AI Rate Professor

Communication

Caitlin Phalen

COMM1 · COMM120 · 38 lifetime ratings

AI rating
84/100
RMP rating
4.3/5
Take again
88.57%
Difficulty
2.6

The decision

if you will attend, practice speeches, and want a supportive but sometimes strict communication professor.

Best fit · Effort For RewardSupportive Speaker CoachParticipation MattersClear CriteriaTough Speech GraderFunny Lectures
  • because she makes public speaking more comfortable and engaging.
  • Attendance and participation matter a lot, especially for in-person classes.
  • Grades are usually fair and reachable, but .

Key questions

Four answers before you build your schedule.

Is this an easy A?

FairEffort

68/100

An A is very possible with attendance, completed speeches, and practice, but .

Online reviews are more split on grading harshness, while and effort make the grade manageable.

Is the course easy?

Beginner

72/100

The because and speeches are scaffolded, though public speaking itself can be stressful.

Online work is structured around recorded speeches and , while and attendance.

Is attendance flexible?

Mandatory

25/100

as very important, and missing speech days can seriously hurt the grade.

, while online reviews focus more on due dates and recorded submissions.

Is this professor recommended?

MustTake

86/100

Most students recommend her because , and effective at making public speaking less intimidating.

In-person reviews are more enthusiastically positive, while online reviews include a few .

Course guide

See how this professor fits your week.

Grading

Fair

58/100

Many students earn A grades, but repeated comments say she can grade speeches strictly or nitpick details.

Format shift

Online reviews mention harsh speech grading more often, while as fair if students attend and practice.

Workload

Moderate

65/100

Work , and reading, but most students describe it as manageable.

Format shift

Online reviews mention recorded speeches and lighter reading, while and attendance.

Teaching experience

Excellent

88/100

Students frequently , and ability to ease public speaking anxiety.

Format shift

, while online reviews are positive but more mixed about improvement and grading.

Assessment method

FocusOnAssignments

30/100

Grades appear driven mainly by speeches, outlines, critiques, quizzes, and participation rather than major exams.

Format shift

Both formats emphasize speeches and supporting assignments, with and participation.

Luni fit check

Weigh these signals against your actual schedule.

Get help balancing workload, grading, and timing when no option is an obvious fit.

Course format

Compare the in-person and online experience.

Classroom format

In person

29 reviews

High confidence · Best fit for Beginner Friendly

In-person reviews are highly positive , and comfortable classroom, while and practice.

Main concern

Missing class or speeches can damage the grade quickly.

What students said

“As someone who hates public speaking, I felt so comfortable in her class.”
COMM1
“ as well!”
COMM1
“Miss a speech, miss a grade.”
COMM1

Remote format

Online

9 reviews

Medium confidence · Best fit for Effort For Reward

Online reviews say the class is structured and often easy, but several students warn that recorded speeches can be graded harshly.

Main concern

weaker speakers.

What students said

“easy class with 5 speeches total.”
COMM1
“She grades on speeches harshly.”
COMM1
“ and are easy to do.”
COMM1

Exam style

Know what to expect from exams and major assignments.

but generally student-friendly, with multiple-choice or easy tests mentioned and .

Multiple-Choice Midterm And FinalEasy TestsRecorded SpeechesReviews Do Not Clearly Prove Proctoring Policy

Assessment risk

StudentFriendly

78/100

Low score means less forgiving assessment conditions.

In person

In-person reviews mention multiple-choice midterm and of closed-book or proctoring rules.

Multiple-Choice Midterm And FinalEasy TestsIn-Person Speeches
“The midterm and .”
COMM1
“ .”
COMM1
“ , though some q's can be tricky.”
COMM1

Online

Online reviews mention recorded speeches and quizzes but do not clearly prove webcam, proctoring, open-book, or .

Recorded SpeechesQuizzesReviews Do Not Clearly Prove Proctoring Policy
“ and are easy to do.”
COMM1
“The rest of the .) is easy.”
COMM1

Student evidence

See what students actually said.

Top student voice

“As someone who hates public speaking, I felt so comfortable in her class.”

Voice snapshots generated from 38 reviews, highlighting key themes in , and speech workload. Credibility rating: High.

🎯 Teaching Quality

88/100

“She made the class really fun and her lectures and short and too the point.”

👍 Recommendation Rate

86/100

“ .”

⚖️

58/100

“While being easy, she may be a .”

Theme 1

👨‍🏫 About Teaching Style

  • As someone who hates public speaking, I felt so comfortable in her class.
  • Phalen makes public speaking less daunting and her classes are always enjoyable.
  • She is funny, passionate, encouraging

Theme 2

📈 About Difficulty & Grades

  • As long as you have a speech, prepared or not, you'll pass.
  • It's not easy to get an A, but she is a .
  • Just participate and do the outlines correctly and its an easy A.

Theme 3

🗣️ About Speeches And Attendance

  • as well!
  • Miss a speech, miss a grade.
  • Don't miss any lectures, or you'll be behind.

Data context

See exactly what the AI read.

Analysis sample

38

Recent reviews read by the AI

38

Lifetime ratings

92/100

Evidence confidence

Thirty-eight reviews across many years and both formats provide rich, mostly consistent evidence with some useful dissent.

Inside 38 stored ratings

Quality ratings

5 out of 524
4 out of 510
3 out of 50
2 out of 52
1 out of 52

Course coverage

COMM137 reviews
COMM1201 review

Reported outcomes

A range results lead the reported letter grades.

28 reported outcomes

A range

23

A+ 2 · A 17 · A- 4

B range

5

B+ 1 · B 3 · B- 1

C range

0

No reported values

D range

0

No reported values

F

0

No reported values

No letter grade reported

0

No reported values