Daniel Kono - University of California Davis

Professor: Daniel Kono

Department: TBD

College: University of California Davis

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POL003
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class was pretty easy and straightforward. You're graded based on three exams. He gives study guides that are pretty similar to the test. Lecture and section is not mandatory. Going to office hours was very helpful and I think that's what helped me do so well in the class. Kono is accessible, charismatic, and an all-around great professor.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POL003
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Kono is a very clear and explicit professor who thoroughly develops his examples and reiterates the takeaway of each slide. Exams are easy and are based entirely on lecture material; he provides helpful study guides that hone in on major topics. Class revolves around models and formal methods of analysis such as game theory, quite enriching.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POL003
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class is extremely test heavy. 3 exams, 2 of which are worth 30% and the final worth 40%. Grading was tough and very. For an intro to IR, much more difficult than expected. Tests were extremely specific on topics. Study guides only helped on basics, as tests were more difficult, with the way they were graded. Curves did not help much AT ALL.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POL003
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Kono himself was pretty average, knew what he was teaching and answered questions in detail. However, the TAs graded harshly and take points away for even the slightest mistake or lack of when what you were saying was very clear. Only two midterms and a final so test heavy. Not sure if it was Kono or the TAs that made this class feel impossible.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POL003
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Kono knows his stuff. He is very intelligent and intellectual which can sometimes make him hard to follow during lectures. Attendance for lecture and discussion is not mandatory, but if you can benefit greatly if you go to both. The study guides are relatively similar to the exams, and the entire grade is based on those exams

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POL124
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I enjoyed Professor Kono. His lectures are a little dry, however he's incredibly clear in his presentation of the material he covers. He loves graphs and charts, but he explains them all in detail. I only had two tests in the class for my entire quarter grade. He gives a clear study guide and the TA has study sessions before the exams.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POL124
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are dense, graph-heavy, and pretty boring. He has a dry sense of humor that only sometimes comes out. Tests are pretty hard, he makes the TA's grade hard. Definitely go over the final review but it's not enough by itself

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POL124
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Kono is a really nice guy but I genuinely don't understand why this class is considered a political science class, it feels like an economics class. So many numbers, so many graphs, so little social analysis. It all went over my head.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POL003
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is a really awesome professor. His lecture is based on the required textbook by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, and very interesting. Grade is based on 4 exams (20%, 25%, 25%, 30%). Also, he curves the scores really generously. His lecture is very clear, so if you understand the lecture, you don't have to go to discussion section at all.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POL003
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Kono is a respectable professor who involves logical/easy math to IR. He makes the class interesting by discussing real life examples and current affairs. Extremely accessible in and out of class, entertains lots of questions and has non mandatory discussion/lecture. His tests can be aced by studying just from his slides. Take him!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POL3
• 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:

His class is structured around the author of the assigned text BDM. The class is not generally too difficult, but is very number heavy (once you reach game theory). However, the curve on exams is very generous. Study guides resemble material tested on exams. Kono is straightforward with his lectures and clear at most times.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POL003
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class is more number heavy than I expected, but not challenging in the slightest. He is willing to go over questions that you have during lecture and is very thorough. He gives a study guide before each test, and there are no surprises on the tests. He did a great job.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POL123
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took POL 124 last year and 123 this year. In my opinion, he is one of the best professors in the Political Science department. He presents new perspectives in class aside from the standard stuff you learn about politics. As an Econ and IR double major, his classes really tied everything together for me. 2 exams: the highest is worth 60%

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POL123
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

POL 123, 124 You're graded on just 2 tests. Attending class and buying the textbooks aren't mandatory, but will help you understand some of the material better than if you focus solely on the slideshows, which he uploads online. He provides study guides and gives enough time for you to go over them, while also hosting review sessions for each test.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POL124
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Kono is a very numbers oriented dude, so lectures are very graph heavy, which can get boring at times despite his humor. However, he gives detailed study guides before the tests, so if you take good notes and study well an A is very realistically obtainable. Reading is not necessary if you go to class. Only assignments were a midterm and final.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POL123
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not recommended for Poli Scie majors it will ruin your GPA. Midterm & Final are your whole grade. No work to keep the class at pace with material just dumps a heavy midterm guide on students. No review, just walk in see him Hold his coffee mug, rant and sometimes stops to see if any questions. Class is heavily based on economics. Go elsewhere.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POL124
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

he's the Best Professor I have taken so far. I felt like I developed a new perspective on the subjects covered in class. The lectures covered almost all the readings assigned, which made them 10 times easier to learn. Your midterm and final are pretty much all of your course grade (90%) but the study guides are super helpful.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POL124
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great professor, lectures cover the reading more than proficiently. Didn't read, got an A+. No paper, two homework assignments, midterm and final. HW is 10% (5% & 5%) total, midterm and final are 40% and 50%, with the lower score of the two being the lower percentage of grade. He gives a study guide well in advance which really helps a lot too.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POL124
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you are a good test taker, then this class is a good choice for you. If you are not a good test taker, then this class is not a good choice for you. Final exam makes up 50% of your grade and midterm 40%, two HW make up 10%. Tests are short answer, fill in the blank and multiple choice type. You can get by without reading.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POL123
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I came into this class very worried because I was terrible at economics, but Kono is very clear about what he's teaching, and if you ask questions, he's very willing to help. I read 12 of the book, and none of the articles and did fine in the class because Kono goes over assigned reading in detail. Attend every class, listen, and you'll get an A.