John Laursen - University of California Riverside

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John Laursen - University of California Riverside

Professor: John Laursen

Department: Political Science

College: University of California Riverside

Rating # 1

Overview:

Course: POSC122
Grade Received: Not sure yet
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Very very interesting lectures. it's a lot of discussion and interesting topics that really make you think. He gives pop quizzes so you pretty much have to go to class. He's very passionate about what he teaches and loves when you participate in the class discussion. Overall very interesting class, he's awesome.

Rating # 2

Overview:

Course: POSC121
Grade Received: B-
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Weekly pop quizzes based of of readings. One midterm and term paper. The more you read, the easier the class. The more you go to class, the better your grade. Great professor though. Can be a little boring at times. Participation is key in helping advance your understanding, have an opinion, no wrong answer. A typical old school college professor

Rating # 3

Overview:

Course: POSC005W
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Hes pretty great, he gives really interesting lectures.

Rating # 4

Overview:

Course: POSC000
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This Professor is just pure genius! Take advantage. READ!! He will play Devil's Advocate during discussion, but technically no wrong answers.. Unless you say a male President in a community of feminists! lol He was still cool with me after that!

Rating # 5

Overview:

Course: POSC115
Grade Received: B+
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

To pass Prof. Laursen's class, you better get ready to read. He gives weekly quizzes that are 10 points each. The only time you don't get a quiz is midterm week, and with him, that's week 3. His paper is not overly difficult, again, just make sure you're actually reading the assignments! Good professor, funny anecdotes, and great sense of humor!

Rating # 6

Overview:

Course: POSC121
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Professor Laursen is a very smart individual. You will most likely take away a lot of information and explore political theory differently than you have in the past. I highly recommend this course. However, you must do the readings on time and take notes in class to do well on quizzes, which are no less than 30 percent of your grade.

Rating # 7

Overview:

Course: POSC115
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 2.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Professor Laursen is an intelligent guy who is informative and a great lecturer employing the Socratic method. He is very straight forward explaining the readings and quizzes/midterm are easy. Attendance is mandatory to take the weekly quizzes. Final essay is the only semi-stressful aspect of the class but the TA Cale really helps. Easy class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

Course: POSC121
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 1.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This class is very easy, he spells the readings out for you, the midterms and final are very straightforward. The only downside is that attendance to lecture is "mandatory" since there are weekly pop quizzes. If you can keep up with the readings, you'll do fine. Recommend. :)

Rating # 9

Overview:

Course: POSC121
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Great professor, but A LOT of reading. A LOT, but teaching wise, great professor, i have him for posc 121. must attend class, thats for sure. RECOMMEND

Rating # 10

Overview:

Course: POSC005
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Good Professor, but definitely not an easy A. Not a lot of writing but prompts are relatively difficult to answer, and require a lot of analysis. With that said, TA 's don't make it any secret that they grade on grammar and construction of argument more than actual substance. go to workshops if you can, they'll help.

Rating # 11

Overview:

Course: POSC5
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This Professor is very old school. If you don't go to class and take good notes you will not do as well on the papers. The readings are very important and you need to go to discussions because the TA really breaks everything down and simplifies a lot of the information for you. I did not like the professor so much. Keep up with the times professor!

Rating # 12

Overview:

Course: POSC05
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He's very old school; doesn't use any Powerpoints, only lectures for the full hour. He has a pleasant sense of humor that comes out sometimes during class and he outlines ideologies well, but reading is essential. Focuses on ideology, not on history, which is nice. Plan on working closely with your TA if you have questions.

Rating # 13

Overview:

Course: POSC5W
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Really great professor, I had no interest in posc whatsoever but he really opens your mind and makes you think. A lot of people hate when professors lecture w/o slides but honestly, its the way college should be taught. You learn so much more. He's really helpful if you ask him questions and just overall a really sweet guy

Rating # 14

Overview:

Course: POSC5
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Ok people are crazy if they think attending this class is mandatory. You only need to go to it up to the midterm and then you just right 3 papers on the books, which i'm sure people are capable of reading on their own. class is very easy depending on your TA. I had ahmad and he was fantastic.

Rating # 15

Overview:

Course: POSC5
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Pretty good professor, he doesn't use powerpoint so be prepared to write down what he is saying. A Midterm, 3 7-8 pg papers, and discussion. He's impartial when it comes to teaching the material.He's not conservative, if people went to his last lecture he revealed that he supports unions and that he thinks the Tea Party's popular is exaggerated.

Rating # 16

Overview:

Course: POSC005W
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

skews lecture to his political opinion (conservative leaning). MUST attend lecture, he makes no power points, literally talks the entire hour. papers are complex, but do-able, if you are a skilled writer. fair grade policy.

Rating # 17

Overview:

Course: POSC111
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Best class! Prof Laursen has a genuine and sincere interest in teaching. He's amazing. Quizzes on every chapter. No textbook but many books. *Note: buy books online ahead of time school book store was always out. No midterm only paper. Final much like the quizzes plus essay. Must read and attend class. Great class discussions.

Rating # 18

Overview:

Course: POSCI111
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I hate the quizzes they were unfair...I studied my butt off and then he decided not to have one...I felt depressed after taking this class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

Course: POSC111
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Best Professor. hands down. If you want to be challenged. If you want to think. If you want to laugh. If your brain is thirsty for knowledge. Take this class. currently taking my second course with this professor. 8am- by choice because he is that tight. & hes such a cute little old man with a cute little old man smile. true college course.

Rating # 20

Overview:

Course: POSC115
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

very funny, very old school.

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