Walter Stone - University of California Davis

Professor: Walter Stone

Department: TBD

College: University of California Davis

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POL001
• 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:

A solid choice for POL001-- you could probably get away with skipping lecture and just reading, but I personally found his lectures really engaging. All in all it was a great introductory course, nothing terribly noteworthy to mention.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POL1
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

No lecture slides or podcasts. Solely focuses on Madison's argument of ambition check for the entire class. Never posts grades on grade book, so you'll be clueless as to what scores received including final. Answers your questions with more questions in office hours. Practice midterms don't have answer key. Explains concepts differently each time.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POL1
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very unorganized, unclear lectures. Discussion sections are a little bit more clear but still pretty difficult midterm and final. Barely passed with a C and did all the reading. Would not recommend for non-political science majors.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POL001
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Stone was a fairly easy professor for POl 1. The course is very heavy on academic and scholarly articles, so be prepared to read several articles a week and remember those articles because they will show up on the tests. Overall a good introduction though.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POL1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Class is curved, lots of reading, only thing your grade is dependent on is your final. He doesn't put anything in the grade book and basically the final is what will determine your grade. "Group quizzes", 6 of them really easy. Class is really based on couple theories as opposed to the whole government. Very hard class for introductory, GE class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POL114
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Learned a lot in this class. Not an easy subject or class, and he will call on students to answer questions. His explanations are not always crystal clear, but I never felt lost at the end of lecture. Office hours with Stone or his TA are extremely helpful. Study overheads posted to Smartsite for homework and exams.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: 114
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I like Professor Stone personally, but I found his lectures to be unclear, and still did not explain the material as clearly in office hours. The book (sometimes) explains it better than he does. Just be prepared to teach yourself. Overall, you'll definitely learn plenty and gain a skill. Two tests (he curves both), a term paper, and homework.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POL162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you really want to learn and do well in a pol class you should pick a different professor. His lectures are not organized and it's impossible to understand what goes on. The tests do not reflect the readings or what he's teaching.He's also not very helpful during office hours because he has a hard time explaining the material to someone else.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PS162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was not educational. He does not lecture well because he spends the entire class lecturing one concept. The exams do not reflect the material he teaches. We read most of the books and at the end only one exam question came from it. Overall, the readings do not correlate what he teaches.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POL162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I do not recommend taking this class if you really are serious about politics. Prof. Stone has a hard time making the lectures understandable as he rushes through material and when asked to clarify something he is not helpful. The midterm and final have nothing to do with what he teaches.You're basically lost because he is not a good lecturer.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POL114
• 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: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Professor Stone is one of the best professors I've ever had at UC Davis. This class is not easy, but that is because of the subject matter and not the professor. Go to office hours and you'll be okay!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POL001
• 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:

The lectures are super long and he explains a lot, but it tends to get really boring. He talks a lot about political science in real life, but rarely does it relate to the midterms and finals. Discussions are mandatory. He has a very nice curve and grading system. It's also a very hard class for POL 001. PS: Keep up with the readings for tests.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POL114
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He calls on people, so if that's not your thing then you shouldn't take him. Ask him a question, and he turns it around. Also, I felt that the book was more clear than him. A foundation of STA 13 and POL 51 is highly suggested. (Since this class is basically stats.)

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POL1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

A LOT of reading, he calls people out in class so sit in the back. One midterm and one final. Midterm was really hard and harshly graded, average was a 60%! I do not recommend.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POL162
• 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:

Really cool teacher. The lectures are soo clear. As long as you come to class awake and focused, the class really isn't that bad, he's got enthusiasm and has some humor. Take a lot of notes, review his outlines on smartsite, and you'll be good to go. (never bought books, but I hear they're somewhat helpful)

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POL001
• 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:

He's a great professor and knows the subject well however this is not an easy class. There is a lot of reading that is on the test. Be prepared to study and read a lot if your going to take his class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POL1
• 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:

Professor Stone is brilliant- if you go to lecture and read the textbook and readings, you'll do well. The workload is a tad heavy for an under division course so I don't recommend it for GE credit. But you learn a LOT and he's an amazing teacher. Not an easy A class, but it's worth the work

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POL114
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is fantastic! The material is pretty dry, but he explains it very well, and by the last week of class he nearly had everyone's name down. All joking aside, take his classes, he is cool.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POL001
• 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:

The lectures are mandatory and repetitive to the point that they quickly become boring. The class is curved but there is no reason why he should grade the tests so meticulously that the average is so low.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POL1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Good professor, sends out e mails reminding you about stuff. Gives out quizzes through the quarter so you need to go to class. Was clear with lectures but became a little repetitive. If you read the readings and the book and you at least sorta pay attention in lecture you will have no problem. Kevin was a great TA.