He is the funniest teacher ever. Makes class enjoyable. Go to class and take good notes, because you will need them. Awesome guy.

too much reading for 101 class even if open notes, some test questions are simple but some are hard, accessible, one term paper, clear lectures, need to know both book and lectures extensively

OMG! The funniest guy ever! I really enjoyed his class very much. I learned alot, and he really makes Poli. Sci Fun. You must take notes in this class..any thing that comes out of his mouth..write it down. Read the book and you should get an A.

great teacher...very funny...and not difficult at all...not many office hours due to working at many colleges but overall good guy and recommend...do read the book and take notes as he lets you use them for the test...so go to class often

If you go to class this will be no prob. He is funny and it is actually interesting. There is a term paper but its not very hard. His tests are open note and the book is a short easy read if you do it you will get an A.

Mercurio has a filthy mouth and seems to love the F word. If you like that kind of speech, then he is the teacher for you! I personally would recommend him to no one.

Thanks to First Class Notes it was like a piece of TOAST. Open/notes on all three exams. Be sure you put the questions and answers from the previous tests on your notes for the final because the final repeat their questions again!

go to class, take notes and laugh your ass off. Hes funny and smart and makes what i considered a boring topic, my favorite course.

easy, easy, easy. go to class and you will get an A. also, buy the aztec notes on his class. paper is an easy grade if you stay on topic. hilarious guy if you don't mind a lot of cussing and that he goes on personal tangents.

very easy class. all exams are open note, so go to lecture and take notes and you will have no problem. he posts all possible essay questions online before the exam. thinks he's a comedian, and can actually be pretty funny sometimes.

He is fun and tries to insert some funny barbs into his lectures. His tests are open note, but you need to go to class! He makes a possibly dry subject interesting and only makes you buy ONE (cheap) book.

Take this class!!! He is so funny and helps carry the lectures along with his humor. Made me interested in politics and has open-note fairly easy tests. Learn a lot. Does powerpoint lectures and usually lets you leave early. Great Professor!

Very nice man. Funny. Can tell he really likes his job. Has scantron and essay tests. Scantron is pretty easy and essay part is easy. I recommend this class. Make sure to take notes on everything though. Tests based a lot on lecture.

Great prof., he knows his stuff and keeps you interested. Very funny guy, and he encourages discussion. Easy, open note tests, but you really learn a lot. Take him!

this class was great. easy a or b, depending upon your notes. i'd take another class of his no doubt.

Pretty good teacher. Very funny and down to earth. Tests based mainly on lectures, which are mapped out for students on Powerpoint. Good notes and a quick gloss over chapters in the book = A.

Open notes tests. Final includes 50 exact questions from prior tests. Explains information well in class. Take good notes and write out terms in book for class and you are golden. Professor is really funny too..

John wants everyone to succeed. He sets up his class so it is extremely easy to pass, but you also learn more than 90% of the classes I have taken at State. His sense of humor will make going to class entertaining. I took him for 101 and then again for 102. And I would do it again if I had to.

He is so funny !!! he makes the class interesting , u do have to read from the book , but if u got to class and take good notes u will have an A , and i went and my class was at night , but he made every class really funny

He's a great instructor with the added bonus of being so hilarious that having a night class on Thursday wasn't even painful. Anyone looking for a clear, coherent, and knowledgable instructor would love John.

A lot of people thing that he is really funny, but I'll be honest... he isn't at all. Tries a bit to hard to seem like a comedian but for a lot of people i guess it works. Although he isn't funny he is a good teacher. Open note tests are always a plus.

Really funny guy, he jokes around every class.. very easy too.. only 2 midterms and the final (you can use notes). take him, you won't regret it

Great teacher... To bad his tests are kinda wack. You get open notes but even if you are smart its hard to pull out A's. Still a good class..take it but I'll warn you it was my only Non-A class I got a B+. So easy A class? "Not so much" Easy B class? yep he bluffs about cell phones

By far the best prof i have had at SDSU. Just go to class and write down everything he writes or whatever comes out of his mouth. Type up your notes then use them during the tests. True he tries a little hard on jokes but they're funny in a corny way. Easy to get an A or solid B

great teacher! write down EVERYTHING he says and read the book with AMAZING notes

great class. he is pretty funny and made the class really interesting. there were 3 tests and they were all open notes so take advantage of it. there was also a 8-10 page paper but it was not that bad.

understandable lectures. GO TO LECTURES! they are good anyway. he is funny, and talks about other issues. two midterms one final and you can use your notes. one hard paper, but doesnt grade hard. GOOD TEACHER for subject.

Thinks hes a stand up comedian, has a funny line maybe 1 out of a hundred tries. All tests open note but its a pain to take notes for them all. One large paper but its pretty easy. Tests are still kinda weird even with notes and if you screw up once its hard to get an A in the class as there is only 500 points total.

He is a funny guy-> in a Napolean Dynamite kind of way. Uses dry humor but is a very good teacher. test are easy IF u have good notes. term paper is a pain but bear-able Brings up some controversial topics but ppl are too scared to discuss them. this class opens your eyes to lots of political things. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

This guy was EASY as TOAST b/c of open note exams and a big paper. GOD BLESS YOU, MERCURIO!

He's funny, so taking the 8 AM section isn't so bad. Make sure you take notes; with open note exams, you'll get killed if you don't (it was my downfall).

Mercurio is a comical guy. Definitely would have enjoyed his class more if it wasn't at 8 AM, but at the same time it was not that bad. Open notes on test, but take GOOD notes because his tests are thorough. Very structured class so if you do what you are supposed to do, you will get an A. Overall, it was a good class!

Easy Class! Notes are necessary if you want to pass the OPEN NOTE exams/final. One term paper, easy directions, hope the t.a. doesn't grade hard for you. Taking notes=doing well on exams=A!

so easy if you go to class. all tests are open note and there is really only one assignment for the whole semester. take this class its worth it!

TAKE THIS CLASS I hate pols but I wouldnt miss his class for the world

He was a really good teacher... not only was it like going to a stand-up show every class but all of the exams are open note-- and you keep the exams after you take them which he draws 1/4 of the final questions straight off of. Definately recommend taking

He is a great teacher, funny..all you have to do is take good notes for the tests and write good papers

this is probably the easiest class i have taken so far. tests are open note and reading is not that bad. papers are actually very simple. he is a funny guy and class is usually interesting!

Easy class w/funny teacher. Go to class, take notes, type up vocab words and you can use it on the test. Easy essays. Open note test.

Very good teacher, funny too. Open note tests which are easy if you take good notes. Essay is on a great nonfiction book. Explains concepts very well.

Really easy just go to class and take good notes dont really need the book just the glossary for the final which is open note along with all the other tests. He talks a lot too but he's funny.

Very easy class. Open-note tests. Class is based on 500 points. Two tests, an essay, and a final. tells some funny jokes. easy going. i'd take it again.

Mercurio is an awesome teacher! Take good notes because tests are OPEN NOTE. It is easy to get an A but you will learn more real world, applicabale information than you would taking any other teacher. The homework assignments are easy but you learn a lot.

he may not be as funny as he thinks but he is super easy if you just go to class and take notes like you are supposed to because he has open note test. other then that you have three easy essays and if you dont slack off like others and go to class like a student is supposed to you can get a easy A in the class

take good notes because you get one page front and back for the tests. one easy paper to write. the class isnt bad at all. take it!

He was cool and laid back, but his tests are VERY tricky if you dont know your stuff. He does things like: answers a) Halo effect or b) Halo affect, things along those lines which really suck. Other than that, notes every day, usually 2 full pages. Dont let the open notes thing trick you, it doesnt help that much at all. Overall, hes not bad.

Class is truly easy and you learn a lot in lectures. He wants you to pass b/c you get cheat sheet front/back. I filled up both with 4.5 font and still got messed up. Wasserman and Balma must reads! I reget it because almost got A. But Mercurio is a funny guy so things were not so bad. Just take good notes and review and you're good =) sb06

Smart and funny guy. No homework. 3 tests, 1 research paper. You get to use a cheat sheet (front&back) for the tests which are fill-in/mc/short answer essay questions. All the material on the tests are from his lectures which are very interesting. His humor and way of explaining keeps the class interesting. Great teacher great class. Highly recomme

favorite polisci professor ever. i highly reccommend him because he's funny, interesting, and easy

He is a good humored guy and tells a lot of jokes, but isnt one of those teachers that will waste all your time trying to crack jokes. The tests are fair, considering you get a page of notes, so take good notes. Otherwise it's just the standard polisi class youve taken in high school.

That person obviously must have gotten a bad grade in this class. Mercruio not only made this class fun, but much easier too! The one page front/back cheat sheet really helps. His lectures are interesting and his stories are funny. Definitely the best poli sci teacher I've had

funny & nice, but if u arent good at tests dont take the class cuz the class is based on 3 tests & 1 essay and he doesnt give u a study guide.

Class is not too boring cuz he's a pretty funny guy. You can get by without the books. The vocab from the patterson book for the final is online anyways. You get 8 by 11 cheat sheets for every test and final. No homework or attendance points. Just one paper, 2 tests, and a final.

I thought that John was great. And he was/is funny! One thing he said cracks me up every time I think about it! I will take all my poli sci classes with him. He is the nicest man and will help you with whatever you need. Does not waste your time with busy work. Knows everything about poli sci!

really easy class and he is pretty laid back and funny, take good notes since he lets you use a cheat sheet front and back typed so just write down all info there and you practicaly dont have to study. paper is pretty easy, barely missed an A by a few points I missed on the final, great class and teacher

Mercurio is so funny...he makes learning polisci hilariously fun. He swears often, so if you are easily offended, don't take this class. But if you aren't, you should definitely take a class of his!

funny guy but if you suck at taking tests, this class might be a little hard cuz he doesnt tell you exactly what you need to know for tests; instead he just tells you to study the chapters. class is based on 2 exams, 1 easy paper, and 1 final. cheat sheets are allowed for the tests =D

this was one of the best classes i've taken this semester! mercurio makes the lessons interesting, easy to grasp, and entertaining. although it is not an easy A i was able to get an A by showing up to every class and starting early on the paper

Great teacher! Extremely hilarious. Gets class ready in beginng of class with talks about useless stuff! Easy class, alot to learn! Loved it!

Very funny guy, makes going to class enjoyable even though it is not mandatory. 3 Test and 1 Paper. Attend class for power point, and reading the book is a must. Not easy A, but doable if you study and put effort.

1 paper, 2 midterms, 1 final THATS IT. u get to use a cheat sheet every exam so that helps. GO TO CLASS. it makes understanding the material so much easier. TAKE NOTES every lecture. if u take good notes, read the book, and understand the vocab and concepts u should do fine on the exams. i hate politics but he made the class fun and interesting.

the class is interesting but you definately have to work hard for a good grade. read the book and attend class,start paper early and you should be ok.

very understanding teacher, will help you if you have problems. very funny in class but make sure all of his side talk doesn't distract you from the material because you can find yourself missing important points between his jokes and comments. lets you use notes on all of his tests so make sure you put everything he says in class on your note shee

Great techer, as boring as poli sci is he made it really interesting.

He is a really good Instructor. he is SOOO funny. Makes class really interesting. Papers are easy! Tests are really easy as long as you study. Take good notes.Oh! He lets you use cheat sheets on tests :)

This professor is really cool and down to earth. There are three midterms, one final and then one research paper. You go to class and take notes and you also have to read some of the chapters because you never know where the questions for test will come from. If you plan not to attend class then DO NOT take this class...it requires hard work...

funny teacher, down to earth. just study well. lets you have a cheat sheet(front and back) for all the tests. one paper, 3 exams. easyyyy.

take this class!! I went to 2 friday classes the whole semester. You get 3 tests and 1 essay. Also a cheat sheet! Take it for an easy grade! I got 170 out of 200 on the final. Plus, he is really funny and makes you want to learn about pols.

The teacher is hilarious so he made class interesting. Attendance isn't mandatory, however most of the tests are based on his lectures, so taking good notes is a must. You get an 8.5X11 cheat sheet, front AND back, for every test!

This man is a boss. For one, he knows everything. And two, he puts it in a way where YOU know everything. If you want to learn something, take his class. I ended with a B+. Start early on the essay. The text and lectures are nearly identical.

Difficult professor, hardest GE course to get a decent grade in. Ignore how high an easiness rating he got, he isn't. Avoid if you want to keep a high GPA.

It's a little harder than a 3.8. Tests based on two books plus lecture. A lot of reading. As with any class, it's easy if you keep up with your reading and notes. Seems mean at first, but he's a nice guy. He's really funny and sarcastic. 8.5 x 11 cheet sheet front and back for tests. The first one's hardest! final = cumul. vocab + mc on last chpts

He is FUNNY! very sarcastic, goes on tangent, but is interesting. but it will be difficult to obtain an A unless you get perfect grades on your test. he offers no extra credit, so grade is your grade. 3 test, 4 written assignments, cheat sheet, 2 book readings, good luck.

He is FUNNY! very sarcastic, goes on tangent, but is interesting. but it will be difficult to obtain an A unless you get perfect grades on your test. he offers no extra credit, so grade is your grade. 3 test, 4 written assignments, cheat sheet, 2 book readings, good luck.

Hes a funny guy. Really nice and helpful. He makes class very interesting and applys things to whats happening in our government today. Only bad thing is that if you screw up your exams, your toast! 3 exams, a final, and 4 essays. Simple essays (1-1.5 pages long). Good Luck!

Very nice professor and chill class. Three multiple choice tests and a essay. No curve but a 1 page cheat sheet is allowed. Professor briefly goes over some power points but you need to read the chapters for the full picture. This class is a easy B but you will have to work for that A.

Not sure why all the negative comments. Professor Mercurio is exactly that. A professor. His class is not a cake walk. This is college, you have to study. 3 tests and a paper. You get a cheat sheet for each test. His tests are a bit challenging so be sure to skim the book. He is helpful and approachable and makes class interesting by cracking jokes

if you have a choice choose another one! not a very good 100 proffesor no extra credit. uses another text that he doesnt go over and tests u on it DONT TAKE HIM!

This guy is not that bad, he's funny and his tests are straight forward. go to class, read the book and study and you will get an A.

John's lectures sometimes resemble stand up comedy. Makes the topics of political science easier to digest. Goto class, take notes, read the book and you'll do just fine.

Mercurio is a good professor, just go to class and read the book. I was never really interested in poli sci but he made the lectures interesting and the book is not that hard to read. Got an A overall in the class.

I thought that he was a very entertaining teacher. He always cracked jokes. As long as you go to the lectures and do the homework assignments this class will be a breeze.

The one class I enjoyed going to this semester. Made you think about politics and was pretty funny. Easy online assignments and the tests were reasonable.

He has weekly homework assignments that are due each Sunday night. Book is mandatory to get the online code for the HW. There are 3 tests, and each one is easier than the last. The final was hella easy with a section that was cumulative, but that was the easy part. Funny guy and attendance is not mandatory

he was a funny professor very good sense of humor. There were only 3 tests and an essay. He would tell us what was going to be on the midterms and finals but it wouldnt appear on the tests so you would study for nothing. For the final we had to know more than 300 key terms (20 of which were actually on the final). Talks about his kid too much.

Good professor. Clear about expectations. Funny. I actually looked forward to lectures. Weekly homework and 3 exams. The cheat sheet IS helpful, just be concise. Include key points that are hard to remember. (ie: specific supreme court cases, etc) Exams are not that hard, just show up & read. Attendance not mandatory but def go or you'll miss stuff

He is a great guy. Very entertaining if you have his sense of humor. His class was not boring although it was at 8am which kind of killed it. Online homework every week but it helps the grade and is easy. The test are all multiple choice.

Mercurio was soo funny!! That's one of the reasons why his lectures were so interesting. There are three finals and for all three you are able to have a front and back cheat sheet paper. DEF not an easy A but the cheat sheet helps a lot. The HW is all online and it's easy as well.

Take this class. There are four tests all 50 questions but you get a cheat sheet for each one. The final just has an extra 20 matching vocal section. You have to read and going to class helps because he puts that stuff on the test. He is straightforward, funny and helpful. Would recommend him. read an article and answer questions per week but easy.

Nothing in the lectures was on the test, it all came from the book. Study hard for the first test to figure out how he asks his questions and then just make really good cheat sheets for the rest of the tests. Pretty easy class, definitely taking 102 with Mercurio.

Very easy class as long as you do the readings. Class attendance isn't required and not really necessary. I literally missed about 75% of semester and still got a B because I read the entire textbook. I could've gotten an A but I didn't do all weekly assignments. He is very laid back and humorous. He will definitely make you laugh. Recommend!

I got an A, but most people will get a B. Simply put, either memorize everything everyone said or wrote (NO DATES NEEDED), or do what I did and condense the 3 or 4 chapters per test onto the cheat sheets. Needless to say, my cheat sheets were 7.5 pt font, .5" margins, and color coded. Besides grades, the class was fun and entertaining.

Taken this professor more than once and have passed each time. The exams come straight from the book, you are allowed cheat sheets. Weekly assignments were easy but annoying. Easy to pass this class. Just put vocab on the cheat sheet and you'll pass the exams and class. Take him for an easy passing grade.

Honestly the BEST teacher I have ever had. He makes you look forwar to going to class, answers all questions and is open to discussions, very funny and honest guy. You have hw that is an easy 50% of your grade to get an A and on the tests you get Cheat Sheets so write down all vocab and lecture notes! Make sure to take him! :)

This class you will have to put time and work in but it is easy to get a good grade. Three tests, read one chapter a week and homework due weekly online. Get to use a cheat sheet on every test. Need to go to class because he says stuff that is on the test. He's very nice, funny and a great professor. Took him for 101 as well. Highly recommend him.

John is the best. If you are looking at taking a Pols class, take it with him. You are allowed a cheat sheet on every test, the online homework is extremely easy and you can check your answers before you turn it in, and he is funny so class goes by relatively quickly. Make sure to attend because some things on tests come directly from his mouth

I took POLS101 in the summer. He does not take attendance, but this class is 100% lecture based, so if you miss a class, you miss notes that include information that will be on the exams. This class only consisted of 3 exams and one 3-page paper. It wasn't difficult at all and the text book used is actually a favorite among students.

Mercurio is my favorite professor I've had all semester. Even though it was a two and a half hour night class he still managed to keep me interested and engaged the entire time, and he is genuinely funny enough to do stand-up. Tests are easy if you read the book and go to lecture. Enjoyed his class enough that I'm taking 102 with him next semester.

This guy knows how to keep his class entertained. Felt more like a stand up comedy act than a Poli Sci class. 3 Midterms and a Final with a comprehensive part that helps you out tremendously. Tests based heavily on the textbook and what's discussed in class. Best Poli Sci professor at SDSU.

Great Class. Funny Professor. Easy A. However, tests are based heavily off of the textbook so it is important to read the textbook in its entirety.

John is very entertaining. The textbook he uses is very long and tedious to read but the tests are super easy and he allows you to bring in a cheat sheet for every exam. He's really cool and super understanding. I would definitely recommend his class! I passed it with an A-

TAKE HIM!! hes so funny it made the class go by really quick. GO TO CLASS. the textbook has alot of information and he weeds out the important info that is on the test. 3 tests no cumulative and 1 term paper. This class opened my eyes to a lot of problems in the rest of the world and I'm very thankful for it.

Hilarious professor, cusses and makes jokes. Had a monday night lecture and we always got out early. 3 tests and 1 paper. Im a bad writer and I got a B- on the paper and As on the tests. Completely lecture based with a few questions from the book. Pretty Easy

He sure knows how to keep his class entertained. Really funny guy. Makes class fun. 3 tests, one term paper. Allows a one page chest sheet on all tests. All tests are non-comprehensive. Relatively easy class. You can get a solid B by going to lectures and taking good notes. Guaranteed A if you're willing to read the book.

Super funny. Go to class because the majority of his test is on what he lectures about in class

the class is very easy. the only reason i didn't get an A is because i didn't put in effort for the class. never read the book, but always went to class and took notes. he gives a study guide for every test including the final, which i always did the day before the test and always received high B's or A's. hes a hard essay grader but very helpful.

I really like this guy. I go to every lecture and actively listen and take notes. You will leave his class and still be thinking about the material he went over because it is relavent to your life. However his tests are pretty hard, like I said I went to every class, but still got a 66%. I still would highly recommend taking his class.

You have to read the chapters if you want to do well on the test and take lecture notes but thats about it. He is a great lecturer and entertaining as hell. He makes his class easy to go to. Even lets you have a cheat sheet on all of his tests.

He's funny and his lectures aren't too boring. However his tests are killer. You REALLY need to study to get a good grade (you do get to make a double sided A4 cheat sheet though). The first test I got a 52. I ended getting a C+ in the class but I had to work my ass off to get it, and I feel like I deserved better for the amount of effort I put in.

He's hilarious and makes the material interesting. Assignments are clear-cut and tests are fair. No bad comments here.

This dude is the maaaayannn. He is hilarious. Just go to class because some of his lectures are on the test. HW is super easy, but you should at least read for the test. I hate politics, but this class was great because of Mercurio. Always a few laughs during class. More of a standup comic than a professor, but he knows his stuff.

Professor Mercurio is fantastic! Hands down best professor I have had so far. Im a CJ major and I honestly thought about changing my major to PoliSci after I took his class. Best lectures ever!!! He has a great sense of humor and a lot of passion and knowledge. As long as you take good notes and study, you'll do great! Can use cheat sheet on tests!

He has a very sarcastic but funny sense of humor. By the book when grading so no chance with "grade lobbying," but that isn't a bad thing. Basically you earn what you get. He's very smart and knowledgable about what he's talking about. Neutral on recommending him to anyone.

Mercurio is hands down the best professor I have had at SDSU. His ability to explain a subject is amazing and the fact that he interacts with the class to hear what they have to say was something I looked forward to. He made the 7-9 40 class fun. I wish his class was more often honestly. 2 midterms, 1 final, and a paper.

Definitely recommend taking Mercurio's class! He rocks, his lectures are entertaining and very useful. His tests are extremely straightforward and not too hard if you read the chapters in the book. I highly recommend taking this class

I'll admit that for a GE class, this course was rather difficult. I had to devote at least 90 minutes a day into studying to receive an A in the class. He never takes attendance, but he tells you VERY important test material in his lectures. Mercurio is extremely sarcastic & liberally biased, but willing to help if you ask! Very rewarding class.

Decent professor, one paper that was a little more specific and grammatically graded then i expected but still got a B- on it. Not a bad class. Allowed a cheat sheet.

I personally loved this class. It does rely very heavily on the textbook, so I would strongly suggest reading each chapter. Mercurio also lectures for the duration of each class, and listening to them is very helpful but not completely necessary if you do the reading. As long as you study and create a good cheat sheet you're sure to get an A.

Lets you have a page long cheat sheet for every single test. Awesome if you're willing to keep an open mind about hearing the democratic side. Only thing is sometimes he wouldn't start class for like 30 minutes talking about current events/issues brought up by students. Although this is cool its not what we're tested on. Goes on tangents often.

Has long lectures, yet makes them better with a break and humor. Homework is easy, yet due at the end of the week. Tests are easy if you go to lectures and read :)

Definitely one of the most valuable classes & professors I've taken in my entire academic career. To me, understanding American govt is useful information, but he also really tries to help his students think more critically and complexly. The class wasn't too hard, but I honestly learned a LOT. Would recommend this class to anyone.

Loved this class and Mercurio, he was awesome! I recommend his 2h40 night class once a week, he makes it entertaining w/ stories and humor. Attendance not mandatory, but info from the lectures that wasn't in the book was always on the tests (noncumulative, MC) to reward people that went to class. Easy online HW w/ unlimited attempts to get 100%.

This guys is hilarious. He will test you on very specific examples from the book, so you should read. 3 exams, 2 short papers. The third exam (final exam) is cumulative in that half the test is a vocab test from the key terms in the textbook for the entire semsters. 2 writing assignments that are graded unfairly. Easy class if you study.

3 exams, weekly online hw with unlimited attempts. He is hilarious and gives some test answers during class but overall for a 2hr40min lecture, he does not give out much information so you have to read to do well. Exams may ask some very specific questions but he gives a full page cheat sheet front and back. Will not bump grades for any reason.

READ THE TEXTBOOK. All answers on the test are from the textbook. If you do not read it you will not do well, easy A if you read though. Overall entertaining class, funny professor but very strict on grades, meaning what you get is what you get.

John is hilarious and a really intelligent person. He says exactly what is on his mind, won't care if he hurts your feelings, and teaches you a lot about the real world. Even though you don't have to go to lectures, his lectures are always entertaining. About 25% of the tests are specific to things he says during class. Don't miss any assignment!

Loved this class. John was super funny and straight up and taught the material well. His lectures cover what the readings are on and I maybe read 1 or 2 chapters all semester. If you go to class you'll be fine and the tests weren't cumulative. Would definitely want to take another class with him.

Cool and funny guy who knows what he's talking about. The lectures are long, not mandatory, but he's funny. The exams were challenging but they were online and the answers were in the textbooks. There are 2 short writing assignments that require some research. Just study a little before you take the exams and take good notes and you should be fine.

I took him for Pols102 and enjoyed his class so I took him again for pols101. Very funny professor. There are 3 midterms and a final which is not cumulative. I never read the assigned reading for the textbooks, I just used them for the online tests. Definitely would recommend him. Pretty easy class.

Absolutely loved this guy for poly sci 102! had him for the 2hr 40min class and time just flies by you don't even notice. Hilarious, Not afraid to speak his mind, and all around awesome! Grade was made up of 5 writing assignments which were easy, 2 midterms and the final all online. 75% is from the book and about 25% are from lecture notes.

The course has 5 1 page writing assignments, 2 midterms, and a final. Everything was done online. Some of the questions on the test are from lecture but mostly the textbook (online & free). He's hilarious in his lectures and often has some good stories to tell during class. His opinion is often quite liberal, so if that triggers you don't take him!

Class is fairly easy. There was 5 one page responses, 2 midterms, and 1 Final. Everything was online, so you can use the notes and the textbook. He is liberal, but is pretty good about not discouraging different views. If you go to to every class and do the work, you'll get a good grade.

John was so funny and knowledgeable about the subject. His lectures were very easy to pay attention to and makes more difficult concepts easy to understand. All tests and assignments are online, and as long as you read the textbook you should do well. And sit in the front of his class because he whispers a lot when he tells jokes.

Hilarious guy. 2 papers, 3 midterms and a final exam, all online. No homework. You can literally look up all the answers to the tests while you're taking them.

John was a great teacher and I think he does a wonderful job teaching a class that for most is mandatory. He tries his best to not make the material boring. One of the textbooks used focuses on relevant examples and makes politics much easier to begin to understand. Tests are all online and with a little preparation are definitely manageable

AMAZING teacher. lectures aren't mandatory but rly interesting and he is super funny. 3 midterms and final (not cumulative) and they are all online and super easy and all answers can be found in textbook. reading not mandatory but skim book so on test its easier to find the answers. take good notes in class cuz it makes test easier. TAKE JOHN!!

Great class! There's no homework. No cumulative final. All of his tests are online and the answers are in the book. YOU HAVE TO READ THO! Two very easy 2-3pg essays but the topics are super interesting. And best of all, he's hilarious and makes poli sci very entertaining. Definitely take him!

It truly was a pleasure having Mercurio as a teacher! He is hilarious and makes political science interesting! Super clear grading criteria and I definitely feel like I learned a ton! All his tests are online and he also assigns 2 papers due on turnitin as well. Make sure you do all the reading though. 10/10 Would take him again!!

The class isn't that tough at all, attendance is mandatory in the sense of note-taking as he does not provide his notes. The material should be studied from both his notes and the text-books you need to buy for a hefty sum of money. The class is enjoyable as John is a funny man.

He really wasn't that bad of a teacher. Tests were all online and based off chapters in the book so make sure you take notes outside of class. (Take notes on the bold terms in each chapter) Use quizlet to study and make sure you at least skim read the chapters. Overall not a super hard class but you gotta work hard for an A

His lectures are interesting and when he seems to go on a rant, he usually always ties it back to the material he's lecturing on. He doesn't post his lectures online so if you miss class, make sure to ask for the notes from somebody else. The LDB during tests has the camera on which can be awkward. Honestly, a really great professor overall.

Lectures interesting bc he tells stories and jokes. The only thing you're graded on is 3 midterms, a paper, and the final. He allows you to have a full 8.5x11 cheat sheet for each exam and nothing is cumulative but the key terms on the final. The tests do go over reading though. Paper is straight-forward. Easy unless you're a bad test taker.

He's hilarious and keeps you engaged during lectures. Read and show up to class and you shouldn't have a hard time.

John is the funniest man on campus. He incorporates humor in his lectures which make them more engaging. The only tough part is the grade is solely based on 3 exams and a paper. If you show up to class and take good notes you'll be fine. Reading the textbook is necessary to do good.

John is a great professor. Fun lectures that are easy to understand. The only thing that sucks about the class is that your entire grade is based on 2 midterms, a short paper, & the final. Reading the book & taking notes is absolutely mandatory. He lets you have a full sheet of paper front and back as a cheat sheet on every test so make use of it.

I love John's casual teaching style. You have to study well and use your cheat sheet to get good test scores. Grade consists of 2 midterms, a paper, and the final. doing bad on any of them will really affect your grade. Entertaining in lecture & had sign in sheet for each class.

No homework ever, just readings. If you don't read you will not be able to get A's on exams. Hilarious guy, lectures sometimes boring but also fun-ish. Entire grade is based on 3 midterms, 1 final, & a paper. If you don't make a cheat sheet & do readings for exams you will not pass. Need to actually do some studying. Have to sign in for attendance.

John is honestly the best professor. You get a cheat sheet front and back for the 3 midterms and the final. One essay due in the middle of the semester but he gives the prompt in the syllabus so you can start whenever. No homework but DO THE READINGS. Write down all the definitions on your cheat sheet and you'll be fine. There is a sign in sheet.

he makes all of these topics so interesting!! you must read before exams, or just look at the chapter summaries at least and know the key terms. graded only on tests and a paper. takes attendance everyday but you will want to go! def get the book (doesnt matter the edition if you dont care about current issues) or share it with a friend. i recommen

hands down my favorite prof at SDSU so far. Will be taking again. I haven't read any of the text books and I'm doing just fine. There's quizlets for all the tests. You have to go to class but I enjoy it.

John's lectures are hilarious and were always a highlight of my day. Just be aware that the only things in the gradebook are 3 midterms, an easy paper, and the final. Tests are straightforward, read the chapters and take good reading and lecture notes and you'll pass. You get a full page front/back cheat sheet on all exams.

John is a great lecturer. Super funny and knowledgeable at the same time. He is very clear in his expectations and makes the class very doable. Grades depend on 4 tests and a paper. Just show up and pay attention and you can get a good grade.

Mercurio is a great professor taked

Class is 3 midterms, 1 paper, and the final. Paper is an easy A. With all midterms, the most important thing is reading. If you read the chapters and know the vocab before each test, you can get an A, you just have to study. Attendance is through a sign in sheet which you can get friends to do because lectures aren't important for the test.

Great class but if you mess up once you won't get an A. Your grade is 3 midterms, one paper, and the final. He won't round you up or give extra credit. I was 3 points shy of an A, thats 1.5 test questions, and there was no way to make it up. I still recommend him though, I'm taking his 102 class next semester..

Mercurio is a genuinely nice guy who is easy to access outside of class. I thought being graded off 3 midterms, a final, and one paper would be hard but it wasnt bad at all. definitely the best teacher in the political science department

Johnny is a great professor. There is A LOT of reading, so get ready for that. But, if you stay on top of the readings and take good lecture notes, you will easily pass. The class is graded solely off of a research paper and the 3 or 4 tests. It is a pretty difficult class, but the lectures are really interesting. Definitely take this class!

I took John for Poly Sci 101 and liked him so much I'm taking him for 102. 3 exams that are multiple-choice and 1 paper, and you get a cheat sheet for the tests. I actually enjoy going to his lectures because he makes me laugh. If you read the textbook and take notes on it you'll be fine. Also go to his office hours, he's nice and helpful. 11/10

Hes a great professor. Attendance is not mandatory but lectures are very straightforward and directly outlines what is on the exams. You must read all the assigned chapters from the textbook or else youll be screwed. Overall pretty simple class thought

Your grade is based on like 4 exams and 1 paper. But you get to use one sheet of paper for notes on each exam. The final isn't cumulative either. He's also really funny and so is the textbook its actually kind of entertaining. Make sure you take notes on the readings!

Professor Mercurio is a good professor. His lectures are straightforward, he posts his slides and notes online so you know exactly what you are supposed to get out of the lecture. If you go to class and read the textbook and take notes you will do very well. No Extra credit but study hard for the exams and it should work out.

One of the best professors I have had yet. He deeply cares about every student, their grades, and their personal issues. Attendance not required but highly encouraged! He met with me and was able to help me improve my study habits. Only graded on 4 tests and a paper. Make sure to read the books in-depth and take notes as the lecture is not enough!!

I really liked Mercurio. He is super funny and you can tell he likes talking about politics. Online, you do discussion posts every week and if you just put in little effort you'll get an A. Exams are easy enough they are open note and open book. Zoom was once every other week or so but they were actually fun and enjoyable. TAKE THIS CLASS

Dope guy. Def recommend taking him. Get a cheat sheet front and back for exams. Really funny and good dad jokes.

He was a great professor. So nice and understanding. I accidentally missed an online test and he was nice enough to still let me take it. His lectures are super fun and entertaining and I actually looked forward to them. Tests are pretty fair and I do recommend reading the book it will help a lot. Really a great professor. TAKE THIS CLASS!!!

Had him for poli sci 101 this semester. super sweet guy and you can tell he cares about his students. i had him online cuz of the pandemic but if it was a normal year i know i wouldve loved this class even more. you need to read the textbook but he makes things easier than other professors i think.

Such a great class and great professor! Grade is made up of tests and an essay. Professor cares about his students and is well educated on the subject matter. Lectures go along with textbook readings, and his schedule is very straightforward and easy to follow. You know exactly what to expect on his exams.

Professor Mercurio is very kind and funny. The class is straightforward: read each week, and class discussions. Your grade consists of 3 "midterms," a final, weekly discussions, and zoom participation. We would have zooms sometimes (they were interesting but never about the exams). If you read and take notes, you will be fine.

Took his Political Science 101 class and loved it. He made online learning easy. Great guy and makes lectures and zoom meetings so interesting. Had to work hard for my grade and had to do a lot of reading, but would 100% take any of his classes again. Favorite class of the semester, highly recommend!

Mercurio is hilarious and his lectures are actually super interesting. Take notes during class, he'll mention if something might be on an exam. Make sure to read or at least skim to keep up with the chapters. 3 exams which were online even with in person lectures, open note. Super great class, one of my favorite professors ever!

This professor had me dying laughing in class. I wouldn't even think about it like class, you literally just sit and listen to him tell stories. He knows EVERYTHING about polisci and uses humor to reflect that. You basically choose your grade on everything but the tests-- they're based on lecture and readings. The readings are WILDLY long but worth

Honestly a really great teacher. Does not post notes on canvas but even if he did they wouldn't help. You get most notes from his lectures. GO TO OFFICE HOURS! Go to review your test and ask a lot of questions!! He's super knowledgeable and helpful! Tests are equally from lectures and textbook. Chapters are long, so don't wait till last min to read

He is very funny and lectures are ALWAYS interesting and even though attendance is not mandatory, I never skipped. Books are provided and LOTS of reading is necessary to pass/do well on exams. Cheat sheet every exam(3) front and back. Combo of projects to add up to 100 points that aren't super tedious. Offers extra credit. Relatively easy

Mercurio has the best sense of dry, sarcastic humor that keeps you coming back to lectures. Which is good, because otherwise you're left with readings from the TWO textbooks, which together can get very long. It takes some discipline to keep up with the weekly journals. But I must stress that he is a GREAT lecturer. Definitely recommend!

I had this professor for both PS 101 and 102 and he is hilarious! He makes the class enjoyable and is very approachable. For this class, we had two midterms, one final, multiple projects, and even an extra credit opportunity. If you are looking for a fun class, I would definitely take PS 101 & 102 with Professor Mercurio!

I love Mercurio! He's so funny and makes lectures entertaining. Would definitely take his class again.

He is a pretty cold guy and is pretty straight forward. I feel like he could be a little misleading and could help his students prepare a little more for his test. He makes it seem like he just wants you to read through the text but in reality he test specific topics in the book not discussed in lecture. However he still a good teacher

John was super funny and actually made poly sci interesting to learn about! His tests were pretty hard to be honest, even when studying, but he lets you use a cheat sheet for all of them. I would definitely take his class again!

John is really funny which makes it easier to retain information he discusses in class, but exams are pretty difficult. You need to read the textbook to do well on exams and the chapters are really long which makes it hard to pay attention. Some of the exam questions are very nit picky too, but he's very knowledgeable about poli-sci.

John tries his best to make every lecture very engaging. Even though I do not have an interest in Political Science, the lectures were engaging and interesting. Your grade is only made up of 3 midterms, 1 paper, and a final so you have to make sure you study for all of them. Attendance isn't mandatory, but very hard to succeed without it.

He knows his stuff, his lectures are just a bit slow sometimes. The text will give you most of the info that the lectures do, but there is extra contemporary content in them. Great policy for having classmates share notes. Exams are okay, just study. Discussion boards don't always depend on knowledge of that week's chapter, so you can bluff.

John is awesome he is super nice and funny. He takes attendance but doesn't really care if you come or not. No homework just reading but your grade is only 5 things- 3 midterms, 1 essay, and the final. You get a cheat sheet on all of them but they are all based on the book. His lectures are also good but they can be long.

Two textbooks, both with great content. 3 midterms, one final, one essay, and 2 extra credit opportunities. Fun lectures and very entertaining. Exams are a mix of lectures and textbooks. No busy work. 1 page cheat sheet on all exams.

He is a really good lecturer and cares about his students. I was so relieved to receive a B for his class because his tests were a bit difficult. 2 Textbooks & discussion posts. No essays. The final was easier compared to the other exams.

Mercurio is super funny and his lectures were great. This class is based on weekly discussions and 3 exams. The exams are somewhat difficult but just make sure to study effectively. Exam questions are a mix of the textbook info + his lectures. The textbook readings can be somewhat overwhelming but you'll pull through.

Great intriguing lectures and does his best for free textbooks, I know that some people have a hard time with the exams, but the best formula to success is reading the notes written by classmates for cheat sheets and focussing the reading on the California textbook.

I loved professor Mercurio. I found this class extremely interesting and easy to pay attention to. Reachable outside the classroom / always replies to emails on adequate time! My only complaint is that his tests can contain anything, ANYTHING among the readings and he does not provide a study guide. Over 150 pages that could be a test question

2 midterms, 1 final, a term paper and that's it. Allowed to bring 1 two-sided cheat sheet to all exams including the final. Provides some extra credit. Read the textbook and listen in class and you'll be fine. Hilarious stories throughout lecture keep you engaged and interested.

2 midterms and 1 final exam that's cumulative. Discussion once a week. Pretty heavy tests since it's most of the grade and he does not give a study guide but does allow you to have a cheat sheet.

Mr. Mercurio is funny and presents politics in an engaging and non-biased way. Throughout the course, there are 3 tests and 1 term paper that make up your whole grade. Sounds intimidating, but you are allowed a 1-page cheat sheet for the tests, and term paper isn't bad if you put in the effort. Would definitely recommend if looking for a GE credit.

Mercurio knows how to keep the classroom engaged by telling jokes and silly commentary. There are some extra credit available which I strongly recommend you take since it can be the difference of a whole letter grade. Also you should try attending every in person lecture because that will ensure your success in his class.

2 exams, 1 final, 1 essay. I only showed up for the exams and was flexible around my busy schedule. He is very caring and wants to see everyone pass his class. You literally have to try to fail his class, as long as you find the right resources for the exams, he allows a cheat sheet. Take him to fill POLS requirements, smoothest at SDSU.

Favorite teacher as a freshman! He explained everything well, but make sure you take thorough notes and read the assigned readings. The exams were easy but you need to know the material. There are 4 things that go in the gradebook, and if you put the effort in, you can get a great grade! I learned a lot about politics because he was so engaging.

Professor Mercurio is engaging, but his tests can be tricky - focus on the textbook and take thorough notes. unstuckstudy ai helped me prep effectively for the exams.

Good Professor. For me, I struggle taking notes via orally. for a bit of extra cred, you can upload said notes. What I did was that I just used someone elses notes for studying. He allows a cheat sheet, Use it. Overall, really good lecturer, really sarcastic in modern day politics. He is just not my type of lecturer

Attendance isn't mandatory, but the class is hard to understand if you don't attend his lectures. Two midterms, term paper, and a final are majority of the grade. Each week you have reading assignments and quizzes that aren't hard just time consuming.

Overall a good professor. No work other than the exams and one paper, his lectures were long but pretty interesting

Super funny and engaging guy! He goes on tangents from time to time but it usually clarifies the content with real life examples. 3 MCQ exams, 1 term paper, and a final exam, but he lets you use a full-sized cheat sheet for all. Attendance isn't mandatory, but the lectures are usually relevant to whatever is on the exam.

Besides his political tangents every other class, he is a knowledgable and valuable professor. Cheat Sheet exams, term paper with neutral topics, can grade negatively if you incorporate personal beliefs into your term paper, regardless of facts. You can use discussion notes from other students and do fine on exams, barely showed up.

Chill guy who is passionate about what he is teaching. Lectures are a little boring at times but it directly translates to exams. Just do the homework and ur good

He definitely cares about the topics and students and it shows- He makes lectures fun and interesting and assigns minimal work. Tests are easy if you go to class and take notes, and he allows cheat sheets on every test.

i didnt want to take this class but it was good. 2 midterms, 1 paper, then final. hes accommodating if you miss a test. he also provides textbooks, ill prob end with a B by glancing over them before tests. you get cheat sheets for tests, points for uploading ur notes to discussion boards, and some EC if you read the syllabus the first week of class

i didnt want to take this class, but i got lucky with john. 3 midterms, 1 paper, then final. he tries to make lectures engaging, is decently funny, and is accommodating if you miss a test. he made the class interesting when i was loathing taking it, and i learned a lot. you also get cheat sheets for tests and some EC. overall a good experience

3 MCQ exams, 1 term paper, and a final exam, you can use a full size paper front and back for each test. Attendance isn't mandatory but lectures are useful in dumbing down the textbooks. He often goes on tangents in class but often have a point. He has dad humor and uses it often overall he's pretty chill and is a great lecturer

Mr. John Mercurio is clearly passionate about what he does, and make lectures interesting. The lectures do not cover everything that is on the exams, so make sure to also do the assigned reading even though the chapters are long. Allows you to bring a cheat sheet front and back for the three exams and the final. Offers 20 points of EC as well.

He's a great professor who is very funny and relatable during lectures, but his exams are very difficult and have lots of questions from things not from the lecture. Need to do a lot of textbook reading to get a good grade. 3 exams, 1 research paper and final + extra credit.

I enjoyed the professor, but he was vague when answering some questions. Reading is very important for this class, with small quizzes at the end of chapters.There were three tests overall, all multiple-choice, with a cheat sheet. The professor is very engaging during lectures, and has extra credit if you post your notes on the discussion board.

John is a great guy but his lectures do tend to get very boring. textbook is required to be purchased online as you need to complete quizzes every week online. They're really easy. Grade based on two midterms and final and 1 term paper. Had a lot of fun writing the paper but the tests are what stopped me from getting an A. you can have a cheatsheet

His class is really easy, but lecture heavy. His tests are usually to do with lecture, so if you go to class and take notes, you should be fine. He doesn't post his slides, so just beware of that. He has 2 midterms, 1 final, 1 paper, and then weekly vantage assignments, just do your stuff on time and you're good

Attendance, not graded, you have to attend though because lecture content isn't posted online, although you can get extra credit for posting lecture notes. Weekly quizzes on the online textbook done on the website for it. Lectures are very informative, though. graded on 3 exams, 2 midterms and a final, 1 term paper and textbook quizzes.

Mercurio is a very kind, funny, and approachable professor. His lectures do tend to get boring though so be aware of that (I would sometimes fall asleep every now and then). Make sure to do the Vantage and attend class because that will boost your grade in the end, along with posting your notes online for credit. Take him, he wants you to succeed!