Neil Boyd - Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC

Professor: Neil Boyd

Department: Criminal Justice

College: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CRIM312
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Loved this class, seems like a lot of reading but honestly it's not bad at all. For the papers focus on a clear thesis, that's how you'll get a good mark. Papers and content is very interesting... Great prof & class!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CRIM312
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is very passionate about the topics he choses for these classes and loves to engage in conversation about these topics, however the overall Canvas design is very messy and there are very little details for his expectations on assignments. Funny, engaging prof, reading was not absolutely crucial but should be done. Would take again.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CRIM135
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I'm a bit biased because I enjoyed the course. Feel like it's a bit unfair to expect first year students to write two assigns at about 14 double spaced pages in a first year course. The 1st assign (of 4) in the course I hated SO MUCH but the course I ended up really enjoying! Too bad we couldn't pick the topics to write about either.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CRIM136
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is arrogant and dismissing, gets out of patient easily. Do not attempt to ask him questions before thinking through the question first yourself. However, he is very useful and he's a very good lecturer. Exams are fair and the course is fun in general. The textbook is actually fun to read but make sure you get the latest edition.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CRIM135
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Took this online. 4 paper + online discussion 100% of course grade. Tons of readings and its very confusing. NEVER TAKE IT ONLINE.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CRIM312
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Consisted of one 2,500 word paper (20%), one 3,500 word paper (30%), and one assignment split into two separate papers: one 1,500 words, the other 2,500 words (together 30%). Also need to complete a 10 minute presentation (15%) and participate during other people's presentations (5%). Overall pretty easy, interesting topics, but LOTS of readings

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CRIM135
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Quite a bit of readings, midterm and final are all essay questions. Prof has no lec notes but I would recommend taking a class with him. Overall the class wasnt too difficult.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CRIM135
• 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: Not Mandatory

Comment:

The textbook that he wrote was actually semi-interesting but the way he books it out of his class the second it's time and is just generally dismissive is so irritating. There are no notes during class and the amount of readings we have to do is absolutely ridiculous.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CRIM135
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took this class via distance ed. There is a lot of emphasis on interpretation of the readings and case studies, rather than straight memorization. No midterm or final for this course, just 4 term papers so there is a lot of reading/writing.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CRIM312
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Took this by distance. Course is superbly organized. Quite a few papers, but they are really clear. No exams. Easy GPA boost. Neil Boyd had no contact with the students in this class, but TM was great. Textbooks are expensive and are only required for assignments. You literally don't need to do any readings.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CRIM135
• 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:

Don't take it with him, he does not have lecture notes ,and often jump from to topic to another. expect too much for student , too much reading ,but only few will be test on.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CRIM135
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Good teacher for intel. students who can follow what he says as it requires insight/analysis. He is very informative on the subject, knows what he is talking about. Wrote the textbook for the class, which compliments the course perfectly. Its an interesting read that goes hand in hand with the lecture. Finding him hard means univ. isn't for you.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CRIM321
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Was arrogant and dismissive. Actually had the nerve to sit back in his chair ( leaning) with his feet up while addressing the class. Made the class by a novel that wasn't even used. He prefers people who agree with him.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CRIM312
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Informative class. Unfortunately the required textbooks were expensive and useless. The discussion during class was engaging. Yet, the topic often go off and the class was pretty much without any structure. Boyd seems to be helpful when you e-mail him or during office hour. Boyd sounds friendly, but he is not afraid to be dismissive of your ideas.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CRIM112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I think he's really nice and the topics we discuss in class are interesting. I dont find the class boring at all, I felt like I have learned a lot. I asked him for help for my paper and he gave good advice. He also responded to emails quickly. The only negative thing that I can say is that we did not use 2/3 books required for this course

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CRIM369
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are so completely off-topic and full of BS that it makes his class irritating. Sure he's easy and all but god is this class a drag. If you get Michelle Funk as your TA, damn shes sexy but she marks so random and difficult and has no valid justification when you confront her. Overall not difficult, just extremely boring.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CRIM321
• 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:

Took Via Distance Ed. I dont know about the prof as I have not met him but avoid this class if your TA is Brittany Boyer!! She is extremly picky and does not hesitant to fail your essay regardless of your other marks

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CRIM187
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He truly is an arrogant professor. It's funny after reading the comments on here in my first few days of class, I didn't really agree with them until after a month. You realize he talks down to you and is dismissive of your ideas. He is a smart guy but I think he tries to show off sometimes with people he knows or books he has written...

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CRIM312
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Doesn't demonstrate a strong example students interested in having a positive experience with their professors.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CRIM312
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This is the fist class I took by distance and it was easy. You MUST stay ontop of your readings and there are lots of them. I have no idea what Boyd did for distance. I emailed him once and never got a responce at all. The TM in this class - by far the worst I ever had. Brittney Boyer. Avoid her like the plague