Joan Reynolds - University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

Professor: Joan Reynolds

Department: Political Science

College: University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLS235
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class is VERY lecture heavy. She talks fast so I'd recommend a laptop for notes. The course grade is made up of participation, presentation or essay based on that weeks readings, midterm, research paper, final exam. A good marker, has clear expectations, and she does a good review for the exams. Readings aren't necessary if you pay attention.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POL210
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She really seems to care for her students. Reynolds is understanding (i.e. if you get around 50% on a test, she will let you re-take it, allows you to hand things in late, etc). She seems to know what the subject well, but her lectures are a bit boring. Tests are fairly straight forward and she pretty much tells you what to study.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLS210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

She is honestly the most understanding prof I have ever had. You can tell she cares about her students. She tells you exactly what will be on the midterm and final is a take home. Posts notes online but still go because she adds on to it. Would definitely take her again

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLISCI210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Reynolds was ok. Her lectures were quite scattered, and she went off and tangents and discussions that felt like a waste. On top of this, she talks low and fast, making note-taking a challenge. That said, she's marks easy, and her expectations are very clear. I don't think I'd take her again, as I disliked her style, but you won't regret having her

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POL101
• 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:

Great prof!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLS240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

One of the easiest markers I've had yet. Barely had to do anything and got an A-. Classes were fairly disorganized and could drag on. She wasn't too helpful, but seemed to get better as the semester went on.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLS240
• 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:

Absolutely top-notch professor and class. I cannot recommend this class enough as Prof. Reynolds makes class thoroughly interesting with great lectures and she tries her damndest to make you pass. Miss classes at your peril though, as a lot of the info you need to pass the class is in the lectures.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Reynolds is brilliant! She is a little disorganized, but she is one of those people thats absolutely passionate about what she teaches, and its always nice to have a prof like that. Her exams were fairly straight forward, never multiple choice, never cumulative. She's a fair marker.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POLS210B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Yes, she does not cover her ppts in the order she lists them and it makes it confusing. But, to say her class is boring - NO WAY! The way she was able to sustain interesting class discussions is why you did not want to miss one of her classes. Or maybe our group just rocked, but I think some credit has to go to her as facilitator. PS Do readings.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She's a good prof, though I would have appreciated a bit more detail on how things are to be done... it is introductory after all. At any rate, she knew what she was talking about, but I found myself falling back on Soc 30 AP a lot. Follow her expectations, study, and you should do fine. She was good with dates, often extending.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She talks REALLY fast, and it is very hard to keep up with what she is saying. Her powerpoints make no sense and are very difficult to study from. However, she marks quite easily, and gives exam extentions frequently.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Her notes were incomprehensible, her explanations confused me further. She cancelled so many classes in the 1st month that she had to take a topic off Exam 1.Exam 2 consisted of only that 1 topic. Focused 100% on theory. The only things covered so far were taught in Social 30. Dropped this class with less than 30 days left in the term!!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLS240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

A fairly easy marking professor. Focuses heavily on theories and ideologies. Always cites examples from Mexico or Latin America.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLS210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very difficult to learn from. Did not seem prepared for class and did not explain expectations clearly. Do not recommend.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: C395
• 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:

Reynolds is a really great prof, the philosophical part is intimating at first but she doesnt expect you to be an expert, she just wants you to learn.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLS101
• 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:

Disorganized and boring lecture. Can't understand what she wants to do. Lots of readings. The exams are not too hard.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLIS266
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Super disorganized.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POL266
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Class seemed a bit weak at first but she's not bad. Class discussion always goes to Marxism. Emailed all the class material to us; very helpful. Class could have a bit more substance - but it was only 200-level.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Well where to begin with this prof. First of all, she lacked any sort of organization. She would always show up, not be able to find her notes, or then suddenly misplace them halfway through. Extremely marxist ideology, and always draws upon Mexico for examples. Very abstract topics that were covered. I spent $90 on the textbook and opened it once.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POLS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Stay away! Focuses heavily on abstract political philosophy, too much for an intro course. If your viewpoint differs from hers she shuts you down, ridicules your or ignores you. Calls on the annoying suckups way too often. That said, of if you put some effort in you can get a decent grade.