The first grade you have in the class is your quiz grade and it is difficult because you don't know what to expect. But if you attend class and read the text book you will do fine on the tests. The breakout instructors are there to help you befor...
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The first grade you have in the class is your quiz grade and it is difficult because you don't know what to expect. But if you attend class and read the text book you will do fine on the tests. The breakout instructors are there to help you before you go to Ainsworth so it didn't feel as if he was as open to communication as some of the other professors I have dealt with. But he was interesting and his class was EXTREMELY informative.
Professor rated by: Economics Student on 12/10/09
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
+1 Helpful
2
POLS 1101 - AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
If you need to simply fulfill your POLS 1101 requirement, DO NOT take this professor. His GPA alone should give you that clue. I stopped going to lectures reguarly and just started reading the book and I pulled an A somehow. Your TA MAKES your grade.
Pros:
Grades had to be curved substantially. I went from a solid B to an A after the final.
My TA helped enormously with preparing for the tests and the breakout part of the grade wasn't work-intensive.
Cons:
The Professor rambles constantly about stuff that you will NEVER see again. All of the tests are based off of the book, except for the essays where he requires you to bring in information from his lecture.
Lecture is worthless and boring.
Professor rated by: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Student on 5/8/11
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
+11 Helpful
Student Ratings 1 - 20 of 35
POLS 1101
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
2
Pros: Grades had to be curved substantially. I went from a solid B to an A after the final.
My TA helped enormously with preparing for the tests and the breakout part of the grade wasn't work-intensive.
Cons: The Professor rambles constantly about stuff that you will NEVER see again. All of the tests are based off of the book, except for the essays where he requires you to bring in information from his lecture.
Lecture is worthless and boring.
If you need to simply fulfill your POLS 1101 requirement, DO NOT take this professor. His GPA alone should give you that clue. I stopped going to lectures reguarly and just started reading the book and I pulled an A somehow. Your TA MAKES your grade.
Professor rated by: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Student on May 8, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
POLS 1101
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
3
Pros: The class really depends on your TA.
Cons: He got off topic frequently.
He wasn't that bad. Just do the assignments and you'll be fine.
Professor rated by: Spanish Student on February 15, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
POLS 1101
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
5
The first grade you have in the class is your quiz grade and it is difficult because you don't know what to expect. But if you attend class and read the text book you will do fine on the tests. The breakout instructors are there to help you before you go to Ainsworth so it didn't feel as if he was as open to communication as some of the other professors I have dealt with. But he was interesting and his class was EXTREMELY informative.
Professor rated by: Economics Student on December 10, 2009
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
POLS 1101
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
3
Pros: Definitely knows his stuff. Gives handouts of the lecture taken from the book, so unless you want to learn a little extra, you won't need the book except for some exercises here and there.
Cons: Gives long winded answers to questions, and not very good answers. You can tell he knows what he's talking about, but will most likely leave you drawing a blank.
Professor rated by: Anthropology Student on May 3, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
POLS 1101
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
2
Pros: class isn't mandatory at ALL
Cons: Lecture is so boring I don't even bother going anymore. I just read the book right before the test and gain more information from that than his rambling during class. He gets off topic so frequently it's ridiculous.
Try to take another professor, his tests are tricky and can be hard.
Professor rated by: Pharmacy Student on April 16, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
POLS 1101
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
2
I hated taking class from him. I learned more from the TA in the break out sessions than I did from class. He is never organized and talks about subjects that do not relate to one another. NEVER TAKE POLITICAL SCIENCE FROM THIS PROFESSOR!!!!!
Professor rated by: Agricultural Education Student on December 7, 2010
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
POLS 1101
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
3
Pros: No homework
No attendance policy
tests are multiple choice with one essay
Cons: tests are a little difficult
only partial homework is three chapter summaries due at some point during the semester
Professor rated by: Health Promotion and Behavior Student on April 13, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
POLS 1101
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
2
Pros: None
Cons: Really mean. Doesn't teach well. Tends to 'call out' students in front of lecture hall in order to ridicule them
Professor rated by: Early Childhood Education Student on May 3, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
POLS 1101
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
4
Pros: You don't have to come to class (though it is advised).
Cons: There is a lot of reading if you want to get an A.
Professor rated by: Comparative Literature Student on April 16, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
POLS 1101
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
2
Pros: NONE
Cons: BORING, lame teacher. Expects a LOT of reading from you as well.
Too much reading. Boring material.
Professor rated by: Banking and Finance Student on April 21, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
POLS 1101
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
2
Pros: It's a huge lecture class, rarely have to go
Cons: Ainsworth is an asshole
Professor rated by: Business Student on April 26, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
POLS 1101
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
2
Cons: Extremely boring, doesn't engage the class
Professor rated by: Foods and Nutrition Student on February 15, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
POLS 1101
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
3
Pros: smart
Cons: too smart and gets off subject alot
Professor rated by: Psychology Student on April 15, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
POLS 1101
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
2
nice guy, kind of a jerk sometimes
Professor rated by: Landscape Architecture Student on April 15, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
POLS 4070
THEORIES POL CHOICE
3
Pros: He is an incredibly nice guy. While he does give a lot of reading, there are hardly ever homework or quizzes. His grading is pretty easy and he seems very accommodating and laid back. Stay focused in this class, he knows when you're not paying attention and he doesn't real like it. Very nice guy, you'll learn a lot. Easy B or B+...with a little effort an A-.
Cons: LOTS of reading for this one. The reading is thick, dense, theory kind of stuff that you don't exactly want to take to the beach. Ainsworth's lectures are terribly unorganized as he comes of a bot scatterbrained. He often loses trains of thought and goes off on rabbit trails that make little sense and have hardly any relevance. If you need a good, organized, structured learning environment, don't take him.
Professor rated by: Political Science Student on December 7, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
POLS 1101
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
4
Pros: This guy knows his stuff, and he goes off topic but its great stories that sometimes relate to the topic
Cons: A LOT OF READING
Great teacher, has some great insightful stories. Many people say he goes off topic and thats a bad thing, but i say its a great thing because it relates to the real world application of the subject plus it makes it a hell of a lot more interesting. I took this in the summer so a LOT OF READING, but it was still very informing class.
Professor rated by: Computer Science Student on August 6, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
POLS 1101
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
3
Pros: Lectures are generally interesting, and he knows his stuff.
Cons: Lectures don't always cover important topics that you need to know for the exams, and the book is a much better source of information.
Reading the book is the best way to do well in the course, and if you read the book, you can for the most part skip the majority of the lectures without any damage to your grade whatsoever. The book can basically be used to completely replace attending lecture.
Professor rated by: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Student on May 16, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
POLS 4070
THEORIES POL CHOICE
4
Pros: He does a curve at the end of the semester, based on the grades of other classes (and this one). No homework, either. Very interesting lectures, too.
Cons: Very difficult tests. You'll be banking on that curve by the end of the semester if you want an A.
Easy to distract during lectures, and loves cultural references (bar sports).
Professor rated by: Political Science Student on May 5, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
POLS 1101
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
2
The tests were really hard and his lectures were boring. He doesn't typically use power points for his notes, you just have to take them from what he says.
Professor rated by: Child and Family Development Student on May 4, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
POLS 1101
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
2
Pros: There is an website on the back of the book that helps alot.
Cons: In lecture he rambles sometimes and doesn'y really get his point across.
Professor rated by: Language Education Student on May 6, 2011
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