Mark Brawley - McGill University, Montreal, QC

Professor: Mark Brawley

Department: Political Science

College: McGill University, Montreal, QC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLI346
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I didn't like his class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POLI346
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Did I even have the same prof that everyone else here is raving about? Maybe I was in an alternate dimension or accidentally stepped into the Bizarro version but I had a hard time following all the theory and no the prof isn't all that accessible at all outside of class. Crazy grading curve.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLI445
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He lectures well, his classes are organized. However, I found his lectures were a bit weak for the topics covered on the 1980s debt crisis, the IMF and SAPs. Overall, I would take him again if I could. Material can get a bit dry for some, but if you're like me, and enjoy IPE and monetary relations, then I highly recommend!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLI346
• Grade Received: INC
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Awesome class! Brawley is an amazing lecturer and his classes are always very interesting. What he does not tell you is that the class is mostly history. Of course history is important to understand the present but almost no time was consecrated to current events. One midterm, paper and a final, so not a huge course load. Would absolutely recommend

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POLI346
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Ridiculous grading criteria for the ID's, includes random facts that are irrelevant to the theories taught. Even the TA was floored about the grading schematic. Our entire class failed the ID's for the midterm. The conferences are also extra work, the TA expects you to do extra readings and sends questions you have to answer.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLI243
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I dont see how the ratings are inflated. He is a great lecturer and his exams are very straightforward (IDs written in color in his powerpoints and essay questions are on the case studies). Readings are heavy but you dont need to do all of them; just skim through the readings for the authors of the case studies and youll get an A.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLI243
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Brawley is by far one of the most respected and articulate poli profs at McGill. 243 does a great job of combining poli with econ. Readings are often too tough for course. However, his lectures are brilliant--in summing up readings and preparing for exams. Two midterms and a final which are fair and easy to prepare for. TAs did a great job

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLI243
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Interesting lectures but lots of difficult reading

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POLI243
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The class content is very theoretical. You can tell he has been teaching a long time, in the way he lectures, the way he structures his lectures, and to what he chooses to write on his PPT slides. His lectures are delivered like he's having a conversation, he just talks naturally. They CAN be dry though. I personally learned a lot from this class!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLI243
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are all posted online. 2 Midterms, both are worth 25% and are based off of the Lecture material. He lectures with slides and comes across clearly. Explains topics well and answers questions in class. Extremely knowledgeable. Would take again.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLI243
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Brawley is a passionate lecturer, and exceptionally intelligent in his field

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLI346
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Pretty average this past semester - not bad, not great. Not too accessible outside of class IMO. Awful TA.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POL343
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Many of the inflated reviews posted here are written by those close to this prof. All the students know now hence all the down-votes. Its kind of funny watching how the realistic reviews are frantically being yanked off and in place a few fake reviews go up. Sad.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLI346
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is an amazing professor! He was so interesting and engaging. He records each lecture but he's so entertaining going to class is worth every second. He is also extremely accessible and knows his stuff. Please take his class I am going to find another class just to have him again!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POLI346
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I honestly do not understand how ANYONE could have a bad experience with Brawley. Having heard so many good reviews of him, I decided to take a course with him last semester. Very helpful and a wonderful story teller, I have genuinely LOVED all of his lectures. Overall a phenomenal experience, would take anything with Brawley in the future.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLI243
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

By far the best lecturer I have had at McGill! I don't know how he does it, but he speaks in a way that makes students listen throughout the whole hour and retain what he said. Exams are also very fair and predictable. Also a genuinely nice person and answers questions. I intend on taking more classes with him when he returns from sabbatical!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLI243
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Brawley is the best. Clear, articulate, serious-minded, but occasionally funny. I learned a ton from his book, which complemented his air-tight lectures perfectly. Brawley is probably the most capable prof I have taken at McGill, he knows his stuff, and he knows how to communicate it flawlessly. As are attainable, but you have to work hard.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POLI354
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Having taken his classes for four years, he's a brilliant professor that not only manages to encourage you and engage you in the lecture, but he doesn't waste time "padding" lectures with useless information. What he lectures on is directly related to the readings assigned and necessary for the exams. Attend the lectures, do the readings! :)

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLI243
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great lecturer. Despite the fact that his class was in an inconvenient building, I showed up more than I thought I would. The textbook is his own published work so it corresponds to the course perfectly and is really easy to read and understand. Lots of work, but found it rewarding. His PowerPoints are also incredibly clear and helpful.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POLI243
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Agree a more multifaceted approach could work here. If you're going to read how states are built-up, then you also need to understand the opposite force, how states are broken down (Leopold Kohr's classic "Breakdown of Nations" is the best there is to understand that, bigger isn't always better) There's A LOT of theory involved so be ready for that