Mark Jones

The bi-weekly response papers helped me write better papers. We never had exams, just the response papers to the chapters, group presentations, and the final research paper. Dr. Jones took his time w/us in writing our research paper by dividing it in sections and assigning them as homework, so that we could also get his approval whether we were on the right track or not. Sometimes his sense of humor came off kind of bland, but he's pretty laidback and a dedicated teacher to his students.

Mark is an extremely funny teacher. Throughout the entire semester he's tried to keep everyone laughing. However, attendence is very important to Mark. He grades everything pretty easy including speeches,projects, and homework. There are two major speeches, about 2 or 3 projects, and hardly any homework. Just make sure you follow his format and you'll end up with a good grade. I think Mark is a really funny, and intresting teacher and has taught some serious skills about organization of both writing and public speaking. I recommend Mark to those who enjoy public speaking, because he will encourage you, and I recommend him to those who dread it, because he'll take it easy on you.

MAN... All I can say is that Mark Jones is TIIIIIIIOIGHT!!! I reccomended him to my sister, my friends... even my EX-MAN!!! Mark is funny, very easy to talk to, and cares about his students (the one's that show up to class at least). I think everyone knows that Mark is easy going which is why some students like to take advantage of his kindness and not show up or come in late... They know that pisses him off yet, they know that he won't really do nothing at the time... Then when grades come out and people wonder why they got a B or C... Yeah, its because your dumbass don't listen and wants to be late or absent all the time! Yeah, so... Whatever... Mark you're tight and youknowdisma-an!!! (Yeah, Yeah... I know my review is all choppy/full of slang/whatever... but, you guys know where I'm getting at...)

Mark is one of the funnest teachers I have ever had!

He expects a lot from you, but they're all very simple things, such as attendence (duh), and definitely ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM during your speeches.

He's very laid back, and always easy to talk to. When asked a question about assignments, he gives REAL and USEFUL feedback. He's prompt with e-mail responses as well.

The best part is that he doesn't assign a whole bunch of busy work from the book. In fact, the only time we've even used the book so far was during a group presentation where each group taught the class an assigned chapter. His assignments in the beginning are mainly to get us organized for our major speeches, which definitely beat answering silly questions from the book!

I'm sure a lot of you don't look forward to taking Speech, but when you do, try your best to get Dr. Mark Jones as your teacher. You won't regret it!

I really dreaded being in this class since I hate public speaking and giving speeches but Mark really made it easy and even somewhat enjoyable. I'll grant you he's not for everyone, and I didn't like him at first myself. But the time he gives us to work on our speeches and the very easy directions he gives us was enough for me to feel comfortable in the class. There is minimal homework. The only thing you have to remember is your attendence. Attendence, attendence, attendence. If you show up and do all your work, this class should be a breeze.

Mark Jones is probably one of the WORST Speech and Communication teachers at SFSU, during this past semester Jones was filling in for Kristen Correia's class, on the first day of class he spent 50 minutes laying out all the ground rules for a class that he was temporarily teaching in as if we were in elementary school. He is extremely stringent on absences and tardiness, if you are tardy on the day of your speech, you will automatically get a zero and will lose your opportunity to present. He is extremely intimidating especially during speeches, when he interrupts the student at anytime he feels like and asks questions that don't always have a response that he seeks at which point he interrogates the speaker until he wastes enough time or someone else in the class saves them. Many students in the class have also noticed that when they are presenting their speeches, he looks extremely bored and tired of what you have to say, because he slouches and looks around the class as if he was bored, which is extremely disrespectful and makes the presenter feel like they are wasting their time and being foolish. He is not reasonable whatsoever and does not see problems from a student's point of view, grade wise or attendance wise. Students do not have the opportunity to speak or negotiate with this guy because he races out of the room as soon as the class is over and does not have office hours. He does not reward students for extra effort and penalizes if you struggle in the class. Finally one thing that I found extremely annoying is the way he speaks, which sounds reminiscent of a robot, he talks in a monotone voice and pauses frequently while he speaks. This type of talking bores you to death! Maybe he should have taught math or something. For a teacher who demands respect and a whole bunch of other things from day one, he surely doesn't deserve it. If our class had such a bad experience from him in a three week substuting period, you can imagine how bad it would be to have him as your speech teacher for a whole semester. So BEWARE, if you take this teacher expect no compassion or sympathy, otherwise pick another instructor who actually cares about their students. I don't know where these two other evaluators who posted before me get their stuff from, because he is the AWFUL!

Mark is great! He is totally easy-going. No worries in his class. Actually, you might worry about your actual delivery of your speech. But, that's on you--you need to practice yourself to make perfect, right? The way in which he structured his class is VERY organized and good towards the students. Your very first time speaking would probably be the first day of school. You tell the class your name, high school you came from, etc. The next meeting, he might ask you "if you were the ruler of your own planet, what rule would you tolerate/change? Later on, he will go into group work b/c he believes that it would make it easier for the students to stand up there and speak, having their group be there next to them, which is true. I wasn't as scared. He will then go into lectures, then your 2 major speeches (persuasive and informative). After that, you're basically done! There is absolutely no hw @ all...just rehearse your speeches. Honestly, I would say that I've only cracked open my speech book say about...twice. One time to read the chapter assigned for groupwork, another to take notes. Not only is he my professor, I see him as a GREAT friend as well--that's how comfy and close we've gotten. I would tell him my problems and he would try his best to help. He is caring, funny (VERY funny), and lenient. Overall, Mark is a WONDERFUL teacher! I don't know how else I can emphasize that! =) Take him!

-Michelle

An easy-going teacher who makes his classes fun and entertaining with jokes and stories. All the difficult work is at the beginning of the semester and he saves the easiest work for the end during finals week. He gives clear and comfortably spaced out lectures. No major cramming or book reading is needed here. Though you're required to buy the book, and read only one or two chapters. Attendance is a MUST in this class. He takes this very seriously. Light homework load and only 3 or 4 speech projects in the whole semester. This class is easy to pass as long as you show-up every class day and show effort. I highly recommend this teacher. I hate and loathe public speaking but this teacher helped me grow to enjoy it.