Western Kentucky University / K / Rodney A. King

Do NOT take Rodney King. His class was awful in every way. the tests were unbelievably hard. TAKE IT IN GLASCOW if you can. Friends of mine who took it there all did better than I did with Mr. King. Even my graduate lab teacher told me Mr. King made things much harder than necessary.

First of all, if you are planning to take this course, you can't be scared of taking risk. This is an independent research class and is very challenging, yet so rewarding beyond belief. You isolate and characterize a novel bacteriophage, name it, and learn everything you can about phages over the course of 14 weeks. You have 14 weeks to do all the required steps: electron microscopy, etc, but since this is REAL RESEARCH, you are subject to error...which can suck at times, but hey, if you want to be a scientist, you got to start learning somewhere. However, just because you mess up on a procedure doesn't mean your grade has hit the shits, Dr. King will work with you until you get it right because he is such a dedicated professor. There are two exams: the midterm and the final which he gives study guides for and cover what procedures you are doing in the lab and some virology material (both are 20% of your grade). You have a presentation at the end of the semester that is 10% of your grade and also an archiving report that is 10% of your grade (very easy stuff). You have like...2 papers to write, but those are easy too. Participation is 10 or 20% of your grade as well). However, the notebook...is 40% of your grade. From the first day you start this class write everything in your note book...EVERYTHING. Mine was roughly 70 pages and I did fine, however I know someone who wrote 20 pages...they didn't do so hot.

Overall, amazing teacher, amazing class. You get published too. =D

I can't believe Dr. King has so many bad ratings. I personally find that while his class is difficult, he is always willing to help you learn. After reading some of the other evals on here, I can only conclude that people are wanting an easy ride. So if you aren't a bio major, then no this class isn't for you. But if you are, then I would definitely take this prof., because although he is tough, you will know your shit when he gets through with you. Ultimately you will be better off having taken his class, even if you do make a low grade. If you're having trouble in the class, tell him. He is always looking for student feedback, and is always willing to help those who are really trying. And if you're wondering, yes I am making a low grade in his class, I just don't know what it is right now. So I'm not some ultra smart student.

Dr. King is okay. he is very smart and I found his lectures for this lab interesting. he gives a quiz before every lab, but he drops the lowest grade. those aren't hard if you read your lab manual. He will work with you if you show him you are really trying. Respect him and he will you.

!!!!! WARNING !!!! Do yourself a favor and dont take Dr. King. He is a great guy, but a horrible teacher. No doubt this class is hard no matter where you take it. I would recomd. that you take it in Glas, or SC.. I had a 4.0 as a Junior and this class killed me.

The quizzes and tests weren't bad if you studied for an hour or more for them. What I hated about the lab was you were in there at least three days out of the week. If you don't like lab work, or expect a lab that is only one day a week, don't take this one.

Dr.King means well, but he is very picky and be prepared to study A LOT. The course requires a ridiculous amount of work and studying. His tests are the hardest tests I've ever taken. Don't take this class with any other demanding classes.

I don't think Dr. King is as bad as a lot of people make him out to be. Yes, the tests are really hard but he gives four of them and a final plus four quizzes, assignments and a couple of extra credit quizzes so there are many opportunities to improve your grade; also, he usually adds several extra points on to test grades. Very important!!!- If you want to succeed in this class, read the damn book! Try and understand it as best as you can and then read it again. Dr. King's notes are pretty much useless. He takes all questions from the book. The learning objectives aren't very helpful either; it's a good idea to study them but don't think for a minute that studying only them will get you a good grade. If you are taking the 8am class and don't want to go, don't go unless you have to. I made an A from studying the book and I went to class maybe a third of the time. Just remember, start studying as soon as the class starts and try not to get behind. If you read the chapters and basically understand them you will probably make a decent grade.

Dr. King knows Microbiology but he expects you to enter the class with the same knowledge. He asks questions to the class that are above what you know and make you seem stupid that you do not know the answer with sayings like, "Come on, it's so easy..." The quizzes are online, but it takes about an hour to get one of 20 questions done because it is SO in depth, the tests are rediculous. You have to know the specifics of EVERYTHING he has been over. Things on the test are so precise and answers are so close to each other there is no weeding out answers you have to know spelling and everything to get the right one. It's hard! I am usually good in Science, but he makes it so boring and miserable that you don't want to attend class which is bad b/c there is no attendance policy to it is hard to make yourself go, but GO because otherwise you will be so lost and behind!

This class was ridiculous! His tests are always over around 10 chapters of the book but even if you read all those chapters, that's not all that's required for the tests and quizzes. He also gives notes, diagrams, and learning objectives online along with all the rambling he does in class and it's impossible to keep up with the all the concepts he tries to shove at you. I would never recommend him to anyone, but if you have to take this class, be prepared to study a lot (the syllabus says he expects 12 hours a week!) and make sure you don't take any other demanding classes along with it.

I dont know why everyone is giving Dr. King bad reviews. I thought he was a very good teacher. I got an A quite easily. I never read the book, however, it may be helpful to some. All his notes are on powerpoint, but he takes time to explain and allow students to copy the notes. You only had to take the final if you wanted to. The quizzes were take home, therefore, they were easy points. The tests are all scantron and all the info is straight from the notes unless he specifically says to read a certain page or two. I learned a ton and it was very interesting and that was an 8am class.

I do not recommend Dr. King for anything! This class is the only B I have recieved in college. I had an 89.4 average and one of my friends had a 89.7, but neither of us had received an A because of some points system he uses. The class was long and boring and I thought he was very sarcastic and unhelpful. If he's the only professor available, take the class at the community college!!!

The only thing that really sucked about this class was that it was at 8:00 in the morning and I could never get up to go. This course isn't easy so it required some studying but besides that it wasn't a bad class and he wasn't a bad teacher.

Dr. King is one of the best professors in the biology department at Western. I have taken many chemistry and biology courses and he ranks among the top because he cares for his students and he really wants them to succeed. He curves all of the tests and some of the take-home quizzes and he will give extra credit to those who show up for class regularly. I recommend this lecture because you will definitely learn a lot. However, the lab is a little rough.

nice guy...horrible teacher. DO NOT TAKE!

DO NOT take rodney king if you wish to pass micro the first time around. he is the worst teacher i've ever had. He is so boring. You can tell he is there just to make money because he doesn't care about your failing grade or that you understand the material. I also hope I never have to take another test that hard. I know over 3/4 of my class failed, many of whom took it over with another teacher and managed to get an A.

Dr King is just plain awful. i hated going to class, and i warn anyone out there to not take this class if he is teaching. He is well meaning but distant. I was scared to talk to him outside of class. If you ask me the class was pure evil and my personal hell

His tests are all fair game, striclty from the notes. I had him his first semester here, so the class was a little challenging, but if you go to class everyday and take good notes, you will do fine. He also will have review sheets, and will answer your questions anytime. He will also review from the previous lecture in the beginning of each class if you have any questions. A very nice person to know.

Dr. King's class is boring, especially at 8:00, but he posts his notes on blackboard, so you don't have to write out your own. His tests are pretty difficult, but he curves every test. The only grades of the class are 4 tests. Know your notes and read some of the text and you will do fine in the class

Rodney King is by far the worst professor I have ever had while attending Western Kentucky University. He will make your life miserable, because his teaching skills are far to inadequate to be teaching college students. He sucks, don't take him. Your life will be hell!!

This was the worst class that I have ever taken!! He was a horrible teacher with no personality or feelings. I get A's in my classes, but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't even get a C on his tests. Steer clear of him!!!

Dr. King is a well meaning man, however he is a perfectionist and consequently expects perfection from his students. This quality leads him to ask for very detailed and specific information on tests. He is very picky in his grading, partial credit is rare and spelling counts. Although Dr. King means well, I would recomend that you steer clear of his class. The work load is far beyond that which should be expected to earn just one credit hour, and frankly its just not worth it.

King is a new teacher and is not aware that he is teaching a non-biology major course, and that not everyone lives in the world of microbes... The test are ridiculous and he gives practically no curve! Most of the students required to take this course are "pre-professional" students...so if you want a good grade King is not for you! (First exam avg. 54% Second exam avg. 60-70's...)