Alex Thompson - The Ohio State University

Professor: Alex Thompson

Department: TBD

College: The Ohio State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLISCI4331
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Three exams and a paper. No final, and the exams aren't cumulative. Also if you do well on half the exams and the paper, he will probably curve your grade. Mine was curved from a B+ to an A-. Also offers extra credit on your final grade.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PS4331
• 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:

Prof. Thompson is great, funny & approacable. There are 3 noncumulative exams and a paper. Exams are MC & then 3 ID terms you write about in detail. Readings show up on the exam but you only need to know the main arguments made in each! DO take if you have an IR focus. Only wish there were study guides for the exams. Other than that I learned alot!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLISCI4331
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is very laid back and does not make the class a heavy burden. If you go to class you should do well. Class can get boring often, which is why people skip. Textbook readings are unnecessary but outside readings appear on tests. Three exams (non-cumulative) and a paper. Exams are MC and short answer and mostly straightforward right off his slides

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLS1300
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Requires decent effort to do well in the class. Weekly quizzes, 1 midterm, 1 non-cumulative final, 1 term paper, extra credit on research survey & weekly discussion. However, the class is enjoyable, and if you can relate the class materials to what's on the news and media, you will do well. Plus, hompson is caring and helpful at times.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POLISCI4331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The class was fairly easy, though I already had some background knowledge. He posts his lectures from the previous year online so you can skip class and not miss much. Only worth going to class for current events, which do show up on exams. 3 exams and a paper, but no study guides for the exams. Questions can be kind of specific.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLI1300
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very knowledgable professor, he knows the content well. No way to do well in the class without doing the reading and the lecture. The quizzes can be tough, and the Exams are not easy either. Take advantage of extra credit opportunities because there is no curve, I was a decimal away from an A and couldn't get it. Not bad class, requires effort.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLISCI1300
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Quizzes are difficult, require you to watch the lectures AND do the reading. Lectures are incredibly dry. Not really willing to help , all the questions need to be sent to the TA and you need to visit their office hours. Asked at the end of the semester if I could have 0.5% bump because that would allow me to apply for major, got a no.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLIS145
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

worse professor ever. never answered my emails when i had questions and put everything off to the TA. everything is timed and now very much time to do it either.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POLISCI4331
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One word: awesome. Prof. Thompson is absolutely hilarious and always presents his lectures very clearly. Readings are not necessary since literally all of the test questions are based off of his lectures/slides. However, grades are based on 3 tests and paper, so don't mess up any of them. Overall, a cool guy with info-packed contents.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLISCI4331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Hard to focus because he was so attractive. Don't have to do the readings, but look at the abstracts of each one the night before the exam.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLISCI4331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Class was useful to attend but not necessary There are a few papers here and there, but mostly the exams are what matters and those are clear cut (exactly what he says in class/ whats on the slides)

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: 4331
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Pretty straight-forward class. If you go to lecture and read, you will earn an A. Lectures are fairly interesting and he is a nice guy.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: 4331
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Lectures can be boring (especially early in the semester) but the tests are very straightforward and the slides are on Carmen. If you just take some notes in class and memorize the slides, an A is pretty easy. Readings aren't necessary as long as you know the authors main points.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLITSC4331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Thompson is the man. Loved taking his UN Systems class. Well worth it, especially if you're in International specialization. Only 3 exams and a paper throughout the class, and none are too tough. Put a little time in and you'll do great.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POLITSC4335
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Clear, straightforward, and thorough. Test questions can be somewhat obscure and more focused on names than content, is my only criticism. Good sense of humor.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLISCI4331
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Thompson is a great professor. Very knowledgeable. Three exams and one final paper plus extra credit opportunities. Take a class with him if you can!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLISCI4331
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The course is very straightforward, if you go to all the lectures he goes over everything that will be on the exams. The reading is minimal and he stresses the major points in class. He also makes it very interesting.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PSC4331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Love Dr. Thompson. He makes his class super interesting and does current events so you can see how things you are learning affect the real world. Super funny guy, and you can get by without doing the readings. Also he posts his slides online which is awesome for studying.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLIT4331
• 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:

I'm obsessed with Dr. Thompson! He is THE BEST professor at OSU without a doubt! So funny, doesn't take class too seriously, but also knows the UN and foreign policy like the back of his hand. LOVE HIM! If you can take a class with him, DO IT

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POLISCI4331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Thompson is one the nicest professors I have ever had. His tests are incredibly easy - only 30 multiple choice questions per exam. 3 exams total and 1 paper. The class has a tendency to be boring, but he makes the UN as interesting as possible.