| What do former students say about class discussion, participation, and class preparation? |
"I learned a lot from the class. It was my favorite one this semester, and I always looked forward to coming. I like how you don't grab students by the hand and drag them to conclusions about the texts but let us get there on our own. I feel like I learned a lot more that way."
|
Course: The Novels of Charles Dickens and George Eliot
(University of Iowa, Fall 2005) |
| "I was well-prepared for class and constantly contributed to discussion. I completed all the books! By being involved, I was also better able to learn." |
Course: The Novels of Charles Dickens and George Eliot
(University of Iowa, Fall 2005) |
| "I was decently prepared for the class. A few of the weeks I did not complete the readings and thus was useless for a portion of the discussion." |
Course: The Novels of Charles Dickens and George Eliot
(University of Iowa, Fall 2005) |
| "Teacher entirely encouraged freedom of thought, no didacticism, no need to parrot, which led to my own gears being greased pleasantly." |
Course: The Novels of Charles Dickens and George Eliot
(University of Iowa, Fall 2005) |
| "I feel that this class provided me with a great deal of opportunity to develop my discussion skills. I greatly improved my ability to make concise statements in order to illustrate a point." |
Course: The Novels of Charles Dickens and George Eliot
(University of Iowa, Fall 2005) |
"Probably one of the most entertaining literature classes I have ever taken."
"It's refreshing to have a professor as passionate about his subject as Professor Gould is. It makes the class feel like it's actually worth taking."
"Thanks for giving me my money's worth."
|
Course: British Literature, 1780-1900
(University of South Florida, Spring 2010) |
| "His lectures are amusing. It's impressive that he stimulates so much interest from the class. he makes the three hour time period enjoyable." |
Course: British Literature, 1780-1900
(University of South Florida, Spring 2010) |
| "The course is demanding, but well worth it. I always feel like I learn something every class, and Dr. Gould keeps the class engaged in the lesson." |
Course: The Victorian Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2009) |
| "All the problems I had in this course are the result of poor work habits--I mean this sincerely. Gould is an excellent instructor." |
Course: English Literature, 1780-1900
(University of South Florida, Fall 2006) |
| I hear Dr. Gould's classes are reading-intensive. What's the inside scoop on the reading load? |
| "Heavy work load, but well worth the effort of reading all 3, 398 pages." |
Course: The Nineteenth-Century British Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2010) |
| "I always feel like I've gained something from the material we read, even if I don't like the book." |
Course: The Nineteenth-Century British Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2012) |
| "I read a lot. I mean I REALLY READ A LOT for this class." |
Course: The Novels of Charles Dickens and George Eliot
(University of Iowa, Fall 2005) |
| "Dr. Gould was very clear and upfront about the course reading load. There was a lot to read, but we were warned." |
Course: The Nineteenth-Century British Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2008) |
| "I've never 'read deeply' before. I've always been a surface-level reader and now I know how to connect different texts and understand them at a much deeper level." |
Course: English Literature, 1780-1900
(University of South Florida, Fall 2006) |
| "This class has provoked me to read everything critically and to research what I don't understand instead of skipping over it." |
Course: English Literature, 1780-1900
(University of South Florida, Fall 2006) |
| "Annotate the hell out of your text if you want to remember anything." |
Course: English Literature, 1780-1900
(University of South Florida, Fall 2006) |
| "Over the course of the semester, I saw a profound change in the way I read and interpret novels. Very cool! Very exciting! Very fun! It's so motivating." |
Course: The Victorian Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2007) |
| Are quizzes designed to punish slackers, reward those who do the work, or to encourage attentive reading? |
| "The only thing I had a problem with was the quizzes. There could have more of them, and they could have been worth more to reward those of us who actually read." |
Course: The Novels of Charles Dickens and George Eliot
(University of Iowa, Fall 2005) |
| "Quizzes forced me to read the texts; discussion questions helped me to look at the texts critically." |
Course: Thomas Hardy and E.M. Forster
(University of Iowa, Spring 2006) |
| "Damned pop quizzes." |
Course: English Literature, 1780-1900
(University of South Florida, Fall 2006) |
| "Gave quizzes every class so we all kept current on the reading, which made for livelier discussions." |
Course: The Victorian Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2007) |
| What about assignments, papers, and exams? What do those generally look like? |
| "Somewhat rigid as far as class procedures. Prefers 'regurgitation' of his analysis on take-home midterm." |
Course: The Victorian Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2009) |
| "Great syllabus, great class. All the material is very well picked. It all ties together lending to a greater understanding of literature as a whole. The exams are tough, especially since there are three parts to them but if you pay attention in class, read the material and take notes there is no way you can fail. This course challenges the students to do their best." |
Course: English Literature, 1780-1900
(University of South Florida, Summer 2013) |
| "Assignments were challenging without being impossible. Students were encouraged to think for themselves, express self-generated ideas." |
Course: Thomas Hardy and E.M. Forster
(University of Iowa, Spring 2006) |
| "I think the format of the midterm and final is dangerous because there are so many texts during the semester and remembering the titles, authors, and direct quotes of each text is asking a lot from full-time English majors." |
Course: English Literature, 1780-1900
(University of South Florida, Fall 2006) |
| "The format of the exams was pretty good. I didn't have much complaint there especially since we got examples. I wasn't a fan of the ID quizzes, but those helped too. Good overall." |
Course: English Literature, 1780-1900
(University of South Florida, Fall 2006) |
| "Dr. Gould helps stimulate incredibly insightful discussion, and has designed assignments that were very helpful in furthering an understanding of the course material. It was very challenging, but I would recommend Dr. Gould's course to anyone in search of a stimulating and thought-provoking class. To finish this class feels very rewarding." |
Course: Honors Seminar: Victorian Adaptations
(University of South Florida, Fall 2010) |
| Yeah, but what about the grading? I mean, how hard I am going to have to work in his classes? |
| "Gould is a very knowledgeable and interesting professor. He never has a problem holding the interest of the class; however, his grading is very harsh and nit-picky. He knows what kind of answers he expects, and nothing else will do." |
Course: English Literature, 1780-1900
(University of South Florida, Fall 2006) |
| "Very clear expectations, helpful suggestions. The assignments have improved my manner of analysis." |
Course: The Victorian Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2009) |
| "In addition to being extremely prepared, he is extremely thorough in how he grades our coursework and how he covers material in class." |
Course: The Nineteenth-Century British Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2008) |
| "Impartial grader, brilliant, funny, basically the coolest ever." |
Course: The Nineteenth-Century British Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2008) |
| "I really liked the class expectations when it came to grades. Professor Gould raised the bar when it came to writing papers, and it made me appreciate all the hard work I put into mine." |
Course: Literature of the American South
(University of South Florida, Spring 2007) |
| "The most difficult English professor I have had in my three years here, but I have also learned the most from his class. I like the exam format and how precisely the scoring is laid out on the rubric. Does not have the problem with grading objectivity that some professors seem to have." |
Course: The Nineteenth-Century British Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2011) |
| "The class was far more strenuous than most other lit. courses, but I found it refreshing. I feel like I am actually walking away having gained something." |
Course: Literature of the American South
(University of South Florida, Spring 2007) |
| "Dr. Gould really knows his stuff. He is extremely articulate. The class is very difficult; however, if you pay attention and attend class meetings, you will learn a vast amount of knowledge. . . . I recommend this class to anyone, except those who are lazy and looking for an easy A." |
Course: The Victorian Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2007) |
| "When more is expected from students they will achieve more. Dr. Gould led a difficult course which was entirely satisfying. I loathed to miss a discussion as they were always engrossing." |
Course: The Victorian Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2007) |
| "I loved the class. Instructions were clear, homework challenging, yet not impossible. The discussions were interesting and full of insight. The exams were very, very difficult, but everything that was asked on them had been covered in class discussions." |
Course: The Nineteenth-Century British Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2010) |
| "Dr. Gould's course was both interesting and engaging. He expects a lot from his students, but his instuctions are always clearly explained. The exams are difficult but do reflect whether or not the material has been learned. He wants his students to succeed." |
Course: English Literature, 1780-1900
(University of South Florida, Spring 2010) |
| What sort of help can I expect from Dr. Gould out of class? |
| "A lovely teacher. All students should be so lucky as to have a professor who is not only so genuinely enthusiastic and intelligent but also (secretly, in his heart-of-hearts) committed to promoting and helping his students think and write better." |
Course: Thomas Hardy and E.M. Forster
(University of Iowa, Spring 2006) |
| "He is also very reachable outside of the classroom. He promptly responds to emails, questions, and concerns." |
Course: English Literature, 1780-1900
(University of South Florida, Fall 2006) |
| "He's very helpful during his office hours, very prompt with email, and it is evident he is very on top of things." |
Course: The Nineteenth-Century British Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2008) |
| "Outside of the class, he consistently goes the extra mile to help his students, even at the risk of personal inconvenience. He carries his status as teacher both inside and outside the classroom." |
Course: The Victorian Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2007) |
| "Dr. Gould can be intimidating--in his expectations and his demeanor--but I think he means well." |
Course: Introduction to Graduate Study
(University of South Florida, Fall 2010) |
| "Dr. Gould was such a fantastic teacher this semester. I can safely say that he is the most influential and attentive professor I have ever experienced at USF. He went out of his way to help me with every single paper I wrote this semester. He dedicated hours of his time to help edit my papers and discuss my research with him. I only have amazing things to say about Dr. Gould. He is truly an excellent professor." |
Course: Novels and Periodicals
(University of South Florida, Spring 2013) |
| "Dr. Gould expects a lot but also makes his expectations clearly known. He is also willing to answer questions--in and out of class." |
Course: Introduction to Graduate Study
(University of South Florida, Fall 2010) |
| How about the material? I mean, Victorian literature? Really? |
"I can also say that this 19th Century British Literature Studies class is the best class I have taken at USF. It taught me so many valuable things about connecting research with novels. I will take the skills I have learned here and use them in all of my future classes." |
Course: Novels and Periodicals
(University of South Florida, Spring 2013) |
| "Victorian literature has always eluded me--I'm a completely concrete, literal thinker, so when, say, it is foggy in Bleak House for six pages, my first thought is, 'Oh, that's a lot of really bad weather.' Needless to say, try as I might, I just have never 'gotten it.' Dr. Gould made a seemingly dry, dull, and overrated (to me) genre of literature come alive and make sense, as well as hugely interesting and relevant." |
Course: The Victorian Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2009) |
| "The class met for 3 hours on a Monday night, and I never looked at the time. It was stimulating, enjoyable, and I feel I got quite a bit out of it. Dr. Gould is very demanding, but in the best way possible." |
Course: The Nineteenth-Century British Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2012) |
| "This was the best class I have ever taken, from any institution. Dr. Gould was very informative and excited about the material, which trickled down to the students. The CREATTE structure was wonderful and pushed me to participate in the Undergrad Research Colloquium (which I otherwise would not have thought about). Expectations for the class were always clearly outlined from day one, which made my learning experience much better." |
Course: Novels and Periodicals
(University of South Florida, Spring 2013) |
| "I was shaken out of my dogmatic slumbers (dogmatic primarily because of my modernist affinity) as far as the books we read are concerned. As far as the professor's pedagogy, I found him unique. He asked us questions that guided us to think critically about the text, but those conclusions, to be sure, had to be well-supported. Due to this course, I have forever changed the way I read a novel." |
Course: The Nineteenth-Century British Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2010) |
| So what's the bottom-line assessment of Dr. Gould as a teacher? |
| "Read some good books; wrote a longish paper; learned the immaculate joys of 19th-century fiction. What more can one ask for? I'm kinda sad this course is over." |
Course: The Novels of Charles Dickens and George Eliot
(University of Iowa, Fall 2005) |
| "The syllabus was very clearly written, class discussion was lively, and I like the fact that the class challenges students to become more attentive readers. I would definitely take a course with Dr. Gould again." |
Course: The Victorian Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2009) |
| "He makes sure his students know what it means to be a successful college student, as opposed to a mediocre one." |
Course: Literature of the American South
(University of South Florida, Spring 2007) |
| "He is professional without being intimidating." |
Course: Thomas Hardy and E.M. Forster
(University of Iowa, Spring 2006) |
| "Dr. Gould is a very professional teacher. His expectations are higher than most I've had in the English Department. However, I think this is a commencable attribute. he has pushed me harder, and as a result I have produced better work." |
Course: The Nineteenth-Century British Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2010) |
| "I found Dr. Gould's class very interesting. He is very knowledgeable and passes on that knowledge to us. He is also very challenging, which is a good thing of course. I took him and the class seriously because he took our education seriously." |
Course: English Literature, 1780-1900
(University of South Florida, Fall 2006) |
| "Gould treats the material and class with such attention to detail it is as if this were his own personal master's thesis. Fantastic course design. Open-minded, reasonable grading, and a genuine push to learn. I did not really know how to read before this class." |
Course: Literature of the American South
(University of South Florida, Spring 2007) |
"Expects much of his students. Difficult but fair."
"Keeps you accountable for your education."
"This has been the hardest but best class of my undergraduate career." |
Course: The Nineteenth-Century British Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2012) |
| "He's an extremely tough professor. I wish I had known he was so tough before I signed up." |
Course: The Nineteenth-Century British Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2008) |
| "He is by no means an easy professor. He challenges you to think on your own, not just repeat what "a literary scholar" has already said. Dr. Gould is the type of professor that students who want to maximixe their college-level education take." |
Course: The Victorian Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2007) |
| "Professor Gould is tough but extremely helpful. He is honest in his expectations." |
Course: The Nineteenth-Century British Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2008) |
| "Hilarious, brilliant, tough. Amazing professor who expects the best from his students." |
Course: Novels and Periodicals
(University of South Florida, Spring 2013) |
"I love this class. Professor Gould is a great teacher. The enthusiasm he has for all the material is infectious. He opened up a whole new world of literature for me. I'm very glad I took this course with Professor Gould. The material wasn't always easy and since it was a summer course it was very fast paced, Professor Gould was always available to answer any questions we had." |
|
Course: English Literature, 1780-1900
(University of South Florida, Summer 2013) |
| Professor Gould's true talent is stimulating the interest in literature. He has the ability to make even the most boring texts come to life. He is very good at synthesizing the ideas of a text. His lectures are lively! It is obvious he wants his students to succeed. He takes pride in his work and is extremely knowledgeable. |
Course: English Literature, 1780-1900
(University of South Florida, Summer 2013) |
| "He has a nice office. And he likes to dress up. In vests. As in, he invests his time with students." |
Course: Honors Thesis |
| "If one word could describe Dr. Gould, it would be sprightliness. Like the fabled forest god, Pan, he weaves his word into soft petals which lightly o'er the waters glide. And from his piping larynx cries truth only heard once a cosmic year. Singular grace, devotion, propriety and magnanimity were bestowed upon this gentle soul, and from his ardent, argent assiduousness pour forth erudition and lucubration yet unheard in English letters." |
Course: Honors Seminar: Victorian Adaptations
(University of South Florida, Fall 2010) |
| Gould's graduate course syllabus looks oppressive. What was it like to take that course? |
| "I truly loved this class. It greatly expanded my literary perspectives. I struggle to think abstractly, and I know I have greatly improved in this area. I also believe I am better prepared for the English Comps." |
Course: Nineteenth-Century Literature and Empire
(University of South Florida, Fall 2006) |
| "Dr. Gould's syllabus is the best I've ever seen. It covers primary and secondary texts." |
Course: Nineteenth-Century Literature and Empire
(University of South Florida, Fall 2006) |
| "I know going into a class with Dr. Gould that I will work very hard but learn a great deal." |
Course: Nineteenth-Century Literature and Empire
(University of South Florida, Spring 2011) |
| "Dr. Gould clearly gave a deal of thought to the course and to each lecture, and this preparation and planning was very helpful. His lecture materials were well-considered, to the point, and valuable." |
Course: Nineteenth-Century Literature and Empire
(University of South Florida, Fall 2006) |
| "I'm sure Dr. Gould would be glad for me to point out that he assigned a ton of reading. I found that it was all worthwhile, however, not only as far as adding to the content of the course but also in preparing us for the intensity of graduate work in general." |
Course: Nineteenth-Century Literature and Empire
(University of South Florida, Spring 2011) |
| "Simply put--the most engaging and intellectually stimulating class I've had at USF. I am full of ideas!" |
Course: Victorian Adaptations
(University of South Florida, Spring 2008) |
| "Best course I've had in a long time. I can't recall ever having such great class discussions. I'd recommend this course to everyone." |
Course: Victorian Adaptations
(University of South Florida, Spring 2008) |
| "Dr. Gould put together a profoundly thought-provoking syllabus. I enjoyed all of the reading, and I truly appreciated the amount of scholarship reading that was assigned. He was very focused and able to keep the discussions on track, and even thought the syllabus contained a great deal of required material, he ended up covering it all." |
Course: Nineteenth-Century Literature and Empire
(University of South Florida, Fall 2006) |
| "While the reading list was lengthy, Dr. Gould covered all the material, meaning none of our reading went without in-class discussion. Assignments were appropriate and structured--and placed well. Every assignment had a purpose, and I feel as if I'm completing the course with new knowledge and tools for further study." |
Course: Victorian Literature Survey: Poems, Prose, and Plays
(University of South Florida, Fall 2009) |
| "The syllabus was ambitious and varied but also coherent." |
Course: Victorian Literature Survey: Poems, Prose, and Plays
(University of South Florida, Fall 2009) |
| What's Gould's approach to graduate teaching? What do his grad courses emphasize? |
| "I highly appreciate his focus on pedagogical approaches to the Victorian novel and wish other classes were as directed towards our future roles as teachers." |
Course: Victorian Sensations
(University of South Florida, Spring 2009) |
"Dr. Gould's intimidating reputation is not without foundation. However, I found that his approach is not designed merely to intimidate students, but rather to challenge them to own their own standards for their performance. In my opinion, this makes Dr. Gould the best kind of teacher in that he recognizes the centrality of the student's own motivation as the driving impetus for learning anything. To put it more simply, students that cannot adequately answer the question, "Why are you here," for themselves, will not necessarily thrive in Dr. Gould's class. So I think the intimidation associated with Dr. Gould is really more about us, the students, and the realization that in Dr. Gould's class, the person in the driver's seat is none other than yourself.
Assuming that you are willing to recognize yourself as in charge of your education, Dr. Gould's class can be a rewarding experience. Dr. Gould respectfully challenges your reasoning when it's faulty and listens to your emerging interpretations carefully. He's likely to bring to light things you didn't think about and make a connection that may have eluded you. In other words, Dr. Gould takes your interpretive work seriously and so should you. I found that when I realized what I was saying in class was actually being listened to and taken seriously, I had to sharpen my wits and speak thoughtfully. And in those moments when my thoughts were less coherent, Dr. Gould was always generous. Throughout the semester, Dr. Gould consistently provided useful feedback on papers and was always available to discuss not only classwork, but the process of navigating grad school in general. If I had to sum up Dr. Gould in a word, I would go with generous over intimidating. He's generous in the ways that really count for professors: good, critical feedback and approachability." |
Course: Victorian Periodicals
(University of South Florida, Spring 2013) |
| "He is knowledgeable and expects graduate students to rise to the academic occasion." |
Course: Victorian Sensations
(University of South Florida, Spring 2009) |
| "He facilitates conversations skillfully and shares his knowledge generously." |
Course: Victorian Sensations
(University of South Florida, Spring 2009) |
| "Dr. Gould was always well-prepared and facilitated the discussion by both driving topics and letting students have their voices. Each week is three hours I don't want to miss." |
Course: Victorian Sensations
(University of South Florida, Spring 2009) |
"While I feel that this class has beeen integral to my transition into graduate studies, and also that Dr. Gould has been an invaluable resource, I am unsure that--no, nevermind, there are no 'whiles' or 'unsures.' This class engenders a frank conversation and answers all of my practical questions."
"Dr. Gould has put together a comprehensive, well-organized, and thoroughly informative Intro to Grad Studies. He has provided us with great tools for managing our graduate careers and futures beyond grad school. His texts and assignments, as well as class discussions, were relevant, interesting, and immediately useful." |
Course: Introduction to Graduate Study
(University of South Florida, Fall 2010) |
| Would you take a class with Dr. Gould again? Would you recommend Dr. Gould's classes to other students? |
| "While there was a heavy work load, Dr. Gould was an amazing professor. I would definitely recommend him to anyone, assuming of course they were a serious student." |
Course: The Nineteenth-Century British Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2010) |
| "Definitely one of the best professors I have had. He is difficult and demanding, but completely upfront and clear about what he expects. The reading is heavy, but not entirely overbearing. He expects students to reach a certain standard, but he is more than willing to help students achieve it." |
Course: The Nineteenth-Century British Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2011) |
| "This was my first course with Professor Gould and if I have the opportunity, I'd certainly enjoy registering for another course of his. Professor Gould is an intelligent individual who not only has a passion for the subject matter but is equally engaging in how he conveys the information. He expects a great deal from his students but, in my experience, nothing one shouldn't expect out of him- or herself at this level. I'd highly recommend him to any student." |
Course: English Literature, 1780-1900
(University of South Florida, Summer 2013) |
| "This is my second course with Dr. Gould. While he is a very demanding instructor, he is also one of the best professors I have had at USF. His discussions, communications, and availability leave nothing to be desired. He acts with a very high level of professionalism that demands we rise to the challenge. I would encourage people to take his class if they really do want to learn and grow as a student." |
Course: The Nineteenth-Century British Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2011) |
| "Dr. Gould is one of the most motivating professors I have ever had. I learned a great deal about the time period, the literature in question, and about how to do literary analysis. The class was far from easy, and I sometimes felt like I was not up to the task, but he was willing to help when I asked. By expecting so much from us while giving so much in return, he brought our performance to a new height. I would strongly recommend him to any student who is prepared to work." |
Course: The Nineteenth-Century British Novel
(University of South Florida, Spring 2010) |