GVPT170 | PlanetTerp

Information	Review
Sonia Vargas GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 10/23/2024	Very nice person. Her lectures are informative and to the point. The class itself is set up so that there aren't many exams, but rather many smaller assignments along the way. Most of the said assignments are completed or at least partially completed in class. I like this because it makes you apply the concepts that you learn in the course, and it prevents one assignment from tanking your overall grade.
Kristina Miler GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/18/2024	Dr. Miler is one of my favorite teachers I've ever had! She is so kindhearted and truly wants what's best for her students. She is an incredible lecturer, and I always found myself engaged during class time. She is very knowledgable about the U.S. political system and always made sure to present her information in a non-biased way. I could not recommend her or her class enough!
Patrick Wohlfarth GVPT170 Expecting a B Anonymous 03/21/2024	Overall decent professor but I would not recommend taking him for GVPT170 if you don't have a strong background in the subject. Lectures were sometimes very dry and information was hard to absorb. Weekly quizzes were simple but exams were tricky.
Patrick Wohlfarth GVPT170 Expecting a C Anonymous 02/29/2024	his lectures were so boring, and the ta's were such tough graders. the exams were challenging. he just goes over so freaking much, it's so hard to keep up. also, you'll do fine without the textbook, i never once read it. but, very challenging course, ended with a c and trust me, i tried.
Florian Gawehns GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 01/25/2024	Great professor! Definitely know his stuff and provides interesting research and data to back up his points throughout the lectures. His lectures are well-paced and interesting and he asks questions and prompts discussions throughout to keep the class engaged. He's very straightforward and to the point. He's also super understanding and lenient with assignments/deadlines as long as you communicate with him. Would definitely recommend his class!
Patrick Wohlfarth GVPT170 Expecting a B- Anonymous 12/23/2023	Professor Wohlfarth was understanding and supportive when I had issues and I am extremely grateful for that. He seems very knowledgeable and has real world experience unlike many other Government professors.
Patrick Wohlfarth GVPT170 Expecting a C Anonymous 12/21/2023	Didn't show up for lectures after the first week of class. seemed like a very knowledgeable professor.
Patrick Wohlfarth GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/15/2023	Easy class and not a lot of work. He was a cool guy and the lectures are not mandatory, but I highly encourage you go especially if you are not one to keep up with readings as he does go over them very well.
Jenna Dawson GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/15/2023	The best. Her discussion sections are really helpful, and she tries to make them engaging. She's super cool to talk to and has good advice on getting internships, applying to law school, etc.
Patrick Wohlfarth GVPT170 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/14/2023	The test format was terrible but the quizzes were easy as long as you looked at the information from class.
Patrick Wohlfarth GVPT170 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 12/13/2023	Class is very easy if you know a lot about gov. There are weekly quizzes in discussion that consists of one open ended question. Half of them are graded on accuracy and the other half are graded on completion. The TA I had was very harsh and strict which made discussions less enjoyable. There are textbook readings but they are unnecessary as long as you pay attention in lecture. There are two midterms and a non-cumulative final that are not too difficult as long as you understand the concepts.
Kristina Miler GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/11/2023	I had Dr. Kris Miler in Spring 2023 for GVPT170. She is an excellent professor and very nice. I would recommend her. She knows a lot about the American political system, and her lectures are good. The class was easy and informative. If you attend lectures you will get an A on the midterm and final. Dr. Kristina Miler is an excellent professor.
Patrick Wohlfarth GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/08/2023	Great class, great professor. Even though this class was required for me, i feel that everyone should take this class. This class will really open your eyes to the process of American government which may even sway your political opinions. Wohlfarth is a great teacher. He's so engaging, willing to answer questions, and is knowledgeable about the subject. Though the government does involve politics, he is great at staying moderate. The TAs don't stay moderate, but discussion is a great place to expand understanding and apply new knowledge. I liked the discussion. Wohlfarth posts the slides, but you need to go to class to do well because he'll expand on subjects that you don't get during class. Every week we had a closed note, closed book discussion free-repsonse quiz. A certain number of quizzes are graded and some are completed. The quizzes are just on the topics of that week. I study the night before and recheck in the morning and i have done very well. Ok, the exams are hard. He does not make questions that are easy to answer. All his questions are conceptual so its not a test that you can just look up the answers usually. He has multiple choice and then two free responses at the end that are like the discussion quizzes. He will sometimes give back a couple points to people test (curve). Overall, great great class.
Patrick Wohlfarth GVPT170 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/07/2023	I don't know why there's any negative reviews on Professor Wohlfarth. GOV170 maybe isn't an interesting class for everyone but Professor Wohlfarth has so much knowledge on the subject. Basically all the quiz and test information can be found on the slides and in lectures he explains concepts very well and makes them a lot easier to understand. If you do not like the class that's fine but Professor Wohlfarth does his absolute best to explain the curriculum. If you need or want to take a class that he is the teacher in, I would highly recommend him.
Patrick Wohlfarth GVPT170 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/07/2023	Overall decent class. Exams were excessively difficult for a 100 level class with questions worded on the complicated side. However the professor is accommodating and very knowledgable. He always answers questions if you ask and tries to make sure you understand. I would recommend this class if you need a gen ed or if its required.
Patrick Wohlfarth GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/07/2023	His lectures are fun and engaging. Most of the class grades are exams and quizzes, but most of the quizzes are graded on participation, so it is not that bad.
Patrick Wohlfarth GVPT170 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 11/30/2023	Professor Wohlfarth was an engaging professor who taught the topics well.
Patrick Wohlfarth GVPT170 Expecting a C Anonymous 11/30/2023	pretty okay professor. he posts all his slides, so if you miss lecture, not a big deal. but exams are quite challenging and lectures are just boring. not an interesting or engaging class at all. it's hard to keep up with all the information you're getting.
Kristina Miler GVPT170 Expecting an A- Anonymous 06/28/2023	Miler was a good lecturer. The lecture had good enough slides and they were all posted online! Even though I forgot to buy textbooks I still managed to pass the class with an A. The exams were based on the lecture slides and were not super textbook heavy. However, I recommend doing the readings because it helps with discussions and the chapter quizzes. My only problem with the class was it was hard to keep on track with all the content, and that Miler isn't specific about what exactly to study on exams. Fair grader. You can do well if you do all the chapter quizzes, go to lecture, and study the material from the lecture (using the textbook as a resource.)
Kristina Miler GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/14/2023	Miler was good! She had detailed slides and was very engaging (especially with such a big lecture). There were chapter quizzes (just had to be completed by the end of the semester and lowest 3 grades are dropped), weekly discussion boards (lowest grade is dropped), a midterm, and a final exam. My only complaint is that the course can sometimes seem a bit jumbled because of how much content it has to cover. Also, the discussion boards correlated with a different textbook than what is used for lecture (which was kind of annoying because it felt like discussion and lecture did not always connect). Overall, a good first intro level GVPT course.
Florian Gawehns GVPT170 Expecting an A- Anonymous 05/09/2023	I took GVPT170 with Florian in the Fall of 2022. He is very lenient and knowledgeable. The course consists of 3 short papers, 3 small quizzes, and then a final paper that is only about 4 pages. The quizzes are 15 questions with 10 minutes, so I recommend paying attention and reading through the slides he posts. Class slides are always posted before class if you can't attend that day. If you don't talk during class, you at least want to show up to class because he gives a participation grade and will give you an A- at most for just attending. He is a greater lecturer and I 100% recommend him as a professor.
Kristina Miler GVPT170 Expecting a B- Anonymous 05/05/2023	This class was fine but you have to do the readings. There are a LOT of readings. The TA Isiah was super cool and passionate about the work.
Florian Gawehns GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 02/28/2023	Don't let the foreign accent throw you off, he really knows his stuff about US Government. Took over winter asynchronously. Good way of getting some credit.
Florian Gawehns GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/16/2022	Love this guy, easy grader and good lecturer. a couple quizzes that are 15 questions with 10 minutes to complete so it goes fast but if youre quick and have organized notes you'll be fine. Grades the papers really easily. Gives extensions and seems to care about his job. I would recommend him and this class.
Patrick Wohlfarth GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/05/2022	Extremely good lecturer, I did not do any of the basic textbook readings and I was still fully equipped for the class. However, you should read the discussion readings because there are 5 pop-quizes throughout the semester to make sure you do those readings. My discussions did not seem to add anything to help me succeed in class, but that could have just been my TAs. The wording on exams may not be perfect but they are still pretty well written.
Florian Gawehns GVPT170 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 12/04/2022	Nice guy and easy grader, highly recommend taking GVPT170 with him! The course consists of 3 short papers, a 3 small quizzes, and then a final paper that is only about 4 pages. Class slides are always posted before class and hold all the info you need if you can't make it to class that day.
Patrick Wohlfarth GVPT170 Expecting a B Anonymous 05/22/2022	Professor Wohlfarth and his TA's were very knowledgable about the content and a huge help. He is a great professor and explains ideas in a way that is easy to grasp with relevant examples. Downside is that there is a TON of reading for this class, which is great if you're really into this content, but beware it will take up a bit of your time. There will be material from the readings and lecture on all of the exams and I wouldn't recommend skipping his lecture (not even one) because you will fall behind quickly. He prefaces this in the beginning of the class - DO NOT FALL BEHIND ON THE READING AND ATTEND ALL LECTURES. Otherwise, it will be difficult to catch up. Most of his slides contain minimal wording as he verbally explains most of the underlying ideas and facts about each topic so copying the slides verbatim isn't helpful either. Quizzes in discussion just about every other week as well but he will tell you when there is a quiz in lecture - so make sure you go. Studying is a must as well. This isn't the type of class where you can get A or B+ even without putting in some extra study time on the side. Overall, very nice professor and interesting content just plan accordingly if you intend on taking this class.
Patrick Wohlfarth GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/14/2022	I liked Prof. Wohlfarth. Lectures and tests are strongly correlated which is a plus, but wording on MC exam q's was confusing sometimes. A few quizzes throughout the semester, three exams, and a paper. Overall not much work except studying, and lectures were clear and helpful for exams. Attendance not mandatory, but definitely helpful for knowing as much as possible going into exams. A good professor and I signed up for another class with him so I definitely recommend.
Tristan Hightower GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 04/03/2022	Very helpful and always answered emails very fast! 5/5
Stella Rouse GVPT170 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 02/07/2022	Lecture slides come straight from the textbook so either read the textbook or go to class or both i guess. Discussions r helpful to go to if u wanna understand the supplemental readings. Exams are straightforward and from the textbook. In my semester, she offered very easy extra credit that was applied to multiple sections of the grade.
Amelia Meli GVPT170 Expecting an A- Anonymous 01/02/2022	Professor Amy is an awesome professor. Her lectures are interesting and engaging, and she has a ton of political working experience, which makes her class all the more interesting and helpful. She could answer any questions you had about working on Capitol Hill or in grassroots campaigning and fundraising. She was very attentive to student concerns, and just a really kind person all around. I would totally recommend taking any class she teaches, and I hope I have the chance to take another class with her.
Stella Rouse GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/09/2021	I love professor Rouse! She keeps her lectures entertaining and tells you what you need to know for her papers and quiz’s. She does go through lecture slides a little quick sometimes so it’s hard to keep up. She also doesn’t tell you whats going to be on her exams, but her exams are very easy if you study. Sometimes her lectures are boring, but thats more to do with the course material rather than her and she always tries to make her lectures more entertaining.
Stella Rouse GVPT170 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/08/2021	Do not take this class if it is not a requirement, she just lectures the whole time and the class has almost nothing to do with the basics of American government. She doesn't curve the class and homeworks are not particularly easy. She makes you read two things a week for discussion and both are utterly useless. DO NOT take the class.
Stella Rouse GVPT170 Expecting a B- Anonymous 12/08/2021	Everything the person said that submitted a review below on 12/14/2019 is 1000% true and I couldn't state it any better myself
Patrick Wohlfarth GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/16/2020	Great guy, nice class content, fantastic lectures. He is patient with his students even when they ask stupid questions
Patrick Wohlfarth GVPT170 Expecting an A- Pgreen 05/15/2020	Good professor and lecturer. Really knows his stuff and has fair exams
Patrick Wohlfarth GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 04/30/2020	really great teacher who wants you to succeed. super approachable, and always responded to my emails quickly. the content is relatively easy to understand, and he does a great job of clarifying confusing topics and only covering important info
Simon Sheaff GVPT170 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 02/14/2020	Simon was easily my favorite instructor last semester. He is enthusiastic with his lecture material, and always knows how to keep things interesting. You do have to do ALL of the readings however because he will give pop quizzes. 10/10 would take a class with him again
Stella Rouse GVPT170 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/14/2019	Professor Rouse is obviously very knowledgable on and passionate about her subject. But she definitely has the air of a professor who knows how smart they are, as she made it clear that everyone in the class should only contact her as last resort and she made some condescending comments. She has a strict no-technology policy and requires you to buy a clicker for the class, and there is always technical difficulties with the clickers, probably because we were in a 200 person lecture hall. She required us to read a textbook and a reader chapter every week, which equalled probably over a hundred very dry, long pages weekly - the reading expectations were absolutely ridiculous. You probably won't be able to get away without reading - I pretty much skimmed each 6-7 chapter section before the midterm and final. She refuses to post lecture slides online so that people who don't come to lecture (attendance is counted every day) can't see them, but (and this is important) SHE FILLS UP HER SLIDES WITH TONS OF INFORMATION AND GOES THROUGH THEM SO QUICK YOU WILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO WRITE THEM DOWN. YOU WILL NOT GET EVERYTHING DOWN. AND SHE WILL NOT POST THE SLIDES. You might be able to get away with recording lectures on your phone but its a pain in the ass considering the strict no-tech policy. She talks a million miles an hour as well. The class wasn't a huge deal for me as a GVPT major (and this being a requirement), so if you end up her in class and have to be there like me, it will be manageable, considering you have a more natural talent/understanding for gov. But DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS WITH HER FOR ONE MEASLY GEN ED IF YOU ARE NOT A GVPT MAJOR. It definitely won't be worth it.
Simon Sheaff GVPT170 Anonymous 12/13/2019	Simon is awesome. He is just a guy who clearly loves the topic and wants others to love it to. He is very fair, the tests are MC, true/false and a short answer. He is knowledgeable and personable and very understanding. Lectures are entertaining. Readings are a bit much every week but he told us he is going to change that moving forward. He is awesome!
Simon Sheaff GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/05/2019	I freaking love Simon! Best professor I've ever had, his enthusiasm is amazing every class and his passion on the subject is what makes the class even more interesting! I would have him again if I was majoring in government ... . His grading is fair and the workload is fair. Would love to retake this course with him! 100% recommend
Simon Sheaff GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 11/18/2019	He cares a lot about government (especially states!), which definitely makes the material more interesting and memorable. Grading is fair. The readings he assigns for homework can feel very long.
Simon Sheaff GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 09/12/2019	Best professor ever. His lectures are so entertaining and he is clearly VERY passionate about the subjects he is teaching. 10/10 would recommend.
Ottawa Sanders GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/27/2018	She is not very comfortable with the course material, despite her efforts to seem as though she knows what she's talking about. Five quizzes, two exams (midterm and final), and a 6-7 page paper with an incredibly vague prompt. She's not such a hard grader but if she thinks she's right, she will fight back. I do not recommend this class to anyone!
Neil Lund GVPT170 Expecting a B Anonymous 12/11/2018	easy class but damn, he moved the dates of every assignment and his TAs never knew what he was up to. Easy A though
Neil Lund GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/06/2018	Such an easy class, basically APUSH pt 2. Dont buy the book lol and honestly dont show up
Dorith Grant-Wisdom GVPT170 Expecting an A Anonymous 04/25/2008	Dr. Grant Wisdom is a pretty boring lecturer, but the course material is quite interesting. She has a heavy Jamaican accent which makes her hard to understand if you are half asleep, but she generally she is comprehendable. Her notes tend to be quite discursive, and on some days it seems that the pages of notes, as well as the class, will never end. Her tests are very straightfoward and if you apply yourself and have the slightest aptitude for writing, you should have no problem earning an A (the TAs tend to grade pretty easily). Bring a lap top to this class! One 10-page paper, 2 exams, and a final. Discussion is mandatory and counts toward your participation grade (20%). There are also a few assignments where we need to write a 2-page (double spaced) summary/review of a movie which we watch in or out of class (about 4 of these assignments throughout the semester).

Sonia Vargas
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
10/23/2024

Very nice person. Her lectures are informative and to the point. The class itself is set up so that there aren't many exams, but rather many smaller assignments along the way. Most of the said assignments are completed or at least partially completed in class. I like this because it makes you apply the concepts that you learn in the course, and it prevents one assignment from tanking your overall grade.

Kristina Miler
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/18/2024

Dr. Miler is one of my favorite teachers I've ever had! She is so kindhearted and truly wants what's best for her students. She is an incredible lecturer, and I always found myself engaged during class time. She is very knowledgable about the U.S. political system and always made sure to present her information in a non-biased way. I could not recommend her or her class enough!

Patrick Wohlfarth
GVPT170

Expecting a B
Anonymous
03/21/2024

Overall decent professor but I would not recommend taking him for GVPT170 if you don't have a strong background in the subject. Lectures were sometimes very dry and information was hard to absorb. Weekly quizzes were simple but exams were tricky.

Patrick Wohlfarth
GVPT170

Expecting a C
Anonymous
02/29/2024

his lectures were so boring, and the ta's were such tough graders. the exams were challenging. he just goes over so freaking much, it's so hard to keep up. also, you'll do fine without the textbook, i never once read it. but, very challenging course, ended with a c and trust me, i tried.

Florian Gawehns
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
01/25/2024

Great professor! Definitely know his stuff and provides interesting research and data to back up his points throughout the lectures. His lectures are well-paced and interesting and he asks questions and prompts discussions throughout to keep the class engaged. He's very straightforward and to the point. He's also super understanding and lenient with assignments/deadlines as long as you communicate with him. Would definitely recommend his class!

Patrick Wohlfarth
GVPT170

Expecting a B-
Anonymous
12/23/2023

Professor Wohlfarth was understanding and supportive when I had issues and I am extremely grateful for that. He seems very knowledgeable and has real world experience unlike many other Government professors.

Patrick Wohlfarth
GVPT170

Expecting a C
Anonymous
12/21/2023

Didn't show up for lectures after the first week of class. seemed like a very knowledgeable professor.

Patrick Wohlfarth
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/15/2023

Easy class and not a lot of work. He was a cool guy and the lectures are not mandatory, but I highly encourage you go especially if you are not one to keep up with readings as he does go over them very well.

Jenna Dawson
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/15/2023

The best. Her discussion sections are really helpful, and she tries to make them engaging. She's super cool to talk to and has good advice on getting internships, applying to law school, etc.

Patrick Wohlfarth
GVPT170

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
12/14/2023

The test format was terrible but the quizzes were easy as long as you looked at the information from class.

Patrick Wohlfarth
GVPT170

Expecting an A+
Anonymous
12/13/2023

Class is very easy if you know a lot about gov. There are weekly quizzes in discussion that consists of one open ended question. Half of them are graded on accuracy and the other half are graded on completion. The TA I had was very harsh and strict which made discussions less enjoyable. There are textbook readings but they are unnecessary as long as you pay attention in lecture. There are two midterms and a non-cumulative final that are not too difficult as long as you understand the concepts.

Kristina Miler
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/11/2023

I had Dr. Kris Miler in Spring 2023 for GVPT170. She is an excellent professor and very nice. I would recommend her. She knows a lot about the American political system, and her lectures are good. The class was easy and informative. If you attend lectures you will get an A on the midterm and final. Dr. Kristina Miler is an excellent professor.

Patrick Wohlfarth
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/08/2023

Great class, great professor. Even though this class was required for me, i feel that everyone should take this class. This class will really open your eyes to the process of American government which may even sway your political opinions. Wohlfarth is a great teacher. He's so engaging, willing to answer questions, and is knowledgeable about the subject. Though the government does involve politics, he is great at staying moderate. The TAs don't stay moderate, but discussion is a great place to expand understanding and apply new knowledge. I liked the discussion. Wohlfarth posts the slides, but you need to go to class to do well because he'll expand on subjects that you don't get during class. Every week we had a closed note, closed book discussion free-repsonse quiz. A certain number of quizzes are graded and some are completed. The quizzes are just on the topics of that week. I study the night before and recheck in the morning and i have done very well. Ok, the exams are hard. He does not make questions that are easy to answer. All his questions are conceptual so its not a test that you can just look up the answers usually. He has multiple choice and then two free responses at the end that are like the discussion quizzes. He will sometimes give back a couple points to people test (curve). Overall, great great class.

Patrick Wohlfarth
GVPT170

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
12/07/2023

I don't know why there's any negative reviews on Professor Wohlfarth. GOV170 maybe isn't an interesting class for everyone but Professor Wohlfarth has so much knowledge on the subject. Basically all the quiz and test information can be found on the slides and in lectures he explains concepts very well and makes them a lot easier to understand. If you do not like the class that's fine but Professor Wohlfarth does his absolute best to explain the curriculum. If you need or want to take a class that he is the teacher in, I would highly recommend him.

Patrick Wohlfarth
GVPT170

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
12/07/2023

Overall decent class. Exams were excessively difficult for a 100 level class with questions worded on the complicated side. However the professor is accommodating and very knowledgable. He always answers questions if you ask and tries to make sure you understand. I would recommend this class if you need a gen ed or if its required.

Patrick Wohlfarth
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/07/2023

His lectures are fun and engaging. Most of the class grades are exams and quizzes, but most of the quizzes are graded on participation, so it is not that bad.

Patrick Wohlfarth
GVPT170

Expecting an A+
Anonymous
11/30/2023

Professor Wohlfarth was an engaging professor who taught the topics well.

Patrick Wohlfarth
GVPT170

Expecting a C
Anonymous
11/30/2023

pretty okay professor. he posts all his slides, so if you miss lecture, not a big deal. but exams are quite challenging and lectures are just boring. not an interesting or engaging class at all. it's hard to keep up with all the information you're getting.

Kristina Miler
GVPT170

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
06/28/2023

Miler was a good lecturer. The lecture had good enough slides and they were all posted online! Even though I forgot to buy textbooks I still managed to pass the class with an A. The exams were based on the lecture slides and were not super textbook heavy. However, I recommend doing the readings because it helps with discussions and the chapter quizzes. My only problem with the class was it was hard to keep on track with all the content, and that Miler isn't specific about what exactly to study on exams. Fair grader. You can do well if you do all the chapter quizzes, go to lecture, and study the material from the lecture (using the textbook as a resource.)

Kristina Miler
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/14/2023

Miler was good! She had detailed slides and was very engaging (especially with such a big lecture). There were chapter quizzes (just had to be completed by the end of the semester and lowest 3 grades are dropped), weekly discussion boards (lowest grade is dropped), a midterm, and a final exam. My only complaint is that the course can sometimes seem a bit jumbled because of how much content it has to cover. Also, the discussion boards correlated with a different textbook than what is used for lecture (which was kind of annoying because it felt like discussion and lecture did not always connect). Overall, a good first intro level GVPT course.

Florian Gawehns
GVPT170

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
05/09/2023

I took GVPT170 with Florian in the Fall of 2022. He is very lenient and knowledgeable. The course consists of 3 short papers, 3 small quizzes, and then a final paper that is only about 4 pages. The quizzes are 15 questions with 10 minutes, so I recommend paying attention and reading through the slides he posts. Class slides are always posted before class if you can't attend that day. If you don't talk during class, you at least want to show up to class because he gives a participation grade and will give you an A- at most for just attending. He is a greater lecturer and I 100% recommend him as a professor.

Kristina Miler
GVPT170

Expecting a B-
Anonymous
05/05/2023

This class was fine but you have to do the readings. There are a LOT of readings. The TA Isiah was super cool and passionate about the work.

Florian Gawehns
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
02/28/2023

Don't let the foreign accent throw you off, he really knows his stuff about US Government. Took over winter asynchronously. Good way of getting some credit.

Florian Gawehns
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/16/2022

Love this guy, easy grader and good lecturer. a couple quizzes that are 15 questions with 10 minutes to complete so it goes fast but if youre quick and have organized notes you'll be fine. Grades the papers really easily. Gives extensions and seems to care about his job. I would recommend him and this class.

Patrick Wohlfarth
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/05/2022

Extremely good lecturer, I did not do any of the basic textbook readings and I was still fully equipped for the class. However, you should read the discussion readings because there are 5 pop-quizes throughout the semester to make sure you do those readings. My discussions did not seem to add anything to help me succeed in class, but that could have just been my TAs. The wording on exams may not be perfect but they are still pretty well written.

Florian Gawehns
GVPT170

Expecting an A+
Anonymous
12/04/2022

Nice guy and easy grader, highly recommend taking GVPT170 with him! The course consists of 3 short papers, a 3 small quizzes, and then a final paper that is only about 4 pages. Class slides are always posted before class and hold all the info you need if you can't make it to class that day.

Patrick Wohlfarth
GVPT170

Expecting a B
Anonymous
05/22/2022

Professor Wohlfarth and his TA's were very knowledgable about the content and a huge help. He is a great professor and explains ideas in a way that is easy to grasp with relevant examples. Downside is that there is a TON of reading for this class, which is great if you're really into this content, but beware it will take up a bit of your time. There will be material from the readings and lecture on all of the exams and I wouldn't recommend skipping his lecture (not even one) because you will fall behind quickly. He prefaces this in the beginning of the class - DO NOT FALL BEHIND ON THE READING AND ATTEND ALL LECTURES. Otherwise, it will be difficult to catch up. Most of his slides contain minimal wording as he verbally explains most of the underlying ideas and facts about each topic so copying the slides verbatim isn't helpful either. Quizzes in discussion just about every other week as well but he will tell you when there is a quiz in lecture - so make sure you go. Studying is a must as well. This isn't the type of class where you can get A or B+ even without putting in some extra study time on the side. Overall, very nice professor and interesting content just plan accordingly if you intend on taking this class.

Patrick Wohlfarth
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/14/2022

I liked Prof. Wohlfarth. Lectures and tests are strongly correlated which is a plus, but wording on MC exam q's was confusing sometimes. A few quizzes throughout the semester, three exams, and a paper. Overall not much work except studying, and lectures were clear and helpful for exams. Attendance not mandatory, but definitely helpful for knowing as much as possible going into exams. A good professor and I signed up for another class with him so I definitely recommend.

Tristan Hightower
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
04/03/2022

Very helpful and always answered emails very fast! 5/5

Stella Rouse
GVPT170

Expecting an A+
Anonymous
02/07/2022

Lecture slides come straight from the textbook so either read the textbook or go to class or both i guess. Discussions r helpful to go to if u wanna understand the supplemental readings. Exams are straightforward and from the textbook. In my semester, she offered very easy extra credit that was applied to multiple sections of the grade.

Amelia Meli
GVPT170

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
01/02/2022

Professor Amy is an awesome professor. Her lectures are interesting and engaging, and she has a ton of political working experience, which makes her class all the more interesting and helpful. She could answer any questions you had about working on Capitol Hill or in grassroots campaigning and fundraising. She was very attentive to student concerns, and just a really kind person all around. I would totally recommend taking any class she teaches, and I hope I have the chance to take another class with her.

Stella Rouse
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/09/2021

I love professor Rouse! She keeps her lectures entertaining and tells you what you need to know for her papers and quiz’s. She does go through lecture slides a little quick sometimes so it’s hard to keep up. She also doesn’t tell you whats going to be on her exams, but her exams are very easy if you study. Sometimes her lectures are boring, but thats more to do with the course material rather than her and she always tries to make her lectures more entertaining.

Stella Rouse
GVPT170

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
12/08/2021

Do not take this class if it is not a requirement, she just lectures the whole time and the class has almost nothing to do with the basics of American government. She doesn't curve the class and homeworks are not particularly easy. She makes you read two things a week for discussion and both are utterly useless. DO NOT take the class.

Stella Rouse
GVPT170

Expecting a B-
Anonymous
12/08/2021

Everything the person said that submitted a review below on 12/14/2019 is 1000% true and I couldn't state it any better myself

Patrick Wohlfarth
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/16/2020

Great guy, nice class content, fantastic lectures. He is patient with his students even when they ask stupid questions

Patrick Wohlfarth
GVPT170

Expecting an A-
Pgreen
05/15/2020

Good professor and lecturer. Really knows his stuff and has fair exams

Patrick Wohlfarth
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
04/30/2020

really great teacher who wants you to succeed. super approachable, and always responded to my emails quickly. the content is relatively easy to understand, and he does a great job of clarifying confusing topics and only covering important info

Simon Sheaff
GVPT170

Expecting a B+
Anonymous
02/14/2020

Simon was easily my favorite instructor last semester. He is enthusiastic with his lecture material, and always knows how to keep things interesting. You do have to do ALL of the readings however because he will give pop quizzes. 10/10 would take a class with him again

Stella Rouse
GVPT170

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
12/14/2019

Professor Rouse is obviously very knowledgable on and passionate about her subject. But she definitely has the air of a professor who knows how smart they are, as she made it clear that everyone in the class should only contact her as last resort and she made some condescending comments. She has a strict no-technology policy and requires you to buy a clicker for the class, and there is always technical difficulties with the clickers, probably because we were in a 200 person lecture hall. She required us to read a textbook and a reader chapter every week, which equalled probably over a hundred very dry, long pages weekly - the reading expectations were absolutely ridiculous. You probably won't be able to get away without reading - I pretty much skimmed each 6-7 chapter section before the midterm and final. She refuses to post lecture slides online so that people who don't come to lecture (attendance is counted every day) can't see them, but (and this is important) SHE FILLS UP HER SLIDES WITH TONS OF INFORMATION AND GOES THROUGH THEM SO QUICK YOU WILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO WRITE THEM DOWN. YOU WILL NOT GET EVERYTHING DOWN. AND SHE WILL NOT POST THE SLIDES. You might be able to get away with recording lectures on your phone but its a pain in the ass considering the strict no-tech policy. She talks a million miles an hour as well. The class wasn't a huge deal for me as a GVPT major (and this being a requirement), so if you end up her in class and have to be there like me, it will be manageable, considering you have a more natural talent/understanding for gov. But DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS WITH HER FOR ONE MEASLY GEN ED IF YOU ARE NOT A GVPT MAJOR. It definitely won't be worth it.

Simon Sheaff
GVPT170

Anonymous
12/13/2019

Simon is awesome. He is just a guy who clearly loves the topic and wants others to love it to. He is very fair, the tests are MC, true/false and a short answer. He is knowledgeable and personable and very understanding. Lectures are entertaining. Readings are a bit much every week but he told us he is going to change that moving forward. He is awesome!

Simon Sheaff
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/05/2019

I freaking love Simon! Best professor I've ever had, his enthusiasm is amazing every class and his passion on the subject is what makes the class even more interesting! I would have him again if I was majoring in government ... . His grading is fair and the workload is fair. Would love to retake this course with him! 100% recommend

Simon Sheaff
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
11/18/2019

He cares a lot about government (especially states!), which definitely makes the material more interesting and memorable. Grading is fair. The readings he assigns for homework can feel very long.

Simon Sheaff
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
09/12/2019

Best professor ever. His lectures are so entertaining and he is clearly VERY passionate about the subjects he is teaching. 10/10 would recommend.

Ottawa Sanders
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/27/2018

She is not very comfortable with the course material, despite her efforts to seem as though she knows what she's talking about. Five quizzes, two exams (midterm and final), and a 6-7 page paper with an incredibly vague prompt. She's not such a hard grader but if she thinks she's right, she will fight back. I do not recommend this class to anyone!

Neil Lund
GVPT170

Expecting a B
Anonymous
12/11/2018

easy class but damn, he moved the dates of every assignment and his TAs never knew what he was up to. Easy A though

Neil Lund
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/06/2018

Such an easy class, basically APUSH pt 2. Dont buy the book lol and honestly dont show up

Dorith Grant-Wisdom
GVPT170

Expecting an A
Anonymous
04/25/2008

Dr. Grant Wisdom is a pretty boring lecturer, but the course material is quite interesting. She has a heavy Jamaican accent which makes her hard to understand if you are half asleep, but she generally she is comprehendable. Her notes tend to be quite discursive, and on some days it seems that the pages of notes, as well as the class, will never end. Her tests are very straightfoward and if you apply yourself and have the slightest aptitude for writing, you should have no problem earning an A (the TAs tend to grade pretty easily). Bring a lap top to this class! One 10-page paper, 2 exams, and a final. Discussion is mandatory and counts toward your participation grade (20%). There are also a few assignments where we need to write a 2-page (double spaced) summary/review of a movie which we watch in or out of class (about 4 of these assignments throughout the semester).

Reviews for GVPT170