Richard Vanderweetering - Western University, London, ON

Professor: Richard Vanderweetering

Department: Political Science

College: Western University, London, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POL2237
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Excellent lecturer and friendly professor. Essays were harshly graded (and unclear about criteria) but the exams were more than fair. Did every reading first semester, none in second semester but did better on the second exam.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: 2237E
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

By no means an easy course. There's a lot of content, and the weekly reading are usually 50+ pages. He marks all the exam essays himself, and is a tough marker. But he really does care about his student's success, thats why he records lectures :) . Overall a good experience

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: 2237E
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great professor and lecturer - records his lectures, so he does care a lot about students doing well. If you see him often and ask questions, he will give good advice and can do well in his courses

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: 2237E
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The most respectful and caring professors in the department. Truly cares about the success of his students. The course is heavy on material but definitely not bad for those who have taken Philosophy first year. Only thing that really upset me is that his grading toughness changed depending on whether he needed to bring the average up or down.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 2237E
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

VandeWetering is a good professor. Being political theory, there were lots of readings that you must absorb. Also, you need to attend class to pass. Every tutorial had a one-page assignment of answering two questions based on additional readings. There were two large papers. I recommend him but the course isn't very easy.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POL2237
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class is amazing.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: 3200E
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Basically a genius; ALWAYS available to discuss materialhelp; Asks very difficult questions that challenge you; Expects a lot of work each week from students (about 4 hours of reading); Expects attendanceparticipation for no mark (course is 25% essay, 25% essay, 20% presentation, 30% exam); Surprisingly fair marker; BEST THEORY COURSE AT WESTERN

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: 3313
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Firstly, VW is brilliant. He is likely the most well read person that I know of. Unfortunately this leaves him somewhat out of touch with his students. Not only is he a very stringent marker, but the grading system he uses doesn't seem compatible with the rest of the UWO department. Recommended, but with caution.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POLI3200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Highly intelligent and extremely well-read. Sets high standards but marks fairly and is ALWAYS available for extra help if a student requests it -- even on weekends. Doesn't tolerate lazy students who don't do their work. Sets a heavy workload and fast pace. Not an easy 'A' but certainly a possible 'A' if you do your work.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLI3200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Depends a lot on student input. Demanding and assertive in questioning. Works hard to be available and helpful.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLI3200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

good prof....good seminar style and very clear in expectations ... a little bit too high expectations on amount of essays

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLSC1020
• 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:

Best prof. i ever had. The best lecturer. Very clear and really explains things very well. Fair marker and will help you out if you need help with essays and such.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: IR231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His essays were marked fairly as the topics were pretty straight forward; he's a nice approachable person if you need help or ideas with essays. However, his exams were very difficult, probably for sure need to be reading every single reading to do well on exams plus attendance always.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POL20
• 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:

VERY fair marker. enthusiastic teacher. brilliant. funny. lectures are a bit disorganized.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: IR231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very interesting prof, very intelligent and makes lectures interesting by adding humour. Lectures are incredibly easy to follow and you leave with good notes. As a marker, he is more difficult but he is willing to help you. Essay topics were very specific and exams were pretty difficult - Great prof though!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: IR231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Highly intelligent man who gives excellent, humorous lectures. Presents the material in a very engaging, attention-holding manner. He's not a super easy marker but neither an impossible one. It was my highest mark last year. I've known him to be impolite at times but he's always willing to help in his office, and indeed expects it.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POL200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is clearly an academic, and maybe a little uppity because of it. the marking is difficult, bordering on unfair in some cases. likes the info, and teaching, but is far more challenging that i had anticipated. is very entertaining in class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

A very smart person and scholar. However, unable to convey course expectations clearly. If you need to get an 80, don't take IR with him. He is an unreasonable marker.

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Knows the material very well which I find inhibits his ability to teach it in a coherent manner. Very smart individual but not a great teacher. Study hard for the exams!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 202E231E
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's such a nice prof.. really knows what he's talking about, and a fair marker. All-around really nice man.