Waitinas, Catherine  

She self ranks on here. Don't fall for her trap. Class is an absolute waste of time and super hard.

I love professor Waitinas! she is very helpful in her office hours and is very enthusiastic about the material. Her tests can be difficult because there is passage identification, but if you go to class and take good notes they are very passable. Her enthusiasm makes the class totally worth it

Class depends entirely on 4 tests where you simply identify quotes from the reading and who said what. Alright if you studied, incredibly hard if you don't. Waitinas is nice about it, though, and tries to give lots of hints before the test.

Professor Waitinas is absolutely amazing! She tells you probably 85% of the quotes that will be on the test in class. She has a fantastic personality and I thought lecture was always very interesting! This is very impressive considering her class was from 8-10 pm!! Take her class! You will certainty not regret it.

Our class was MW 8-10PM. An inconvenient time, but an excellent course to make up for it. This is a C1 GE class that is made up of only 4 non-cumulative multiple choice exams. (No essays.) As long as you attend class and read the passages before they're gone over in class, you're guaranteed a B or an A. The book I believe is a little pricey, but I rented mine off Chegg for about $25. Recommend this class for anyone who believes the course is worth the time slot.

She is passionate about literature. She is super strict about cheating and talking in class. The tests are HARD. I'd say they're fair, but there's no way you can get a high grade without doing all the reading. You have to go to class, too.

Take Waitinas! She's amazing and incredibly passionate about the material. To succeed on the midterms, just make sure that you do the reading and follow her guides on how to ace the exams, they're really accurate and helpful. I definitely recommend going to lecture because the one time I skipped lecture, I missed almost all of those questions on the exam even though I got notes from another person in the class. Take her if you can!

Waitinas is amazing. I hated american literature before coming to her class. She teaches you how to understand the material and not just memorize it for the test. She is completely fair and her tests are easy if you go to lecture. The one thing with her class is that you do not want to miss a lecture, because of the notes (she doesn't post powerpoints to polylearn) and the in class writings which are super easy and informal; you just have to be there to do them. 100% would recommend taking her at some point in the 4 years at Cal Poly.

She is an interesting professor, she thinks she's funnier than she really is. However, she really cares about student's improvement and understanding of the material. Her tests are hard but she gives you all of her tips on how to ace them, really, it's foolproof. She also has online quizzes which are super easy, and gives you attendance points. Easy English class for a GE.

I was a little wary about taking an English Literature class since I had never been particularly interested in the topic, however after this class I can confidently say that I really enjoyed learning about this subject. I read a review that said "You need to have Dr. Waitinas at least once" and I will say that exact thing again YOU NEED TO HAVE THIS PROFESSOR TO KNOW WHAT AN AMAZING LECTURER FEELS LIKE! She makes you like the material, find interest in the material and point out ways to help yourself succeed in a course that most people are forced to take. She is engaging, funny and has a genuine heart that solely wants you to enjoy and succeed in this class. I LOVE THIS WOMAN!

10/10 taking her for English 241. She is one of THE BEST ENGLISH PROFESSORS IVE HAD. This class is easy but can be hard if you don't put in the work. If you do the readings and look over your notes you should be fine. In class she has you highlight passages and teaches you how to remember them. Sometimes I didnt know what i was reading so I would read after lecture when she would go over the readings. I would also look at my lecture notes just the day of the exam. You should be able to do well in the class if you go to class and JUST DO THE READINGS!!!!

Chill teacher -> very, very hard tests.

Hey Watinias, FUCK YOU.

Today she pulled up a picture of Ralph Waldo Emerson and said “eh it’s a white person, they all look the same”

There was a section on a test she called the domino effect: if you miss the first all of them are wrong. There were like 6 or 7 of them. "Put the timeline in order and if they didn't happen put N/A." This means if you miss the first one, you fuck up. Rough class, avoid it if you want an easy A or B. I've grinded my ass of and I have a C. SOS, AVOID. Don't fall for her polyratings.

I never write Polyratings because usually I get the grade I deserve but this prof actually sucks. No matter what you do, you won't get an A. Even if you devote your life to this class, you'll probably get a B, maybe. She cares more about her dumb in-class writing that is only worth 5% of your grade and will rush through the material in class just so you have time to write at the end when it literally barely counts for anything. This prof sucks and she thinks people actually care about the class when really they are just trying to take an easy GE. I don't know how she has gone this far with this high of poly ratings because she deserves a 1, even if that. Worst class ever I don't recommend to anyone, save yourself while you can.

I've never gotten a C in a GE until this class. Way too hard for a GE, I would take something else if I we're y'all.

Very nice lady but really hard. The way she makes the tests are so dumb. I would read every single text and still get wrecked by the tests. Let me tell you a quote that was on the test that we had to identify who said it: "follow me this way." Lets judge a students ability to read by asking them stupid questions. If you're looking for a GE and have options go with the other option. I fully regret taking this class.

She is a nice lady and I appreciate her for that but her class is very difficult. If you want to learn about literature, maybe take this class? But if you're looking for a class to get an easy A or B i would definitely avoid.

I actually hate this class. I'm studying for the midterm which is 90 pages worth of material (equivalent to 180) and want to end it all at this point. Fuck Tecumseh, fuck Margaret Fuller,fuck Washington Irving. Fuck em all.

This has been the hardest class I've had to take in college. I'm a mechanical engineer and would rather take multivariable calculus then read these stories. This lady enjoys making the tests impossible for a class that doesn't matter to anybody. Good grief.

Waitinas was one of the greatest teachers I've had at poly. She is super sweet and passionate about the material and has a good presence in front of the class. She knows it is a GE course and despite heavy amounts of reading, does a good job sympathizing with students, changing her schedule if need be, and tailoring the class to the needs of the students without taking away the required work for it. We had 4 units, with non-cumulative exams at the end of each. They are worth 20%, 25%, 25% and 25% with an additional 5% that she gives you if you go to class and do the in-class writing (super easy). The exams are multiple choice/matching and have to do with identifying the readings so you can't get away without reading, even sparknotes. But she make class engaging (I have it 8am) and the readings are honestly not bad, some of them were interesting, some were dry but also made me feel better about my knowledge of american history. She also took questions out of tests if lots of people missed them or she felt like they were unfair which bumped one of my exam grades 6%. Counted for my C1. I highly recommend!!!!

The person above me is a dumb bitch ^^^. This class was hard asf and she could care less about her students difficulties. Stay away from this GE unless you like memorizing random ass quotes that won't even be on the test because she likes to put dumb ass quotes on her test to make herself feel like she's challenging the students even though nobody gives a fuck about the class other than completing the C1. Take it at foothill or with another teacher, this class was utter garbage.

Dr. Waitinas is a very good professor who is passionate about her subject. She has her students post their papers on blackboard which added a lot to my understanding of the texts. Plus, her papers are really easy to write as long as you are serious and make an honest attempt. Her grading standards aren't tough and as long as you try hard you'll get a good grade on your papers. Her passage ID's on tests were a little tough, but she's always willing to help you out during her office hours and give tips on how to ace your ID's. Great teacher who's really easy to talk to and helpful. I recommend her classes highly!

GREAT PROFESSOR! Not only is she knowledgeable, but unlike those great yet super-ridiculously-hard professors, she fashions her lecture/tests so you will succeed in the class. Once you take your first test, know that the rest of them will follow pretty much the same format. KNOW the poetic theories! The passage id's can be semi-difficult, but they mostly follow quotes she's gone over in class, or have key words to point you in the right direction. It is good to complete the papers she gives you at the beginning of the quarter, filling them out for each poet/author. The class is 4 exams worth 20%, an essay, and 5% of posting "immersions" on blackboard. Those were annoying at first, but actually got really interesting when I got to read what my classmates had written. Really approachable...just an awesome professor!

Professor Waitinas is a clear, engaging, and intelligent lecturer. But more than that, she has an optimistic, cheerful, witty, and fun attitude. It was hard to face two hours of romantic literature twice a week at 8 am, but Waitinas held my attention and introduced me to some of the best writing I have ever encountered. Her exams are straightforward and predictable, although they do involve some memorization and thorough knowledge of the texts. Do yourself a favor and take Waitinas at least once while you're at Cal Poly.

If she wanted to...I think she could fly.

I\'m an English major, so this was not the first English class I\'ve had at Cal Poly. That being said, this was one of the best English classes I\'ve ever had. The reading was relatively light (do with that what you will) and much more interesting than the previous core class. Waitinas is very enthusiastic about the material and every class with her was interesting and fun. I never had any desire to skip class and she even gave us a couple days off! The class consisted to three objective midterms, one 5-pg paper and a couple small group assignments. Even if you\'re not a major, if you take a class with Waitinas, you will not be sorry.

This was the second class I have taken with Dr. Waitinas, and I will take her again if I have the opportunity. Her positive energy and enthusiasm make going to class so much more enjoyable - even at 8 am! I have moved on to the next CORE class, but it just isn't the same without Waitinas... Like the previous review says, there are a few tests (easy if you did the reading and went to class), a 5 page paper, and some in class group workshops. She does a lot of group work/ quizzes in class so you should make an effort to go. This is a good thing though, because she mixes it up and doesn't just sit there and lecture on and on for 4 hours a week.

Of the core classes that I have taken for English, Dr. Waitinas' class has been by far the best. not only is the subject matter engaging, but her enthusiasm helps the material transcend into something very applicable for students and helped me personally get very excited about learning. Some parts of the course were a bit dry (I'm not a fan of jane Austen) but for the most part I enjoyed the class. There are 3 exams in the course which allows for more chances to do well, but you'll want to keep up with the reading and study very thoroughly as the passage ID's can be pretty specific. There is also a 5-page paper and a couple of group projects and in-class discussions. Everything about the class is very straightforward and Dr. Waitinas was very well-organized and very helpful in office hours. Even if you don't have to take Core, you should take a class with Waitinas, you won't be disappointed

This teacher, while being very enthusiastic about the material, made her tests unnecessarily difficult. I am an english major and I read everything for her class (poems repeatedly , and twice for the longer stuff) She likes to have "pop" quizzes so make sure you do the reading. And be prepared to have dozens of quotes thrown at you on the test and you have to somehow know who said the most arbitrary thing. With how hard I tried in her class, it was interesting that her favorites got better final grades than me when I had gotten better grades on all the tests than these people. Anyways, nice lady but something was off with the grading.

Waitinas is the best English Professor at Cal Poly. I totally beleived that class was going to be boring since it was from 8-10 (M-Thurs) but class was never boring. Class went by fast everyday. We did some small group assigments but nothing complicated. We had quizes almost daily (being summer school i guess it was expected) but as long as you do the reading, you will get an A on the quizes. You don't have essasy, but she has journals do. They are quite fun and not hard. She has two exams, and then towards the end you have to recite a poem or something. I would recommend Waitinas so if you have a chance to take her, do so!

Dr. Waitinas is a great professor. I would recommend her to anyone looking for an engaging and interesting English class. She provides great insight into the course materials while also encouraging her students to come up with their own ideas and thoughts. At first, I was overwhelmed by the amount of work, but she adjusted the workload as the quarter progressed so it was very manageable. English 345 consists of readings (do them, it will pay off in the end), class discussions, group workshops, and creative journal entries in the readings (which were actually fun to do). If you put the time in to do the work, keep up with things, and participate in class, you will get a good grade. She is also very nice and happy to help during her office hours. Take Waitinas if you have the chance. You won\'t regret it!

Dr. Waitinas is a magical English professor. To re-hash what was said below, "If she wanted to, I think she could fly." She is the best English professor I've ever had at Cal Poly. The class is based on participation points, two midterms and a take-home final. The final consisted of a class review and a compare and contrast portion for all of the works we studied throughout the course. The midterms were fair; they are mostly based on passage identifications. Otherwise, the first midterm had a crossword component, which made the test kind of entertaining. The second test is easier than the first because the material is easier to differentiate. She keeps track of participation on the side and takes note of texters and people that are checked out without telling you. She is so exuberant and positive about the works we're reading, she makes it easy to participate, even at 7am! Pop quizzes are also included in the participation points. Thankfully, for some, there is not a ton of writing in this class. There are no essays. This class fulfills the GWR requirement but most of the in-class writing is done via workshops. If you have already taken and passed the GWR, you get to skip two classes while the rest of the class takes the exam. I promise you will not regret it if you get the chance to take her; do it! She's the bomb.

I just got done with the summer session of 345 and I had to write a review because Waitinas was awesome! I personally like English, so the class wasn't too bad for me as far as understanding the material goes. There is not like an insane amount of reading. There were a couple of long pieces we read, but it was usually under 20 pages a class. There were no long papers we had to write, just a final paper reviewing the class and stuff. The tests aren't too bad. Just make sure you review the readings and get a feel for each author's style and like what point of view they're writing from. The class also fulfills the gwr which is nice.

I looovveedd this class. I learned so much about contemporary women writers and enjoyed the structure of the class. It is very straight forward. Basically, there is a quiz every day (she says that most days there will be a quiz, but in reality... it is EVERY DAY). With that being said, it is important to come to class and to have done the reading. The first half of the quarter was pretty dense with respect to reading. For one assignment, I put in about 6 hours. Also, not all of the readings are easy, but as the quarter moves forward, it gets better. The second half of the quarter gets easier with readings varying between 5-25 pages a night. Trust me, this is not going to take more than an hour or so. The midterms were very hard, they are passage identifications and short answer. You will do just fine on them so long as you read the texts and review the quotes discussed in class. This class does require a lot from you, but it is definitely rewarding and Dr. Waitinas makes the lectures interesting.

Dr. Waitinas is AMAZING. I don't even have the words to describe how wonderful she is. I am not an english major (as most of the class isn't because it's a GE) and she made me excited to go to class at 7 AM. I looked forward to discussions and just talking about the texts we read. The recitation at the end of the quarter, becomes a lot less intimidating as you get to know your class better. Go to every class to avoid missing quiz points and get help in OH if you are worried about the exams, because they can get tricky. Overall, I really don't think there is a better professor in the english department. You'd be lucky to take her.

Dr. Waitinas is a great teacher and this course was life-changing for me. Dr. Waitinas chose great readings which really opened my eyes to the history of women writers, where we are now ,and what might be holding me back in my own writing life. I came out of the class enthusiastic and with renewed hope of finding my "voice." She made classroom discussion easy and interesting. As far as the technical aspects of the course, I love that she is organized and has her courses well-planned out, because it makes the lives of her students much easier. She has a syllabus with all the readings outlined and sticks to it as closely as possible. There are a couple of short homework assignments and extra credit assignments, nothing too difficult, just requires thoughtfulness about the reading. There are several pop reading quizzes which are pretty easy if you've done the reading. Know details, like character names, titles, imagery, etc. One thing I didn't do that I wish I had is review a little more before each class - I read ahead a lot because of my crazy work and school and life schedule, so by the time we had a quiz, I sometimes forgot little details that would have been easy if I'd just taken a few minutes to skim back over the reading. The midterm and final are mostly passage IDs and can be difficult because the themes in the readings are very similar. I read Dr. Waitinas's handout on "Tips for Acing Passage IDs" and found it so helpful. It has helped me in every literature class, little things like taking note of the author's writing style, the format and genre, the length of poetic lines, etc., will help you when you are not quite sure if the passage is from, for example, this short story or that one. The final project is easy, but time-consuming, so leave time for it. There is also a recitation - my tip for that is to pick something you love a little early on and practice, practice, practice! Don't wait to start memorizing the week before.