3.0
Quality4.1
Difficulty41%
Would Retake170
Reviews41%
Would Retake
170
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
45
4
41
3
17
2
20
1
47
What Students Say
“didn't know what to read for next class”
POLI206 - 2.0 rating“I HAVE NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT ANY PROFESSORS BUT HE IS JUST A BAD PERSON”
POL206 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
73%
Textbook Required
26%
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B-
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-0.63 avg changeRatings by Course
317
5.0
(1)POLI400
5.0
(2)POLI372
5.0
(1)POLI658
5.0
(1)POLIMANY
5.0
(2)Difficulty by Course
POLI291
5.0
POLI206D
5.0
Poli414
5.0
POLI317B
4.5
POL206
4.2
Reviews (170)
Be prepared for a lot of readings for Poli 371. 5 books + the coursepack, eep! His lectures tend to be all over the place (he goes off on tangents a lot). BUt he has an interesting way of teaching (he shows Monty Python in class!) and his classes are never dull.
total nightmare!! He thinks his class is an audience and he's a comedian. he doesnt get the authors across to you even though he knows it all. he wants you to be critical but wont even give you the basic information on authors to allow you to do that. completely disorganized!! beware
He's entertaining & not a particularly difficult grader. He's very liberal with the positions he allows students to take. It's not high school, so he's not going to spoonfeed and regurgitate the readings to you: he's going to talk about the readings. His online notes are clear, complete & readable.
King is bomb! His class was at 9am-12pm every tuesday and I was happy to attend. Although he may be a little disorganized, he is one of the smartest profs in poli sci. For those of you who are interested in doing a little latteral thinking take this class. It may not be the easiet but it has incredible value if you actually want to learn.
He believes he is a nice guy and loves to help his students. I dont think he know he comes off as a pompous jerk and is scary to go see during office hours. Dumb pop quizes - does not think you may be swamped with other classes and do not have the time to study every night for his class. Not organized. If you want a really borring class take this.
Potential hard ass.
King is amazing. Everytime I left his class I felt like I was smarter than I was when I went in it. He's funny, really smart and a great prof. He is strick but not unreasonable. He is challenging but not impossible and while he's jokes may lead you to believe otherwise, he teaches in the way to ensure that people really learn what they need to.
what a ****, hated this guy from the moment i walked in his class
Wow. I didn't know teachers like him still exist. Frank and to the point; humourously so. May be a bit challenging, but it's worth it.
King is a very good professor.He is very funny and makes lectures interesting.He really gets you into the subject matter.He can be a little strict though,especially during the first few weeks.I feel like he does that to weed out the people that are not serious,so don't worry about it if he seems hard at first.Do not expect an easy A
Ha Ha! An "honest & precise" good guy; the key to doing well in his class is to take good notes, study, and LEARN this guy's subjectivities. HAND IN YOUR PAPERS ON THE LAST POSSIBLE DAY for the highest mark, and write entertaining essays that relate the archic readings to pop culture. That's how you get an A. (I wish I'd known what you now do!)
I took his summer Machiavelli class and it was challenging. Don't take him if your looking for an easy grade, you will have to work for it. He gives a pop quiz about every second class, so you have to study your notes before every one just in case. He is not the easiest grader either especially on papers but you will learn a lot in his classes.
Excellent prof, best lecturer in the department. Moderately hard exams, excellent structure and very clear and knowledgeable. I'd very strongly recommend him simply for entertainment value,
Best Poli sci teacher, I took 2 classes with him and will take a third. DONT HAND IN YOUR PAPER LATE, YOU WILL GET A 0 AND HE MEANS IT. Classes are very interesting entertaining and he is increadibly knowledgeable. He calls it like it is, always available in his office unlike every other teacher. He will cal you on your ****!1
He will Destory your GPA!!!Smart Guy, but Way to hard for a Intro Class.
By far the best teacher/ prof i've ever had.
Smart and interesting man. However, his teaching methods aren't for everyone. Can be intimidating.
He is a very good prof, you feel that you actually learn something
Great professor if you prove yourself dedicated to learning!
I hate this man. He picks on people in class and is intimidating. I don't understand his teaching method - how effective is it to point at a random student, demand an answer, when there are others with their hands raised? In my opinion it is completely ineffective. Also, no notes whatsoever and has "Pop Quizzes".
If you came to university to hear people repeat themselves over and over again about topics that have nothing to do with the real world then Ed King is your guy. He's a great institutionalist, works just to legitimize his own useless knowledge. The typical hierarchical enforcer - dissapointing.
If you put the work in and your interested in the material you'll have a great time. He's always there to help his students and wants you to come to office hours -but don't waste his time, reflect on the material, be genuine with him and he'll be genuine with you. Great guy, will challenge you, and be glad someone cares to! I'd take him again.
Learn to deal with the quizes: it will help your grade enormously. Ask many questions; research lecture topics outside of class (beyond books). In class, enjoy Dr. K's staging of the lectures - he's great fun; if you answer honestly and thoughtfully, you won't be picked on. All the while, make sure you write down everything possible.
Thia Professor is smart and interesting. Incredibly full of himself. 3 hours with the man, I knew he picked favourites, expects thought out of students while being closed-minded himself. He indoctrinates students with a one sided perspective on IR in a political theory 206 class. Entertaining but prone to thinking in black and white. READINGS lol
He is an interesting person, but his class is extremly hard!!!! I had difficulties trying to understand the variety of concepts, philosphers, significances, etc.
he does not give any help at all. If you email and ask him he would say that he cant help. Very rude,i do not know why Concordia has this man as a teacher....
I like his personality as a person but I don't like him as a tecaher. The class is B.S.! I did not understood the concepts,philosphers,terms, etc.Go to his office for FAQ and you are unable to ask questions because these students who suck up to the prof have their questions answered first!Plus,the philosophy nerds in the class are the tecaher's fav
Dr. King is made of both awesome and win. Its not the professor's fault that you couldn't understand the material. His job is to PRESENT knowledge, its your job to LEARN it. To the guy below - this is not CEGEP or HS. Deal. As for the cell phones - GOOD ON HIM! Its rude to the prof and class to have your cell go on.King is exactly what he should be
Read on time, be prepared for each class and this is going to be the easiest class ever. "slow readers" and other type of slackers, pass your way. Lectures are really nice to attend, same holds for the office hours organised in open discussions. The real hard thing in this class is to prove Dr King that you are right.
Expects something but doesn't give correct guidance to guess it. Great ideas are developped and overall, it is a nice class but it is frustrating to study like mad, to ponder on the topics, and finally face thought terminating exams and assignement, which are at odds with his very desire to make us think. With king, your GPA is likely to go down.
Professor King is easily the best professor I have encountered at Concordia, in terms of quality of teaching. However, he is not for everyone. If you want to take Dr. King, you have to be able to actually read and think critically. If you can, you will love Dr. King. If you can't, run away now, he isn't for you.
Great Professor
Great teacher, very interesting class. It can be challenging as it requires critical thinking instead of regurgitating facts from a textbook, but if you're dedicated you'll do fine in the class, and will learn more than you could ever imagine.
First off I didn't really have that strong of an interest in the subject matter, but King really gives interesting lectures. He's been one of the best, if not the best, lecturer that I've had in my 4 years. He is a very difficult grader, in my opinion, and his assignments are very difficult as well, but his lectures are well worth attending.
Grades in the end felt arbitrary, but the prof is entertaining enough. Make sure your greatest priority is on the terms and keep a list of them all semester - it will make or break your mark (... I think; arbitrary grades)
this prof uses his sense of humour to attract students to take his class, but don't take it. he rewards students aka teacher pets as if they were his worshipers, while the rest of us are lost in translation trying to read and understand the complicated books of Machiavelli and Marx and the other gibberish he mentions in his lectures.
Entertaining lectures, but the guy likes to hear himself talk. You have to go to his office hours, not that they make anything clearer for you... but he grades you nicer if he likes you and admits it. Really unclear assignments...
If you have good writing skills and an imagination than this class is for you - why? Because there is no right answer in this class, for whatever you argue, as long as you argue it WELL (provide good evidence for your claims), you will get the marks. Also, ATTEND OFFICE HOURS - you don't even have to talk, just go listen in. King is fascinating
King is very inspiring. The class doesn't address current issues,but teaches you how to think critically. To succeed you need to read, research, attend lectures & if you have the time it is helpful to attend office hours. His lectures are beyond entertaining & informative, highly reccommend this class to anyone who wants a rewarding experience
Thought provoking lectures but very tough grading.
Very tough class and unclear lectures. However he is an interesting speaker and absolutely hilarious.
You must do the following order to succeed in this class: 1. Do ALL of the readings. 2. Attend ALL of the lectures. Form your OWN opinions on the topics. Find a link between everything you learned and compare and contrast the authors' axioms. Form a study group. Go to the office hours of both the professor and the TA.
Dr. King is very interesting, and makes you think about the subject at hand, even though it is arbitrary. However, he is a very hard marker and his assignments are very hard, for a 200level class. You must attend all lectures and go see him and the TA in their office hours to get a good grade. He favours his teachers pets. He is rude and arrogant.
It would be great if instead of internet links he would make a course pack with all the selected readings at least available if not mandatory. Online links are annoying.
Don't take him! For POLI 206 he's OK, POLI 371 is a different story. Sure he's funny sometimes but expect very unclear and bizarre assignments that will make you wish you had dropped his class when you had the chance..
Dr. King is the best lecturer in the university. His assignments are decently hard but if you do the readings and attend class you should be okay. tough grader but you learn a lot
honestly, Dr. King is not an easy prof, having that said he is however a genius. if you are remotely interested in these classes then you will love the insight that he will give. you have to work hard but its worth it he made the class super interesting, he is strongly opinionated but he want you to be opinionated too.
Unclear lectures. A lot of work for a 200 level class. 7 or 8 books to read. A lot of definition to memorize. Quizzes and assignments each week. Final exam 40% of the grade, midterm 30,quizzes and assignments 30.However, avoid him if you can. No attendance but you must attend because no powerpoints slides, and to take the quizzes.
At first I thought this class would be horrible. Once you 'get' him, it is AMAZING. Very different teaching style, but he does it on purpose to shake you up and get you thinking. He wants you to question yourself and the world. Really funny guy & entertaining lectures. Highly recommend.
He is very funny, but loves to hear himself speak and makes unwarranted statements. Do *not* miss classes, and pay close attention. More important than studying the course material is studying the professor. If you are into political philosophy, you will do well in this class, but if you don't already have an interest, you will likely struggle.
Terrible prof. Unclear, winding, off-topic lectures, coupled with pop quizes on obscure terms that you never have enough time to finish. He is unbelievably rude, intimidating, and egotistical. The student who cares about their grades and their learning will not take this class.
Honestly, he's a hard prof, but he's such a good lecturer that you find yourself wanting to go to class. You must put effort into it if you're expecting a good grade. He remains my favourite prof until now.
Very good lecturer! You might feel intimidated by him at first but he is totally approachable. He is very funny and his classes are very itneractive. However, his course is not easy. To have good grades you need to engage into the readings and be able to think for yourself.
There is a lot of reading to keep up with, but Dr. King makes class extremely interesting. Go to class and take detailed notes because he does not give any. The terms are used in pop quizzes and the exams. He gives the format of the exam beforehand and it is very straightforward. Go to his 2 review classes before the exams, he is extremely helpful
If you are looking for an easy class, forget that one. It is super challenging but if you do the readings, go to office hours and search for extra information, you will learn like never before. I am really glad I took Dr. King for this class.
This is an epic teacher whose qualities and style are from an era where the pursuit of knowledge was the goal of an education and not simply a piece of paper & access to a job. While his style & material are not for the faint of heart, he is one of the most engaged and intelligent professors I have ever had; so much so I took his 300 level class!
Not Gonna lie, I was extremely afraid of him at first and then one day I realized his awesomness and even though he is a hard marker and you need to work hard, his class was my favourite of all. It is so interesting you will NEVER get bored in class. Dr.Kin is the best!
King is not a professor for the weak of heart. He is brash and belligerent. Be prepared to defend anything you believe in, because he will challenge you. Regurgitating information will get you through the quizzes, but you will crash on the paper if there is no unique thought. What you learn from his class is priceless. He is a fantastic prof.
Valid reasons for not King: You are by the book. You like getting good grades for regurgitating information. You like structured and organized lectures. You are a pansy. Reasons for taking King: You like Machiavelli (418 specifically). You like to read. You like no-holds barred papers. You like to suffer for your grades.
All of the frustration you have with Dr. King, his arrogance, his belligerence, his insistence on his own narrow view of the authors, his playing fast and loose with historical facts and details, all of this will be paid off in raucous knee slapping hilarity. Take this class.
His lectures consist of you sitting down and hearing his ridiculously outdated OPINIONS, thats right opinions not facts or anything credible. Just another prof that thinks hes all that because he went to berkley. His class is not a place to be for the 21st century liberal and open-minded students. Baffoonery at best. Yawn~ next!
taking a class with Dr. King now, Poli 317: Special Topics War & Violence. One of the best and most interesting professors I have ever had. He is clearly into what he talks about and is inspirational with his justified rants and political theories. A great prof who will not only make you engage in deep thought but you will laugh while learning.
Dr. King is pretty awesome if you're willing to understand his point of view. Yes, he's a little unorthodox and can be offensive but that's his goal! He wants to aggravate you to learn. It's challenging because he forces you to really think and evaluate you're opinions and morals. Plus the pop quizzes help with your final grade. He's fair I like it
Fantastic prof, definitely take a class with him!
His strategy is to make you uncomfortable to learn. Lecture's are very unusual and don't always cover material but entertaining. As a 3rd year university student, this class caught my attention and I engaged with the material. There are a lot of hoops to jump through for grades but if you do it you are guaranteed a good grade.
best teacher ever. at first i was intimidated by him but he makes you think his lectures are VERY interesting . do not loaf on the pop quizzes i regret not studying enough for them . just take him already ! the midterm & final format are the same & also make sure to form a study group its the only way you will cover everything
Hilarious teacher- no doubt you will laugh in his lectures. Pop quizzes aren't really pop quizzes- he tells you in advance. Go see the TA instead of him- he's a bit less approachable. Must go to all classes or you'll miss out on the notes big time. Tough marker, lots of readings. I think most students who did exceptionally well went to see him.
not a great teacher for an intro class. He expects way too much out of people who are just starting and he expects you to know everything. you will come out more confused than anything. He gives you very little guidance on how to succeed in his class except going to office hours. Readings are confusing and he doesnt explain them well
Dr. King is a rare diamond. His lectures as unbelievably interesting and meant to shock you, or at least provoke something in you. He is a tough but fair grader. If you read what you have to, and go to class, you can easily reach above B. His quizzes are not easy, yet they will make you a better student by the end. I would definitely recommend.
Dr. King is amazing, he relies on pedagogical disequilibrium which helps you view political theories in an interesting way. He might be a little intimidating, but it's because he wants to bring the best out of his students. Go to office hours, he will give extra info and is super helpful! Always study for quizzes and do ALL readings!
Overall nice and enjoyable. Really fun and hilarious insignts through his lectures, sure to learn alot. Get ready to dedicate a fair amount of time and consideration for each assigned reading or he will point out your ignorance and lack of knowledge. Recommend taking if you dont mind giving up a few GPA points for the intrinsic value of learning
He will 100% pick on you in class, just make sure you read the assigned material. Most days he's actually really funny but pay attention in class because he has no powerpoints and he rarely writes on the board. This class is pretty much strictly vocab with connections to the authors you read and the significances of each! Tough grader though!!!
Pedagogical disequilibrium is the first thing he will teach you and it is brilliant and works. The most special prof at Concordia, hilarious, opinionated and doesn't care about political correctness. Not for the light hearted, love him or hate him type of prof. He straight up tells you what to expect in quizzes and test, you just need to do it.
Really funny and very interesting lectures, easily my favourite lecture to attend. Unfortunately he does not provide any material to help guide you, not even a syllabus, and expects you to have really dynamic understandings of the reading. He skips over a lot of important stuff and the readings are pretty advanced and confusing.
hilarious & engaging teacher, but gets tangental. Grading highly subjective, so ppl to take it lightly - don't. read to pass. Must work very hard, especially if you have never taken a philo class, come up with significances on your own & class will be easier. Tests - try to argue a point against the norm. Hard for intro class. Go to office hours.
Dr King is the most amazing professor at Concordia. His ideas are fresh, new, and can't be found anywhere. He makes you read 8 different western texts. He is crude and offensive. And if you know your stuff (you are an A student) who is intrigued by what I just described, take this class. You wont regret it.
Political Theory sounds like a bore but Edward King sure made it memorable. I am a lazy student, have not done any readings for Uni to date but with this prof there is no need. Show up to class and listen which is quite easy to do with all his jokes he tells and good examples he gives. Goes over all the reading material for you. Easy class
If you're looking for a organize structure course, this is not it. Hes very intelligent however it was very difficult to complete because of his unorthadox teach-in methods. Go to class, do the readings and listen and you'll probably pass.
Absolutely loved him, he made me want to attend his lectures. His classes can be challenging, but as long as you pay attention you shouldn't have problem. His method of teaching is so unconventional your guaranteed to remember everything he says.
King is arrogant and his lectures are disorganized. He is entertaining however. If you have already studied some political theory/philosophy this class will be a breeze. You study Plato's Cave, the Republic, Hobbe's state of nature, Locke's treatises, and so on. If the thought of reading that makes you bored maybe you shouldn't be in university
Most hilarious and insightful prof I've ever had, but he's a tough marker and his teaching style is only appealing to a small number of students. No matter how hard I tried, I struggled in his class and wouldn't take a class with him again. He's definitely entertaining though
by far the best polisci prof at concordia. he is a tough grader but very available to help his students via email and in office hours. absolutely loved his lectures and looked forward to class. if you're shy you probably won't like his method of teaching. if youre willing to get out of your comfort zone and learn A LOT take him. he is incredible
It's true, he can be unpleasant and make some offensive comments but it's to make you THINK. ARGUE. ASSESS. He is one the most interesting professor I have had a class with so far. This teacher makes you question yourself and the class material in a way that goes beyond the class room. Worth my 500$.
This is the deal with Dr King: you need to have an open mind. He IS a tough grader, however, he is a fair one IF YOU FOLLOW HIS INSTRUCTIONS. He makes you think outside the box and, yeahhh, his methods of teaching are.... unorthodox, but honestly, when you finish this class,you're totally changed. Not a class if you want an easy peasy grade.
You learn a lot with this guy. It's hard but interesting. He rejects academic elitism, yet accepts anything that's justified. he isn't going to hold your hand, and wont accept simply repeating back at him what he taught you for marks. he expects you to be creative with arguments and form connections on your own. 23 of 71 failed in my section.
He finds it very easy to fail half or more than half of the class if he doesn't know your names, he actually says that.
The man is brilliant and one of the few profs who's lectures you don't want to miss. His courses are extremely demanding and you will have to work harder than most classes. Nonetheless, I highly recommend taking his lectures! If you like generic ppt style lectures, unimaginative, easily offended or lazy I suggest you avoid his class.
Make sure you read about the authors backgrounds and what they wrote about. Find out what is significant about what they wrote and how it relates to you today. This course is great and you need to work for it. He won't hand you anything for free but he will let you know how to find the answers. Don't be sensitive, he won't care. He's great though.
tough grader, very hard for an intro class, should not teach intro level classes, his classes are equivalent to a 400 level class, should not teach.
Genius prof, passionate and quite funny. Very entertaining class, would love to have this prof again. Study a minimum and you should be fine.
great lectures, hard tests, demands a lot for an intro class, do not take him
Great prof, will make you work tons. Made me appreciate philosophy again. His lectures were engaging, attendance is important. Participation is appreciated. Definetely will take his class again.
He is really tough if you don't have much prior knowledge on the subjects discussed
He is a great teacher but a really hard one! His lectures are really interesting, however, it is better to do the readings to actually understand what is going on. Sometime he'll do pop quizzes but it will mostly be take home quizzes.
Dr. King is rude, brazen, and really doesnt care how you feel. Dont try to debate with how he runs his class or his opinions because he will never change that. If you play by his rules, then you will pass. If you actively engage, question the authors and their ideas, debate with him in class, you have a good chance of getting a good grade.
Mr. King is rude, annoying, and offers nothing of substance and quality. His tests are stupid and ridiculous. He spends the entire class talking about his "feelings" and his life back in England while sharing person and inappropriate stories about his 'past'- avoid him, an 'intellectual' who is the worst of the worst in all regards. Sad!
Sure, King is entertaining and occasionally funny. The problem is with his radically idiotic method of testing where he gives students 10 minutes to write out an unrealistic amount of information. These "quizzes" only serve to demoralize students. King must self-reflect and reform his ways to ensure the welfare of his students.
Fun class, not easy but worth the effort , very interesting teacher
He is the most amazing lecturer but he is also the meanest. He won't care about insulting the student yet he is so interesting? I am conflicted about this one. He is a super tough grader but I would definitely take his class again if my anxiety level allowed me to.
For Poli206, it is very challenging yet very rewarding. Extremely engaging and entertaining, but you need to ask questions and do the readings to understand what is going on. You need to attend every lecture and going to his office hours is the best way to understand the course and get the most value. Definitely recommend!
Professor King is one of the best teacher's I've had my entire life. His class is honestly hard and very demanding. There's no textbook but there is 8 books you need to read fully if you want an A. Kind of a tough grader but once you understand how to dig deeper and deeper you'll find the class way easier. I learned so much in his class!
This class changed me for the better. When I first began, I was terrified of him! But once I applied myself, did all the readings, asked questions, and went to office hours, it became my favorite course ever and gave me a big advantage in my academic career. If you want all the benefits, you need to be ready to work hard and go beyond expectations!
Dr King is hands down the best PoliSci teacher. If you dont like interesting lectures, dont take him, otherwise, great stories and funny stories all relate back to course content. No textbook, but sometimes quiz words can get a bit messy. Pop quizzes every here and there, but a lot of easy (if you show up and know what youre doing) assignments
he is the worst teacher in history. he has the biggest ego. he is beyond rude. hardest grader. he never answers emails. he is SO unclear and does NOTHING to motivate or encourage his students. his office hours are NEVER one on one and its a bunch of people in his office,so if you have a private issue GOOD LUCK, this man took my love for phil away
Although he often goes on tangents which makes it quite difficult to take coherent notes, King is one of the best professors I've ever had. He loves to engage with his students and often shares funny personal stories that relate to the course material. His instructions are extremely vague, so you will need to rely on your TA. Also:no syllabus given
This prof wants to see you fail. Half the class dropped after receiving failing grades on their papers, which had no clear requirements. Justifies his arrogance by explaining to undergraduates how stupid people are. Got to give it him, his lectures were entertaining. Not so funny is clear lack of empathy for students working hard to pass his class.
This class really lacked structure, its basically him ranting for an hour, and then assigning homeworks with vague instructions. I dont think he purposefully wants to make people fail, but he does not give students the explanations or clarity needed to do well. I wouldnt recommend him. He has funny stories though, so you might laugh a bit.
Dr. King is an amazing person and exceptional professor. He will love you if you put in the effort and time in his class. Please make sure to do the readings and show up, he sees when you give your energy to his teachings. Overall, a very interesting and stimulating class.
He is a not a bad professor. He knows his stuff and is good at explaining them. However, he is the strictest professor I have ever gotten at Concordia. He doesnt hold back when he gives feedbacks on assignments, which can be a little discouraging. But you can still pass as long as you do the work and do your best.
tough grader. funny but not nearly as funny as he thinks he is. really not an enjoyable class. kinda rude and has way too much self confidence for someone who is wrong as often as he is. class lacks structure. do not take if you don't have to
funny guy, interesting lecturer, but seemingly intentionally vague in what he asks of you for the assignments. can be quite condescending and openly talks about how intellectually inferior people are. usually does not respond to emails. i wouldnt reccomend it.
One of my favorite profs this semester! His classes are unstructured but I liked it. He gave us terms and definitions which we had to figure out how they were related to our readings. By doing this, we had a thorough understanding of the material. He is very smart but also blunt, so do not take him if you are sensitive. Not an easy A but possible
An excellent professor. The course material and discussions were thought-provoking and challenging. Dr King is evidently a passionate professor and academic. As students, I recommend making the effort to continually engage with the subject matter and class discussions - it will pay off.
#1 Unorganized and changes due dates #2 Gives added assignments throughout the term provides no or vague instructions #3 Demeaning teacher, His class will break you and you'll get a bad grade. I warn anyone to not take him if given the choice.
He doesn't give good feedback when you try to progress and blames it on you when you don't do good work. His class is not even structured and his lectures are non-sense, he doesn't even explain the course material effectively.
Horrible. Do not take. Disorganized and rude and controversial.
literally there's no syllabus he just decides what he wants to do randomly even the ta doesn't know what he's gonna do only right before class. His lectures are dumb and he goes off topic so much that he can't even get through the 7 vocab words he writes on the blackboard. Some people think hes funny but i dont think so.
king wants to see you fail. Half the class dropped after receiving failing grades on their papers, which had no clear requirements. Justifies his arrogance by explaining to undergraduates how stupid people are. Got to give it him, his lectures were entertaining. Not so funny is clear lack of empathy for students working hard to pass his class.
Professor King is the worst professor I have ever had throughout my entire academic career. Not only is he narcissistic, arrogant and rude but he make incredibly inappropriate comments throughout class, has no clear course outline and has no issue shaming you publicly. He does not care if you fail this course, and will give no constructive support.
ProfKing has a very strange teaching style which most students only understand midway through the semester. While I was challenged and was able to pass the class, I worked extremely hard for my grade and never skipped. King needs to be WAY more organized and clear about his teaching methods early on. His thoughts are scattered. Poli dept get on it
If you are up for a rewarding challenge, Professor King is the best man for the job! His teaching style is what he calls "paratactic," where he throws valuable nuggets of info without a clear narrative, hoping you will pick up the major theme. If you are a dedicated student, his teaching style will be incredibly fresh and rewarding. 10/10 recommend
Horrible teacher. Does not care about his students. Do not take this class with him. This class with any other teacher is completely different and enjoyable.
DISORGANIZED, No syllabus, you don't know when assignments or tests are due. didn't know what to read for next class. Only lectures, no PP. really hard to take notes, he gets off track. everything you hand in has to be original thought and analysis otherwise you lose marks. constantly had to look for free text online, no assigned book for course
He's everything negative listed here & more. He likes to see how uncomfortable he can make you feel by testing your boundaries with innuendos, insults & gross sexual comments. Unprofessional in his teaching style, he's very vulgar & he intentionally over complicates an otherwise simple introductory class. Don't risk hurting your GPA, skip or drop!
He will insult you and grade you 0s for small mistakes. Terrible first experience for an introductory course.
SAVE YOURSELF FROM THIS MAN! I HAD HIM DURING MY FIRST SEMESTER AT CONCORDIA AND GOD KNOWS IT WAS THE WORST CLASS I TOOK DURING MY 4 YEARS. THIS MAN DOES NOT CARE ABOUT HIS STUDENTS! HE IS NOT FUNNY AND DOES NOT DESERVE TO TEACH! I HAVE NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT ANY PROFESSORS BUT HE IS JUST A BAD PERSON. TRUST ME, DO NOT TAKE ANY OF HIS CLASSES.
Drop or avoid Lectures were very interesting, but grading criteria was scant and seemed to be often changing despite a complete and utter lack of constructive feedback beyond "and??" He touts a carrot and stick approach called 'pedagogical disequilibrium' but don't be fooled, it's all stick + he uses it as cover to be very childish and derogatory
I think he's hilarious, inspiring, and controversial, but the quiz format sucks. Almost all marking was done by a TA who gave me the same low grade consistently throughout the semester. The two or three assignments Dr. King graded I practically aced (final included), but the disconnect with his TAs almost made me drop the class. Learned a lot.
Bad feedback does not recognize the diversity of the students. To him it is for the money and he makes it clear. Bad person in general
very knowledgeable, but his quizzes are impossible and a very harsh grader.
First prof I ever had who actually called me out when i was bs-ing papers instead of properly doing the work. I hated him at first because of it but then I actually started going to class and doing the work and left with an A+ and I actually feel like i learned stuff. Very intelligent prof, super engaging lectures, would definitely take again.
I feel sorry for ed. Seems like he was never shown real affection in his life and has resorted to being the reason students dread going to lectures. he makes gross sexual comments and is generally not funny at all when he tries his best to be. very cringeworthy and not something you want to be part of.
Spoke about triggering topics without giving a prior warning
Currently in his summer class. He is good but I wish he discusses the readings in depth. The class can be organized a little more but overall I think he's a good professor.
His lectures are entertaining but get ready to read. Good prof. He made my summer class bearable with his humour. He also sits hours after class going over the material with students. He pushes you hard to actually learn.
By far my favourite class ever taken at Concordia. Professor King is knowledgeable, unfiltered, and very passionate in what he teaches. He uses no slides or textbooks, so you must be ready to write a lot of notes. However, his classes are truly a pleasure to attend as he is very entertaining and educational.
Weird guy, very disorganized Do not take if you care about your gpa
Would not recommend to anyone who wants to pass. Prof King only wants his students to say what he wants and believes any other answer is incorrect. Not very encouraging.
He is the worst prof I've had. He makes many triggering, insensitive, sexual, vulgar comments and in the end says that all of this doesn't matter to him because he's white. A lot of readings, doesn't explain topics in detail. His classes are unbearable and he mocks students for asking questions. He makes it clear that he's there for the money
He is incapable of being a professor and should seek therapy for his delusions of grandeur. cringe levels in his classroom are close to nuclear, be wary
I think Dr.king is very smart, but an awful teacher. Will not give you any insight or feedback to understanding his material. The material is genuinely so complex and If you dont already have any prior knowledge good luck. I strongly advise against him if you care at all about your gpa, I dropped it after the midterm it was insanely impossible.
Professor King is the best there is at Concordia. His method annoys many, but if you follow the narrative you'll do well, learn a lot and leave with many crucial terms in political theory. Keep a document for terms highlighted as key during class. They will be on the tests and they're great to look back on. I got a tattoo dedicated to this man.
I came close to dropping King's class the first week as he seemed intimidating and unapproachable, but he's actually a great guy and a passionate professor. Although he often goes off track, he sprinkles little nuggets of gold that stick with you and get you thinking. Dr King has changed the way I view politics. Best advice: go to office hours!
It takes time to get to know professor king and get around his teaching style. His teaching style is well thought through. His approach is tough love but I guarantee that he will challenge you to think outside the box. If you want to be challenged, take his class. Seems intimidating but deep down he's a good person.
He does not care about his students, constantly says vulgar jokes, would tell me my ideas were good during office hours but then when I was asked in class, he humiliated me and contradicted what he said in office hours. He is rude, ego-centric & unhelpful. I never struggled more in my life. Do not take if you care about your grades!!!!!!
Come to class, take notes, and you do well. Incredibly funny, and although some jokes may seem inappropriate he is respectful and politically correct. He encourage students to participate, and makes class fun. Very accessible. Hilarious. He also gives extra credit assignments, and is helpful in office hours. Wants you to succeed. Great guy.
One of the best teachers of my life, inspired me to peruse a career in poli sci. Would recommend.
Don't take Ed. If you don't naturally have the same exact interpretation or understanding as he does, he will mark and critique aggressively without providing useful feedback. He doesn't use Moodle and doesn't provide a syllabus. Ed King makes incredibly inappropriate comments about his students, I'm all for fun, but he's too profane. No feedback.
Probably the worst professor in the department by far. He can't get beyond his British god complex. You will not learn much knwoldge of him. Provides awful feedback and guidance. Too much work for someone who is there mostly just for the money and waiting to retire. The best advice is to stay away. If you are required to take him be creative.
Professor King can be a challenging instructor, but using tools like unstuck study made the course more manageable. While the class lacks organization, his passion is evident. Attend lectures and engage with the material to succeed.
RUN FOR YOUR LIFE
What the actual FHX is wrong with him? We got our midterms back the last week of the semester with no feedback. His quizzes are so confusing, he says 3 months later that he doesn't want us to use his definitions but says our definitions are wrongs. Takes a freaking while to correct your online quizzes and isn't clear with what he expects from us.
Do not take this professor!!!! He is the worst professor I have ever taken and makes it extremely difficult to succeed in his class! He contradicts himself regarding how he grades assignments and will mark something wrong even if he mentioned it in class. If you want to succeed and achieve high grades, do NOT take POLI 371 with Edward King!!
Awful, just awful.
I didn't have a good experience with this class. The professor was a tough grader and hard to follow, he often jumped between topics, and I constantly felt lost. Even the TA mentioned during a call that many students were struggling. I think the midterm was curved, but the final wasn't.
Taking notes is crucial, as the instructor doesn't provide any materials on Moodle or class. You must pay close attention to every word, including definitions not on the whiteboard. Since he avoids tech, you'll need to rely on the TA for help. For exam, memorizing every definition and its significance, and the instructor is aware of AI tool usage.
Taking notes is crucial, as the instructor doesn't provide any materials on Moodle or class. You must pay close attention to every word, including definitions not on the whiteboard. Since he avoids tech, you'll need to rely on the TA for help. For exam, memorizing every definition and its significance, and the instructor is aware of AI tool usage.
one of my favourite professors of all time. The people who hate him just aren't doing the readings. He gives good grades to people who show up and actually engage in class/material. I genuinely don't understand how u have the audacity to blame the prof for bad grades when ur the one not doing the work assigned lol. anyway 10/10 would recommend.
Litteraly the most confusing prof. When you ask for feedback, he denies you the right to ask questions
This guy does a great lecture and expects to hear your interpretations of the books. If you did the readings and are capable of forming arguments he will likely respect you and give you higher grades than you deserve. If you sit in the back, dont talk or read you will prob fail. I wish he taught anything other than theory so i could take him again
He won't dock you for missing some classes but you won't succeed if you don't show up regularly. He's a great lecturer. Very engaging and wants you to be interested in what youre learning. He prepared us very well for our tests and papers. Loves chatting to students so definitely worth speaking up. I wish I could take more of his classes
I have no idea how he became a prof
By no means an easy course, but the lectures are great, and the work overall is quite fulfilling. Definitely too tough a grader, but definitely not the toughest prof either, if you're willing to show up to every class and engage with the readings. Make sure to write down the definitions for words that he gives in class.
Prof King is a tough grader. He only marks some final quizzes and the final; the TA does the rest. Side note grades took a while to come back. His classes are engaging and he's quite funny. His teaching style is unorthodox, but he doesn't claim otherwise so be ready to use lots of critical thinking and connect-the-dots!
He is an engaging teacher, however, you need to attend every lectures since he does not provide a textbook or powerpoints. The grading scheme is harsh, but okay if you have attended all classes. His lectures are heavy and you need to take a lot of notes. He often looks lost in his own material and grades as he pleases it seems, no grading grid.
Performative teaching style, so you must pay attention in Class if you want to understand the fundamentals of the concepts and take notes at all times. Go to each lecture to avoid a headache of trying to gather all the terms and definitions for each week's quiz
Despite the lack of structure for Dr. King's lectures they are genuinely interesting and informative. He allows a really wide range of opinions on the midterm and final essay as long as you can present sound arguments to support them. Take his class if you want to think not just memorize
Dr.King's class was truly an amazing experience to have. As long as you attend lectures, do the readings and take notes, you will be able to handle the course. He is a tough grader but not the toughest. However, it is definitely worth taking his class if you're interested in gaining a unique perspective towards the course material.
he is very specific about how he wants you to answer things yet there is such an opacity in the grading, you are either dead on or far off and he doesn't give feedback, its whatever he was feeling the definition was that day and it seems to change I invested the most in this class this semester and got the worst grade out of all the classes I took
Just don't.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
73%
Textbook Required
26%
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