3.8

David York

Political Science - University of Saskatchewan

3.8
Quality
3.2
Difficulty
72%
Would Retake
172
Reviews
3.8
Quality
3.2
Difficulty
3.8
Helpful
3.8
Clarity

72%

Would Retake

172

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official

5

65

4

61

3

27

2

11

1

8

What Students Say

Dave made this class an absolute joy

POL111 - 5.0 rating

David is a real gem of a professor

POL112 - 5.0 rating
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

51%

Textbook Required

52%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B+

95% confidence
Based on 47 grades
Most common grades:
A- (13)
A (10)
B+ (9)
Grade Distribution
A(12)B(8)C(3)D(3)F(0)A-/B+(22)
Based on 56 reported grades
A-: 13
A: 10
B+: 9
Not sure yet: 7
Common Tags
Tough grader (20)
Gives good feedback (17)
Skip class? You won't pass. (14)
Participation matters (14)
Get ready to read (13)
Respected (11)
Amazing lectures (9)
Inspirational (8)
Rating Trend

Stable

-0.19 avg change
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
Nov
Dec
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

112260

5.0

(1)

POL260

5.0

(1)

INTREL

5.0

(1)

POLST113

5.0

(1)

IR260

5.0

(1)
+25 more courses
Difficulty by Course

2606

5.0

IS110

4.3

POLS260

4.1

POLST

4.0

IS200

4.0

Reviews (172)
4.0
2.0
POLST112
Oct 23, 2002

nice guy class is very interesting makes good mid terms

5.0
4.0
POL112
Oct 23, 2002

Nice, helpful, but moves fast on material. Be ready to do extra reading.

4.0
2.0
POLSTU112
Oct 24, 2002

ready for class comments, enjoys debate, be prepared to listen

5.0
3.0
POLST112
Oct 24, 2002

No Comments

5.0
1.0
POL112
Dec 4, 2002

excellent professor

4.0
3.0
POLST112
Dec 9, 2002

has great potential, lots of drive, and great with students

4.0
3.0
POLSTUD1
Dec 9, 2002

No Comments

5.0
2.0
POLST112
Dec 12, 2002

great guy, helpful, lots of potential.

4.0
3.0
POLST112
Dec 13, 2002

No Comments

3.0
3.0
POLST
Dec 13, 2002

this class was satisfactory as is your wardrobe

4.0
3.0
POLST114
Jan 6, 2003

good guy, class can b borin tho, but take notes,

4.0
4.0
POLST112
Jan 17, 2003

Nice guy, kinda boring sometimes

5.0
1.0
POLST111
Apr 9, 2003

Good guy, encourages students to think about what they hear.

5.0
3.0
POLST112
Apr 9, 2003

Good guy, young, smart, and approachable.

4.0
3.0
POLST112
Apr 9, 2003

No Comments

4.0
3.0
POL112
Apr 21, 2003

Good teacher- very approachable and understanding- excellent potential as a prof

5.0
1.0
POLST112
Apr 24, 2003

Great class, no complaints, would reccommend him. Very enjoyable, would encourge discussion and critical thought. Must keep up with the reading, though.

5.0
3.0
POLST112
May 15, 2003

No Comments

4.0
2.0
POLST112
Oct 7, 2003

Although I understand this is not the norm, the class I had with him seemed disordered. However he is a good, understanding prof. He wants deperately for you to think for yourself.

4.0
3.0
POLST112
Nov 13, 2003

Great prof. Very interesting class, lots of discussion.

3.0
3.0
POLST112
Oct 20, 2003

Really boring prof, and he seems unwilling to accept any political ideas that are contrary to what he personally believes

2.0
3.0
POLST112
Jan 4, 2004

Sound like the teacher on the Charlie Brown cartoons.

5.0
2.0
POL260
Grade: Not_Sure_Yet
Mar 17, 2004

I took 112 under him as well and he is definately one of the best prof's this university has. Makes you think and loves classroom discussion and different viewpoints.

5.0
1.0
112260
Mar 26, 2004

This man is terrific. If you don't like him, you are clearly a loser. He is fair, and so awesome. He dresses nice, and he is a family man.

5.0
2.0
POLST112
Apr 13, 2004

He's great! Encourages class discussion and creates a very comfortable classroom environment.

3.0
4.0
POLST260
Apr 30, 2004

Professor York is not a terrible prof,but he has a tendency to stifle discussion in class. He encourages it, but whenever it gets underway he criticizes everyone because we haven't come up with EXACTLY what he had in mind. He marks this way as well.

5.0
3.0
POLST112
Jul 12, 2004

Professor York is amazing. His classes provoked thought and encouraged indepth discussion. He wants his students to LEARN and make educated decisions. He is more than willing to help during and after class - just ask. AMAZING!!! Top-notch at U of S!

5.0
3.0
POLST112
Jul 27, 2004

pretty good teacher. plus the guy wears dandy warhols, radiohead, and rem shirts to class how can u not like that

4.0
2.0
POLISCIEN
Sep 22, 2004

He lets people rant and rant. God, glad that class is over. The readings he gave us were thought provoking and we didn't need a text.

5.0
3.0
INTREL
Nov 30, 2004

I did not always like the way he lead discussion. I wish he would have been more clear about where the discussions were supposed to lead. Overall, however, he was awesome.

3.0
4.0
POLST112
Dec 3, 2004

Marks 1st years like they are 3 or 4th years - doesn't give any leeway. If you don't provide exactly to the letter what he teaches you, marks taken off. Very dry lecturer. Heard another classmate get brought down for asking questions.

3.0
4.0
POLST112
Jan 13, 2005

I found him to be way too hard on us for first years, he was ver set in his ways of thinking. Very cool guy though, played Radiohead at the beginning of every class.

1.0
5.0
2606
Mar 31, 2005

Moody and has a chip on his shoulder. If he knew half as much as he thinks he does he might be an effective Prof. Notes are right out of the text. Attempts to be PC, but really THINKS he is elitist. Simply, he is not worth the time or the money.

4.0
4.0
POLST260
Apr 22, 2005

Class was difficult at first and readings can be challenging, but the class was informative and interesting. Lots of discussion b/c of a small class.York has definite bias on beliefs and who he likes, but if u work around that your marks will be ok. Very picky and hard on essay marking.

4.0
3.0
POLST111
May 1, 2005

Nice guy. Encourages discussion. Interesting class. Will make an effort to have him again.

5.0
3.0
POLST113
Jul 27, 2005

One of my favourite profs, and not just because we got to read cartoons or watch "The Daily Show" every class. York encourages class discussion and independent thought and expects students to voice their opinions and make solid, logical arguments in class and on paper.

5.0
2.0
IR260
Aug 28, 2005

A very good and technically competent professor who is a master of his subject area. Encourages class discussion in a very open and free flowing manner. A word of caution, he is tough on essays, your writing must be perfect or else. His exams are much easier than his essays, so marks are available. Bill

4.0
3.0
POLST111
Sep 12, 2005

Excellent Prof! The class is a little tough for 1st year students but the readings and lectures help to guide you thru the complex world of politics. Class discussions are often lively, opinionated and thought provoking. Political cartoons and watching the Daily Show with Jon Stewart keep things interesting.

1.0
5.0
POLST
Jan 20, 2006

He picks favorites

4.0
2.0
POLST260
Mar 24, 2006

If you participate in class, you'll do well. York is knowledgeble, but the majority of his lecturing consists of his perceptions, rather than actual knowledge. His exams are easy, but he marks essays relatively hard. I recommend this class.

3.0
3.0
POLST111
Apr 24, 2006

He wasn't bad... but also not great. He is not very well organized and because of this not all course material was covered throughout term. He was not very engaging and didn't seem overly interested in the course material. He definitely could have been worse.

4.0
3.0
POLST111
Jun 20, 2006

Techically sound lecturer...materials presented appropriate...marking can be a bit hard but not to the point where he going to crush his students! David if you are reading this... take it easy on those g--damn essays for your first years!!!! Holy cow!!! Ouch!!! Otherwise good class:)

3.0
4.0
POLST112
Aug 5, 2006

encourages a lot of discussion, lots of note taking right that's actually right out of the text. interesting guy, but lectures are a little dry.

4.0
2.0
POLST111
Aug 7, 2006

No real focus on material in lectures, but they are interesting. There's a lot of discussion and current events. Helpful for exams and essays. All in all, one of the better profs.

4.0
3.0
POLS112
Mar 28, 2008

York is very insightful, he makes politics interesting. Sometimes group discussion can be a bit dry, but he does a good job of brining the class back to relevant material.

2.0
5.0
POLS112
Apr 2, 2008

"democracy is the bomb"? I never know what York is talking about. Most of the class is listening to other people struggle to answer his overly general questions. For once, i would have liked to hear him give an actual lecture. I didn't pay 300 bucks to hear other people talk.

4.0
3.0
POLS112
Apr 21, 2008

Interesting and a good lecturer, but he had too many class discussions were never "wrapped up". I would have rather taken notes on what he had to say then what other students were guessing was the right answer. If you like speaking up in class his class is good to take...

5.0
4.0
POLS260
May 2, 2008

Likely one of the most interesting profs in the university. Extremely evident that he loves what he teaches and that carries into his style of teaching. Varies lectures to include media presentations, humor and a high level of class discussion. Lectures almost never boring and they clarify text material. Highly recommended.

5.0
5.0
POLS260
May 13, 2008

One of the best professors I have had at the U of S; however, the grad student(s) who mark his papers is quite rigid. No helpful feedback on papers/assignemnts (what to fix for next time) so you are doomed to get the same marks on each assignment which is frustrating. York is entertaining, knowledgeable, and a great asset to the university.

3.0
4.0
POLS260
May 14, 2008

Not a bad professor but whoever marks assignments loves to punish students and leaves them unsure of why they recieved the mark they did. Not sure what a cartoon had to do with the class or why we had to be into Radiohead in order to get his help.

5.0
4.0
POLS260
May 21, 2008

Fantastic prof. Good course overall, the class discussions could have been better, but that has more to do with what kind of class you get then York himself. Made the material interesting, but it was always a little unclear what exactly we were to know. Hard to take good notes unless he lectures. Other then that, great guy, take his courses.

5.0
3.0
POLS371
Jun 20, 2008

Interesting class, informative, uses a variety of multimedia to present information and encourages (perhaps too much) class discussion. The discussions help you get a better grasp of the material, but only if you involve yourself. I'd take a class from him again without another thought.

4.0
3.0
POLST260
Jul 21, 2008

York is a great prof. He does tend to favour those who worship him (and many do)...but he isn't unfair. He knows his stuff and his classes are always interesting. ATTEND and you will do well. Especially because then you avoid feeling like an outsider from the highschool-ish cliques he tends to create.....

5.0
4.0
POLS260
Sep 4, 2008

Great prof that's been teaching this class for a while. FYI for 260 he marks all the essays himself the grad student stuff is BS. Don't buy the recommended texts you'll never open them. Do the readings and pay attention in class and you should easily get a 75. He spoon feeds all important info to you and if you don't get the cartoon you're screwed.

4.0
3.0
POL111
Sep 27, 2008

Love this class. Definitely my favorite one. Would recommend him anytime. Class discussions are decent, especially if you get involved. Haven't had a test or essay yet, but most of the information seems to be in the text or lecture. Do NOT skip lectures, he tells you what is important.

4.0
3.0
POLS111
Mar 9, 2009

York was probably my favourite first year prof. The class was interesting and I like that he encouraged class discussion. Very helpful if you are having trouble with your essay, really enjoyed talking with him when I needed some extra help. I found he marked my essay fairly and gave a legitimate explanation for my mark. Definitely recommended.

4.0
3.0
POLST260
Mar 23, 2009

I think York is a good prof, but sometimes the class discussion gets a bit too much and drags. Also - it would be nice if he didn't give everything his own term. You can read the text and have the information, but because he renames it in his lecture notes, you have no idea what he's asking for on the exam.

3.0
1.0
POLST112
Apr 8, 2009

Is a decent prof and knows his stuff but has VERY DRY lectures. Discussions go on forever and he usually fails to realize that half the class is completely clueless about what hes saying. Doesnt post notes and usually rambles on making note-taking hard. On the up-side he is pretty funny and usually makes a couple good jokes in class

5.0
4.0
POLS260
Apr 9, 2009

He has fairly high expectations, so don't expect to get easy marks. Textbook use is so low that even he asked whether we even had a textbook. I would highly recommend him - crystal clear, inspiring, and funny. He also gives the essay questions for the final a solid three weeks in advance, verbatim.

3.0
4.0
POLS112
Apr 25, 2009

A class to take short cuts on readings. only read articles he talks about in class and text reading is not crucial. LEctures were not as structured as i'm used to and it is hard to have any idea of how much you are retaining as there are few assignments and tests. A great guy but i'm on the fence about the class in general.

5.0
5.0
POLS260
Apr 29, 2009

He's not an easy prof, but he gives good feedback on papers as well as editing them weeks in advance if you ask him to. If you want to do good, you have to attend class - he does not post his notes! He is an excellent prof who uses creative exercises and discussion to really make his lectures interesting - I highly recommend taking his class.

4.0
3.0
POLS260
Jul 22, 2009

I really enjoyed this prof, and definitely got excited to talk about IR. I loved his dry humor! The marking can be a bit tough, and sometimes the talking goes very overboard and into pointless territory (depending on which student is yakking).

3.0
5.0
POLS111
Oct 17, 2009

David is a very tough prof. Lots of people say they like him on here but if you find that politics are not your thing this might be a bad class for you. Does not post notes but rather goes off on rants and writes random words on the board and little arrows everywhere. Found it very hard to comprehend. However, he is a very nice guy and pretty funny

5.0
4.0
POLS250
Nov 3, 2009

Best prof ever. I'm not even joking. I've taken two other classes from this gem of a man and each was just as good. Not the easiest marker, but also not unfair. Very helpful, very very very approachable, and unbelievably knowledgeable about pretty much everything in the known universe. You'll see.

4.0
3.0
POLS111
May 27, 2010

great prof. i was excited eery tuesday, thursday morning to go to this class. he can be a bit intimidating though. but other than that, a fabulous prof!!!

5.0
4.0
POLS251
Jun 9, 2010

David is a very good prof, very engaging and a great dry humour. He expects a lot, marks quite hard but well worth it. He makes classes very interesting with video clips and the class topic is already very interesting. Any one who is interested in social movements, I highly recommend the class.

4.0
4.0
POLS260
Jun 16, 2010

You will like him if you enjoy class discussions. Found it hard to understand what he wanted us to know because of all the discussion, there was barely any actual lecture notes. Don't bother with the text he didn't even know which one we were using. Just read what he assigns in class. Good prof overall if you like to speak in class.

5.0
4.0
IS200
Aug 12, 2010

I've had this prof for three classes and each time I'm impressed by his teaching methods. He uses relevant material, has great taste in music and engages students as a way of ensuring your paying attention. He gets to know the names of his students, which I find incredible. I throughly enjoyed him and recommend him. If you're shy be prepared.

5.0
4.0
POLS111
Dec 11, 2010

Prof York was an excellent teacher. He plays good music just before class starts which is nice. He starts class by having students analyze political cartoons which gets people awake and participating. Lot's of class discussion, you learn more from the discussion than the text. Good course notes. Very engaging prof who even remembers your name.

3.0
5.0
POLS250
Dec 23, 2010

Very tough. Never know what he is expecting. He justifies his marks but his standards are the highest in the department. You don't know your essay mark until the day of the final. If you don't need his class, drop it.

4.0
2.0
POLST371
Apr 7, 2011

Classes can be mixed; some are strict lectures while others are open discussions. If you hand-in a decent assignment or paper, you'll likely get an above-average mark.

5.0
3.0
POLS112
Jul 6, 2011

good proff, but marks term papers hard

4.0
4.0
POLS260
Sep 11, 2011

York is one of my favourite profs throughout uni. He's willing to talk with people after class any day about topics related to the class and material. Be in class for mini-assignments (which are super easy, if you come to class) and work hard. After his class, i was sleep talking about hegemonic theory. would definitely recomend

5.0
3.0
POLS251
Nov 14, 2011

Definitely one of the best political studies professors at the university. He is interesting, intelligent, and funny. I look forward to every class I have with him, and finish the term having gained a lot of valuable knowledge. You can easily achieve good marks if you put in a little bit of effort.

5.0
1.0
POLS112
Dec 4, 2011

The best Prof at the Uni. Interesting and informative. I generally base my classes around how many I can take that he is teaching. Super chill, very intelligent.

5.0
2.0
POLS112
Jun 25, 2012

Great prof! He sometimes pointed me out since I sat in the front and asked me awkward questions. Go to class, if you do you dont have to read the text!

4.0
2.0
POLS111
Dec 3, 2012

This Prof was super into political studies. He's great, but I found the way he talks very difficult to understand. It was like someone was reading me the dictionary. He uses a lot of big words and tends to over complicate things. He encourages class participation and critical thinking though! Despite confusion at times, he's an awesome prof.

3.0
4.0
POLS250
Dec 5, 2012

A really funny guy, and passionate about his course. However, he is hard to understand for the average person. His language/vocab complicates a topic or subject more than it needs to be(which is probably why class discussion doesn't usually go anywhere...). Each of his slides are extremely lengthy. Attend class, you'll likely not do well otherwise.

3.0
4.0
POLS111
Dec 17, 2012

He is super entertaining and makes political studies way more interesting than it is, however his final exam was sort of hard cause it had so much writing! His midterms are quite simple, if you study! and he marks pretty fair for essays. Def. attend class, even though he uses big words and complicates most concepts....

5.0
3.0
POLS111
Apr 15, 2013

Prof York is so far the best prof I've had. I have actually gained full usable (in everyday life) knowledge from his course. All concepts were clearly explained and related to one another and current issues. Exactly what I expected out of uni class - including his vocabulary. Attend lectures as he tells you exactly what will be on exams.

5.0
2.0
POLS250POLS251
Apr 17, 2013

Take POLS 250 with David. Just, just do it. Changed my life. Yes, a class on state theories can be interesting. Yes, the class is relevant, engaging, and challenging in all the right ways. No, I am not delusional.

2.0
4.0
POLS111
Dec 20, 2013

I liked having David as a prof but found the class difficult to understand at times. He moves pretty fast through the material and his vocabulary is sometimes hard to understand for a beginner in political studies. I found it hard to follow so kind of lost interest in the class. Definitely attend al of the lectures.

5.0
2.0
POLS111
Grade: A
Dec 27, 2013

Clearly enjoys teaching, he makes an effort to make class interesting and fun. Very engaging and willing to help. I would take another class with him in a heartbeat!

5.0
3.0
POLS112
Grade: A
Mar 3, 2014

Great prof, hilarious

4.0
3.0
POLS250
Nov 12, 2014

York is funny, but uses complicated language. If you are interested in politics he is your guy. He doesn't give you an easy grade, but he really appreciates people who discuss in class and engage with him. If you talk to him he will make an effort to know you. Great guy, good teacher, some might find him boring but I personally loved his classes.

4.0
3.0
POLS111
Sep 17, 2014

Overall good prof. Fair marker. I would recommend him.

4.0
4.0
POLS112
Dec 8, 2014

David York is probably one of the most interesting guys out there. Every class was very interesting, but you better be there because his power points are lacking, he expands off of the points during his lecture. Class was intellectually challenging, but if you like politics at all I would highly recommend him.

3.0
3.0
112
Jan 6, 2015

York is a fairly good prof, although he goes on long rants a lot of the time and is not always on subject. He's really interesting and has a great sense of humour. Overall a great lecturer.

5.0
3.0
POLS251
Feb 28, 2015

Each time I've taken a course with York it's been the best one of the semester. He marks his papers a little hard, but if you ask for help and make an effort you get rewarded with your grade. I would most certainly recommend him for anyone taking a political science course.

4.0
3.0
POLS111
Grade: A+
Apr 15, 2015

He promotes in-class discussion and often plays devils-advocate to stir-up engagement; Provides great feedback on essay assignments; good lecturer (although slightly monotone) with a diverse vocabulary; it is obvious that he loves what he teaches

4.0
3.0
POLS112
Apr 21, 2015

David made my night class very enjoyable. He was very approachable and helpful with the term paper. Will be difficult to perform well if you don't read assigned articles and readings from textbook. Very helpful with letting you know what will be on the final. Overall a very enjoyable class.

4.0
3.0
POLS111
Apr 29, 2015

Prof York makes class really dynamic and fun to attend. He explains the material very well, and will answer any questions in class if you are confused. Attending class is a must as some concepts are introduced through discussion and his lectures that are not either in the textbook or on the powerpoint slides. A paper, midterm, and final.

2.0
4.0
POLS112
Apr 30, 2015

If you love Pols and have background knowledge in the area than York would be a great prof. For first year, he often made discussions too challenging and too specific to understand. Was very unclear about what would be on exams and did not give a lot of information on what he expected for assignments. If you do not attend class, you will fail.

2.0
4.0
POLS112
Grade: B+
May 2, 2015

I disagree with previous reviews of York. He always seemed extremely disinterested both with what anyone had to say in class and in any feedback he would give. Grading on exams and papers seemed "artificial" with little to no explanation of how they were determined. Paper marked heavily on grammar ect. Grade was 6% lower than my otherwise lowest.

4.0
4.0
POLS261
Grade: A-
Jun 23, 2015

Prof. York treats students like humans, you can tell by the way he listens to you. Takes every question seriously. Makes lectures interesting, drops jokes in unsuspecting places. Very approachable, willing to help if you ask for it. One of the tougher political studies professors I've had, but I'm taking another class from him because he's good

4.0
2.0
POLS111
Grade: A-
May 6, 2015

Great teacher overall. The material for POLS 111 is pretty dry, but he manages to make it somewhat fun. Tests and assignments aren't too hard, but you'll definitely wanna put in a little effort.

4.0
3.0
POLS112
Aug 7, 2015

York was a great prof. He gave awesome lectures that were clear and insightful. He made the topics current to modern day events and got the entire class involved with discussions. He was funny and had a welcoming personality. Would definitely take again. His exams and essays were very straightforward.

4.0
3.0
POLS111
Grade: B
Aug 14, 2015

Awesome professor and very interesting guy. Do participate and openly discuss with him as it helps with understanding the material. He is an interesting man and will do his best to keep you interested and pick our those who participate.

5.0
3.0
POLS112
Nov 23, 2015

Kind of boring but very informative and clear. Definitely would recommend him.

4.0
3.0
POLS112
Grade: B+
Nov 28, 2015

Well spoken and confident. Up to date with current events and incorporates them well into the course material. Gives lots of opportunities for participation and engagement. Great Prof.

4.0
3.0
POLS112
Dec 21, 2015

Great prof! Explains things very well (as long as you go to class). Incorporates his humour in the lectures. Would take again.

5.0
3.0
POLS250
Grade: A
Feb 6, 2016

I found Dr. York to be a very solid professor. His lectures are very informative and he does a great job of explaining concepts and applying them to real-world examples. However, I did find him to be boring sometimes. He is a bit of a tough grader, but he is more than willing to help you if you ask for it. Final exam was extremely fair!

4.0
3.0
POL112
Grade: C+
Feb 25, 2016

David York is one the better profs I've had in my university years. His lectures are very deep and thought-provoking. He's one of those profs who you can tell knows exactly what he's talking about(most of the time). It's nice to have a prof that is actually interested in the subject material.

3.0
4.0
POLS111
Grade: Drop/Withdrawal
Nov 23, 2016
Wouldn't take again

Heavy reading in this class. Your only graded on a midterm, 1 paper, and the final. If you skip the lectures it'll make it very tough to get through this class

Get ready to read
Skip class? You won't pass.
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
5.0
3.0
POL111
Dec 4, 2016
Would take again

He's the best

5.0
3.0
POLS112
Grade: A-
Dec 4, 2016
Would take again

Absolute legend. Best prof i've ever had. 5/5

Skip class? You won't pass.
Inspirational
Amazing lectures
5.0
4.0
POL111
Dec 7, 2016
Would take again

He's a good professor if you want to know Canadian politics in great detail. You must attend class as it is very challenging. I'd recommend him to anyone who was looking for a good political science professor!

Respected
Participation matters
Skip class? You won't pass.
5.0
3.0
POLS250
Grade: A-
Dec 19, 2016
Would take again

Great professor. Incredibly intelligent and well prepared. Sometimes, he uses academic language that people may find confusing, but if you pay attention, it becomes very clear. He is more than willing to meet students outside of class and provides great feedback. I'm looking forward to taking my 4th course with him next semester.

Gives good feedback
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
Caring
4.0
3.0
POL111
Dec 25, 2016
Would take again

Super nice chill guy! Around midterm season he let us watch a live stream of pandas! Highly recommend attending lecture even though he posts notes. Material is explained thoroughly in class

Skip class? You won't pass.
Clear grading criteria
Hilarious
5.0
3.0
POLS250
Grade: A
Jan 2, 2017
Would take again

A great professor who cares about his students and makes sure they understand the lecture content. He goes into a lot of detail, and in some cases makes the lecture a discussion. That is not at all terrible, and it adds to the quality of the class and learning environment. The textbook can be a useful tool, but the lectures are more intriguing.

Gives good feedback
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
5.0
5.0
POL112
Jan 2, 2017
Would take again

Very good prof. His class required lots of work, which is fine if you enjoy the topic because its all on topic interesting things. Class discussion is BIG in his teaching style so you need to read before class or you will be lost. Knowing what&when to read was a bit confusing, he outlines what should be read in the syllabus though so reference it.

Respected
Get ready to read
Skip class? You won't pass.
4.0
2.0
POL111
Jan 25, 2017
Would take again

David York is overall a great Prof! He would warn us ahead of time when material would get dry, but he does a good job at trying to make it interesting. I would definatley recommend him as a prof, as he is easy to learn from. He like to initiate group discussion, so participation is essential.

Respected
Participation matters
Hilarious
4.0
3.0
POLS250
Grade: A
Mar 4, 2017
Would take again

York is a good professor. Funny, engaging (though can get frustrated when the class isn't participating), and a skilled lecturer. Marking is fair. I have taken 3 of his classes and enjoyed all of them. Warning - he is quite theory-heavy.

Gives good feedback
Respected
Participation matters
5.0
3.0
POLS251
Apr 1, 2017
Would take again

York is an absolute beauty. Best professor I've ever had, hands down. He genuinely cares about the students and wants them to do well. If you ever get the chance to take a class from him, I highly recommend it.

Inspirational
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
Caring
2.0
3.0
POLS112
Apr 5, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Found that nothing was ever explained clearly in understandable english. It honestly sounded like he was reciting a scholarly essay whenever he talked. He is very knowledgeable about the subject, but I found the class very boring.

Skip class? You won't pass.
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
4.0
POLS112
Apr 13, 2017
Would take again

Great Prof. Classes are mainly discussion based, but he does a great job of facilitating discussion. Posts a lot of relevant readings/ goes through them in class which is helpful to understand the relevance of the topics. Textbook readings and attendance are very much needed to understand course.

Respected
Hilarious
Caring
5.0
4.0
POLS112
Apr 27, 2017
Would take again

York is hands down one of the smartest and most thought-provoking professors I've ever had. His lecture style is basic, but he relies heavily on participation to keep the class going. Personally, however, I had a difficult time in this class because he often uses vocabulary that is too complex for me. But overall, he is a fair marker and good prof.

Tough Grader
Participation matters
Skip class? You won't pass.
5.0
4.0
POLS112
Jun 29, 2017
Would take again

Great prof - he's engaging in his lectures, and he does a good job of expounding on the material covered in the textbooks, using real-world examples to drive the points home. Not an easy marker, but he provides good feedback on essays and assignments. Attendance is a must - he demands participation during his lectures. Would definitely recommend.

Gives good feedback
Skip class? You won't pass.
Caring
4.0
3.0
POLS111
Grade: A
Aug 16, 2017
Would take again

Good lecturer. The material is pretty dry but he does his best to make it interesting. You don't need the textbook, just show up to class and it's pretty easy. He really encourages class participation so be ready to speak up

Skip class? You won't pass.
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
5.0
3.0
POL111
Grade: B+
Oct 23, 2017
Would take again

Dry class? I don't think so. Dave made this class an absolute joy. Definitely attend class, participate in the discussions, and take good notes. If you can do those three things that is 90% of the class. Spend a little extra time applying the theories learned to real world cases and you'll be set.

Inspirational
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
Amazing lectures
5.0
2.0
POLS362
Grade: B+
Apr 19, 2018
Would take again

This was the second time I had a class with Professor York and he is consistently my favourite professor in the department. Professor York intentionally tries to get to know individual students. He wants to see his students succeed, and gives feedback to help that happen. He used an online textbook (YAY)! He does love teaching theory, so be warned.

Gives good feedback
Participation matters
Caring
5.0
3.0
POLS112
Nov 15, 2018
Would take again

Lectures can get dry every so often, but he keeps his class engaged always through humour, and intriguing scenarios. Participation is key for this class, doesn't post his slides online, so attendance is mandatory to understand the content.

Gives good feedback
Hilarious
LECTURE HEAVY
1.0
5.0
IS110
Grade: D
Dec 8, 2018
Wouldn't take again

David is a pretty nice guy and his course sounds pretty easy and not homework heavy which is true but once it comes to exams and term papers, if you don't have the exact same opinion as him he will give you really bad marks. Majority of lectures were one sided and about Donald Trump and no other important global issues.

Tough Grader
1.0
4.0
IS110
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 10, 2018
Wouldn't take again

the lectures and power points are extremely dry, and rather opinionated. The paper seemed easy enough, but he deducted marks because he disagreed with my point of view (and that of my scholarly sources at that). The final is extremely difficult and gruelling as there is no multiple choice, just long answer ( about 12 pages of writing in 3 hours).

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
TEST HEAVY
5.0
3.0
POLS250
Dec 10, 2018
Would take again

Awesome lectures! I found him super engaging and very helpful outside class. One of my favourite profs in the pols department at the U of S for sure. Make sure you attend and youll do well on the final and in the class. He does minis to take attendance, usually right before a break, so make sure you go! Overall great choice!

Gives good feedback
Clear grading criteria
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
5.0
4.0
POL112
Dec 23, 2018
Would take again

David is a real gem of a professor. He's very easily accessible outside the classroom. He gives good feedback on papers and even the midterm. He'll tell you where you can improve if you ask and go over rough drafts. Class participation is big with him. He's also quite hilarious.

Gives good feedback
Skip class? You won't pass.
Hilarious
4.0
4.0
IS110
Jan 23, 2019
Would take again

Slides are minimal as most of the content is from what he is saying. make sure you can differentiate his opinion, the opposing opinion, and facts or definitions in his lectures. getting early feedback on work will help you do better on your papers and forming your opinions.

Skip class? You won't pass.
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
3.0
IS212
Grade: A
Mar 29, 2019
Would take again

This was the fourth class I have taken with Professor York. If that isn't a testimony to the quality of Professor York I don't know what is. Make sure you attend class, take good notes, and engage in the class discussion. Textbook is optional as long as you are understanding the course content. Everyone should take a class with Professor York!

Respected
Inspirational
Caring
3.0
4.0
IS110
Grade: D
Apr 12, 2019
Would take again

Professor York's lectures are hard to understand. I highly recommend the textbook for this class. Assignments are very difficult. As a person, Professor York is charismatic and engaging, but is also very biased in what he teaches, and actively shamed right-wing students in class. Talked more about American politics than Canadian for some reason.

Gives good feedback
Skip class? You won't pass.
Tough grader
3.0
3.0
POLS112
May 22, 2019
Wouldn't take again

I took this class with York based on a friends recommendation. However, I did not find him to really be all that. the course material was kinda dry which really didn't help. It's better to just read summaries of the chapters than spend money on the book

Get ready to read
Participation matters
Graded by few things
4.0
4.0
POLS112
Grade: A-
Jun 26, 2019
Would take again

The lectures were a little dry sometimes but due to the content of the class that was understandable. He applies real-life situations to content which made it much more interesting, relatable, and easier to understand concepts. Much easier if you attend class and don't just rely on notes and slides. He is a fair marker, you get what you work for!

Accessible outside class
Participation matters
Clear grading criteria
5.0
3.0
POL111
Nov 22, 2019
Would take again

interesting and an overall wicked prof

Respected
Inspirational
Hilarious
2.0
4.0
IS212
Apr 22, 2020
Wouldn't take again

For a 2nd year class, he marks all assignments in this course as if it was a 4th year course. Despite following feedback on assignments, you will only do marginally better. He grades papers as if it were an English class, and his lectures are dry and content heavy. For an IS course, he mostly focuses on the political aspect which is disappointing.

Get ready to read
Skip class? You won't pass.
Tough grader
4.0
3.0
POLS112
Dec 3, 2020
Would take again

He's an awesome professor! He offered elaborate feedback on the 3 main assignments we had, and replied to emails very quickly. The assigned textbook was also super fun to read and I enjoyed how he dealt with remote learning. It was overall great!

Gives good feedback
Participation matters
So many papers
2.0
4.0
POLS112
Dec 15, 2020
Wouldn't take again

He's a super tough marker. Never gave 100s on any assignments or discussions across classes. He cares about what he's teaching but is incredibly picky when marking. He always seems to find an issue with what you're writing.

Lecture heavy
So many papers
Tough grader
3.0
4.0
POL112
Dec 15, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Professor York really knows what he's talking about, but that makes him super picky when it comes to marking. His prerecorded lectures can get a bit boring as he just goes on and on, but the textbook is awesome! With the assignments - even if you take his feedback and implement it into your next one, he'll still find something else wrong with it.

Accessible outside class
Get ready to read
Tough grader
4.0
4.0
POLS251
Grade: A-
Mar 14, 2021
Would take again

I took both POLS 111-POLS 112 before POLS 251 online. Prof York is amazing, but remote setting does take away from him, which is a real shame. A bit of a tough grader, never gives perfect marks; but he gives great feedback which will help you a lot. I think he is a great prof to have in your first year (or just in a 100-level class).

Gives good feedback
Participation matters
Tough grader
4.0
3.0
POL111
Grade: B+
May 13, 2021
Would take again

Great class, interesting discussion topics, and assignments that made you think about what you learned. Lectures could be a bit dry and repetitive and I got by without watching some of them. Lots of reading and weekly quizzes that required you to remember a lot of small details. Fair grader.

Get ready to read
Clear grading criteria
3.0
3.0
POLS112
Grade: A-
Nov 27, 2021
Wouldn't take again

He's ok, and a pretty harsh grader. The assignments are pretty opinion based and you'll get criticized no matter what if you don't cover EVERYTHING in the 500-word assignments. The textbook is interesting and he usually only gives 30mins lectures a week, but be prepared to write in every assignment, discussion, and exam.

Lots of homework
Participation matters
Tough grader
4.0
3.0
POL111
Grade: B
May 9, 2022
Would take again

Lectures and class dicussions were engaging and helped to get a better understanding of the course. I didn't use the textbook much but it didn't hurt to have. Graded a little tough but feedback was always good and constructive.

Tough grader
Gives good feedback
4.0
3.0
POL111
Grade: A+
Sep 7, 2022
Would take again

Great person and prof, clear about expectations. Gives good honest feedback.

Tough grader
Participation matters
Gives good feedback
5.0
4.0
POL111
Grade: B+
Dec 6, 2022
Would take again

I found that Dr. York was an amazing lecturer. The slides were content heavy but easy to study and learn from. He is very good at engaging the class in discussions. Its recommended you purchase the textbook, though I did not use it at all. The midterm was very hard. Other than that I really enjoyed the class.

Participation matters
Amazing lectures
So many papers
4.0
2.0
POLS111
Grade: C+
Dec 21, 2022
Would take again

I enjoyed this class. You could tell he was passionate, in his lectures he would talk about PowerPoint slides for a very long time which would sometimes cause me to daydream, but the assignments seemed more opinion-based and research heavy than class content heavy, so paying attention at all times is not necessary, as long as you take the notes.

3.0
4.0
POLS251
Grade: B
Apr 14, 2023
Would take again

Mr. York was very professional, and was passionate about what he taught. He was personable and understanding when it came to extensions. The textbook quizzes were a bit rough, and he is a bit of a tough grader. If you're looking for an afternoon class that is enjoyable and stress free, definitely take this one! It was relatively easy.

Tough grader
Respected
Test heavy
5.0
4.0
POLS250POLS251
Grade: A-
Apr 17, 2023
Would take again

Very little feedback and lectures can be monotone. Interesting subject matter and lectures though. He cares about the students who show up to class. Can be personable if you engage and get to know him.

4.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
Jun 21, 2023
Would take again

Get ready to laugh. This guy is funny, and engages with the class a lot. One required text but he will lecture all the important and testable content repeatedly. class participation is HIGHLY encouraged and he welcomes you to join in...but there is no penalty if you don't. All in all, Prof. York is a funny engaging and inspiring man. 100% recommend

Amazing lectures
Inspirational
Lecture heavy
4.0
3.0
POL112
Grade: Not sure yet
Sep 26, 2023
Would take again

Very useful lecture material, applies everything to modern day examples which makes it more engaging and easier to understand. Essays make up majority of the grade. The low essay word count makes it harder to get a high grade as he looks for lots of material to be included.

Tough grader
Amazing lectures
Gives good feedback
2.0
4.0
POLS112
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 16, 2023
Would take again

Professor Yrok is a great lecturer who engages with the material and students. The midterm was graded really harshly and the final was expected to be 3,750 words. He expected too much out of a first-year course and your grades hurt because of it.

Tough grader
Accessible outside class
5.0
3.0
POLS112
Grade: A-
Jan 28, 2024
Would take again

David York is a tough but fair grader. While his lectures may come across as monotone at times, the class he teaches is designed to develop critical thinking and get a deeper understanding of the world. The course material itself is excellent.

4.0
2.0
POLS112
Grade: Not sure yet
Mar 25, 2024
Would take again

Prof Yorks's class is decent, sometimes he goes on long rants which get monotonous and boring, but otherwise, he is good. He gets people engaged as much as possible, which makes the class more interesting. He marks everyone pretty evenly and fairly. Overall nice guy and Prof.

Get ready to read
Hilarious
Respected
5.0
3.0
POLS251
Grade: Not sure yet
Apr 15, 2024
Would take again

Dr. York is a great professor who encourages a lot of discussion in class. He is not very test heavy and mainly cares about the students getting to know about the concepts and understand the circumstances around different scenarios.

Amazing lectures
Clear grading criteria
Inspirational
3.0
3.0
POLS251
Grade: C+
May 7, 2024
Would take again

York is an entertaining guy, but he does get off topic a lot. You get marked off very few things, so make sure you do them well. It is difficult to do exceptional in his class, but it is also hard to do poorly in it. He is super open to giving feedback and helping if you ask, and loves class participation (not for marks, just likes to talk & teach)

Clear grading criteria
Hilarious
Graded by few things
5.0
2.0
POL111
Oct 1, 2024
Would take again

Really cool guy. Introduced me to my favourite tragically hip song.(plays music before class) class discussion are riveting and reminded me of those classic highschool discussions where you felt like you were actually part of the class. Final was a paper which I love. Midterm was a layup but still study.

Amazing lectures
Respected
1.0
2.0
POL111
Grade: A-
Oct 16, 2024

I'm a very middle person, but he outright will tell someone they're completely wrong if their opinion doesn't match his. He goes on rants for so long, most classes we only go over a few slides. Just finished midterms and if you look at canvas, we're 2 weeks behind. The whole class is very opinion based. He loves to hate on the USA, every single day

Tough grader
Participation matters
Graded by few things
4.0
3.0
POLS112
Grade: B+
Nov 2, 2024
Would take again

Professor York can be tough but fair. The class material is engaging, and lectures encourage critical thinking. I found unstuck AI and the textbook helpful for exam prep. Expect challenging but valuable assignments.

1.0
3.0
POL111
Nov 8, 2024

Unrealistic expectations. Short word counts for assignments and gets upset by the lack of information you provide. Leaves snarky comments when grading. Virtually does not hand out 90%+. Lectures are dry. Has strong opinions about the "proper" way to right. I'm at the top of my class, and I only have an 83%. Would not take again.

Tough grader
5.0
2.0
POL111
Grade: B-
Nov 29, 2024
Would take again

I don't feel that the textbook was mandatory for this class but is most certainly helpful. Overall, I recommend going to class because while he does post his slides, he does not post them in their entirety. He encourages debates and conversations within the lectures that are very helpful in understanding and applying the material he's teaching

Participation matters
Lecture heavy
Graded by few things
5.0
3.0
POL112
Grade: B+
Dec 3, 2024
Would take again

He was awesome. If you show up to class you will get a good understanding of the material. He doesn't provide much detail in his lecture compared to what you get in class. He is funny and very smart. His class is awesome if you are interested in this sort of this thing.

Amazing lectures
Gives good feedback
Inspirational
5.0
3.0
POLS250
Grade: A
Jan 4, 2025
Would take again

Thoroughly enjoyed Dr. York's class, would've enjoyed an even higher grade, but his criticisms and corresponding grades were completely fair and he gave great feedback and rationale. Lectures were very engaging and was great at giving examples and using other teaching strategies to sometimes explain complex subject matter

Amazing lectures
Gives good feedback
5.0
3.0
POL112
Grade: A
Jan 8, 2025
Would take again

I took polsci w david just before the covid outbreak and i remember him telling the class oh i think it would be just like the polio outbreak and probably would take us 2-3 years to recover - while the university said that classes would just be temporarily canceled for like a week lol i miss his classes, learned so much! great and entertaining too

2.0
3.0
POL112
Grade: B
Feb 1, 2025

Okay person, but beware of boring lectures, he makes interesting content dull.

2.0
3.0
POL112
Grade: A-
Mar 31, 2025

he doesn't put a lot of effort into his slides and it gets unclear if he's talking about his own opinion or stuff that actually applies to the topic and if you should be writing it down. he will never give you an answer to how the philosophy of whoever you're talking about actually applies to real world scenarios and that's all the papers are

So many papers
1.0
4.0
112
Grade: B-
Apr 3, 2025

David York was a very hard professor as his class was extremely confusing, boring, and hard. He only lectures with very minimal class engagement and he often contradicts himself, uses extremely confusing wording, and has unclear guidelines. He does not want students to succeed.

Tough grader
Lecture heavy
5.0
3.0
POLS251
Apr 4, 2025
Would take again

Great prof, fun lectures, multiple choice tests and a take home final

Get ready to read
Amazing lectures
1.0
4.0
POLS111
Grade: A-
Apr 12, 2025

Instructions unclear which may resort in a bad grade for some. Had to ask for clarification on many assignments. Rude inside and outside of school. Extremely opinionated. Not understanding of personal issues/life events that may obstruct your learning. Class would have been better if he wasn't the teacher. Boring. Fell way behind schedule.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
4.0
4.0
POL112
Grade: B-
Nov 21, 2025
Would take again

David is an amazing professor. He explains concepts very clearly and always triggers great class discussions. He knows what he is talking about and knows how to say it. perfectly. However, he is a fairly tough marker and you should keep up with readings. Although it's challenging, it is definitely a class worth taking. Definitely recommended!

Amazing lectures
Gives good feedback
Lecture heavy
3.0
2.0
POL112
Grade: B+
Dec 9, 2025

Lectures are a little lazy because he will put up quotes about once every 20 minutes somewhat related to the topic and will just talk vaguely about it, so its kind of hard to know what to take notes on. Other than the presentation aspect being kind of weak, the class itself is fairly easy as long as you are paying attention.

Get ready to read
Lecture heavy
Graded by few things
3.0
3.0
POL111
Dec 16, 2025

David York is a great professor, it's clear that he knows his stuff. However, his lectures are tedious and uninspiring. You lose half the class volume by the midterm. Grading is hard, and will rarely grant over an 80 on assignments.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
3.0
3.0
POLS111
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 17, 2025

Good lectures though relied heavily on class discussions to fill up time, felt like he never had enough material to successfully fill each class. A very hard grader for essays and quite condescending when giving feedback.

Tough grader
3.0
4.0
POLS112
Grade: A-
Dec 19, 2025

Only about half of the students attended lectures. If students wanted to engage, they would have to wait for him to finish speaking for a long time. He can come off quite condescending. However, he has moments of warmth and understanding.

Tough grader
So many papers
4.0
3.0
POL111
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 21, 2025
Would take again

barely went to class, did not read textbook at all, still passed. do not take this class for an elective bc it will drag your average IF you're like me. he marks pretty hard for assignments. you will never get above an 80 unless you actually lock in - go to class and read the textbook (lots of reading).

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Respected
3.0
4.0
POLS111
Grade: B
Dec 21, 2025
Would take again

Found the class very boring. Lectures felt very dry all around. Additionally, Dr. York is a very tough marker and definitely a little condescending. Lots of classmates also stopped attending lectures.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
So many papers
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

51%

Textbook Required

52%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B+

95% confidence
Based on 47 grades
Most common grades:
A- (13)
A (10)
B+ (9)
Grade Distribution
A(12)B(8)C(3)D(3)F(0)A-/B+(22)
Based on 56 reported grades
A-: 13
A: 10
B+: 9
Not sure yet: 7
Common Tags
Tough grader (20)
Gives good feedback (17)
Skip class? You won't pass. (14)
Participation matters (14)
Get ready to read (13)
Respected (11)
Amazing lectures (9)
Inspirational (8)
Rating Trend

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Difficulty by Course

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