Arash Abizadeh - McGill University

Professor: Arash Abizadeh

Department: TBD

College: McGill University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLI231
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Abizadeh's lectures are hard to follow. He seems to have little interest in his students. My TA was not engaging and not helpful for essays.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POLI231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Abizadeh is extremely well spoken. I had him my first semester of university and found the exams, readings and papers difficult. My T.A. was a tough grader but gave good feedback. He makes the material accessible during his lectures however. Definitely a memorable class in my undergraduate career. Very intellectually stimulating.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLI433
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Finally, a university prof that actually knows how to teach.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLITH4ORY
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hard, but fair and makes you want to put in work. Just an overall excellent scholar and wonderful gem in McGill's political science department. If you don't take his classes, you are honestly missing out. Do it! Don't fear a bad grade, just put in the work and communicate with Prof Abizadeh - he is very helpful and clarifies all material.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POLI231
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Truly a fantastic lecturer. Explains well and answers questions. If you don't care about your grade: take this class. If you do care about your grade, be warned: it is VERY hard to get an A. I probably could have gotten a B+ if I had worked a bit harder, but I don't think I could get an A-. Grading much too strict for a 200 level.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLI231
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof Abazideh is by far the best lecturer I have had so far. He's really interested in what he teaches and I found it contagious. He does not allow electronics in lectures so all the notes are handwritten, but it's really not difficult to keep up as he speaks quite clearly and at a good speed. 10/10 recommend this class!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLI231
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof Abizadeh is an incredible lecturer, who's obviously interested in the works, and philosophers discussed. He critically engages with all of the ideas presented, and truly provides the necessary background that all poli students require

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLI231
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Despite the class being at 9:30 in stewart bio, I can honestly say that I attended all but two lectures. This is because they were generally really interesting and insightful and absolute LIFE SAVERS if you're not into reading pages and pages of Locke or Rousseau. I also loved how he included thinkers such as Gandhi or Fanon!!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POLI231
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He knows what he's doing. Since electronics' use is prohibited in class, it's important that you take good notes for yourself as he's a fast reader. He is very clear in his lectures and also entertains questions. The paper topics are hard so don't procrastinate with them. His lectures were something I looked forward to everyday. Needs hard work!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLI231
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are very clear, he follows the lecture outlines that he posts on mycourses. He's also very open to questions, so don't be shy to ask him about the material that you don't understand. You must attend class because the final exam is based on everything that he mentions during lectures, so prepare to take a lot of notes.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLI231
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Such an interesting person (look him up), his lectures are clear and cohesive and content heavy, really interesting to listen to. Can get confusing at times but easily clarified with help of TA's or class mates. Exam is a lot easier than term papers but still challenging, grades extremely harsh, really makes you work for a good grade.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLI231
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The professor's incredible but the class is graded extremely subjectively. The TAs are very hit-and-miss so I'd be very cautious about taking this course in general. It's a great introductory course in general, however, and Abizadeh is an incredible lecturer; if getting a high grade isn't the top priority, the course as a whole is very enriching.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLI365
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great professor, perhaps the best I've had at McGill. There a lot of lectures, but if we keep up with them, you're gonna be fine. Also, he summarizes them during lectures so no stress if you don't make them from time to time. Great philosophical class. Only criticism: leaves you with so many questions about life and stuff at the end

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLI231
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Amazing lecturer, perhaps the best I have had a McGill. Passionate about the material and extremely clear in his explanations. The grade is based on 3 essays (worst grade is dropped), conference, and a final. Hard grading. I averaged A/A+ in the class and then got a B on the final out of nowhere--surprising/disappointing experience in that sense.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POLI231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He doesn't allow you to have technology in lecture, which makes it easier to pay attention and take solid notes. The readings assigned spark interesting debates in conference and are not too difficult to understand. Grading was fair but encourages you to step up your argumentative writing. His lectures were easy to follow and engaging!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLI231
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

An amazing prof! His lectures were extremely interesting and the papers helped in understanding the course material. You have to work for good grades but the course is worth the effort!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLI433
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great professor - very respected and intelligent. Very tough grader - you must read the readings and attend lectures.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POLI231
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Fair grading, fair assignments, fair exam - he's an interesting (if eccentric!) prof, and if you pay attention during lectures (lectures are key), you'll do just fine.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLI231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great lectures

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POLI231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is an amazing prof! Very knowledgable and passionate about his topic! Would take this class again anytime!