Bill Shapiro - Oxford College of Emory University, Oxford, GA

Professor: Bill Shapiro

Department: Political Science

College: Oxford College of Emory University, Oxford, GA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POL101
• 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:

Best professor I've ever had.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POLS101Q
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I loved having him my first semester of college. Though it was a definitely a huge transition- I learned so much so fast. He seems intimidating at first and while I certainly was, when I finally went into office hours all he cared about was helping me and getting to know me. I ended up learning so much from him. Extremely kind and intelligent.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLS101Q
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Shapiro's class requires a lot of work and preparation. His quizzes are hard, but you eventually get used to his question style, so they get easier. You have about 15 quizzes and he only keeps 10, so you can keep your grade up. He is a great teacher, and the class is interesting if you are willing to put in the effort.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLS101Q
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Nice guy, was not helpful when I was having difficulties in his class. Told me to study and ask questions but I could not ask questions before quiz. If you are looking for a challenge he is the person to go to if not don't even try.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POLS101Q
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Decent professor. Not sure why everyone loves him so much. Lectures are unorganized. Does not take well if you try to debate ideas with him. If you like challenging classes though and new ideas, you may like him. However, do not take him if you want a straightforward teacher that sticks to the curriculum and is easy to follow.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLS101Q
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Shapiro has a reputation on campus for being tough, and in many ways, it is well deserved. I found the class to be difficult only because I was not careful with my reading and because I was not that good at geography. His quizzes are extremely difficult and the final is hard, but there are so many EC opportunities and he grades writing easily.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POL101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Intriguing lectures. Quizzes are difficult because the questions are specific, but extra credit questions are with 50 points each, so you can get up to 200 on a quiz (highly unlikely though). There is a ton of difficult reading, but lectures clear them up. The challenge is keeping up with the work, but if you do, the class is definitely worth it.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLS202
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had him for 101Q and 202, both were great courses. Not as hard as everyone tells you if you're willing to put in a decent effort to do the reading.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POL101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Not as hard as people make him out to be. He gives A LOT of extra credit and his A is an 85. Most of the quiz questions in his class are Geography based. If it weren't for me being good at Geography, I wouldn't have gotten an A, as I did maybe 1/4 of the actual readings.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLS101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Only my first semester here, but he is by far my favorite professor thus far. He is fair, clear, and you know what is expected of you. If you do all the readings and show up for all the lectures you will do fine. also gives a ton of extra credit, and an A in his class starts at an 85%

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLI101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His class is worth taking. It is time consuming because the readings are long and hard, but you can really learn a lot. Amazing lectures. His pop quizzes are crazy and it made up 40% of the grade, but still a lot of people can make an A and survive. To me, he is the best and most respectful professor at Oxford. Do not miss the chance of taking it!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLS101
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's an amazing lecturer and fair grader. Take his 101. It's difficult and there's a lot of outside work involved but you really learn how to study for a college class. It doesn't seem like it but there are a lot of extra credit-ish opportunities. The only annoying part is that he doesn't use +-.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLS101Q
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The class is more like political philosophy instead of political science. Dr. Shapiro is a great person who doesn't judge anyone and is more than willing to meet if you ask. I only read 1 book in the class and earned an A, as long as you go to TA sessions and study a lot before exams. Pop quizzes are 40% of grade, tests are 35% and final is 25%.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLI101
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's a great lecturer, but the class is crazy. The pop quizzes are brutal (only 5 questions), make up 40% of your grade, and aren't something you can study for (plus he's really picky with answers). The readings plus reading the nytimes every day and learning geography was too much. Gave me a lot of anxiety.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: 110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Greatest teacher I had at Oxford. Heavy reading workload. Random quizzes are a major part of your grade. If you read the text and notes to lectures throughly, you can typically get most of the points on the quiz. Geography questions pop up on most quizzes and require you to sit down with an almanac on a rainy day. Challenging and rewarding!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Shapiro teaches on many different levels. He will keep you floating along if you're just getting by. But he rewards you and inspires you if you've done the work. He's amazing.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLI101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very interesting professor, not a tough class

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POLS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

A very interesting lecturer and not that hard of a grader. His A is an 85 for crying out loud. But you will have to do the work.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Pure genius! One of Oxford's best professors, your experience is not complete without him. He is hard on his students but he is worth it. Take him for 101 if you aren't a Poli-Sci major, A's are quite attainable in this class. I was wary of taking his 300 level course but overall he is a great man and definitely worth being in class with.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POLS101Q
• 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:

Amazingly coherent and clear, very interesting and incredibly informative. I'm glad I took this class. It is slightly difficult with a lot of reading, but if you work hard you will get rewarded. This class has no tricks to it, it is very straightforward.