He does get off course, but good with classwork help.

Great teacher, but what does he have against eye contact?

pay attention in class and you'll do well, very helpful teacher

Very smart, SI's help more than lectures, likes to ramble.

needs to look up and stay on track, but material is good

Love the course, he is great, informative and helpful

Essay tests, Go to S.I.'s! Class puts you to sleep.

Very helpful and cares about students. Always willing to talk:sometimes to long

He's a really good teacher and he grades fairly. His tests are part essay and part short answer though. Overall, his class is a lot of fun. Also, the SI's help.

Took it during the summer, no SI's and I didn't need them! Easy class, easy essay and short answer tests. Get him to talk off subject and you'll have a lot of fun! If you have time, go to his office, he keeps you there for 2 hours or more!!!

his tests (short answer & essay) aren't bad as long as you go to the SI. he gets off subject a lot and stares at the floor. he is an extremely smart man when he actually teaches.

I think he is very ironic, and that makes me laugh. I know he is very smart and a democrat! He doesn't look at your eyes, and that bothers me.

Dr.Smith was always great. My dad was having health problems and he was always understanding and willing to work with me. He is rather..different in the classroom, but while talking with him outside of class, you find him to be one very interesting person

Smith is a great teacher. He makes class interesting by asking thought provoking questions. Extremely knowledgeable. Though I understand that a person of below average intelligence would find him and his lectures hard to comprehend.

I've had Smith for gen ed american government and also upper level classes. I think that he is an awesome teacher! I would recommend him to anyone...

He is very helpful if you ask him to be. Also if he knows your'e trying he's a lot more likely to be easy on you. Class can get boring sometimes, but he likes to show political comics and cartoons. Overall he's pretty good.

His lectures are just for info. Read the book for quizzes and tests. The tests are all essay type questions but I hear you'll get that in most gov't classes now. Just take the things from the book combine them with lecture info. to get your essay answers. You'll do fine. Get involved in online chat.

ask for jesus jokes after class. hilarious times ensue!

The essay test are easy to BS your way throught as long as you have read the text and paid half attention in lecture. No studying required really. Class is almost useless unless you need a good laugh, the guy is funny when you get him going!

Loved this class.. Loved him. Great teacher if you are thirsty to learn :)

can't look at class. funny when sidetracked or worked up. interesting when he's not giving you notes. sort of hard to study for tests. overall pretty good prof.

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He brings a lot of experience to the class. He helps students develope excellent reading and writing skills.

I did not respond well to his style of teaching. Dr. Smith is an impressive figure, but I didn't enjoy the class. I didn't find it particularily hard, I just didn't enjoy it.

Interesting lectures; he makes the class interesting by bringing up current issues for discussion (he's really into civil liberties). If you don't like government and just need to take it for a gen ed requirement, take it with Smith.

Really funny and nice. He has a really sharp, sarcastic sense of humor - can sound like a jerk at times, but he's not. Class was hard, I considered my B a great accomplishment. Just work at it, ask for help & you'll be fine. Class discussions are VERY interesting - if you can, take it during an election year!!

Easy class if you go! Make sure to take advantage of the the SI!!!

Honestly, he really shines in the upper level classes. I can understand where people believe his lack of eye contact to be smugness, but he's actually very engaging in smaller groups. I have learned a lot in his classes, altough they take a lot of work. If you have ever stopped by during his office hours he bends over backwards to help you out.

Smith is one of my favorite teachers on campus. Why? Because he is super intelligent and pushes you to earn the grade. A's are not for everyone...it takes dedication and a little extra. He is challenging, but i've enjoyed every class I have had with him. He doesn't like to make eye contact, so what..If you work for it, you will get a good grade

I had him for Courts and Rights of the Accused in a summer class and did really well simply because I showed him I wanted to EARN the A. Everyone wants one but he wants to see who will work for it. Not PolySci, don't take him. If you are, just show dedication and tell him your goal for the class and he will guide you as long as you work hard

Smith is a AWESOME teacher...he wants you to learn in his class...he loves when you interact in class and that is also where you get a lot of your points I took him for Rights of the Accused and its a bit of work you have to show him that you want your grade and he will boost your grade at the end...take him if you like to engage in convos in class

Is highly intelligent and exceptionally knowledgeable in his field. Courses are challenging, though manageable and he is willing to work with you. While I enjoyed both him personally and his classes, I could see were his difficulty level, his dry humor and his seemingly aloof demeanor (he?s actually rather personable) could put off some.

A wonderful professor. He has a very dry sense of humor that puts some people off but his course is great. His tests are actually interesting to take and he is always willing to assist with any aspect of the class. If you're poly sci, you'll enjoy him, if not, don't bother.

I took him the first few years he was teaching and I went to graduate school in political science. His difficulty level is spot in if you want to go to grad school or law school. His civil rights/liberties courses are tailored to law school not political science. Good professor overall.

Smith is easily distracted from the lecture, but his side notes are very interesting & informative in the subject. Essay tests seem hard but as long as you study the ppt & prepare an outline to memorize, you will be fine. This class will prepare you for Bus Law 1 so I def reccommend if you are required to take Bus Law!

Had him for Civil Liberties, Constitutional Law, and Courts and Rights of the Accused. Got between an 88-91 in all 3 classes. By far my favorite professor at Northwest. The lectures are extremely interesting, and the hypotheticals force you to think. I learned a lot in all the classes, my only regret is getting them out of the way early. Must take

Very engaging and interesting professor. Don't take if you want a free A. If you want to learn materials and EARN an A, good professor to take. Wouldn't recommend if you have no interest in the subject area. Makes you APPLY instead of memorize. Great professor and great person in general. Is a *MUST TAKE* for any pre-law student.

Intro to american government is required for my major but I would recommend Smith to anyone. There is only 3 tests and a few outside of class assignments. His tests consist of short answer questions and an essay question. The big essay counts for half the test but he tells you what it is before the test. GO TO THE SI!

Dr. Smith is a great guy. His class may seem difficult, but if you do the readings you'll be fine. He gets off track a lot, but his stories are funny and interesting. He's a really nice guy so don't be afraid to talk to him.

Nice guy but lectures sometimes get off track and hard to follow. SI's are helpful for a clear understanding needed for tests.

Dr. Smith is by far one of the most enthusiastic professors I have had. He will definitely help out with any questions you have about assignments. Tests are somewhat difficult as much of the class is based of extensive reading. Overall a pretty good teacher.

Overall he is not a bad person. Just very confusing on what he wants. The test are very long and drawn out and more than likely you will run out of time. If you are not interested in law school than I don't recommend his class.

Smith is awesome. If you pay attention and do the readings you will pass. He is more than willing to help if you ask. He is a talker- in class and in his office. If you go to talk to him allow plenty of time. He gives you pretty clear-cut ideas on what to study for tests and for papers. He's a great teacher, would take again.

I took his Constitutional Law class and it was slightly difficult. That being said he is an incredibly fair grader on top of being very helpful. The class is set up like a simulation court and you will have lots of writing and cases to argue. It sounds boring, but it's a lot of fun. There aren't a lot of points so stay on top of the assignments.

I've had several classes with Dan Smith. He has an impressive background in political science and law so you know you're getting a good professor. That being said, he is very helpful if you need it so don't hesitate to visit him during office hours, even right before a test. If you miss one of the requirements, talk to him about it. He will help.

I've taken several classes with Smith. He hands out B's like crazy, but you have to work your butt of for an A. He's a chatter and very quirky, but will help you on ANY AND ALL assignments/test if you go to his office hours and listen to him brag about his kids.

Smith is very knowledgeable and passionate about government. He is impartial on most political issues but leans left occasionally. He is a standard lecturer, and you probably will need to take notes. On tests he has some difficult essay questions, so you have to have a good understanding of the material. He is quirky but enjoyable as a professor.

I had the privilege to take Rights of the Accused and Con Law with him. He makes you work hard for his assignments and tests, but is willing to work with you to ensure you understand the material. You are not guaranteed an 'A', but if you work hard- it is achievable (which is how it should be-you are in college, things should not be handed to you).

Mr. Smith was a solid choice, even though I wasn't quite sure about him at the start of the course. The whole class was mock court cases where you were given a side and had to do research and present why you're right, just like a real court case. Group work is completely necessary!

Law & Politics was one of the tougher courses I took with Dr. Smith. You are going to have to go to class if you want to pass, and you must read and understand the material if you want to get an A. You will have to work for it if you want to succeed but he WILL work with you as long as you ask for help and have shown you are willing to learn.

Im not going to lie, youll have to put in the work for this class but he is a very nice man and actually cares about you. Care about his class, put in the effect and it will pay off. GO TO OFFICE HOURS. He is willing to help you. You need the textbook for quizzes. He can get off topic in the lectures but he is more than willing to help if you ask

Really good professor tries to make it interesting. Lots of extra credit and easy points options.