Neil Thomlinson - Ryerson University, Toronto, ON

Professor: Neil Thomlinson

Department: Political Science

College: Ryerson University, Toronto, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POG210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Class mid term average was a 22% for POG210. Did not return research paper until after the exam, leaving the class clueless about how they were doing going into the exam.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POG210
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great Prof.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POG210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I havn't attended a single class so far that was as boring as this. As said before, he just re-tells Canadian history and actually asks about details of this on the midterm and final. D2L is a mess. He has information in multiple different places about one essay, its hard to find stuff. TAs don't care and do nothing in tutorials, but grade harshly

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POG210
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Thomlinson is walking encyclopedia on Canadian politics. He really knows what he's talking about and is passionate about it. however his lectures can sometimes drag on and he sometimes gets off topic as a consequence. I really didn't find the class that difficult however the grades for the rest of my class were terrible but I can only speak for me.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POG210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He basically retells all of Canada's political history in the most boring way possible and then expects you to memorize it. Slides he posts are fine but clearly not in depth enough cuz even if you memorize them you wont be prepared for the exam which was full of random facts no one could get, stopped going to this class its useless, B is the goal

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POG210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you can avoid him, I would strongly suggest doing so. He makes up his own crazy criteria for assignments which makes absolutely no sense and stresses tf out of his students. He expects way too much on tests and the tutorials are a waste of time.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PA8101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

A great professor - very willing to help students. He has a lot of expertise in politics and public policy. Very funny as well.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POL510
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This professor cares about his students. He is always free during office hours to help you with your essay. He knows a lot about politics and is very funny in class.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POL510
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I am not a politics major yet I really likes this course. The professor knows what he is talking about and always shares interesting examples. Funny guy too - which always adds to lectures. Very supportive is always there for help during office hours.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POL510
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Neil is a good professor who truly cares about his students and wants them to do well. His lectures are clear and very organized. Take this course and you will not be disappointed!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PA8101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr Thomlinson is a wonderful professor whom is very respected by both graduate and undergraduate students. He is extremely knowledgeable in the area of policy and the policy cycle. Adds humour to all of his lectures. One of the best at Ryerson University.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PPA211
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not good. Prof is verbose in the extreme, and comes off as pompous. Seems to grade papers based on some criteria known only to him. I did average on the first assignment that I put quite a bit of effort into. His comments weren't helpful but I took note and *dumbed down* my second paper, put in less work, and got a much better grade. So that's bad.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POL510
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT take this class. There is an overwhelming amount of information with no direction or clarity. The course content is interesting but the way he teaches makes the class unbearable. His lectures are very dry and boring & he is unclear about the material that will be included on exams as well as the format, making them impossible to study for.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POL510
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE. Very long lectures. Description of the class seemed very interesting which is why I chose it, but how the class was delivered, not interesting and engaging at all. It was longggggggg and boringgggggggg. He makes the lectures difficult and confusing. No clarity of what will be on exams. Would not take this class again.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POL510
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Neil is a good guy and is extremely knowledgeable about the course material. Like I have never seen a prof so knowledgeable! He created this course back in the 90's I believe, and was a pioneer for including LGBT+ issues in curriculum. His classes can be a bit dry as he just talks,should show some videos. can't comment on grading,we had a GA.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POL510
• 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:

A massive amount of info with no direction or structure making studying for the exam nearly impossible. Blackboard page super disorganized/confusing. No form of testing throughout the semester until the final which screws you. Not specific about what the exam will entail, does not give prompt feedback on assignments, TA doesnt return emails. BAD.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POL510
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's an interesting and good prof, but he shares WAY too many stories and has such long lectures, to the point where one has no idea what to study for the exam! Also, his readings are impossible to do. There are only two EXTREMELY DIFFICULT papers, both are heavily graded. Only take this course if you are highly familiar with politics.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POL540
• 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 nice and very helpful with the paper. He's a fair marker. Take home exam was definitely marked harder than the assignment though.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POL510
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Neil was a hard marker,but he was a sweetheart. Its because he's so passionate about the class that he cared. Take the class if this is your passion. some classes were mesmerizing while others were hard to sit through at times.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POG210
• 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:

Neil is SUPER organized and knows exactly what he's talking about but he tends to drift sometimes. It's also a lot of material to digest. But he has the best TAs and the tutorials were very engaging. Also, you can tell that Neil is passionate and enthusiastic about the material.