David MacAlister - Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC

Professor: David MacAlister

Department: Criminal Justice

College: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CRIM338
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

There's ALOT of reading for this class. There are weekly quizzes coming from a separate textbook that isn't tested on the midterm/final (therefore, he hardly touches on this in class so you have to prepare for it yourself). The weekly quizzes are weighed the heaviest part of your overall mark. The term paper is also very hard.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CRIM335
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Took this online. This course is VERY HEAVY on the reading. 1 unit 2 weeks with an average of 10+ online articles, 8+ case law readings, the study module, and 1-3 chapters of the textbook. The course is interesting but there is a lot to remember. Midterm and final have short/long answer questions only. Final is cumulative.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CRIM330
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The tests in this class are insane. You get a cheat sheet but it doesn't even help. Macalister is a very knowledgeable and respected prof but the content of this class is extremely hard and much harder when you take it with him. Even studying like crazy doesn't guarantee a decent grade. I recommend taking the course with Brockman or Bowbrick.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CRIM330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

David is a brilliant professor who knows his material inside out; however, he is not the best lecturer as his lectures are quite boring and unclear. Lecture slides will not help much so get ready to read!!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CRIM338
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's an amazing prof. Crim 338 is a tough course. Its philosophy and is difficult for a typical criminology student, like me. However, MacAlister is great and always give interesting lectures.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CRIM338
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

In addition to reading a chapter from the Hart book every week for the weekly quizzes (worth 30%) there is a significant amount of readings for the discussion questions every week (the discussion questions are directly taken and put on midterm so also important). The term paper for the class is 6-8 pages and once again requires you to read 80pgs

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CRIM338
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You definitley have to put in some effort. There are 10 quizzes all 6 multiple choice questions worth 30% of your grade. The questions come from the weekly assigned chapters in another small book Midterm was all short answer questions that came from the list of "discussion" questions. Final was all M/C. Paper is short but requires a lot of reading

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CRIM330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Although interesting, he sucks at keeping on track with course outline. Exams require a lot of work, but you are allowed to have a cheat sheet.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class is pretty tough. Lots of readings but he provides good lecture slides. Midterm and final are really hard, but he lets you bring in one cheat sheet for the mid term and two cheat sheets for the final. The legal research assignment and the two other assignments plus tutorial participation should help boost your mark though

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: 338
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Engaging lectures. Relies on the TM for marking and discussions (we had a great one, so that worked out well enough, a great opportunity for them too). A lot of workreading but worth it if you are interested in learning the material. I have taken him before and his knowledge and humor always makes for an interesting class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CRIM210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This was a pretty decent course. Two papers (~2000 words) plus two exams (40 M/C questions and 90 M/C questions). Exams were somewhat difficult in that they were very detailed. Papers were pretty straightforward. Discussions (10%) were easy marks

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CRIM330
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

difficult exam material. TA's don't help you out much, your basically on your own. Requires a lot of reading. On the bright side, not cumulative!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CRIM330
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The class is very interesting. He knows what he's talking about but at times he can be very unorganized!!! which in annoying for a class that requires you to know so much. The TA (Anita) was nice but she's laughed at us when we got our midterm mark back and told us how bad we did...Also, she was never prepared for tutorial and a hard marker!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CRIM330
• 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:

Exams are pretty difficult, but he knows his material inside out and he is one of the nicest and most helpful profs in the dept. Lecture slides are really good because they summarize the cases and pretty much tell you what you need to know. I'm really glad I got to take classes with him and would recommend him for any class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CRIM330
• 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:

David knows his material inside and out. Tries to make dry material interesting by cracking jokes here and there. He's an excellent lecturer. Very organized, and clear in his lectures.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CRIM414
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

In the five years of post-secondary I have never enjoyed a prof as much as David. He is very flexible, available to discuss difficulties, he makes boring topics interesting and actually cares about his students.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CRIM335
• 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:

Took this course online...Very interesting course! Great readings, and interesting short assignments. The textbook for this class is a good read. For final exam if the question is a bit unclear do not hesitate to ask. Happy I took this class because the topics and readings were INTERESTING.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CRIM210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Great professor. I came from Kwantlen, and I feel that this professor is a real teacher, not just a stereotypical white old snob of a teacher who believes that the ways he was taught are the best to teach our generation.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CRIM330
• 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 great professor - absolutely brilliant. Great legal scholar. Interesting classes and material. Keeps students engaged and genuinely wants them do well.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CRIM330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Entertaining lectures that prepare you well for exams.Tons of material to cover in this class with a midterm/final that are both pretty tight on time. The TA (Kouri) is helpful and runs an awesome tutorial. Just make sure to complete all the readings and the class in manageable.