4.5
Quality3.1
Difficulty87%
Would Retake96
Reviews87%
Would Retake
96
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
66
4
23
3
5
2
1
1
1
What Students Say
“Loves his topic and students”
POT2002 - 5.0 rating“Probably one of the best profs at UF”
POT2002 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
43%
Textbook Required
29%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.31 avg changeRatings by Course
POT3302
5.0
(4)GREATPOLTHIN
5.0
(1)POLTHEORY
5.0
(1)POT3001
5.0
(4)POT3001AND4053
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
POLTHRY
4.0
POLTHEO
4.0
GREATPOLTHINK
3.8
POT2001
3.7
POT3302
3.3
Reviews (96)
Good class, he doesn't lecture, it's just discussion. I really enjoyed it, he's very funny!
Really awesome teacher. Very nice and easy to talk to outside of class. ALL discussion based so difficult if you aren't outspoken or do not like having to talk during class. Grade based papers you write.
O'Neill is not easy, but his course is tremendously rewarding. I have learned so much this semester! He is very enthusiastic with the material, which makes you want to come to class and learn. Excellent professor!
I would def recommend him. A tougher grader than I'd like but you learn so much it's worth it.
Scintillating professor but the essays are kind of hard. Worth taking if you're interested in the subject matter.
Great professor! The subject material and the subsequent essays are challenging, but class and lecture are very much enjoyable. I highly, highly recommend.
Frankly I didn't enjoy the class...his expectations for essays are unclear...he has an obvious disdain for ideas that are not his own...or not previously approved by him during the discussions where his sycophantic students take time to praise him for his genius...I've never been so put off by a professor's ego
Best prof, ever.
No Comments
he's awesome. he makes you want to come to class. in lecture he covers and explains the material very well while keeping you interested. he is extremely funny and animated. i would definitely reccommend this class, even though it is an intro class you have to be ready to work!
this guy is freaking awesome. he's incredibly wise and really funny. an amazing professor. the essays are difficult, but just keep up with the reading and ask your ta's questions.
go to class (you cant skip this one!), write down EVERYTHING he says (page numbers specifically) and you won't have to read the books, tough grading (just write everything you have on essays and tests) but funny and entertaining! really likeable. would take another class with him.
GREAT PROFESSOR!!! Best i have had so far. He is extremely insightful, you can go to office hours whenever you wnat and he'll stay there til whenever to help you. He has somewhat high standards but if you just re-write your notes you'll get an A. It's theory so just go to class everyday, write down pg. numbers, and try to read to books. LOVE HIM!!!
Dan is by far the best professor I've had at UF. He is extremely knowledgeable, funny, and interested in what you have to say. GET TO KNOW HIM. I also found the readings extremely versatile so it encompasses differing views. Great class. I learned a lot and am a better student after taking his class. But make sure you read and take notes!
He is very knowledgeable however very hard and teaches his Intro classes at a much higher level. His lectures can sometimes be very boring... you MUST do his assigned reading, do not blow it off!
If you're not in love with this guy by the second week of class, you might want to check your pulse.
amazing! take this class!
HIS CLASS IS AMAZING, take it! lectures were a complete and total joy, he makes arduous political theory texts really come to life. I LOVE DAN O'NEIL!
There are those really rare, great professors who have the charisma and personality to teach, in addition to being articulate and knowing their subject area to a fault. O'Neill is one of these professors. He's pretty much my hero.
This man was amazing. He is able to engage you in learning. The TAs he chooses want to help you learn and are always there to guide you. I suggest going to class, listening, writing down pages numbers and talking to O'Neill and your TA. Plus, he's freaking hysterical!!!
this guy is amazing. as an incoming freshmen, i feel uber fortunate to have this guy so soon! i definitely thought UF kept their good teachers under lock and key, but definitely not o'neill. this guy does not hold back and that's what political theory is about. and get ready to read!
Professor O'Neill is incredible. I just completed summer b as a freshman and I could not have asked for a better classroom experience. O'Neill is engaging, witty, and extremely well informed of the material he teaches. Lots of reading, takes notes in class everyday, go to his office hours if he assigns a paper, and you should be alright.
A great professor. The class isn't easy, but it's not hard. You just have to be there every day, read the material, and listen to him. He'll tell you exactly what you need to do for papers and tests. He's hilarious and really knows how to keep you interested. Only negative is that his writing is terrible and drawings often don't make sense.
Energetic, helpful, really encourages participation.
Professor O'Neill is a great teacher. He brings the subject material to life with his energy for the subject and his occasional jokes. He does assign alot of reading, but he makes sure that by the end of the course you know everything you need to know. Great Professor, great course, I highly recommend it!
Hated the class. Opinion of him is slightly better. Seems better if you don't cross him. Make your life easier and just agree, at least until grades come out.
Great class! O'Neill is a really good professor and knows how to communicate the material in an interesting and unbiased way. One of my favorite courses at UF. A lot of reading though.
His lectures were very informative and even if you miss a day of reading, or dont understand what you read, his lectures clear everything up. His ability to make the concepts relatable is amazing and very helpful. To any poli sci undergrad, take this class!
Professor O'Neill was the most animated professor I have had at UF. His enthusiasm is contagious; people listened intently to his lectures early in the morning. Two essays were required (graded by TAs). The rest of the grade was determined by a mid-term, a final, and section participation. If you have the opportunity to take this class, do it!
I liked him alot. if you come to class, you can write the papers and the tests without worry. He explains everything you need to know.
make sure you take real good notes. he knows his material
I have had 2 classes with O'Neill. He is exciting and really into what he's teaching. He doesn't seem to have much of an ego that some profs has. POT2002 was easy, his other class wasn't. If he grades the papers personally, it is a lot tougher and the reading is more "mandatory". He has common sense and doesn't take himself too seriously. Nice guy.
O'Neill was one of the best poli sci professors I've had. His lectures break down complex material into understandable theories. Extremely helpful in office hours. Was willing to just sit there and talk out the material. Overall, if you write well and go to class you should get an A. Two papers and a final. Great guy!
Best professor ever. I changed my major to political science because he was so interesting and fun to learn from. Hilarious. Hopped up on diet coke. He follows his outlines precisely- TAKE NOTES. Such a nice guy, too. I cannot WAIT to take more of his classes.
O'Neill is by far the most engaging and helpful professor I've had at UF. Though the reading might not always be simple, after going to class you WILL understand the material. He makes political theory incredibly interesting to learn, and applies the things he teaches to practical examples in government and society. He has a great sense of humor!
Dr. O'Neill is brilliant. He engages the class and brings dusty old texts to life. History of American Political Thought was really interesting.
Hist. of Am Pol Thought. Awesome class taught by an interesting professor. You must read the text to understand and get involved in discussions. Don't be afraid to speak what you think and give your point of view even if its different. He likes to question and pick on your mind to make you think. Overall great professor and class. Highly recommend.
Great professor. Engages the class and makes the material interesting.
This class is pretty straightforward. Professor O'Neill tells you what he expects of you from the beginning. Some of the material is difficult nut he is very engaging and explains theories in detail. He gives you the midterm/ final topics a week before. His lectures are always interesting and exciting.
O'Neill is very enthusiastic about this subject and it comes across in his lectures. His jumping around keeps you awake. He cites the texts in lecture and those quotes are very helpful when it comes to writing the essays. Gives you paper topics beforehand
he loves his subject which is quite obvious in lecture. make sure you read the assigned readings before class or it won't make sense. the texts he reads in class are very helpful when writing the papers. he also gives you the midterm and final questions before so you know what to study. doesn't try and trick you. overall great professor :)
Simply put, O'Neill is the best prof I've had at uf. Compared to other theory classes, O Neill lectures more often than he starts a discussion. However, if you read the books and actually listen to his lectures (which supplement the readings as much as they explain them) you can learn more in this class nearly any other class in the department.
Professor O'Neill is the best professor I have ever had in college. Turns a somewhat boring subject into an exciting one. Looked forward to going to his class every day, and learned a lot. Do the readings and go to section if not the lectures. HIGHLY recommended.
He's hilarious
O'Neill is the BEST poli sci prof that I've had at UF. It's a fast paced class, and if you don't like writing you'll hate the course. However, it is extremely interesting and O'Neill is engaging and downright hilarious.
I have abosolutely no interest in Political Theory but he managed to make this tedious and boring topic somewhat interesting. I definitely learned a lot from this class and even though I still don't thoroughly enjoy it, like he obviously does, I'm glad I took it. I recommend taking this class if you're looking for something out of your comfort zone
Dan O'Neill. I love Dan! You can't get any better than Dan! I'm about to finish my PhD and in all my years in school I have never looked forward to, enjoyed, or learned from a class the way I did in Dan's. Without a doubt, Dan's the best.
DAN THE MAN. God I loved this professor. He literally made me obsessed with Political Theory. He's an intelligent man. TAKE HIM.
This class is very difficult and boring despite his attempt to make it interesting. The reading is extremely boring but must be done in order to succeed in the class. My major problem with the class is that it is all subjective grading by a TA who does not take the time to actually read the essays thoroughly.
Dan O'Nel is the best lecturer I've ever had. He is clear and concise, and helps you to understand the works of some very tough authors. If you have any interest in politics or philosophy, I highly recommend this class for you.
Phenomenal teacher. Energetic, enthused, and all around best professor I have ever had. Hilarious. Loves his topic and students. I imagine the history of grass growth would be fascinating under his tutelage. Take at least one class by him before you graduate.
Usually very clear. Needs to use a mic though. Interesting material for the most part but way too many reading and BS assignments. Be consistent with doing work and reading and you should be fine.
Although the material is all over the place and for the philosophically minded, O'Neill has a subtle sense of humor that makes lecture more enjoyable. Take good notes and READ, quiz questions are more or less directly from material and their lectures.
O' Neill is by far the EASIEST Good Life professor. He told us what to focus on for the midterm and final exam (definitely made studying A LOT easier). For the final I only had to memorize 30 terms, while students in the other Good Life classes had to memorize 100+. Don't read the texts. He covers them in lecture! I got an A with no effort.
Super interesting to listen to, he keeps things fun and upbeat. I would definitely take another class with him.
Professor O'Neil is clearly passionate about what he teaches and wants his students to get enjoyment out of the class. You'll leave his class wishing he was your cool uncle.
Dr. O'Neill is one of the best, if not THE best professor I have ever had. He cares so deeply about Political Theory, and he lectures in such a manner that is reflective of his love for the subject. I left this class with a massive knowledge base--and I absolutely loved every second of this class. Get ready to read, but it is so worth it.
He's incredibly passionate about Political Science. He really makes you feel good about asking questions. If you prove that you read by asking specific questions, he'll openly admire you in class. He's deep, philosophical, quirky, funny, and really personable.
Prof. O'Neill is awesome. He's very passionate about political theory and makes his lectures informative and fun. A lot of reading, so make this class a priority. You won't be handed an A in this class if you don't do anything, but he's very helpful if you approach him and show him you're putting in the work. Probably one of the best profs at UF.
Professor O'Neill is one of those admirable professors that actually loves what he does. He gets super into his lectures and is out of this world knowledgable on the topic. His 8-10 paged papers are very reasonable to complete but he's not a super easy grader. If you read all the texts & keep up in the class, you're sure to get a solid grade on it.
Loves to hear his own voice. Bring earbuds and read on your own.
Enthusiastic, knowledgeable and funny, Professor O'Neill is a great guy and lecturer. There is a lot of reading to do (6 books) but his lectures help you understand it so much better. Love that he doesn't use Canvas. Papers are just you and the book, no outside resources, so do read. He gives you the midterm q's to plan ahead. Learned a lot.
Prof O'Neill is a decent guy who really enjoys this class. The papers can be challenging and its hard to have a guaranteed A but if you work for it, it is certainly doable (everything is graded by your TA and not prof O'Neill). The subject matter is not interesting to me and he shames democrats in class often, but it's a tolerable course.
Professor O'Neill's class is challenging and your grade will heavily depend on the TA you are assigned. My advice: begin your outline/papers early (you receive the paper topics in advance), visit your TA's office hours often, pre-write your exam essays EARLY (ques. also given in advance), and I suggest creating a study group to survive together.
He is an excellent lecturer who has a true passion for political theory. However, the TA's are key. Make sure you're on a good track with them and begin your papers and outlines early so they can check over them during office hours. I got a C on my first paper but once I went to office hours I got my grade down to a B because they helped me a ton.
POT2002 was a really hard class for me - lots of reading and writing papers that were graded very harshly considering this is an introductory class. O'Neill makes learning about political theory interesting, but this class definitely requires a lot of concentration and studying outside of class.
ONeil is a great lecturer! I took this class online and still loved it
Professor O'Neill is a great lecturer and makes understanding and breaking down the readings super manageable. The TA's in the class are honestly what your grade comes down to though. I think Murad and Glen are the most reasonable graders from what I've heard.
O'Neill is great when it comes to lectures and explaining difficult concepts/ideas. The class in general is difficult, and you will need to work very hard if you want to maintain a good grade. Papers are long (5-7 pages) and include complicated subjects while also representing 75% of the grade. If you don't feel comfortable writing, don't take it.
Took this class Fall 20 & it was extensive. Theres a total of 15* weekly assignments and 3 total papers. Youre going to cover A LOT of Thinkers. Your success is dependent on your TA. Honestly, I stopped attending lecture, read & went to discussion section alone and still came out with an -A. Take this class if you enjoy reading and philosophy.
Professor O'Neill is a real gem at UF. He makes learning old ideologies and theory fun. Yes, the readings are a lot, and you'll be lost if you're behind, but the lectures are entertaining and O'Neill is so knowledgeable. Note: if you think he is (insert ideology) you are wrong. It's his job to embody the ideologies and theory.
Dr. O'Neill has very good lectures. Make sure to go to your TA's office hours to review the outline of your papers. They will be instrumental to your success in the class. The readings are very extensive, but I was able to use Sparknotes for most of them, and still got an A-.
Overall Prof O'Neill was a great lecturer and made the readings easier to understand. But if you want to do well, make sure you meet with your TA to make sure you know what they are looking for when it comes to papers.
A great professor. You never know what his personal beliefs are and he does a great job explaining the material when it gets hard. POT2002 is 100% essay based and the discussion sections are very helpful if you get a good TA. I recommend Walker if he is available
Loved O'Neill's lectures he did a pretty good job at explaining things. His act where you don't know what political opinion he is is also pretty entertaining as well.
Political theory isn't a very easy concept to understand (for me, at least), but Professor O'Neill helped break down each philosopher and author for the class to understand. Very passionate about content. Four papers determine your entire grade, all graded by the TA. I adored my TA (Ms. Noa Gani), so the class was a lot more enjoyable for me.
O'Neill is an excellent lecturer. He makes boring material palatable. However the TAs grade harshly with no rubric and unclear feedback. I liked the professor a lot, but I did not enjoy the material. I wouldn't take this class unless you are sure this topic is something you're interested in. Theres too much reading to dislike the content.
A really good lecturer, easy to follow bullet points. The TAs rly make or break your grade, and they definitely don't hand out As that often. There were only 4 papers that made up the grade; the syllabus says attendance, participation and etc. count but I doubt it since my TA didn't rly ask for those. My TA was Noa; she was super chill, good vibes.
Professor O'Neil was great. Very engaging in lectures and super knowledgeable. Grade is based in a few papers that are graded tough but overall a great class.
4 essays make up your entire grade, so if you don't like writing, I would not recommend. I didn't like the material but Prof O'Neill makes it interesting to learn about. The lack of a rubric makes it a little difficult to gauge what the TAs are looking for sometimes. Take notes during lectures because it makes the papers easier to write.
Prof is funny, and manages to make confusing political philosophy clear and interesting. Grade does depend on the TA and they all look for different things - plus some are tough graders. They are (or at least mine, Stolz) very willing to help however. The class isn't easy and the readings are long but it is doable with the right work ethic.
Prof. O'Neill makes the lectures very interesting, however books are needed, there is a lot of reading/research, and 4 papers are the only assignments. Your grade is really just based on the TA, but mine was an easy grader and just made attendance mandatory. Take this class if you are actually interested in the topic.
Interesting lectures by prof made boring material interesting, but entire grade rides on the TA. Mine was incredibly unclear during discussion, gave vague feedback, wasn't helpful when asked questions to improve, and was a really harsh grader (barely gave out As, RIP to you if Wallie is ever a TA again), but others had fair TAs and did well.
Dr. O'Neill was a gold tier prof. He took complicated material and made it easy and fun. The papers were easy as long as you went to lectures and read. He also remained neutral the whole time, which is so hard but he handled it perfectly. My TA Tim was great and was a big help. I'll be taking POT4053 with O'Neill next semester, super excited!
O'Neill was great at breaking down the important concepts and even gave us page #s for textual evidence to write the papers. He's charismatic during lectures and gives you exactly what you need to know--enough so that I didn't do any readings. Grade is heavily based on TA. Paper questions are clear and concise. Take good notes and you'll be fine!
Amazing lecturer, engaging and funny. Doesn't waste your time. Presents content in an unbiased and knowledgeable (yet approachable) manner. Lecture notes are stellar at guiding you through long, often dense readings, but he doesn't post them online. 4 papers, 5-7 pages, a week to write them, all graded by TAs. Get Timmy Stolz if you can.
Your TA will make or break this class (avoid Wallie). Only graded by a few papers and two in-class tests, but all tests are essays, and you can bring a page of notes. Very lecture-heavy. No required attendance, but his lectures give you all the information. Don't bother reading, you can rely on his slides. Really interesting and engaging lectures.
Daniel does a great job at making the political theorists studied interesting and engaging. What TA you get does make or break your grade, as they are the ones that actually grade the papers worth almost your entire grade. I had Timothy Stoltz who was hilarious but a bit strict on grading unless you visit him for office hours.
Essay driven and your grade is pretty dependent on your TA. I had Timothy and he was the GOAT. O'Neill is poli sci royalty and it definitely shows in his entertaining lectures.
You can tell the professor enjoys the subject, and not only engages with the material very well, but also with the students. His lectures were very engaging, and he explained the material very well, if you have the option to take his class, please do! You won't regret it.
very passionate about political theory and overall engaging lectures. most of your grade consists of 3 written exams throughout the semester and depending on your TA they can be graded quite harshly.
Dr. O'Neill is an amazing lecturer and I highly recommend you take him for an intro level class. His lectures are extremely engaging and although attendance is not mandatory, I recommend going. I don't think its necessary to purchase the textbook to succeed as his lectures pretty much cover all the material you need to know for his exams.
He is so smart and loves what he teaches. As long as you attend class, take notes, and study, you'll do well in the class. Three written exams, super straight-forward and easy to ace. Timmy Stolz is the best TA and is always willing to help answer any questions.
Amazing professor! The readings can get dense and lengthy, but he has very engaging lectures that give you all the material needed for the exams. Everything is graded by TAs, but mine (Bilsbrough) was approachable and did not grade harshly as long as it was clear you knew the material. I learned a lot from this class, I highly recommend taking it!
Prof O'neill is such an amazing professor. He clearly loves and understands the topics presented which makes the lectures super engaging. Grades are weekly discussion attendance, 3 exams, and weekly paragraph reading responses. I highly recommend Billsborough as a TA!
Professor O'Neill was an extremely animated and passionate professor who I highly recommend any Poli Sci freshman take Political Theory with. My TA was really informative (although very political) and grading is fair. Sometimes he can go on tangents which are ultimately more confusing than helpful but he was easy to talk to during office hours.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
43%
Textbook Required
29%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.31 avg changeRatings by Course
POT3302
5.0
(4)GREATPOLTHIN
5.0
(1)POLTHEORY
5.0
(1)POT3001
5.0
(4)POT3001AND4053
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
POLTHRY
4.0
POLTHEO
4.0
GREATPOLTHINK
3.8
POT2001
3.7
POT3302
3.3