Ed Sidlow - Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI

Professor: Ed Sidlow

Department: Political Science

College: Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PLSC360
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I literally learned nothing in this class. At all. Sidlow goes on rants sometimes for the entire hour that are rarely related to the class's content. He's tenured, so it makes sense. We had one final essay and two "pop quizzes" He would usually tell us a few classes before they happened, and they were pretty easy.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PLSC112
• 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:

Loves the subject he teaches. I took PLSC112 online. There is a quiz and essay for every chapter. Everything you need to know is in the book, usually word for word. He wrote the textbook (atleast the one used in my class). Very specific grader, but gives good feedback

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PLS112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ridiculous amount of work done for a 100 level class. Grades essays in an unfair manner because he wrote the book you use. You also have to go through all of the quizzes and exams after you take them to make sure they didn't mark questions that were right wrong because that has happened to almost every quiz and exam I've taken.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PLSC112
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

took the online course & overall it has not been bad. There's a quiz and a essay for every chapter (lots of ch.'s) & a exam for every unit. kind of harsh with the essays however he wrote the textbook so he has a specific answer in mind. Rent the textbook off chegg as it saves you money and you really need it. Not bad just slightly over-passionate

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PLSC364
• 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:

He is funny and smart. The class was only graded by two papers (the mid-term and final, both take-home), which were pretty straightforward and easy to do if you follow the reading and come to class. I really enjoyed his class. It was chill and a good class to ask questions without feeling dumb.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PLSC112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I was a little skeptical about taking this course online being a transfer student, actually enjoyed this class. I wasn't expecting the TA Holly to do most of the communicating or grading but she was very fair, communication was very clear whenever I needed clarification. I rented the digital version of the required text which saved me during test!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PLS112
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This was the worst class I've ever taken at EMU. Teaching assistant Holly did all the work and she is not a fair grader. She will give you a question to answer on an essay and give you minimal points stating you didn't answer 1000 other questions, that weren't asked of you. Never worked so hard for a C. They treated this like a 400 level course

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PLSC364
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Take at least one of his classes! Dr. Sidlow knows what he is talking about from personal experience and shares information that he obtained firsthand. His lectures are never boring because of his top-notch storytelling ability, and he is both funny and understanding. You won't regret a semester in one of Dr. Sidlow's classes.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PLS112
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had this class online and Mr. Sidlow did nothing. His T.A. did all the work (Holly, you're awesome). His tests are insanely long, I'm talking 300 questions long. Midterm was worth 300 points and the final was worth 500 points. Lectures are extremely monotone and boring. Avoid this professor!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PLSC112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Powerpoints can be hard to read online. Other than that he is just a normal teacher.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: 364
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very knowledgeable and personable professor. Purely lectured and assigned three papers throughout the semester--all opinion based. Great professor for those interested in the field. Not sure why his PLSC 112 course gets horrid reviews, but Dr. Greg Plagens offers an excellent version of that course. I would suggest unenthusiastic students take him.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PLSC112025
• 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:

Super hard. You have to read the book if you want a good grade. super hard grader for the exercises you have to do each chapter.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PLSC112
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Sidlow did not discuss anything with his class whatsoever, however, had his teaching asst. Holly do everything. She is an incredibly unfair grader. This class has SO much busy work its ridiculous.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PLSC364
• 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:

Sidlow is a great guy. He speaks his mind while speaking what you need to know. He remains objective while putting in his own opinion of something in a given lecture, which is a rarity. While he doesn't take BS, he doesn't give BS either. Two exams, a couple of film reviews. If you need this class, take it with this guy. He's worth it.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PLSC112
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I did not like this course, I took it online and didn't seem to get any positive feedback from the teacher.. who wasn't actually Sidlow. He had a teaching assistant who ran the class and she was awful. I don't recommend this teacher to anyone. I did alright in the class, but I know I would have easily had a 4.0 in a different class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: WKJU3NJKND
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Love this dude. Get to know him outside of class and you'll find he's super interesting and willing to help you in whatever way you can. Put your phone away and listen to what he's saying, he's awesome.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PLSC360
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Don't take his classes in the morning. Despite his humor, the nature of the course (all he did was lecture and play video clips) put me to sleep more than often. Grading is super easy, but if you're looking to gain something other than credit in this course I would recommend taking it when you can handle the rambling lectures.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PLSC364
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Amazing professor. He’s funny, insightful, and has so much life experience to incorporate into his lectures. The class consisted of two major papers and a few smaller ones, but the work load is more than fair for a 300-level class. Attendance is mandatory. No exams, many chances for extra credit. I wish I could take more classes with Dr. Sidlow.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PLSC364
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

A very nice professor that makes coming to class fun. Much of his lecturing involved telling interesting stories about the topic matter. Very easy, only a couple of short papers and no in class tests. Only complaint is that he moves through the material pretty slowly, so if you want to learn a lot, find someone else.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PLSC380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Rude and longwinded. Fascinating subject matter, and he is very knowledgable, but insufferably arrogant to a degree I've never seen before in a professor!