John Rothgeb - Miami University

Professor: John Rothgeb

Department: TBD

College: Miami University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POL271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Since your grade is determined by only three essay-based exams it would have been nice to have a better rubric of what was expected on them. Rothgeb himself though is pretty funny and is a good lecturer.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POL271
• 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:

The class was asynchronous and all the lectures made available for the whole semester. The only work is three papers throughout the semester, so make sure you take good notes on them. If you write what he says(don't make things up, you'll get an easy A. Very helpful and easily available to talk outside of class. He tells funny stories and cares.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POL271
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I'm taking this class online and asynchronous, and it's honestly kind of a joke. The only grades are 3 essay exams that cover like 5% of the material, so watching every single lecture is pointless. That said, Rothgeb is funny and willing to help you if needed. I recommend this for an easy POL class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POL271
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

All material is delivered through lecture, so you need to be in class to hear it. Great lecturer, but be ready to take great notes!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POL271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT BUY THE BOOK. Only grades all year are 3 exams, if you go to class and take notes youll be fine.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POL271
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Only 3 grades the entire semester, no homework, must show up to class to get a good grade. Overall he's pretty nice and funny.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POL271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't buy the textbook, only referenced his rambling lectures, which turn into talking about his wife friend in the supermarket at times. Entitled elitist who thinks he's smarter than everyone at Miami and openly says so. Grading criteria is unclear, and subjective.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POL271
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Rothgeb does whatever he wants in this class. He lectures for an hour 3 times a week and the exams only cover maybe 15% of the material. His exams are essay form and you have a choice of 3/6 terms to write about. His grading is extremely subjective and you will only do well if you repeat exactly what he said in class. Don't buy the book.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POL271
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a chill dude. Talks pretty quietly & test material is only based on lecture. 3 exams & nothing else, so you have to do well on them. Exams are just regurgitating what he said in class exactly. He's great in office hours if you missed anything & really funny and engaging in class. Tells a lot of war stories though, so be prepared to hear that.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POL271
• 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 kept our class engaged 3 days a week at 8:30 am. Not only is the dude hilarious, but I learned a ton and enjoyed this class a lot. His tests were tough, but if you made it to most classes and review your notes you can walk away with an A. You don't need to course pack. I used the last few articles for the open book final, so just borrow them.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POL271
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's a funny guy and the lectures are actually pretty interesting. The content all comes from the syllabus and the lectures. If you miss class and don't have anyone you can copy for the notes, you're boned for the exams. As for exam content, you just have repeat what comes out of his mouth in class, DO NOT make up your own examples.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POL271
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Class was at 8:30, but it usually wasn't hard to stay awake in Dr. Rothgeb's class. He has a good mix of lecture and completely irrelevant anecdotes. He was good at not cramming in too much info at once. Exams aren't hard, but he wants very specific answers to very specific topics.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POL271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Rothgeb is fantastic. He is a fantastic lecturer and is able to keep me awake and engaged even at 8:30 am. He delivers some solid burns @realDonaldTrump. The way that he tells stories about the content really helps bring the material to life. I genuinely enjoy this class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POL271
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Rothgeb is a really interesting teacher and knows his material really well but you have to take really good notes in this class and pay attention to be successful. All of the tests are over notes from class lectures, so take good notes and study all of them when it's exam time and you'll be fine.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POL271
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great professor if you excel in the art of butt kissing. Three tests make up your entire grade for the semester, and his grading is based more on what he thinks rather than what the textbook says. If you can get around his enormous ego, the rest isn't too bad. No homework, interesting lectures, and he's super entertaining.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POL271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Most skilled lecturer I've had in 4 years, no ppts, but the necessary materials are very evident. Just make sure to go to class or have a friend that takes good notes. Attendance is mandatory though

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POL271
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I'm pretty unsure why the review of Rothgeb are not great on here. This is the most straightforward class ever. Two exams before the final that are just defining 3/6 terms that he provides out of the ones listed in the syllabus. The reading materials are 100% unnecessary, save your money. Rothgeb is funny and not super serious, just go to class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POL271
• 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:

Readings are helpful, but definitely not needed. The most helpful reading is the book he actually wrote. Definitely, need to show up to every class and take thorough notes. For his essay tests, you should basically write what he said in his lectures. Be sure to ask questions when you don't understand. He always has some funny story to tell.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POL271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Don't take a class with him unless you're a political science genius.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POL373
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Rothgeb is not necessarily a bad professor but he is a bad lecturer. He speaks so softly it's hard to hear and understand. He doesn't use powerpoints or anything so if you miss something, too bad. Only 2 exams and a paper so if you don't test well, don't take him. He is funny but intimidating. Don't skip class.