John Addison - University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

Professor: John Addison

Department: Economics

College: University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ECON506
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Fairly entertaining guy and knows his stuff. Grade determined by 3 non-cumulative tests. The MC section of the tests are really hard (I averaged 60% on that part) but are only worth 35-40% of each test. The other section is short answer and he grades leniently. Just draw graphs like he shows in class. UK grading scale so a 77% is an A

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ECON224
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Lectures didn't make much sense, kind of expected us to have a firm grasp on econ even though it was an Intro level class. Macro section was easier since he just read off the book but for Micro (which was 2/3 of the grade) he tested us on stuff that was mentioned once in lecture and not really explained. could be quite condescending, but funny

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ECON224
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

You'd be better off with an online course for credit. A funny guy, but he doesn't teach anything. Most of the time his lectures are just him drawing graphs and expecting us to know what they mean, despite never having taught us the concepts in the first place. He also contradicts himself a lot, so you're just left really confused by the end of it.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ECON221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Addison gets a bad rap because no one understands his humor. He is a good teacher and if you just tell him you don't get something, he will stop class and explain it for you. His tests are hard and are all application, but he will give you a better grade at the end if you put in the effort and show improvement.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ECON221
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a tough professor, many take his wit as being rude but he is honestly one of the nicest guy I've had the pleasure of having as my professor. If you do not get something, talk to him, he wants the students to get it. There are times he gets impatient but if you keep up with the book, you'll be fine.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ECON221
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He is so unclear and just writes random stuff on the bored. Thinks he's better than everyone and makes rude remarks when you ask a question. He actually called someone in my class stupid. Terrible professor.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ECON224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I need to find what some of these positive reviewers are smoking. This was the hardest, most incomprehensible class I've taken in college. How I managed to earn a B is beyond me. The worst part is, Addison is actually a pretty nice guy, funny as hell too. But this is NOT introductory level economics despite the course title. Avoid at all costs.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ECON506
• 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:

Really nice guy. Great teacher. Teaches to the book, though clearly he's smart enough to reorganize the material however he wants. Gives you choices on what questions you want to answer on the exams (you pick 3 of 6 for example). Tough, but fair course, but its graduate level economics, if you want easy go take education.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ECON224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do not take Dr. Addison for an introductory economics course. It will not be introductory material. He will breeze through the material in the book and then supplement with unintelligible lectures, and then mock you for your lack of comprehension. His lectures are all theory, but his tests are all applicative. He goes give a modest curve, however.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ECON221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Best Economics professor I've ever had. So many people complain about him, but honestly if you just take copious notes, make sure to ask questions, and study every single thing he says, you will be fine. I made an A on every test by cramming the night before. I deliberately search for classes he's teaching because he's awesome.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ECON221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Class was really tough. Big time curves so although it is a challenging class, you can walk out of there without a damaging grade.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ECON221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This teacher is beyond awful. All he does is draw random graphs up on the board and never explains what they are. If you have any other choice ten avoid him a all costs. He does give a major curve but his tests are impossible to understand

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ECON221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Addison is a really smart guy and knows everything he's teaching extremely well, but he expects too much out of you in terms of comprehending his take on the information. The book really helps you learn the material, but his tests are all application. He'll definitely make fun of you, but just make a comment back and he'll like you. Not horrible

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ECON221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS!!! EXTREMELY HARD! His lectures don't make any sense, the book doesn't help, tests are extremely difficult.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ECON221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

absolutely DO NOT take. lectures are confusing, tests were impossibly hard, I have learned basically nothing this whole semester and I have only missed one class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ECON221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Addison may very well know his economics, but the poor chap forgets all the time and makes plenty of errors on his sloppily drawn diagrams. Content very quickly covered, with few office hours. He gets fresh if the class doesn't pick up the concepts right away. Curves are very generous, to mask poor teaching.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ECON221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE THIS PROFESSOR. This class was hard because his notes weren't clear and he is a straight up jerk in class. He will call you out and make fun of you. Yes, a 77 is an A in the class...but good luck on getting close to that. The tests are impossible.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ECON221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Econ 221 isn't the most interesting class ever, but don't be afraid to take Dr. Addison. He's funny, attendance isn't required, and going to SI sessions will give you all you need to pass. Not to mention an A is 75 and above with him. He curves if you show up to the next class session after the test. I barely studied and went to SI's and got an A.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ECON221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely the worst teacher I can ever imagine having. Teaches so fast that by the time we had our first exam (chap. 1-4) he was already on chapter 7 in class. Only 1 office hour a week, had no online syllabus or information, wouldnt respond to emails, doesnt teach out of the book, no way to pratice problems. He needs to be fired immediately.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ECON506
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This was a HARD class, but his grading scale is leniant. He applies extra weight to the section of the exam in which most of the class did best. I would recommend him simply because it is fairly easy to do well if you just cram the night before. Nobody has any idea what is going on during class, but what matters is your final grade!