quite a few speeches in this class, but half of them aren't graded. Have fun with the speeches! If you dread them and stress out, you won't become a better public speaker. I was amazed to see how much I improved (I already thought I was good before taking the class too). No homework! The big thing is a group presentation at the end, almost like a research paper. Her tests may be a little tricky but never leave anything blank. Just draw a funny picture, write something clever, or make her laugh and she'll give partial credit! Don't be afraid to express yourself in that class. The key to giving speeches was to try to be funny. Once you get the class on your side you'll feel more relaxed. Also, pretty much every 2 weeks you'll be giving a speech. Otherwise, you'll be sitting there listening to speeches. You'll know what to expect every class so it's nice. I ALWAYS looked forward to going to Erma's class and you will too!

Erma was an amazing teacher! I loved having her my first quarter of college. There were only about 4 presentations and a group project that you can pull out pretty quickly. There were some writing assignments also but nothing to stress about. It was hard for most people in my class to get an A in the class because the first midterm screwed us all over and she can be a tough grader on speeches sometimes. The midterms are all based on the blue boxes in the mini textbook she makes you buy. None of us knew that the first midterm and got like Ds on it. She does make you do some weird exercises at the beginning of the quarter but you'll get over it. I became very close to Erma and my classmates. She loves to know what is going on in your life and if you are very stressed with another classes midterm she will let you move your speech. Amazing professor to take but not an easy A.

One of, if not the, best professors or teachers I have ever had. Turned a group of people reluctantly being forced to take public speaking into a supportive family. She quickly identified key problems I had with my speaking and made excellent and easily executed suggestions. I thought I was a good public speaker before the class, now I now what I can do to be even better. It's almost impossible to get her class because she's awesome and everyone knows it, but even if it means waiting a couple quarters just to get her, do it. She's worth it.

Lets just say people were crying once the quarter ended...memorable class with a memorable teacher. I made some amazing friends and gained so much confidence in my speaking abilities! She will probably be one of he best professors I will ever have. SO glad I got blocked into her class for my first quarter of college. PS her office hours make for some wonderful conversation and private speaking lessons!

Erma is absolutely amazing! She really makes the class feel like a family, so it makes it easier to present. She is so sweet, and approachable! If you can, TAKE THIS CLASS! You will never want to miss one of her classes, and you'll definitely be a better speaker by the end of the quarter.

Personally, I really do not like to give speeches and I feel like most people feel the same way. Erma made us completely comfortable to speak in front of another and actually cared for our improvement- which did happen! I will never regret taking this class with her. If you have the chance, take it too!

Erma is the best! I was absolutely terrified of public speaking before taking her class, and I didn’t know how to handle my anxiety at all. Her multiple exercises and speeches help you get super comfortable in front of your peers and after the first couple speeches it feels totally natural. I definitely improved on my speech writing/composition as well as my delivery, which has helped me so much in other courses. Her midterms/final are rather difficult unless you scour the book for a few hours, hence my C. Definitely the best COMS professor at Poly.

Dear Professor Stauffer: I wanted to thank you. Thank you for confirming my beliefs that the Western grading system is as unjust as it is irrelevant. Thank you for treating myself and my peers like kindergardeners, for patronizing us all and fulfilling the role of a babysitter rather than a teacher. Thank you for giving me a C in your class and damaging my chances of making my way in my chosen path. Thank you for proving to me once and for all that, despite what the university system thinks, their army of out-of-touch baby boomers who are, for all practical purposes, living in an alternate, nowadays irrelevant universe have nothing to teach me. I have little doubt that i was one of the most engaged, insightful and proficient writers/speakers in your class, but you chose to define my abilities in the context that the university pundits standardize and send your way. Thanks so much for seeing me not as a human being, with no attention or care for the nuance of an individual, but simply as a statistic that was passing through your class, and who you would never see again. It's my hope that someday teachers will recognize the importance of their duty and the position they hold in society, but I am sad to say that that is not what i have seen in my long, grueling, and frequently frustrating experience in public schools. I am also saddened to see that YOU have remained immune to these revelations, because you are a genuinely nice lady and frankly i enjoyed your class. Frankly, though, it is truly disappointing and saddening to me that you have left this irreversible black mark on my transcript, for reasons i completely do not understand and do not agree with. Your tests were.....just simply ridiculous. Thats the only way to put it. 0% of your students would disagree with that statement. I am sorry to say that my stomach is full; i have no room left for swallowing useless information, only to regurgitate it on a test and proceed to forget it forever. That's not me having a bad attitude, although i will grant that i've grown senile through years of force-feeding of this kind. No, rather it is that a huge percentage of the information that the university system and other philistines deem "necessary" for the young mind is totally, completely, and UTTERLY IRRELEVANT. I have no appetite for irrelevance anymore. I want to change the world, we all want to change the world. Let us and please help us; don't force this intellectual junk food down the throats of the next round of students.

Professor Stauffer is extremely sweet and really cares about her students improving. If you spend some time writing and practicing your speeches you will be fine. If you go into her office hours she is more than willing to work with you (I know this is annoying for a stupid coms class but it makes it so much easier to get an A). If she sees that you care and are trying it WILL reflect in your grade. Also I would like to disagree with the person below me. Her tests are completely reasonable. Especially considering half of the test is take home that you get a 100% on as long as you complete it. The tests very clearly outline what she says will be on the test. I literally missed 1-2 questions on each test and only read through what she asked for. I would recommend this class she's honest, kind, and doesn't have the intention to embarrass you. I ended up with an A- in the class.

ERMA STAUFFER IS THE BOMB.COM. All her in class activities were fun and great ways to make friends with your classmates. I was terrified of having to take this class but she made it a little less terrifying. She was encouraging and really helped you become a better public speaker.

I LOVE ERMA! Honestly one of my favorite professors in my past two years at Cal Poly. I cannot say enough good things about her. Public speaking is not my forte, but she made the classroom environment very safe and supportive, and I loved getting to know my classmates throughout the quarter.

Erma is an absolutely amazing professor AND person. I was SO scared of public speaking but she had us do some great ice breakers in the beginning of the quarter that made us become a close class! Erma really wants everyone to try their best and makes great suggestions. She is also willing to spend time with you outside of class to practice and truly cares about each and every student. Her class is a lot of work compared to other Coms classes but it is worth it. Just do it.

TAKE ERMA IF YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO. By far the highlight of my freshman year was going to her class where she made us all feel like a family. She grades based on how much you have improved, not necessarily by how great you are at speaking. This was a blessing as most kids in the class were absolutely terrified of public speaking. Every one soon got over this fear as Erma was quick to help with any and everything. Her speaking tips will help you for the rest of your life. Also, as horrible as communications sounds, it is actually the most interesting class ever as you get to hear little snippets of the lives of all sorts of different people in your class. Take this class with this amazing professor. Her wait lists will fill up quick so hurry up.

TAKE THIS CLASS. I can not recommend this class enough. I've only been at Poly for one year but Erma was a standout among my other professors. If you're at all worried about the public speaking aspect, you don't have to be! Erma makes this class feel like family and since you get so comfortable with everyone it's not a big deal. I took this class for 1 hour MTWR and I looked forward to it every day. And yes, people did cry on the last day and yes, I do have a picture of me with Erma.

I'm someone who absolutely hated the idea of having to take a class with nothing but speeches, but Erma somehow not only managed to make the class more than bearable, our class became closer than any other class I've ever been in.

Erma was by far the best teacher I have ever had. Public speaking is difficult for most people, but she makes the class feel comfortable to the point where it just feels like you are speaking in front of your friends. The tests come straight out of the small textbook, and are easy to do well on. None of the speeches are too long and they all allow you to speak about whatever you want. I recommend you take Erma for public speaking, she made a huge impact on me to the point where I even wrote her a thank you card at the end of the quarter.

Erma is the sweetest, most caring professor. If you need to fulfill your GE for Coms, she is by far the best option!

First off let me just say this class was absolutely amazing. Professor Stauffer is awesome and truly cares for her students. There are only three tests and if you read the material and take sufficient notes you will do fine. She is a fair grader, too! The speeches are not bad at all. There are two that are not graded and if you follow her rubric for the other ones you will do well. Also, after each speech Professor Stauffer supplies a lot of valuable feedback. TAKE THIS COURSE!!!

Nicest woman alive. Super into her class and loves being there. Maybe a harsh grader because she has been told she gives too many a's so she had to give out less. If you get on her good side, which is extremely easy, and put in a minimum effort, I can't see anyone getting any lower than a b

Erma is probably the sweetest and most caring professor here. She really makes the class feel like a mini family. By the first week, you will have had a conversation with everyone in your class. The class does involve some work, but it's hard to get below a B. She's a lovely woman, and I highly recommend taking this class.

If you put time into your work, you will leave Erma' class a better speaker. The readings you have to do for the tests are a bit tedious, but they actually kind of help for your speeches. Erma is one of the sweetest ladies you'll ever meet, and though this class is by no means "easy," it is incredibly rewarding.

Everyone says they loved Erma and while I did really like her there were some annoying things about the class. Everyone gets the same grade on everything. I got a 90% on everything no matter how hard I worked which was pretty annoying. In the end the group project destroyed my grade after she said it wouldn't. In general the COMS department isnt the best and she is the best teacher in the department for sure, just work really hard or expect a C.

Erma is the most amazing woman in the world. I don't care who you are, you will love her. If you have to wait a quarter to get her do it! It is so worth it. I was terrified of public speaking and her class has helped me so much. You are able to bond with everyone in the class and I still have friends from that class. Just make sure you always check polylearn for information and assignments.

Prof Stauffer is amazing. I was terrified about having to take a public speaking class and I am so lucky to have had her as a teacher. There was a great, caring dynamic in the class and although the assignments were slightly time consuming towards the beginning of the quarter they felt worthwhile. I actually feel like I really improved over the quarter because of Erma and I enjoyed the class overall. Awesome lady.

Where do I begin? I have always had a fear of public speaking. I would throw up or even cry at the thought of presenting in front of others. Luckily, Cal Poly keeps the COMS classes sizes small - about 24 or 25 students. Erma is amazing. She really wants you to do well, and she makes you comfortable with everyone in the class so you don't mind speaking in front of them. Make sure to check PolyLearn as there are small assignments here and there. Her 3 tests are tricky, but no curve balls - just all specifics so definitely do the reading. For her speeches, she loves passion. I was very passionate and happy when I gave my speeches, and that is why I did well. All she wants to see is you being happy while giving your speech, and that you care! Super helpful, super sweet, TAKE HER!

If you are terrified of public speaking, Erma has the power to completely change that. It helps that she generally grades for improvement instead of how well you do in comparison to everyone else on the speeches, but you absolutely will improve your communication skills by the end of the quarter if you just do what this woman says. Listen to her. In the class, you ease into your speeches with non-graded exercises before the graded speeches start, so by your first speech, you already have an idea of what things you need to be working on. Yes, you have to do the readings if you even want to see the sunny side of a B on the exams. They're not totally boring or useless. Erma picked them for a reason. Listen to her. She wants nothing more to see her students succeed, and believes you are more than just a letter in the gradebook (though, unfortunately, not everyone can have an A). I attained my grade by averaging a B on the exams and steadily improving throughout the quarter. There is a group project at the end, and guess what? If Erma knows you, if she knows your progress, if she has seen that you've put in the effort and have actually given enough of a damn to improve yourself, she won't let your group grade totally bone you. My group was atrocious and we produced what was probably a C-/D+ presentation, but I came out with a good grade because I had excelled individually throughout the quarter. TAKE ERMA'S CLASS. Don't just rush into a 101 class because you want to get it over with - take Erma's class the second you get the opportunity because it will help you SO MUCH.

ERMA IS THE BEST. If you can get in her class definitely do. She is kind and motivating, and really wants to help everyone in the class improve their public speaking skills. The quarter isn't even quite over yet and I already have improved so much. STUDY FOR THE IN CLASS TESTS. There is a lot of reading for these tests,(there's 3 tests), and make sure you actually read and study the material. Her tests are very fair, but you won't do well if you don't study. She is hilarious and is super easy to talk to. One of the most interesting people I have ever got to meet. 100% recommend her.

Erma is the best. I walked into COMS102 despising the thought of public speaking, but it turned out to be my favorite class of the quarter. Erma really cares about your improvement in the class. Her tests are a bit challenging and require you to read the material. I'm sad I only got to have her for a quarter.

Honestly, Erma is a very nice and insightful person, but when it comes to her class it is too much work. You should not have to put this much in a beginning communications class. I am not saying communication classes should not be taken seriously, but this was just way too much. I had friends who did half the work I did and got an A . She grades speeches very harshly no matter how well you do. I put so much work into that class and still got a B. Too bad I was blocked into the class because after talking to some upper class men they told me the same that I was thinking, that while she was a nice person her class was way too hard for no reason. l would rather have an asshole professor whose standards were more reasonable than have Erma, but I will still love to have coffee with her sometime.

Ahhhhh. Erma. Definitely my favorite professor so far at Cal Poly. She has the biggest heart and cares so deeply for her students. She is eager to help you improve on your public speaking and helps you feel comfortable if you aren't naturally comfortable speaking in front of an audience. She grades fairly and always gives good feedback on what you can improve. Her tests are all short answers, and they are definitely pretty difficult. You really have to do the assigned reading and actually absorb the information, but she grades the tests very fairly and gives you points for what she thinks is fair. I know her class is difficult to get in to, but if you have the opprotunity to take her class, DO IT.

Erma is the best!!! She really cares about her students and she always states clearly what is expected of you. There are 5 speeches in this class, but only 3 are graded. On the first couple days of class you do some get to know you activities, so by the end of the first week, you have already met all of the students in the class. Also, there are 3 tests and a project, but they are not that difficult as long as you start reading the material early and don't leave it until the night before. You will definitely have fun in this class and I am sad that it had to end because I made a lot of friends in it! Definitely take this class if you can get into it, you will not regret it!

ALRIGHT LISTEN HERE FOLKS!! I will be giving you the keys to success in Erma's class. First off, she is an absolutely fantastic person. A very kind lady who loves what she does, and you can tell. This class is not hard, the only thing that can make it seem so is if you schedule your speeches close together. I believe the speeches are as follows: 3 objects (not graded, just for credit), Story Speech (I think this was graded), then Informative (graded), Persuasive (graded), and Impromptu (for credit), and Group Presentation (graded). After you give a speech, she will do this thing called talk backs and you will get back up in front of the class and people will give you feedback. It's not as bad as it sounds, and honestly this class is great because you do become a better speaker at the end. In addition to the speeches, which honestly, all I did was write them out, memorize them and deliver them with passion and excitement (she loves that). Do that and you'll be fine with your speeches, even though they can be nerve wracking, you'll be fine, trust me. Also if you have to use notecards, you can. I used one notecard once to recite a citation but that was all. I got A's on all of my speeches. It's really not that hard to, you just need to put the time in to write your speech and PRACTICE IT. DON'T be one of those students who gets up in front of the class and doesn't know what they are saying, and also make the time limit and don't go over too much. Some people in my class would go over the time by minutes and she would get annoyed. There are two books for this class, and you do need them. She gives you the chapters you need to study for each exam. There are 3 exams total but BEWARE! YOU MUST DO THE READINGS. I even made flashcards of some of the information, after I took the first exam, because just reading the chapters isn't enough, she can get specific on questions. And the final is just the 3rd exam which is based on chapters from the books and some online articles. There's also this thing called a Pay Attention Exercise that's like this assignment where you take notes, watch videos, and listen to podcasts and write a small paper on what you find interesting. SUPER EASY, just make time for it. Also the group presentation at the end is pretty fun, just don't do it the night before. And make sure you practice with your group. Make your presentation funny and a little theatric and she and the audience will love it. The group project is basically eating three meals together, doing an activity off campus together, doing community service together, and learning a skill together that you will teach the audience. She will explain everything, and it's not bad at all! Like my group performed a dance for the class and she loved it. OVERALL this is basically the class, just put some time into it and you will be just fine. ERMA IS AWESOME!

Erma is an incredible professor; her class is designed (as best as it can be) so that you'll come out of it with a better sense of connecting with people, which is difficult to do with the grading system we live with. All of the assignments are geared to help you organize your speeches. You'll get out what you put in-- so really take the time to think about your speeches, be creative, and pick topics that are meaningful and interesting to you, because that will allow your personality and passion to come through. Another tip is to schedule your speech dates around your other midterms-- it will make the world of a difference and allow you the time you need to put together a meaningful presentation. I can't say enough good things about Erma. Take her if you get a chance!

Professor Erma is the absolute best! she really helps everyone improve and has such a entertaining cool way of teaching! if you have the chance TAKE HER CLASS!

Erma is one of the kindest and most caring people I have ever met. It is obvious she really cares about her students and tries to make the class fun and easy to pass. That being said, it is somewhat difficult to get above a B in the class.

Erma is AMAZING!!! Always first name basis, she made such an effort to be welcoming to each person in the class. She always came up to me and asked me how my day was going. Honestly the sweetest person ever. If you love your grandma, multiply that love by 3 and you have Professor Erma Stauffer. She got all of us students to be really close friends even outside of class (I still regularly hang out with a bunch of them) with fun ice breakers and great energy. And this made it much easier to present our speeches. It's the first time in my life that I felt even a little bit confident presenting to my peers. By the end of the year, going to COMS literally felt like going to hang out with my friends. ACADEMICALLY, she is so clear with what she expects, albeit she by far gives the most work out of any other COMS class. It isn't too difficult. I helped some of my peers edit their speeches –– which there are A LOT of, especially compared to other COMS classes –– before they presented, and even the ones that were not great got some very generous grades. Even though you have to read a bunch of articles and selected chapters in 2 different textbooks for each test, YOU CAN USE A NOTECARD (both sides). Bottom line, Erma is a picky grader (singling out tons of things that you either did right or wrong while presenting), but these are all things I strongly improved on over the course, and all of my classmates can agree that even if they may have bombed a speech, taking the class is so worth it. If you're on this page to decide whether or not you should take a class with Erma, take this away from my ranting: If you do what's expected of you, like in any other college course, you will pass.

I don’t write evaluations for any of my professors but I have to write one for Erma. She is a remarkable professor and person; I can’t stress it enough! This was the one class that I didn’t dread going to and even when I was 20 min late, I still came. I was very nervous about coms because I hate public speaking; I even thought about dropping it. I heard that Erma’s a harsh grader but I did well on my speeches, even the one that I thought I did horribly on. I turned in an assignment a week late (my own fault) and Erma still gave me some credit, despite the syllabus saying I should’ve received none. (But don’t risk that; turn your stuff in on time for full credit!) Erma takes the time to know her students and I felt very comfortable with her. I came in during her office hours (I never go to office hours unless I had to) just to talk to her about life, and she was very understanding! I definitely will be keeping in contact with her throughout college, and I will miss my coms class! Everyone was so cool and it was my first college class that I loved! Honestly, I wish Cal Poly was a semester system just so I can be in this class longer!

If you have the opportunity, take COMS with Erma. She is one of the only professors I have ever felt genuinely care about each student and their improvement. The workload is definitely on the heavier side (5 speeches, 3 tests, a paper, and a group project) but I didn't find it unmanageable and she is not a difficult grader. Out of the 5 speeches, 3 are graded and 2 are just for credit, and for the graded speeches she gives you every point she can (I got Bs on all of my speeches even though I wrote them all the night before they were due). The tests are all free response, however you get a notecard, and half of the points come from a "take home test" where you plan your next speech. The paper is pretty easy, you have to read/watch a bunch of sources, but a lot of them are pretty interesting, and then you get to write about whatever you want. Overall, Erma is an amazing professor, and all she wants is to help her students improve.

ERMA IS THE BEST COMS TEACHER EVER. I never liked public speaking at all. I hated it and dreaded it. But Erma was not only the best teacher ever but a friend that I could confide in with my worries in my fear of public speaking. I can't say it enough: ERMA IS THE BEST TEACHER EVER. I hated public speaking but looked forward to going to class every day. She made everyone in that class become friends, and now we are a class that is so close. I never had a class that I enjoyed so much and made so many friends that I will be friends with in the future. She made the class light-hearted and supportive, so even though I wasn't the best a public speaking, I felt that my efforts were acknowledged!

Erma is the best coms teacher you could ask for. Don't let her age fool you, she's the hippest teacher on campus! She made me feel so comfortable in class even though I had a lot of trouble with public speaking to begin with. If you have the option to take her class DO IT!!!! LOVE YOU ERMA.

PROFESSOR STAUFFER IS AMAZING! She is a great public speaking professor, and really has a talent for helping you feel comofortable (or at least more comfortable than you currently are) with giving speeches. Almost everyone will say that she was their favorite professor, she really knows how to connect to students. At the beginning of the class it may seem a little scary, but as time goes on it becomes a lot of fun! There are about 5 speeches, 3 tests, a group presentation, and a few short discussion papers.

Erma is a really cool lady. There wasn't really any point to the class except to just keep giving speeches until you improve. I think that during the entire quarter we only took notes once. She gives vocab quizes which are really easy and 2 take home mid-terms which are also pretty easy. I probably had the most fun in her class because she tries to get everybody to talk and try new things in their speeches. She may seem really weird at times, but she always has a point to it. Take her if you can.

Erma is such an awesome lady!! She is extremely laid back and easy going about everything. You give 6 speeches, but only 4 are graded (and the last one is a group project) and then you have about 6 short papers (journals) to write. It is easy to get an A in her class if you show up and give decent speeches. She wants her students to do well and gives pointers on how to improve. I wish she taught more classes that I had to take because I would love to have her again. Lots of my friends stressed about their speech classes and got B's; I got an A and it wasnt that hard. I think she is worth taking even if you have to wait a quarter or two to take the class. DEFINITELY TAKE HER IF YOU CAN!!!!!!

Professor Stauffer did a wonderful job teaching both class material and information that we students can use in everyday life. Her lectures were informative and interesting and really did help us better our speeches. She is a very approachable teacher and is there to help her students. She has been my favorite professor out of all of my GE professors. She even was willing to help me with a referral for a position outside of class. I would take her again if I had the chance.

Going into this course, I thought it was going to be a boring GE that I never wanted to go to. We were allowed 3 absenses before our grade was hurt, and I found that I only used two of these because I had to. Out of all the classes I have taken so far, this is the only one I regret having ever missed. Erma is a outstanding teacher, she listens to your problems and is willing to help you with anything she can. She brings the fun into everything we do in class and without a doubt, I would be willing to take this course over just for the heck of it. Erma is awesome, and she makes everything about speech so simple and easy. Once you take a class from her, you won't have to worry about getting nervous in front of an audience. Take any class you can from Erma...she's the best you will ever have.

Stauffer is the best teacher I have ever had. She really works with you, helps you pinpoint your weaknesses and helps you improve. I do not like public speaking, but she made it a really enjoyable class! If you take this class, take it with her, she's awesome!

i absolutly aDORe erma! she is a delight. she is a refeshing change to the mostly dry, boring GE instructors out there! she understands and cares about all her students. she is intellgent and aware. she reminds me of the fairy godmother on cinderella! lol. take her! you WILL NOT regret it!

This teacher is amazing! Take her at all costs! She is so much fun, you do yoga your second day! The course is easy and she makes it fun, I highly recommend her.

This teacher is the most amazing teacher EVER!!! If there is any way you can take her..DO IT!!!! If you are not comfortable with public speaking, she will have you doing it perfectly by the end. The enviornment is awesome and you literally become close with ALL the people in your class. She is very reasonable about the speeches and the tests are a breeze. I LOVE HER!! I would take this again any day!

THE BEST TEACHER THERE IS. That is all there is to say. She is AWESOME! You will be lucky if you are able to get in to one of her classes. She is extremely understanding, funny,energetic, and most importantly, makes the class SO FUN! Awesome class and wonderful woman.

She is a great professor! The first couple days of class you do yoga to help you relax and focus on breathing (something very big for public speaking)...the first speech is an introductory speech about yourself which is credit/no credit..you just have to do it! Then there is a story speech, a persuasive speech, an impromptu (which is credit/no credit), and a group project which kind of sucks...but she helps you if you need help and is seriously the cutest woman professor at poly. Her tests are not bad if you study for them and there are a few writing assignments that aren't bad; if you do everything...getting a good grade shouldn['t be hard. If you can get into Erma's class, do it! She is awesome!

Great teacher, this is by far the best class to take for the GE credit for scom. First of all, scom 102 is more casual than scom 101, and second of all, stauffer is an amazing teacher. She is fair and very knowledgable. The first few weeks were relaxing and she even had us do yoga. She is a great teacher and the material is a breeze if you study maybe an hour the night before the test. I did not, that's why I got a B, but I'm an architecture major so I'm not too worried about it, there were other things to do. Great class!

ADORABLE

This is not a class that will just test objective textbook material. Erma breaks down public speaking in a few lectures throughout the quarter to help your mind set, and the few times that you will get tested on paper will have specific study guides. But the rest of the class is just preparing for, making, and listening to speeches, plain and simple. Attendance is a must...one unexcused absence will prevent you from getting an A, two a B, and so on. 5 speeches, 2 of them CR/NC, and 1 group project/speech. Erma definitely knows what shes doing, and she (+ the rest of the class) will critique you well and give you ways to improve. If you're the least bit comfortable with public speaking, the class will be a piece of cake for you but if you're not, the class won't too much to sweat about either! You decide how much effort to put into improving, and with Erma's teaching style, it will undoubtedly pay off if you just try. Chillest class ever too.

Erma is great when it comes to being nice and friendly to her students. She is not mean when you make a mistake and gives lots of constructive criticism in class. However, the somewhat open-ended class atmosphere can make it seem like there is less work than is truly required. If you take her class make sure you are self-motivated and organized.

Ms. Stauffer is a great professor. I agree that you have to be self motivated because it may seem that there is less work than there really is. However she works with you on ur speeches. You really break the ice with people you don't know on the first day and learn to connect with them throughout the quarter. She is a great and fun teacher. You will from her because she not only uses the textbook, but brings in some of her own experiences and knowledge into your speeches. Positively great.

I was a few points from an "A" but she would not give in. She gave me zero points on an outline that she supposedly told us had to be typed. I went to class every day, and I paid attention, but never heard her say that it had to be typed. She's a nice person, but not when it comes to negotiating grades! Type your outlines!

Erma is awesome! She is a neat person, and her class is very intersting. It's not just straight up lecturing; there are interactive days and it's not boring at all. There are about 4 speeches total, but they're nto hard at all... not very much research... there are a few vocabulary quizzes, but they don't affect your grade all that much. There is a take home midterm and final in addition to a few journal assignments... really not that much work. I learned a lot from her, too. She focuses on each student and strives to make them improve. It was a fun class

Professor Stauffer really knows what a speech class should be about. After about the second week we all forgot about grades and actually started to enjoy working on our public speaking skills. She is not concerned about you being perfect, she just wants to help you learn. The whole class was very friendly and she did a great job of making us more comfortable in public speaking. It was a great environment, and I looked forward to attending class each day.

Professor Stauffer is a great instructor and wonderful person. Her main goal of the class is to just make you more comfortable with speaking in front of people. She is very approachable and doesn't assign too much work at all, just a couple speeches and journal assignments throughout the quarter. I enjoyed going to her class everyday, and would recommend her to everyone. She not only learned everyone's name, but learned about them and was actually sad to see everyone go on the last day of the quarter. Her grading was very fair on speeches and papers, and although her quizzes were a little challenging, all the questions were in the notes. I cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed having Professor Stauffer.

Erma is great! she's a fun lady, and she makes speech enjoyable. take her!!!!!!

Erma is very student sympathetic. She's upbeat and truly makes class fun. This class was very interactive and supportive of one another. The speeches are graded fairly but not too rigorously. The idea is to actually learn from them and to be comfortable in front of the class. The tests are quite easy - no tricks - and the final is really the last test. Definitely take Stauffer. I'm an SCOM major and I've talked to lots of other students. Our class certainly had an overall better experience than most of the others, 101 and 102.

Stauffer's class was by far the best way to start my college career. I was a little bit apprehensive to take a 8:10 am class Monday through Thursday, but she always made class fun to be at. The first couple of days were designed to help us recognize breathing patterns and how we speak. All of the speeches were easy to do ( as long as you practice ). She grades fairly and does her best to help you fix the way you speak so that you will become an effective speaker. As for the tests, there were only like 3 or 4 tests, but it was like a 11-12 multiple choice test plus like two short answers. For every test there was a take home test, but they were not hard at all because she gave hints on what sections to look at. Overall, I was afriad to take speech, but she definitely made the class fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Anyone should take Stauffer's class.

Erma is sick, straight up. Take her because she is very nice and will make you feel very comfortable if you are scared of speaking. I dont have a fear of public speaking and wrote my speeches the night before my 8:10 am class and easily got a high B. She is awesome.

Great teacher! Really cares about teaching and her students and will be glad to help you if your having trouble. Tests are easy because she hands out what reading will be on it and speeches are prety easy. You do a big group project at the end which you should start early on. Erma even teaches yoga at the beginning of the quarter. Take her for this class, you won't be disapointed.

I hate public speaking, yet, I enjoyed this class. Professor Stauffer is nice, tries hard to make everyone comfortable, and is very happy to give help. She is fair with grading, but not easy. You have to work hard for your grade.

great teacher! i am incapable of public speaking but somehow managed to get a B+. Only 1 speech requires a formal otline, others can be drawings or flashcards that used during the speech. you get points for those. grades very easily but teaches well.

I really liked her- I have trouble going to class a lot of times (reaally, class is boring!) but I went to her class every day!! She is really entertaining- the only things that might bore you in the class are other students' speeches. Other than that, her tests are easy if you study for about an hour before. One dissapointment was that I didn't get an A- I actually worked pretty hard in that class and got A's on almost everything, so I was surprised to get a B- so it is my experience that this class probably is not an easy A. But you should still take it because she is great!!

Erma is a great teacher. she's one of the best teachers at poly. I never learn as much as i did in one class. her class is not an easy A but it's not too hard to keep up. if you do all your work then you should be able to get that A. the reason i got a b was because i was kindda lazy in the beginning. Erma is very fun and enthusiastic, you'll never fall asleep in her class. she DOES make you become a better speaker.

She's incredible. Tests are way easy, she wants you to succeed. You even get to do yoga on, like, the third day of class. Way fun.

Mrs. Stauffer is such an excellent teacher. She has this quality about her where she can relate to her students so well and connect with them. She loves hearing people's stories and always asks the class to share their experiences. Even though the quarter is filled with constructive criticism and anxiety, at the end of the quarter she allows every single student to go up in front of the class for the last time and let everyone else say only good things about them. There were around 5 speeches and the last speech is a group presentation which sounds horrible when the assignment is given but is actually very fun in the end. You are able to sign up for the dates you would like to speak for each speech and there are slips of paper where the class writes down any comments. In the end, she gives you an envelope of comments from her and the class and there is also a grade written. Two of the speeches were recorded on a mini DVD which may seem embarrassing and unnecessary but I learned so much about myself and how I speak by just watching my videos. There are 5 writing assignements and they can be time-consuming but most of the time they are about your own personal opinions. The take-home tests are the worst part of the class. They are EXTREMELY time-consuming (if you want to them thoroughly and receive a good grade on them) and sometimes hard to understand as to why they are important. Mrs. Stauffer is such an understanding and down-to-earth teacher. It's really hard to screw up in this class because she's so open-minded.

I absolutly loved this class. She makes sure to introduce all of you to each other the first day, which makes the class so much more personable. She explains stuff very well and makes sure to clarify any questions that you might have. You will become a better speaker in this class, and it is not that taxing of a work load. Basically, do your speeches and writing assignemnts and you will do well. She is a fun teacher, and I wish I could take her class again!

Stauffer is one of the best teachers i have ever had. She works really well with students and knows how to help. After every speech you make, she writes a review on how you did and what you can improve on. THis class is what i waited for during the day.. it was so much fun. I am a terrible public speaker, and i get really nervous in front of people. I also practiced my speeches about 2x each, probably a total of 5 minutes each. every time i got a B. when i actually tried to do well, she could tell and she gave me more points. great teacher.

Best Damn Teacher at Poly so far! You will not regret her. She is really kind and can really associate herself with student. She is just like another student in class and you will look forward to going to her class.She is good with names and i would see her at least 2 times each day and she would ask you how your day was going and remember your name She is so good, that i was eager to go even though it was a 7am class. Speeches are easy,two are not graded. Her tests are fairly easy if you study (that is why i got a B). Take Home Tests are lengthy but doable. OVERALL, TAKE HER! EVERYONE BELOW AND ABOVE ME AGREE, HER GPA SAYS IT ALL, WHAT R U WAITING FOR?

Erma is the best speech professor at Cal Poly; she is very personable. There are 5 speeches, but 3 are actually graded and 2 are videotaped. I suggest you go first because then you wouldn't have anything to worry about for a week and a half. Try to stay within time limit because you will get points deducted if you don't. There's also one group project that's pretty time consuming, but do it early so you don't have to meet the night before stressing out about it. Though her class sounds a bit much for a GE, you will learn a lot about yourself and other students. For those who actually want to get to know your classmates, take Erma!

Stauffer is a totally cool teacher she is very lenient. Basically the only reason i showed up to class is because she takes roll every day, all we do is listen to peoples speeches and I'd say 5 days out of the quarter we took notes or had discussions.

This teacher is SO GOOD!!! I definitely recommend her class!!

Erma is spectacular. She is one of the kindest professors I've ever met and cares immensely about each student. She explains things clearly and gives very helpful feedback on your speeches. By the end of the quarter, it's hard not to be a better speaker. Her methods are very fun and interesting. Yoga the first week, random games to promote communication, intense discussions, etc. However, don't be fooled by how nice she is. The tests can be rather difficult and very specific, so be sure to study the book carefully. She'll give you points for making you laugh sometimes, so if you can't think of anything, put down something funny. Try your best on the writing assignments and points aren't hard to get. Overall, Erma was an amazing professor that really made me enjoy the class. Take her!

This professor was amazing. She really cares about not only her students but the world and is extremely passionate which makes it very very easy to be in her class. She makes you do some work but none of it is hard it just takes a bit of time. Make sure you prepare for the speeches or you won't do very well. The tests are extremely easy as long as you study because she gives you everything that's gonna be on the test beforehand. I loved her class so much and would recommend her to anyone. EXCELLENT PROFESSOR!!!!

My friends in COMS 101 said they said about half of the work I did, but I honestly loved Erma. She is just a great person. I would definetly take her again.

Stauffer is a really good Coms teacher... She is good at presenting and helps you out.... the only thing I did not like was that a 93% was an A-... in any other class I would have gotten an A but I ended up with a flat B. She said this was because the school was complaining about the number of As in her class... but still, a 93% cut off for an A is ridiculous for a GE class. I think maybe 1 person got an A in our entire class of like 25 people. If you don't care that you're going to get a B, and want to become a much better speaker, take Erma... otherwise keep looking.

I took Coms 102 with Erma during the fall quarter. She is a great teacher and can really make you comfortable with giving a speech. I was pretty terrified of this class when I first enrolled because I hated public speaking. Speeches are pretty easy but they go much better if you practice them and choose a subject you are really passionate about. I learned a ton with Erma and she is a fantastic teacher.

too her fall and erma is an amazing teacher really wants you to discover your voice and who you are. made me want to talk and participate in class even though im pretty quiet in other classes. one of my favorite teachers so far. grading policy is a little wierd. a 90 is a B, but you really cant lower than a B and i know a lot of people who got A's. I just didnt turn stuff in because im lazy. take erma stauffer

The class was COMS 102, but Poly Ratings uses Speech Communication (SPC). Stauffer was a great teacher! She is very helpful with making students feel comfortable! The first few speeches aren\'t graded, impromptu wasn\'t graded, but the rest are. Her tests consist of a take home portion that plans upcoming speeches and an in-class section that requires regurgitation of textbook readings. Partial credit saves your grade in this class: if you don\'t know the answer, make one up and you may get credit for it. GREAT PROFESSOR! I had the 4 one hour lectures (and i prefer this in hindsight) because you don\'t have to give a speech every day. Up to 2 absences and still get an A. BIG GROUP PROJECT AT THE END OF THE QUARTER.

Doesn\'t matter if she\'s teaching 101 or 102, TAKE HER. you won\'t regret it. Best class i will ever take, gained confidence, opened my mind, made friends. Take her, that\'s all there is to say, I\'ve said it to all my friends and they thank me for it. Take her

Erma\'s class is possibly one of the most beneficial courses you\'ll ever take for sure dude. There\'s not doubt about it. Her class isn\'t only about learning how to give speeches, but also on how to be a person. I mean, the Hope for Haiti fundraiser was her brainchild. She is also what I was describe as \"the perfect woman.\" She\'s great. She\'s funny, and she\'s sexy. I totally wanted to ask her on a date after the final but decided she\'s waaay out of my league.

Erma\'s class is possibly one of the most beneficial courses you\'ll ever take for sure dude. There\'s not doubt about it. Her class isn\'t only about learning how to give speeches, but also on how to be a person. I mean, the Hope for Haiti fundraiser was her brainchild. She is also what I was describe as \"the perfect woman.\" She\'s great. She\'s funny, and she\'s sexy. I totally wanted to ask her on a date after the final but decided she\'s waaay out of my league.

Erma Stauffer is seriously the best teacher i\'ve had at Cal poly so far. You get to do this breathing kind of yoga like the first week of class and it really helped everyone calm down and not feel so nervous about public speaking. She\'s super chill and never gives out too much work. You usually only have one speech a week so its never too much work. Our whole class really bonded and most of that was due to Erma\'s kind heart and eagerness to get everyone to learn about each other. Take this class!!!! 100% you wont regret it!!!

awesome teacher, helps you out a lot with your speaking. Take her if you can and put a lot of work into it. The tests are the stupidest thing ever though, but they are not that hard if you study.

Erma was the best professor I have ever had here at Cal Poly. She is friendly, approachable, and (unlike most professors) reasonable. She makes public speaking a fun class with her yoga and meditation exercises. If you have a chance to take any class with Erma, DO IT!

Although I am a freshman, I feel that Erma will probably be my favorite teacher here at Cal Poly throughout my 4 years. She is so sweet and funny and I looked forward to going to her class everyday. Let\'s face it, public speaking sucks. Not many people enjoy it, but I feel that she made tolerable. The only thing that sucks are her Take Home Tests which are due on the days of her written tests. The Take Home Tests are you basically planning out your next speech, my only advice is DON\"T PROCRASTINATE and wait to do them last minute, they take up a lot of time!!!! But seriously she is a fantastic teacher and I know she is hard to get because she is so popular but if you have a priority, take her!

In the running for the best teacher I have ever had. Her grading policy is point based so it is very easy to figure out what your grade is. Also each test is maybe 8% of your grade and you will always get at least half credit from the take home portion. Fair warning though, her in class tests are on the book and can be very specific at times so make sure you study more than the day before if you want an A. Her speeches are fun and very easy to prepare for because she lets you have a lot of leash when picking a topic. Her group project is large and can take a fair amount of time so start early and don\'t wait till the end. Overall she is an excellent teacher who will teach you a lot and won\'t hurt your GPA.

I loved Mrs. Stauffer. She was fair. Going to her office hours was definitely worth it and I wish I would have gone earlier into the quarter. Most importantly though, I legitimately learned something and applied it to my other activities where I was required to give speeches frequently. She\'s fun without being walked all over. Our class got along very well in the end which made for fun dynamics.

This was the first speech class that I have ever taken in which I felt like I was actually learning something. I feel that Erma actually had an IMPACT on the lives of her students... every single student improved drastically throughout the quarter, and seeing people's eyes light up when they made a breakthrough was incredible. If public speaking causes you to pee yourself a little, then this is the professor for you. I have never seen any faculty member so intent on making a difference in a students' lives.

BO$$. take her

Erma's class was really fun. It was MTWR but I didn't mind because when you weren't giving a speech you just got to sit back and watch other people speeches and sometimes do fun activities. One day we MEDITATED in class, that was probably the highlight of the year. Erma really knows a lot about public speaking and definitely helps you become a better speaker. The only drawback is that the tests are very specific and require you to memorize a lot of stuff out of the textbook. Overall I would DEFINITELY RECOMMEND Prof Stauffer, she's pretty awesome.

COMS 102- Erma is a great teacher. Her tests are all half take-home and she tells you exactly what will be on it ahead of time. She really makes you a better public speaker and even though she messes with you occasionally after a speech she does it in a fun way and to everyone so she isn't picking on specific students. You get to sign up for a time to give your speech and if you go into her office hours she will almost automatically give you a better grade. There is a group project at the end but she grades easily on it and my group probably spent a total of 10 hours total working on it. Overall, very easy class but attendance is important.

the nicest lady you will ever meet. she genuinely cares about you and she takes the time to get to know every person in the class. i loved going to class everyday and i would take this class over if i could and i absolutely hate public speaking. go out of your way to get her you won't regret it.

Erma Stauffer is the BEST professor I have had at Poly so far. She not only recognizes the difficulties of each student, but she helps you fix them by presenting the material in a clear fun way. She maintained a very positive environment in class and I always looked forward to going. I would highly recommend taking her class before she retires.

Erma is such a sweet lady! You meditate and do breathing exercises the first week of class. The first speech is not graded and there is an impromptu speech that is also credit/no credit. She has the class give you a feedback after each speech and points out very specific things for you to work on. As long as you make a conscious effort to improve, your grade reflects it. The tests are pretty easy, they are straight out of the book but very specific questions/lists. The take home final is just preparing you for your next speech and usually end up around 3 pages. You turn in self evaluations of your speech and have a group project at the end of the quarter. She makes the whole class feel very comfortable giving speeches and doesn't let your group grade affect your grade drastically. I found the class to be the easiest I've had here at Poly.

Straight up if you have a chance to take stauffer and you don't then your an idiot. Stauffer was probably the most inspirational professor i have ever had, and she does a great job helping you progress weather you are already a great speaker or you are really shy and don't like speaking in front of crowds. She's honestly one of the teachers I'm really going to miss going to class too.

Very inspirational teacher. I would say one of my favorite teachers I have had at Poly. She actually makes public speaking a fun class and a comfortable environment to speak in. the tests are a bit ridiculous but they make up a small portion of your grade. overall a great teacher. definitely take this class if you have the opportunity.

She is AWESOME. Take her!! Don't miss out. Everything about Erma is great- her teaching style, her personality and the way she respects each and every one of her students. Hands down, one of the best professors at Cal Poly.

Erma is by far my favorite teacher here at Poly. I signed up for the 7 am class 4 days a week just to take her class and it was way worth it. She makes speaking in front of the class very comfortable and she cares very much about each student. She made the class fun. The tests were easy and there are a few papers you have to right but they take about 15 minutes because they are aonly a page and they are easy. TAKE ERMA AT ANY COST!!!

Hands down my favorite teacher! She believes that you should know everyone in your class, and you do by the end of the quarter! She also gives out Speaker of the Quarter and Most Improved trophies at the end of the year and really rewards you for learning. She also really helps improve in public speaking and isn't afraid of pointing out your flaws, making you do your speech again, and do crazy exercises to help you improve. I can honestly say that she is hands down my favorite teacher I have EVER had and I HIGHLY suggest waiting out on taking COMS if you don't get in Erma's class. Oh yeah, I did just call her Erma.. actually I call her Erms, because that's how cool she is! She also sends you daily emails of videos and really connects with her students! LOVE HERRR!

She is a great teacher and the plays she chooses are very interesting. If you are taking TH 210 make sure you take her!

TAKE ANY CLASS YOU CAN FROM ERMA! She definitely has a passion for what she teaches! A little eccentric, but she wants you to learn and be interested, not bored. We read a few plays and had quizzes on them. If they were too hard, she'd add on an extra point. There were also two tests on the notes but she only lectured a few times. We would do skits and demonstrations throughout the class so it was never boring. I thought the class was pretty easy, but you do have to do a performance at the end of the quarter which isn't really a big deal, but if you hate that kind of thing it might not be the class for you. I wish people like Erma taught everything she really is an asset to the school.

Erma is awesome! I can't think of any reason you would not like this teacher.