Jordon Barkalow - Bridgewater State University

Professor: Jordon Barkalow

Department: TBD

College: Bridgewater State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLI172
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Barkalow is great. Always makes jokes to keep things light, and actually managed to make dry material quite interesting, and ended up being one of my favorite courses. Easy quizzes, and engaging powerpoint lectures each class. No group work, no essays, just a few current event assignments. Take this guy's class for a great overall time.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POLI274
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A tricky class in terms of writing and subject material as it reaches across many different theories and time periods. The papers are graded strictly but you're given the chance to rewrite two of them for better grades. Makes the lectures interesting and relates them to things you'd understand more easily. Toughest class but the most worth it.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLI172
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Look, Barkalow is extremely funny and is arguably a genius, but he makes the class harder than it has to be. He prides himself on how many of his students don't do well and are upset with their grades. He is very flexible with his hours, which is great if you need that. He just grades to critically and even if you think something is good, it's not

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PO274
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Barkalow is one of my favorite professors that I've taken at BSU. Don't get me wrong, he's a really tough grader but he does it to help you and makes himself available if you're having trouble. I sent him an outline of each paper before it was due and his comments were always super helpful. The lectures are engaging and make class go by fast.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POLI274
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. B is one of the more intelligent people I've met, his class is an "intellectual boot camp" & you will for sure learn many things in his class, but as a Professor-> steer clear if you want to maintain a decent GPA. Grading is a "progressive" scale, which when comparing your work at the end of the semester, makes no sense. Fun guy bad Prof.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLI274
• 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:

Professor Barkalow is the best professor I've ever had. Yes, you have to work hard for your grade but if you go to his office hours and ask for help, he is more than willing to help you. He is a tough grader but it's just because he wants you to know how to actually write. I've learned more from one class with him than any other class I've taken.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLI172
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Teaches through the use of powerpoint. You normally have to do a current even article once a week. Tests cover a lot of material, I believe there are only 3. Current events and tests are your only grades. He offers three opportunities for extra credit. He is very nice and funny but also serious.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLI172
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Fun lectures that start with current event topics to discuss. Easy assignments if you pay attention in class, current event papers were easy grades if you knew the lecture materials. 10/10

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POLI274
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Believe all that you have read below. Barkalow is something else. Yes at times he's egotistical & pretentious, but at least he knows his stuff. Looking back, there is a lot that I have taken away from him. Yeah, there is a ton of writing, but he's willing to help and aid students & you do learn a lot about this challenging subject. TAKE NOTES!!!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLI172
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Barkalow is a very tough grader, but he really improves your writing. If you don't do the readings and show up to class, you will not do well on the papers. Don't wait until the end of the semester to do your current events. Barkalow is funny and makes the class and his lectures interesting.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLI172
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His grading criteria is not clear at all and he often contradicts himself. When I give him a draft to look at he will tell me certain aspects of it are good, then when I turn it in he will comment on those same things negatively. This is my least favorite of all the classes I have ever taken and I will definitely not be taking another class w him.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PO274
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is awesome, but his classes tend to be hard, be ready to read and be super critical of what you read. He expects you to see beyond the obvious. Overall a very smart and fun professor.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PO274
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Arrogant, tries to be edgy too seem cool. Very disappointing class, I learned nothing. The class is essay heavy, but the essays are graded by a different criteria than any other class. So enjoy having to balance that while continuing to write essays normally in other classes.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLI172
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Jordon Barkalow is the worst professor I've ever had. He is narcissistic and self-absorbed. He grades harshly just for the sake of doing so. He complains about the English dept and English majors every class, telling us that he knows more about writing than anyone else on campus (including the writing center). I've never disliked a prof so much.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PO274
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Can be intimidating in class when describing the papers. Will tell you you might fail the first paper, and truthfully, you might. However, in face-to-face interactions, much more down to earth and encouraging. Will tell you the course is back-loaded, meaning improvement is key. Available for email. I recommend always meeting before a paper is due.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLI172
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

TAKE NOTES.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLI274
• 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:

Professor Barkalow is an amazing professor, but very tough. You get the grade you work for. Make sure to go to office hours, read the book and ask questions. The class is overall hard but worth it, you'll learn a lot but go to class and take notes.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PO274
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I've never worked harder for a class and got a C-. He is funny, replies quickly and gives good feedback but the toughest grader and toughest class I've ever had. 4 essays and 2 re-writes. Grades on improvement. I want to hate him for how hard the class was but he is a good professor and this class improved my writing. And no excused absences.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLI172
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had him for my Honors American Govt class. The readings are a little hard but he walks you through it and is available 24/7. Responds immediately to emails and will work outside the class for as long as you need. 2 big essays but you can rewrite both of them. The final is an essay that he gives you weeks beforehand. Love!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PO274
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If all my professors were like Professor Barkalow, I would consider my college education to actually be worth the $20k I pay. I leave this class with not only knowledge of the subject matter, but writing and analyzing skills as well. Not to mention how funny he is! But if you don't care about a good education (want an easy grade) don't take him.