2.8
Quality3.7
Difficulty36%
Would Retake242
Reviews36%
Would Retake
242
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
54
4
43
3
43
2
45
1
57
What Students Say
“One of the worst professors I have ever had at Mason”
ECON103 - 1.0 rating“Bennett absolutely cannot teach”
ECON103 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
17%
Textbook Required
44%
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Reviews (242)
Likes to talk about May West; has short temper for cell phones in class
Cool Guy. He hates Dan Rather. Tends to talk about his accomplishments.
He says inappropriate stuff in class. Try to take Dan Lin instead.
hes f-in nuts but hes a good teacher... knows what hes talkin about
Great teacher, funny in class
Take this class if you want to fail! He's a cool guy and knows his stuff, but his tests are hard as crap. I barely pulled a B in his class and I studied hard as crap. On his first exam 20/25 students failed! Take this class if you like econ!
this class is the reason why i have such a low GPA. only take him as an economics prof if you plan on failing. Super hard but knows what hes talking about. will definately put you in your place and embarrass the hell out of you
Dr. Bennett is the worst teacher I have had since coming to George Mason. He truly shows why the Tenure system is wrong. Too old and too bitter to be teaching school. Made one girl cry in class, is CRUEL and MEAN. Confusing rules and standards. Actually will YELL at you. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!
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Bennett is a brilliant professor who has written more than two dozen books and brings his knowledge and experience into the classroom. He is totally committed to economics and has high academic standards. Expect to work hard and learn a lot. He isn't a comic or entertainer, but he knows his stuff and presents it well.
If you do your work, read the material before class, listen to lecture and take notes, you will do very well with this interesting and entertaining professor. If you slack off, prepare to fail. That's how simple it is. This prof doesn't take nonsense.
If you do the work and take the class seriously,you will do fine, but if you don't take it seriously then you will fail...plain and simple. He is in the top of his field and knows what he is talking about.Do the workbook and you will pass ALL of the exams.He doesn't take any BS.
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this professor is GREAT! not only is he verrrrrry knowledgeable(rarely has to look back at the textbook as a reference)but hes also veryyyyy interesting and funny! he pokes humor at a lot economic problems that we have, connecting the terms to real life, making it easier to understand & follow along. hes at the top of his field!!
He's a funny but old guy, but his class is HARD!!!! His tests are harder than any other econ professor and no matter how much you study, it is hard to apply the econ concepts to the tests. AVOID if you dont want to fail!!
This teacher is the toughest and worst teacher ever...don't take him ever. He makes confusing exams and is really rude. He doesn't even curve the grade. Very Bad...Dont Take Him EVER or You will SUFFER!!!TRUST ME..I AM NOT JOKING
pretty much...the worst professor ever. i failed, and i have a 3.5 gpa.
STAY AWAY, test extremely hard. He is awful at teaching, doesnt teach at all according to his tests. Seems like he enjoys when students fail. DO NOT TAKE THIS COURSE
He is absoulutley the worst I have ever seen. And I'm not talking about his ways of teaching. I asked him a question once and he yelled at me infront of the whole class. He even says "I wish you all fail this test, because we need people to wash dishes at the cafeteria". he means it too. He even yells at you when you visit him on his office hours.
He is hard... but he is very funny. If you go to his office hours, he is really helpful. He tells lots of sex jokes and his class isn't too bad.
This is a big time study class. Get a seat up front and shut the hell up. Always take notes, and don't miss class, you'll get very far behind, he moves fast. But on the other hand he is hillarious, a smart-ass at heart. And he doesnt make exceptions or care about you at all. I enjoyed this class very much though, just don't mess up lol.
I am an older student and enjoyed this class. I can't believe how many kids in this class just don't care and then they complain when they get a bad grade. I admit his tests are tough and that you have to do the work, but it will pay off in the end. Study hard and grow up and you will do fine. This is not a high school class.
He has a tendacy to lose his temper if people are talking during class, but the classes are huge so just dont get caught. His exams are not real hard, just study more than what he tells you to, and he drops the lowest. Hes funny as hell too, and helpful. I would def recommend him.
Tough, but he keeps it light with jokes. The kids that were yelled at or insulted in front of the class deserved it. The bottom line is to leave the BS at the door, because he won't tolerate it (which is good if you value learning unlike many college students). As was mentioned, study; don't talk, don't ask stupid questions (econ isn't THAT hard!).
He can be crude....but he is still one funny guy. I enjoyed his class and his tests were not hard at all. All you gotta do is the study guide questions and of course understand them. His exams are very similar to those questions!! So if you don't pass, it's really your own fault!!
He can be rather obsene in class, but if you come to class and complete the workbook it's a fairly easy A, especially since he gets rid of your lowest exam.
He will not hold your hand and he challenges you to think for yourself instead of regurgitating information. His way of thinking is humorous and definately changes your perspective on many issues. Do what he says and don't give him any crap and you will be a better person if you take his class.
plzz do not take his class. do not be fooled by the syllabus. there are no exams just one paper due every week. however he will not give you any guideline or help and in the beginning u might get A's in ur paper but then its just D and F very rude professor
This class is probably the most interesting I have taken so far at Mason. Finally, a teacher who tells it like it is and keeps it real. If you can't excel in this class then you are either an idiot or you just can't cut it in college. One paper a week and no exams, but you really have to think about what you write about. Check it out.
The class is cool but Dr. Bennett is too in love with himself to be an effective teacher. He will make you think but will give you no help and gets a kick out of belittling students in front of the class. If you want a good grade go to class, write papers, and tell the professor that you think he is god.
This course is totally different from anything I have ever had... Bennett demands that you think rather than spewing back stuff that he has already told you. It's a very hard course, but very interesting and likely to be one of the most useful courses I have had in college. He teaches you to analyze problems and understand the world around you.
'If you can't cut it in this class then you can't cut it in college.' That's just wrong. I'm an Econ senior with a 3.0 GPA, and I'm getting a C. Bennett has a clear way of looking at the world, but the world consists of himself. When he says 'Do the analysis' he reminds me of my girlfriend telling me 'You should KNOW what's the matter!'
Very demanding prof. Very different approach from the usual "this is what you need to know to pass the exams". Write papers carefully, pay attention to details, and show understanding questions raised. He is a tough grader and insists that economic logic be used.
Tough professor who knows his stuff and takes no s**t. don't be late to class. not much reading, but lots of writing -- what you write is important... this is almost an English course. he's blunt and doesn't sugarcoat. If you work, you learn a lot. If you don't work, you lose.
Bennett encourages us to rate him on this website to discourage stupid people from taking his class. You need to realize you are comming into a very serious class where the grades on papers really reflect your english skills and deep thought. All that aside the class is very interesting and I reccommend it to anyone, not just juniors and seniors.
I've never had a course like this before, but I have learned a lot from Bennett who stresses critical thinking and demands that you "do the analysis." He is the toughest critic of grammar I have ever seen, but he taught me a lot about writing. Good course overall, but not for the lazy.
I took this course as a freshman and didn't have a difficult time. Dr. Bennett is very clear that he wants his students to be opinionated, but to present and educated argument to the table. Many people may say that he is mean or harsh, but he is actually helping you prepare for entering the job market. Always "DO THE ANALYSIS" (fist pound).
This teacher is not difficult at all, but he is totally insensitive! Dont take him if you get nervous or intimidated easily. He will not hesitate to kick you out of class or scream at you infront of everyone!
Great Teacher... Come to class; listen; take notes and you'll do well. Tests are multiple choice and he gives you plenty of clues about what to study. Do not talk in class or come late.
Take this class if you don't mind hearing the ramblings of an old man. He once yelled at a student for standing up too early, when attempting to turn in his exam. The exams are like reading Finnish; even if you study hard, you can end up with a C. At the final, he sang a song about how we were all going to fail the exam. He quotes Mae West nonstop.
He's an interesting guy to listen to. Its funny when he gets off topic, but he always gives clues for the exam and it's multiple choice. I can always be interested in going to class.
You really have to read the book carefully and pay attention to every detail. plus, no extra credit opportunities given in his class. kinda tough
Tough course. Prof. makes it interesting and illustrates with real life examples. Tests are challenging, but not all that difficult if you are prepared. Pay close attention to the hints in the e-mails -- that material is stressed on exams.
Tries to make tough material easy to understand. Uses common sense examples and explanations to simplify. Tests require preparation and are challenging but not impossible. Teacher makes dry subject interesting. Plenty of hints about exam content. Pay close attention to e-mails.
Very funny guy!!! Just show up, take notes, and acturally take time to DO the problems in the coursebook and you've got an A in econ 103. He really is entertaining.
he is an awesome teacher! He gives great examples and his exams are pretty medium in difficulty, but he basically tells you what will be on the exam...i loved his class, great experience!!
Do assigned prob, come to class and pay careful attention to his hints about exams, take notes, and you have at least a B without a lot of sweat. Don't get behind. Interesting lectures with lots of insights and examples. Tries to make dull stuff interesting.
I'm in his class right now and he's a riot. He doesn't take crap from students and if you're talking and distracting him he will kick you out, make you answer the next question, or have the class sing happy birthday to you. This is a 200+ class. Read the book, do the excercises. Very hillarious and has very interesting ideas and thoughts.
Totally Awesome for an economics course. He tries to make it all simple and plain common sense. Listen carefully in class, do the problems that he assigns, read his e-mails carefully -- especially when he gives hints on exams -- and you can't go wrong. Don't get behind or try to cram... it doesn't work.
Terrific guy. Good sense of humor but doen't take bull from students. Large class, so attendance is optional. Great hints on exams; sends regular e-mails to update about important probles. Lots of examples and common sense explanations to clarify material. Class is interesting; subject can be difficult.
He's okay. Kind of a comedian during lectures, but he keeps it interesting. He folows very closely to the book, so showing up to class is nominal. Very informative e-mails, he even reaveals the chapter breakdown of each test (i.e. 20 questions from chap 2, 25 from chap 3). He does not take crap, and will kick people out of lectures at anytime.
Great teacher. Funny Guy. Doesn't put up with people talking/ distracting him. Do the workbook problems he gives you and go to class for the problems he works out on the overhead. He gives hints and is easy to communicate with. Overall, a pretty tough class, but if you put forth the effort, you should be fine.
Dr. Bennett is a really fun proffesor although doesnt seem to care much about anybody since he has tenure, which he often brags about, really knows his stuff, however i almost never showed up for class and thats why i got a bad grade. if you only read the book and do the course book you can easily pass this class
No need to do homework. you have 4 exams and that's how your grade is determined. Study for the exams.
Do not take. Terrible professor. The lectures are a waste of time and do not relate to the class AT ALL. If you are able to write a paper that conforms to your professors ideals- take this class. If you cannot- run away. He will count down if you do not write the way he wants...and he will make your grade suffer. Take another econ class/teacher.
Totally different kind of class.... all about using Econ ideas to analyze problems. Lots of short papers. Tough grader, but interesting class and useful.
Poor teacher. Does not relate well with students and thinks highly of himself. Re
Very demanding, writing intensive course. How you say it is as important as what you say. Interesting course uses economic concepts to understand and analyze ideas about charities. Prof uses very diifferent approach and pushes analysis and logical reasoning.
Workbook and problems are the key to doing well. Exams are out of the workbook. He gives lots of hints about what problems are important. Go to class, keep up with assignments, see tutors if need help.
Mr. Bennet was a real funny teacher and he seemed to explain the material well enough. You have to read the text book and study the course book questions. There are 4 exams. 3 exams and a final. Easy if you study.
This guy was a really lively teacher--sometimes he used personal stories in his lectures, some of which were funny. He taught the class pretty well, although most of it was right out of the book; 4 exams only. It's a big class, but he keeps it in check--try to keep talking to a minimum.
GREAT TEACHER! Very straightforward, 3 exams + the final, entire grade=2 best exams + the final. Exams come straight from the lectures which basically come straight from the book. Funny stories to relate to somewhat boring concepts. If you're going into econ 103, take Bennett, NOT Rustici.
starightforward.. easy class cuz its an easy topic. not the nicest most outgoing but hes good at what he does... very liberal though.. then again so is whoever wrote the text
I failed this class so I'm gonna be taking it again next semester. HOWEVER, this guy is actually pretty cool. Hes like those professors you see on tv who off the bat are like "I dont care what you do - you already paid!" It sucks that I finally got the hang of his class literally the night before the final haha. 3 test drops lowest grade, then fina
The prof. explicitly tells you what concepts are on the test and gives you the problems to practice in your course book. Attendance is helpful as he tells you what to know, and works problems. This class is NOT HARD!!! Just work the problems, there are even FREE tutors!
he is a nice person, and is straightforward.. if you don't go to class (which you will be tempted to..) it's really hard to catch back up.. impossible to cram for tests. the material is very difficult.
Extremely useful class making you THINK about real problems and analyzing issues. Best class I've taken, but lots of hard work. He grades tough on how you say it as well as what you say in papers. Lots of short papers; no exams. Sometimes he seems off the wall but he knows his stuff and gets it across. Take this class and LEARN.
He's a nice professor to teach but his exams are too hard.The worst problem with him is he thinks he knows everythng.He wont curve at all, doesnt matter if whole class fails.
worst teacher ive had so far in my 2 years of school. avoid if possible
An absolute riot, and really knows his stuff. He routinely belittled students who asked foolish questions, read Gilbert and Sullivan, & kicked students out for being late. It will be the most entertaining class of your collegiate career if you stay on his good side. Writing intensive (watch your grammar), no tests, no stupid questions
This semester he changed to 4 tests and no papers, so far it's easy. He's good at explaining stuff and tests are either fly or die, just don't second guess yourself and you'll do fine. He replace 1 test grade with bunch of online quizzes, which are easy and helpful to do before tests, I'm pretty sure I can ace this class.
you will get an A in this class when pigs fly.
He puts half of his class to sleep after a couple of weeks. His online quizzes are annoying and the exams are LONG. He drops the lowest exam grade and allows u to put "do not record" on ur exam. Hes a pretty good at teaching, but his exams are rlly hard. =Doesnt feel like an intro class... dont get him angry. u wont like it when hes angry
Great professor that you can learn a lot from. He's funny as hell. I will say that if you do not pay good attention in class or are a little on the slow side, avoid this professor at all costs, because he will undoubtedly tear you a new one.
Take him if you are willing to read the book, attend lectures and put some effort into the class
Grading is based on 3 tests, 13 online quizzes, and final. Drops lowest test grade, replaces it with avg quiz grade. The quizzes are open book and not difficult. Easy to get an A in and they help to understand content. He's really funny. If you attend class, read the book, and actually look at the suggested problems, you'll do fine. Lots of tutors!
He is actually kinda scary, he thinks everything is straight forward when sometimes it is not. The online quizzes you have to do weekly are really annoying. He is really direct with you and what he says is important is going to be relevant actually is relevant, so take his word for it. All of his tests are 50 multiple choice questions. Avoid him.
He is a good teacher but his class is extremely hard. If you take the class make sure to do online quizzes because he substitutes your quiz average for lowest exam grade. He gets really mad when you ask him something that is in the syllabus even if it is something you don't understand. He is kind of a jerk and thinks he knows everything.
His explanations are really good. Attending is not mandatory but very helpful specially the day before his exams. My first exam was bad, but then i got use to his way of thinking, made it better. Attend (for yourself), do all the aplia (online quizes) on time. He drops the lowest of 3 exams and replaces it with aplia so make sure you do good in tha
come to class if you like. if you are planning to take this class, i will see you there (again). you get the clue..
He has a major temper problem and is not helpful at all. He is nice when he wants to be, but his tests are very difficult. I read the book, went to every class, did all of the quizzes, and still did not do well in the class. If you have to take econ, do not take it with this professor. His lectures are incomprehensable, and he has no sympathy.
Prof. Bennett is a good guy. He has a wealth of knowledge but sometimes looses his students becasue of it. I let my whole grade ride on the final and passed with a B becasie I read the chapters and did the practice problems. Is willing to help you if you have questions and put the free tutoring schedule up before every class. Bennett is the****
he is really really smart, but he knows what he is going to do and he doesnt bend his rules. follow the syllabus and you should be fine. he is also funny, and tells crazy stories in class. make sure to do the practice questions, test questions are very similiar
This guy is very smart. If you go to class and listen, you will learn a lot about more than economics. Some topics are hard to grasp but all of his tests are multiple choice so it isn't so bad.
He is the tightest teacher ever. I never understood econ until I attended Bennett's class. I would take all of my econ classes with him if I could. Even though the material is hard, he makes everything seem so simple, funny and easy to relate to. Best professor ever.
if you go for an easy A, he is really not the one you should take. in his class, you definitely need to read the chapters before every class, do all the annoying online quizzes and go to the tutors maybe. otherwise, take someone else.
econ is not easy, plain and simple. If you dont read the chapters before class and actually do homework, no matter who the teacher is you will NEVER pass. take him if you want someone who will actually explain the subject... but majority of work needs to be done on your part if you realllly want to understand
A total keeper!! The guy is amazing. He puts a lot of work into this class, and I learned a lot. His insights are fascinating, and he is very interested in students. Wish he taught more classes that I could take.
Totally different class. Very demanding prof -- emphasizes critical thinking and excellent writing skills. Extremely useful compared to what you get from most courses. He's incredibly smart and knows what is needed to succeed. If you get a chance, take this Prof and prepare to work hard and learn lots.
if you want a prof who will actually take the time to help you an care about your well being as a student who pays his bills, don't take him. i simply asked him to resend his attached syllabus & i received a reply consisting of "i don't understand why you persistently email me (i emailed him twice & he replied to both) & stop crowding my inbox"
To the person who commented before me... he did the exact same thing to me! I e-mailed him about the syllabus and got a similar reply. Don't worry, it's not just you, the link was faulty. I switched into another class, I need a teacher who will be helpful.
thank goodness i'm not the only one!! i'm shocked at him doing it to one person but to multiple people is ridiculous! apparently he doesn't care about keeping his job or filling his classes.
HORRIBLE teacher! He only cares about what he thinks and has an attitude problem. Constantly makes fun of people during lecture. If you ask him a question, don't expect a helpful answer! Avoid him if you can!
Bad attitude. Not helpful -- does not answer your questions. Makes fun of people during class. Avoid him.
Bitter old man that is just there to pay his bills. Doesn't care about students and will make fun of them in class. Grade is made up of 3 exams and final so STUDY!! takes problems directly from coursebook so books are useful. heard he was easier than other teachers, but he is mean and purposely tricks students... avoid if you can!
Class is only mandatory to hear him do examples out of the books. I didn't find class very helpful because he spends a lot of time not talking about econ. Talks about cars a lot and is really boring.
Econ. is def. not an easy subject. However, he outlines everything for you - from what questions to practice on to what topics are covered on the test (in numerical order). Have to do online quizzes almost every week, but do well, he'll drop lowest exam & replace it. w/your quiz average. It takes a lot of effort on your part to get a good grade.
he is a funny teacher but does not really go in depth which makes succeeding solely up to you. he is really really hard and does not help very much
Not there to hold your hand; he teaches the subject with clarity and expects you to understand the material. If you ask a stupid question, expect some flak, but he will answer it. He is crass, but fair, and only does it to people who are being disrespectful.
Tests are difficult! The textbook/coursebook is beneficial. He knows his Econ and therefor he expects you to throughly know it too! He is somewhat approachable, and he uses lots of sarcasm in class. His lectures are sometimes interesting. Try a night class with someone easier. If you can't, then he may suffice, but be ready for a challenge!
Hated his class. He made way too many sexual jokes which were very uncomfortable. Thinks hes god's gift to earth and talks about it for about half of each class. take another teacher
He's a nice person at heart, does his best to teach and help students. Nice if you go to office hours. However, he is not the best teacher. Econ is a very difficult subject but his lectures did not help. I dropped the class, my friends wish they had as well. Exams are very difficult even if you study. You must work hard in order to pass.
hes kinda hard, but hes a good teacher. he makes you take quizzes online, but it ends up helping your grade at the end. Hes mean though, the saying "theres no such thing as a stupid question"...yeahh no. he will call you out and basically make fun of you in front of a 300+ class.
very clear, makes lecture interesting and is not that bad to sit through. people need to realize that econ is not an easy A, you are going to have to study to get a good grade. yea he has quizzes online but if you do them, which they are that bad, then you will boost your grade and give you a better understanding of econ. great teacher
This prof is incredibly rude and disrespectful to students. He seems to think he is always right, no matter what, and is perfectly willing to mock students in front of the class if he does not like a question for any reason. If I did not have to take this class I would have dropped it, and I don't recommend that anyone take a class from him!
Good teacher of tough subject. Online quizzes help. Tells what to study for tests and gives many examples. Lectures interesting, but lots of work required to get A. Have heard that he posts negative reviews here to keep whiners and slackers out of his class.
Class takes some work and effort but I loved Bennett. He expects you to work and teaches you everything you need for the tests. Online quizzes for every chapter. Definitely need to study but he keeps the lecture alive and isn't too boring. Tests aren't too bad but definitely require you to know the material. He knows his stuff well. I like him alot
He is a horrible teacher. He is the most rude old man that I have ever come in contact with and makes fun of people that ask questions. He does not curve even when 1/3 of the class fails every test. DO NOT take his class.
He is crazy, end of story. He requires Aplia online but refuses to even answer questions about problems on Aplia and just refers students to a tutor, which is useless. I paid to learn Economics from him, not an econ major. He also gets on rants that are unnecessary.
He is useless. The aplia online quizzes are ridiculous and unnecessary. Takes too much time to complete, and the textbook does not help much. The exams are not that hard, though. He tells you the exam topics via email. I did not even go to classes, but have an A.
If you show up, take notes, and do the Aplia on time there is no reason you cannot at least get a B. He is a nice person as long as you speak loudly and use some sense if you have a question. You will not like him if you are not a fiscal conservative. Also, if you are read his books they're really funny.
He is a horrible teacher. He rants on and on about useless topics & his lectures are boring. Aplia takes forever to complete but is the only thing that helps. The class is hard & takes a lot of effort. Do NOT take him.
Very smart man but the wording of all his exams are horrible! The class average for our final was a 65!
If you do Aplia, not only will you help your grae (25% overall), but you'll also learn the material better then just attending the lecture. Also, definitely get the optional course book. Weeks before each of the 3 exams, he emailed everyone about which problems they should do. I rarely went to class and got an A+ overall.
In economics, you either fail or pass. You fail because Bennett is terrible or you pass because you already took his class for the last two semesters. Aplia was a waste of time and none of the questions were even on the tests. The exams had terrible wording and the class average was a failing grade. Way to go Mason for hiring this professor.
His class was hard i agree, but if you go to lectures and listen to him carefully, you dont even need to study book, trust me! I went to all lectures before first exam, and didn't study for exam, I got 80% on exam! If you like going to class and taking notes, and wanna study before exam just a little bit, you'll get at least B on this class!
MAD CREEPER DUDE, made jokes about Gnumbers/Gspots... Just pay attention and you will get a good grade. This guy is literally the FATHER of economics, he writes the books. Class is boring but the online quizzes and material helps alot.
This class was horrible. He's not helpful and will tell you to ask other people questions regarding the online quizzes. The class average on the final exam was a 62! I'm retaking this class next semester with Boudreaux. DO NOT TAKE BENNETT. HE'S EVIL and complains a lot about his life. His only example was a pair of underwear.
Go To class and read the book you will get a C. Learn while doing applia as opposed to just hunt for the answers. Does not care at all about students and very disrespectful. Class average on the final was 62. Make sure you do not write DO NOT RECORD more than once or your final will be worth 75% of grade and it is HARD!
The most horrible teacher ever!!!! DO NOT take classes with him... I got a C as final grade after i had a B+ during this whole semester... I hate him he used to send us emails after every exam just to make us feel bad... I asked a question once by email he yelled at me and said that he would drop my final grade if i ask him anymore questions... Tru
People are being unfair, he's not that bad. I actually liked him and he goes over things alot to help. He can be mean when people ask questions but half the time it's because people ask questions he just answered. Exams are tricky, I read chapters and took notes which helped because he doesn't give notes. Not easy but if you work, a B isn't hard.
He can be very tricky.I lost respect for him when he stealthily avoided letting the class rate him at the end.
If you need to take an economics class, do not take Bennett. He hardly teaches the class and expects you to know everything. Do not ask questions, because he won't really answer them anyways. The tests are extremely difficult. The textbook helped me. I received a B- and worked my ass off.
This class was iffy. The only way to guarantee a good grade is to attend class, study, and do well on the Aplia quizzes. He drops the lowest exam grade (except final). You have to work very hard and I recommend using the coursebook. It helped me pass the exams when I used it. Personally, I would get a different teacher for this class.
very tough, says one thing but means another. Only 3 exams plus the final, about 13 aplia quizzes and he drops the two lowest. Drops lowest exam. Over all very card course when taking with him. Reminds students that they will fail his class. If you can don't take him. his class was my first D EVER!!!
Prof. Bennett actually explains everything very well. He goes over numerous explains and points out the important problems in the textbook and coursebook. There's a review before every exam and he goes over all the important stuff. The people who failed didn't bother attending class. The Aplia quizzes really boost up your grade, and if you are not
I read textbook and got average grade.
Econ is just a really hard class in general. But Dr. Bennett isn't that great of a professor. He explains so brielfy & quickly. If you decide to take his class, DEFINITELY go to the tutorings in the Econ Dept. I seriously learned all my material there within a two hour time span. He's boring and doesn't explain things that well.
Professor Bennett is good at in class teaching, and can explain the topics well. However, the 3 tests are very hard, and you can write Do Not Record if you think you will fail. You have to study a lot with the Book and Coursebook and even then I am finding it hard to Pass the class.
It's a HARD class!! And he is a big butthead! He knows his stuff, he doesn't really teach, he just explains what's in the book. If you suck at VOCAB, don't take this class, his class is 100% applying definitions.
Bad teacher tbh, i stopped going to class and my grade started to improve because i spent his class time reading the book and studying. skip all his lectures unless you're interested in him rambling on about cars. so far i have a B in the class which is a lot higher than my friends who actually go to class... just read the book and do the aplia.
Bennett is a funny guy and really knows his stuff but it seems like he's been teaching this class too long. He doesn't really "teach", more just goes over the book and draws A LOT of charts. Not the worst professor, but you will have to study outside of class. 4 tests that get harder as you go on. Also, Aplia (online) helps.
Pretty good professor. I disagree with the advice of not going to class. I got an A and went to almost every lecture. Tests aren't that hard, just pay attention and read the book and you'll be fine. I thought he was an interesting guy to listen to as well. Definitely knew his stuff.
MUST READ THE BOOK TO PASS THE TEST. ONLINE HOMEWORK ARE DUE BEFORE EACH EXAMS, WHICH DOSE NOT HELP MUCH IN STUDYING. LECTURE ARE BORING. P.S DONT TAKE HIM IF YOU ARE NOT PLANNING TO GO TO CLASS.
I ended up with a B. read the book, took notes of my reading, did the online quizzes & the workbook problems. He explains things well. 4 exams & drops low exams.So if you're a busy parent or student with a job this might be a lot, but you can do it :) .. BUT if school is your only priority, don't be lazy! Overall, GOOD Prof.
Do not take this class if you are an idiot. Do not take this class if you think college is meant to regurgitate information. Do not take this class if you do not have thick skin. 355 is an awesome class, please do not subject the rest of it to stupidity. Tips: Study groups help, but come up with your own ideas. It is writing intensive.
Awesome loves questions regarding Aplia even though he says he doesnt just keep asking. He is very nice and if you ask him to not record your exam after you get the score back he will not count it.
Awesome professor, very clear and easy to listen to in class. He'll answer any question you have, but DO NOT even think about attempting to cheat. Take notes and right down every graph and you'll have all the answers for the Aplia quizzes. Tests are tricky but if you know your stuff you'll have no problem
Good class, sorta funny, 4 tests total and 1 exam, online quizzes are easy, uses textbook and workbook for studying. not mandatory attendance
He is an awful teacher. If you point out he is wring, he will be very rude to you. He obviously knows his stuff, but is not good at teaching it. He will start drawing a graph and not explain it at all and then move on. He will later refer to that graph and say he explained it. The concepts are already hard enough and he doesn't explain clearly.
Class was super hard! Went to every single class, paid attention, and took notes. read the textbook and did the work in the study guide and i still got a D in the class. He explains things as if we already know it. Tests were super hard and Aplia was stupid.
Class was very hard. I worked very hard read the book and did study guide problems but I still ended up with a lame C. I got As and Bs in all my other classes. You really have to teach yourself if you want to do well and understand everything in depth on your own. Good luck if you take him.
The only thing I liked was that he is a funny prof. He tells jokes in class and its funny. He also sometimes tells stories. It's all up to you to get a good grade in this class. Try not to mess up on any of the tests. But he is funny prof lol funny jokes made me laugh.
I'll admit Bennett can entertain you, but I was scared to ask a question b/c he WILL put you on blast if you don't understand anything. If you're truly devoted to being in SOM, retake this class b/c you won't know whether or not you'll pass
Easy teacher. Go to class before exam to know what to study. He provides you with sections to study from, and how many questions for each concept there are. Textbook is MANDATORY, because his lecture doesn't necessarily cover exam material. I got a B with minimal effort.
he goes page by page through the textbook and explains what it means in more detail. i probably would have done better if i had gotten the workbook because some of the test questions came directly form it. the day before tests he leaves it all up for questions and reviews the test question by question the class after.
This guy was the worst! I had to retake the class with a different professor. Do NOT take it with him. You probably have a chance at passing if you teach yourself and buy the study book.
Worst professor i've ever had. I emailed him a few times asking him questions and he replied and told me that if I ever emailed him again he would report me for harassment. Don't ever take him. Rude and unhelpful.
Prof is truly smart and bright, but as mean as an ogre. Can't answer questions w/o a rude tone. Hilarious smtms but I wud not take his class again.
Generally good, although he can tend to be sarcastic & flip, so if your feelings get hurt easily, be warned. I would recommend studying using all the problems he gives from the workbook. It's the best way to prepare. If you write 'do not record' at the top of your test, he'll replace that test grade with the final.
let me show you a test problem example. price of sugar increases which results in reduce consumption. the household will: spend less or spend more on sugar? answer = spend more. why? because his teachings doesn't convey to test
Worst professor ever! Avoid him if you must take ecom. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT TAKE HIM UNLESS YOU WANT TO LOWER YOUR GPA. Awful professor. Hands down the worst experience of a classroom "teaching"
Very unpleased ! DO NOT take this class unless you want to harm your GPA. His class lectures were irrelevant to the exams he gave out. He's an economist alright, but definitely not a good teacher.
If you want to understand the subject do not take his class. He lets you write do not record on the test and for the tests that you've missed he substitutes your final exam grade. His lectures were boring so I highly recommend buying the book and reading it. Also do Aplia,!!
Bennett is very condescending, so I would recommend not asking questions in class. His class is tough, especially for a 100-level course. Be careful with the Aplia hw, it's graded on accuracy. Read the textbook because his lectures are unorganized. Definitely buy the studyguide too.
Dr. Bennett is very intimidating, he gave an assignment the first day of class which I emailed to him (even though his syllabus states he will not accept)I did not go to class. The next class he handed me a paper. He had printed it out and graded. It shows that he does care for his students. I'm a senior and he is by far my favorite teacher.
Arrogant Professor. Someone you would love to have over for a dinner party, but NOT to lecture you. Tests are confusing. Some people did very well and others not so well.
Awful professor! Don't ask him any questions. Ever. Very rude. Had to drop the class not to fail. Stay away. Didn't explain graphs. Very unprofessional.
Love this guy. Loves the baseball team. Who doesn't love the baseball team though?
This class really isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Bennett is really smart and knows what he is talking about but often comes across as being rude and condescending. Do not let him intimidate you, he told us he rates himself poorly on this website on purpose so that people don't sign up for his class. It's really not that bad.
awful professor!!
Avoid this instructor if you can. Very disrespectful
This class was difficult mainly because the tests were super tricky. Even when we would go over test questions in class, he would get his own questions wrong. The online homework barely helps you out with the tests. He's very rude and disrespectful and class averages are always low on tests.
Do not take Dr Bennett's class if you need to have your hand held. He is no nonsense, but fair. Also, you need the study guide. I didn't have it for the first quiz and my grade reflected that. Take your time with Aplia as it is a chance to bring up your grade.
I know that a lot of people don't particularly like him but I honestly liked his sense of humor and that most of the test was straight from the study guide. Absolutely get the study guide. Read the chapters and do the study guide and you'll do fine. By the way, he does come on this page to write bad reviews for himself... He doesn't want slackers.
DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. Especially if it is essential to your major. Dude did not teach whatsoever and did not care if the class passed or failed. He only cared if he was paid at the end of the day. He was funny but overall as a teacher awful and did not put in effort to help the students. He makes his TA do all the work and never gave you any hope
Delightful, brings a lot to his class, and has an enjoyable sense of humor. Not an easy class, but do the work and make an effort to get into and you'll do fine. Dr. Bennett was one of the best professors I've ever had. And in many years of study I've had a few to compare him with.
Professor Bennett is certainly a tough professor, but he is fair. If you attend class, go to tutoring sessions, complete Aplia assignments, and STUDY, you definitely have a shot at an A. He goes over the textbook in class and draws graphs to help explain, which are really useful. This class was not easy but I learned a lot!
If you want an easy A this is not the right class for you, but he's by far the best professor I've had at Mason. I failed one test but since he allows you to drop one test I managed a B with what I would say was average effort.
He can be really hard to understand during his lectures and can be very rude, but overall he reads the chapter to you basically and he helps you understand the graphs some still. The tests can be hard and you need to read the book and do the study guide questions to pass, and also DO THE APLIA.
What I did was read my textbook while he teaches so everything kinda overlaps. He assign online homework the is due the sunday before the test, and it doesnt take long at all. test problems are similar to the homework. just be logical, its economics.
Was very rude when asking for help. All your grade is based on your exams. Do not take this professor!
Bennett is a tough teacher. You have to work really hard for the grade and study a lot. The tests are extremely hard. He is not always clear at explaining things and says that things are "simple" when they are not. Overall, if you need this class for your credit I suggest taking someone else unless you are willing to work extremely hard.
Bennett is a good guy but as far as teaching goes, I'm not so sure he's helpful. I think I learned more from his TA than him. He definitely knows what he's talking about but his lectures just seem like drawn on irrelevant examples. Half the kids in my class would fall asleep during his class. Textbook is really helpful though!
This was definitely the hardest class I took last semester. Reading the textbook is very important, as is doing the homework - if you don't, you won't understand it. Tutoring with the TA is INCREDIBLY helpful, and the optional Study Guide/Workbook is a lifesaver for the exams - a lot of the questions come straight out of it.
Very easy. HW was easy, the tests were fair/easy-ish. I skipped probably half the classes and got a B+ still. Should have been an A but I ran out of time during test 2. Read the chapters in the book and you'll get an easy A. He's also a good lecturer and pretty funny/entertaining if you like learning in class. Tutors were also available if you need
Doc is one of my favorite professors I've had so far at mason. He shows up early to speak with students and ask opinions about class and all. Very understanding, excellent lecture giver and willing to help. Just use your brain and don't ask obvious questions. Read the book, take notes and you will pass. I'd recommend him to anyone
He is a good teacher who makes the material interesting to learn. You have to be willing to put in the work though if you expect to receive a passing grade.
Bennet was by far the most teacher I've ever had at GMU. I attended every lecture and went to most tutoring session but all he did was read from the textbook and explained nothing. The stuff he did explain were long down out confusing ideas which were no help. Would never take him again, EVER.
Bennett was a horrible teacher. In every lecture he would always veer off and start talking about his life, or something that has nothing to do with the topic. On top of not being able to teach this makes the homework and the tests much more difficult. You have to teach yourself!
Bennett absolutely cannot teach. I learned little to nothing from him. He teaches you at a level that feels like you're supposed to know everything already. He is rude, disrespectful, and not helpful at all. DO NOT RECOMMEND.
Professor Bennett is great. He draws every graph that you need to know during the lectures. Exams were easy, just remember the graphs and apply them to the concepts. He's pretty sarcastic which made the class hilarious, but that certainly wasn't his intention. Just go to class.
Pass on this professor. He's funny, I'll give him that. You have to read the textbook, tests are fairly hard, and there is Aplia homework. The homework is annoying and hard. Save yourself and your grade.
Don't take his prof. His lectures are super boring but gives good examples. His voice will put you to sleep. A lot of people skipped class and only came for exams. Aplia problem sets suck and that's the only "hw" the class offers. No extra credit. Don't get stuck with this prof. If you read the material from the book then you'll do well on exams.
DO NOT take this professor! He is extremely condescending if you happen to ask him a question. His class is extremely boring and his test are very hard! Pretty much the worst professor I have ever had. Rudeness is his specialty as if he hates is students. Maybe time to finally retire! Avoid or your grade will suffer badly!
Dr. Bennet is a good professor. Not the most accessible nor the most ideal, but he definitely knows what he is talking about. If you take his class, make sure to read the textbook and buy the study guide because they help SO much. You really won't pass without them. The tests are a lot more like the study guide than Aplia.
I don't recommend taking his class because he's not a very helpful or approachable professor. He doesn't seem to care about students. Tests were pretty hard if you don't study well. HW is on Aplia & can be confusing. No study guides provided & hw doesn't prepare you for tests. Save yourself the trouble & take someone else.
Lectures do not go into depth of reading. Aplias do not reflect exams. It is hard to study for exams since aplias and study guide are two different things.
This was by far the worst class and worst professor ever. If you have any option do not take this class with this professor to save yourself and your GPA. I had never failed a class in my life until this one and it is all because of the professor.
Okay, Dr. Bennet seems like a really hard professor but if you go to class and read the textbook you will do fine. If you miss any of the exams your final exam grade will count for it and you have the opportunity to (if you feel like you bombed an exam) to write DO NOT RECORD over your scantron before turning it in!
One of the worst professors I have ever had at Mason. Lectures are boring and he just reads from the book and then goes on a tangent about something in his life. I wrote him 5 days before a homework was due asking him for an extension due to a death of a very close grandparent. He said no and told to me do it while out of town if i didnt want a 0.
Dr. Bennett actually cares that you leave his class understanding economics so you will have to study and ask questions to the point where you can describe economic concepts in your own words. Be able to do ALL of the exercises in the study guide, and understand the concepts the exercises test and you'll do well. Awesome prof if you work do the wk.
Dr. Bennett is an alright professor with a good sense of humor. His TA is helpful and nice so if you need to ask a question its better to ask his TA because Bennett will just get mad at you for not "paying attention" , but besides that, his lectures were good, the homework is light but don't leave it for last second and his tests are fair just read
Over half my class is failing rn, it's one of those classes where you can skip(only good thing about his class), learn it yourself and get an A, and some people are just learning stuff from only lectures which is why they are failing. Review the PowerPoints good, buy the study guide for the textbook(used is $10 ish, worth it) and you will be good.
Absolutely awful and obnoxious. Gives 'surprise' extra credit to raise up your already miserable grade only to strip your hope away cause it was a prank and 'life lesson' the whole time. Loves to hear himself talk and have a boring sense of humor that he finds hilarious. Claims to want to hear feedback but then fights that feedback.
Terrible professor. Extremely egotistical, rude, and overall just a mean person. Very few grades; just tests and aplia (which don't use same material or format). He does not even write the exams himself, he has his TA do it. This leads to lectures not reflecting the exam. If you want a good grade or to learn economics, do not take this class.
Professor Bennett made lecture a little interesting by giving personal experiences, but when it came to taking tests, the test bank used did reflect much of what I interpreted in lecture. I would never recommend taking this professor.
Professor Bennett taught the material and all, but it did not really help when he kind of just drifted off from the topic to other topics so quickly. He gave his own personal experiences, but most of the times, it just made me even more confused. The class isn't really engaging or interesting to the point where I want to listen to his lectures.
Makes economics interesting. Provides insights. go to lecture to get tips about exam topics. S
Best class I've ever had at anytime and anywhere. I learned more from this prof in one course than in a dozen other courses. He challenges students to think and reason things out. He cares about his students. Tough grader but the course is terrific. Would take it again and again.
Not your typical class.... No exams, little reading.... Lots of thinking. Prof makes lots of editorial corrections on every paper. More focused papers get better grades. You never know for sure what topics will come up, but it's all good. Take this course if you want to learn to use econ to solve problems
Dr. Bennett is a true asset to GMU. His main goal is to teach you to think critically in life and become successful. This class is not for the faint of heart, several people couldn't hack it. If you manage to make it to the end of the course, you will learn a lot about yourself and the challenges employers will give you.
Never had a class like this.... Never know what will be discussed in class. Could be opera, ancient China, recycling, ducks, or most anything -- but it WORKS. It's entertaining, interesting, and I leave each class with new info/ideas. Sometimes seems crazy, but there is a method.
Hard Grader Worth it. No other course is like this one. Teacher explains how to analyze problems using simple economics. Sort of off the wall, but interesting classes. Sometimes stuff discusses seems weird, but it makes sense in the end. He marked up my papers more than any english prof. Useful course.
Bennett attempts to dismantle the typical undergraduate learning environment by running his class like a symposium. While there is a range of appropriate answers for each weekly prompt, the structure allows you think both economically and logically. Students who have a clear understanding of economic concepts are rewarded.
Where do I begin with this professor? To flourish in the class, you have to DROP YOUR EGO bc he is not afraid to tell it like it is. Get ready to get low grades on your paper. By low grades I mean 4/10 one week, 5/10 another week. Maybe 6/10 the next week. But once u get thru the trails/ tribulations , you will love the course for he is brilliant.
Lots of thinking; not much reading. Class stresses how to use basic econ to solve problems and business writing. Seminar format. No exams. Bennett marks up we short weekly papers to improve writing skills. You will learn a lot. Don't miss class, discussion is always interesting.... different from other courses. Prof's TA grades the papers.
Most savvy prof ever. Relates everything to economics. Wants to prepare students to succeed in REAL WORLD. Tough grader who teaches by showing where wrong. Short paper every week to improve analytical and writing skills. Course is unforgettable.
Do not take!This man is so disrespectful, when handing back our exams, He threw them on the ground so we could come pick them up like dogs. Once during a test I asked a question, he came up straight in my face and told me I didn't know cause I don't pay attention. turns out everyone had the same question. I reported him, and the school did NOTHING
Do not take!
It's easy to follow along with his lectures if you read the chapter the night before. You will be lost if you don't. Skipping class will affect you the most since there are times where the lecture made more sense than the textbook. if your lazy and you fall behind by one chapter it is over for you. Good Luck playing catch up from then on.
Economics is already a really boring subject, and though he's very nice, the class was definitely TRASH. I struggled following along and the homework or reading didn't help me at all. Maybe I'm just dumb but..... wouldn't recommend.
Funny guy, hard tests. His lectures are vague compared to the tests.
His lectures are vague, but makes understanding the material easier, but don't depend on your in-class notes to help you pass the exams. Reading the textbook made this class easy for me and also take advantage of the sample exams he posts on blackboard and the ungraded HW problems. This is an easy class to pass as long as you put the effort in.
Worst class ever. He tells you at the beginning of the semester that his class is the most failed course in the entire university but I was naive and stayed in his class. Big mistake. All he does is talk talk talk and derails himself from what he's teaching to personal stories and he doesn't go in depth, the exams were a nightmare.
He is a very rude professor ever. You could not communicate with him even the 1st time. He doesn't respect the students at all
This guy is great. Very funny. If you actually show up to class and listen and do the work you'll be fine. He literally tell you what is important and what will be one the exam and he tells you things to help you remember the concepts. I don't ike economics but this professor made it enjoyable.
Much easier than the other option of restisi if you have the option of bennett take him he is the easiest econ professor but still not that easy.
Didn't go to a single class and still got an A, the textbook is your best friend. Tests heavily based around textbook teachings. If you feel bad about an exam you can 'DNR' but that puts more weight on the final. Do not do this. Just be sure to read up and do well on alpia homework and you'll be good. Read for the time you'r skipping class. Trust
Dr James Bennett intentionally made this class hard because the exams were so difficult and not based on lectures, homework, and practice exam. He deliberately makes students fail
James Bennett never used the textbook for the class. The online homework was made intentionally difficult. The exams for the class werent based on the practice exams. Professor doesnt use blackboard.
Bennett generally had very interesting and fun lectures that helped you remember test info. The lectures and book cover a great deal of the same content, but Bennett specifically tells you what you have to know for the exam in class. Exams were 50 question multiple choice, had a practice exam and an exam review session.
tests are hard as hell and all come from textbooks. his lectures didn't help me at all and neither did the review sessions. test is made by someone that works for him and writes his books. Wouldn't take this class again its too much work, online section for homework was hard as well. he purposely does this and keeps telling everyone to drop out.
The only useful lectures in this class are the exam reviews done by the assistant professors. The normal lectures are mostly useless with the occasionally odd remark by Bennett. Tests are difficult but you are allowed to exempt one from the final grade. Would look elsewhere for ECON103.
Professor gives lectures, but in a weird way. In the first part of the semester, there was nothing display for me to take notes and by the end of the semester, he starts doing that. Not only that, but he also goes off track on his lectures and got me lost multiple times. He also mentions that many people FAILED HIS CLASS!!! Look for someone else
Only 5 grades are calculated. Three exams with option to put do not record to not include it in the calculation of your grade + the final. There is a lot of information to grasp, and the exams are difficult. I went to every lecture and had an A in homework. Expect to spend a lot of time out of class trying to understand the material on your own.
Majority of my class did very poorly and he mentions in the beginning of the semester that most of his students fail. He doesnt use blackboard and you will have to keep track of your grade (there are only 5 grades anyway). Lectures are not very organized. He sidetracks a lot and some of his lectures were rushed towards the end of class due to this
Just do yourself a favor and choose another professor :) thank me later
Bennett had good lectures, during the lectures he told you what was going to be on the exam. He sends out the topics of each question in an email (3 exams plus final - 50 MC) Lectures are better than textbook; he shows you how to solve problems. He is the better professor out of the two. If the TA teaches the class its over for you.
There are only 5 grades, you dont get your exams back. you may be graded incorrectly. If you question grading policy he will threaten you. This was the most bizarre class I have ever taken. Incredibly disorganized lectures. He isnt available outside of class and responds to emails very rudely. brags about low pass rate. overall not a good prof.
Not going to lie I was scared of his class for the first 2 weeks but the man grows in you with time, he's funny and cares about his students. Small papers due every week and he will roast everyone in class but you'll learn a lot
Definitely one of the more interesting professors I have had at GMU. He is definitely not a bad pick for this course, but make sure you are reading and learning on your own because that is where you'll be doing most of the learning with economics anyway. A good thing is that he would periodically tell students if a type of question is on the test.
Came to every class, took notes, & studied, but the exams were horrible. To be honest choose any other professor. He cannot teach the subject well, his TA teaches better than him. Its not worth your time, worst professor at mason.
You will work hard
His notes did not relate to the exam. He doesn't curve and gives you the option to drop exam grades to be replaced by the final. The final was rough and many students did not pass. Because of him, my GPA is low. Take someone else!
Dr. Bennett unfortunately made ECON 103 at GMU difficult. He said that all assignments and exams would be average instead of adding up all earned points out of the total earned points. Wouldnt recommend him for ECON 103 and other ECON classes he teaches at GMU.
Honestly, I know I heard a lot about this class being difficult but I have not had a class so disorganized and hard like this one. I studied, took notes and not much reflected to the exams. The homework was difficult but you have a long period of time to finish it. Did not learn much from the lectures and prof gives random quizzes too. Do not take.
The class is hard but he seems better than most of the other choices for ECON 103. I did well in the class.
Don't take a writing course with him. Any professor who says, "Students typically don't perform well in my course," should be avoided. His lectures are disorganized and he gets off track easily with personal, unrelated stories. His grading criteria is trivial and inconsistent, and he grades you based on expectations not covered in the prompt.
Dr. Bennet is a good professor the way he teaches is great. His helper Markus makes quizzes and exams. You are only graded on exams and 7 quizzes. Markus taught a class and he reads the PowerPoint, is not a good explainer, and is very rude when going over wrong answers on an exam. Random pop quizzes, Mindtap problems are useless.
Probably the worst professor I had at mason (coming from a senior, mostly-A student). The class is test-heavy and the test questions sometimes differ from what he taught. Tbh take any other professor. I was only of the lucky ones to pass but I know at least half the class failed (there was like 200ish students in the class total).
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