Ivan Lupic

The usual (correctly listed in comments below).

This man deserves a Gold Star. I was in his class last year and am only now getting around to writing a review on him, but he remains the best professor I have had at Columbia. Lupic is exceptionally intelligent, charming, helpful, and intellectually stimulating. As other comments have noted, he is able and willing to talk on a range of different and fascinating topics. His comments on papers are detailed and extremely helpful; just follow them and he will reward you handsomely. Finally, if you do the work, you will have no problem getting a very high grade. He is not at all hesitant to give out As.

Amazing. End of story. He makes the class. Oh and P.S., since you're all dying to know, he gives out A's, considering of course you put in the time and effort. He is very generous. Don't worry. You are in good hands. I'd take university writing part deux if he offered it and I don't even like writing. Done. Don't waste your time contemplating further. P.P.S. This arranged marriage comment has been quoted way too extensively. It neither illustrates the class nor the professor.

Standard UW coursework. He spaces it out a lot better than most classes so you won't find yourself suddenly at the end of the semester with a ton of work like a lot of other people.

Ivan Lupic is one of the best professors I have had. Obviously, University Writing can be one of the most tedious and frustrating classes you will have to take at Columbia, but Professor Lupic will make sure that you get the most out of the course. He's is very organized, but is willing to invest more time in whatever may interest the class (i.e. the topics of the papers/essays rather than the writing process etc.). He is extremely approachable and will always find time outside of class to meet with you about a paper. His comments are insightful and he grades very fairly. Some people may have been turned off by his straightforwardness. He is not afraid to say something negative about some of your writing or comment on his frustrations with someone being late to class, but his criticisms are always constructive. He genuinely wants everyone in the class to get the most out of it, despite the fact that it's almost everybody's least favorite class. Above all, Professor Lupic is just a brilliant professor. His range of knowledge is extraordinary. He speaks confidently and eloquently about anything it seems like. His knowledge of language, history, intellectualism, and literature is pretty much astounding. I'd highly recommend taking Lupic's class. I would take any class he taught regardless of the subject. I can see how people can rub elbows with him a little bit, but if you're wil…

The course standard. 1200 word lens essay (20%), 1500 word conversation essay (30%), 2000 word research essay (40%), 1000 word joke reflection essay (10%). Little writing tasks due each class, but these cease after the conversation essay and are not graded. Each essay is graded out of 100 and its easy if you follow his advice/comments on draft to score 98 or more (94 = A).

The below review has some good points but overall I disagree with it because it heavily implies that the weaknesses of this course were the fault of its instructor. The the contrary, Ivan Lupic is a fantastic teacher and does his absolute best within the guidelines of the University Writing curriculum. The problem is spelled out exactly in his analogy: "This course is like an arranged marriage. You are required to take it, and I am required to teach it.". No one in the class particularly wants to be there, but we're there and we have to make do and Lupic deserves credit for making the class as free from stress and as entertaining as it can be. Ivan Lupic is indeed an incredibly intelligent man. He produces etymologies on demand (a lover of languages, he speaks several and his academic work is based in Shakespeare and renaissance literature), and he may well have some background in philosophy as he also knows and can explain very complex theories at the drop of a hat. Eventually he did become somewhat exasperated by the lack of enthusiasm from the class, but he tried his best with a class that was evidently somewhat sub-standard in their writing prowess. His feedback on drafts was detailed and helpful, and he marked final drafts very fairly (I would go so far as to call it easy!). The class was tedious only occasionally, when you are forced to listen to the drivel of your class…

The typical UW fare - 4 essays, three of which are 2000-3000 words each, and one about 1000 words. Writing exercises, sometimes in class. Being able to listen and remember what a person states in class is quite crucial in Ivan's class! Pay attention!

"Did you bring your drafts?" There is some awkward laughter; Five people are late Oh, University Writing, You are not a tasty class. Partly because I had you at 9:10, but also partly because I had gotten up too late for breakfast because I was up the night before writing drafts for you. Ivan started the semester with these words: "This course is like an arranged marriage. You are required to take it, and I am required to teach it." And indeed, that's how the next few months played out. Slightly interesting, but mostly unpleasant and mostly unnecessary. I'm not sure whether I should blame Ivan or the UW curriculum for my experience, which fluctuated from sub-par to intriguing. Perhaps a combination of both. I liked Ivan's style from the first class. He was direct, slightly aloof, and obviously brimming with knowledge. He gave us an accelerated syllabus that would let us spent a large chunk of time on our research essays (which turned out to be a very wise move). He casually explained etymologies and theories in class and in meetings with him during office hours, which made me feel as though I had a good resource for the rest of the semester. However, I think as time went on, he was exasperated by the lack of enthusiasm from my class, and ended up resigning himself to it as well. Certain points of the class seemed like a waste of time, such as the presentations we did for the re…