3.7
Quality3.3
Difficulty72%
Would Retake200
Reviews72%
Would Retake
200
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
200 total ratings5
86
4
48
3
20
2
30
1
16
What Students Say
“Both this guy and Strangelove are the running jokes of the Communications department at U of O”
CMN2170 - 3.0 rating“Makes the class and learning material so easy”
CMN2170 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
54%
Textbook Required
32%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.36 avg changeRatings by Course
CMN31053103
5.0
(1)AFEW
5.0
(1)CMN3100
5.0
(1)CMN3155
5.0
(1)COMMD
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
CMN1110
5.0
MEDIAETHI
5.0
CMN1301
5.0
CMNRSRCH
5.0
CMN3155
5.0
Reviews (199)
No Comments
I know lots of girls love him, but I can't stand the man.
No Comments
his tests are way to hard and i don't like his attitude. Get out while you can!
tons of work, hard marks, always talks about his apartment, switch profs, avoid
Hard marker. Loves himself. Marginalizes others. Does not look like Ben Affleck.
Great Prof, very approachable for any problems.
Anyone who doesn't think Dr. Lowes is helpful, simply hasn't asked for help.
No Comments
One of the worst profs there. His marking & comments are bizarre/questionnable.
I found him to be very approachable and helful with my questions. A fun teacher.
TONS of readings...very hard marker...get out while you can
No Comments
No Comments
worst course ever - made my entire semester awful. Apparently he thinks he can h
attacks when on the defensive. good help if you ask though.
very cocky and likes making students feel dumb
terrible prof, boring and unclear in class
he's horrible! alludes to his brilliant intelligence on a regular basis. keeps citing his own work. he'll make you feel stupid for asking reasonable questions.
He does cite his own work, but it's relevant, so deal with it. His notes are clear, and his lectures are interesting, as he pulls from current events. He's helpful, and always takes the time to talk to any students who approach him.
This guy is a joke. He evades evey question with his own question. Tests have no relevence to class. Dont read the books because you just guess on the tests anyways.
Dr.Lowes is obviously very proud of his literary accomplishments (as he often makes mention). Excellent professor if you can stand his 'holier than thou' attitude.
Worst Prof ever! Rambles on forever because he likes the sound of his own voice, even if what he is talking about is completely irrelevant. Then he words test questions in such an intentionally confusing way that getting an A is completely impossible.
No Comments
No Comments
No Comments
He is so hard. He likes to hear the sound of his own voice and thinks highly of himself. He likes to make himself feel superior and his students inferior. I WOULD ARGUE.
No Comments
switch out of his class if you can. you'll learn misc. things, unrelated to whatever you are supposed to learn. he manages to bend whatever the core concept SHOULD be to the limited confines of his own past research and knowledge.
I thought this class was about Media Theories, not about Dr. Lowes' obsession with Chomsky and Orwell. He assigned his own book, why??? Because he's in love with himself.
No Comments
Immature, obtuse, and baselessly smug. i'm sure he's a decent guy, but avoid him as a teacher - some teacher's are willing to acknowledge their own shortcomings, but he is too insecure to, and compensates by being obnoxious and unnecessarily difficult.
Has a sense of humour most people don't understand, which, I think, contributes to the perception that he is bit of a ****. His classes aren't really that hard, it's just that communications students are lazy wusses.
It's like being taught by a self-obesessed frat boy.
His bark is worse than his bite. Likes to talk, has a blunt sense of humour that most people don't get, comes across as a jerk but really isn't (gives huge exam hints). A decent prof, but I don't think he should be teaching this theories class.
He is a great guy if you catch him after class. He is so helpful to speak to in his office hours, and he is one of the best CMN profs we have. He may be a bit smug but in the business world you'll have to learn to deal with people like that!
No Comments
HE IS OK
A lot of work. He's misunderstood, but there is nothing wrong with learning more than you signed up for guys.
He seems like a smart guy but has absolutely no clue how to teach. He makes things more complicated than they have to be. He treats our exams as if we were playing Jeopardy, taking off marks when we give a wrong answer rather than just not giving them.
Lots of work, tough projects, but you learn a lot. Super nice guy, go see him one-on-one and by amazed, can't do enough to help you. Just be prepared to work for your marks, there are no easy "A"s with Lowes.
Great sense of humour and great person to make friends with. Talk to him outside of class time and he'll bend over backwards for you. If you find him a little edgy just stand up to him, don't cower and he'll take you under his wing.
Great Prof who really has a passion for what he says. Doesn't stick to the basics of the course - which makes it both harder and more interesting. I would definetly take another class with him.
I don't care what anyone says, I really like Lowes and I think he is a good prof. He allows you to be creative with your projects and is very laid back.
I like him as a person and think he is an okay prof. Don't run screaming from his classes but don't change your major to end up in one of his classes either.
No Comments
You will read more, do more and learn more than you thought you would but it's worth it. Straightforward prof and you'll have no problems if you put in the work.
Likes to push deadlines back to seem like a good guy, very obsessed with Vancouver, his girlfriend, his face, quotes verbatim from his books (which add no value to his lectures), and doesn't stick to his own guidelines/requirements. I've dropped at least one class because he was teaching it -- now I don't have the choice. Damnit.
great prof. at the beginning you hate him since there are no specific guidlines,but in the end,it all makes sense.you link it up, it all just clicks! moreover he gives you so much credit for the hard work.
No Comments
This teacher is by far one of the greatest, most intelligent men I have ever has the honor of learning from. If you see him one on one, he will provide you with encouragement, help, reassurance, and bestow wisdom upon you. If you are hardworking - take this teacher!
Ben Affleck?
Professor Lowes is a great teacher and is clearly very enthusiastic about what he teaches. It is important to actually go to class though because much of what is on the tests is only covered in class and he doesn't put notes online.I am glad I ended up taking the class although i know I wouldn't feel the same way if it were any other prof.
No Comments
If you like a man that rants on about himself and the perils of being a father - this is the prof for you. He spells out simple words for the class, talks way too much about his personal life, and gets you to buy his book to up his sales. All in all a terrible prof. Way to go, Lowes.
He is one of the most interesting profs to hear lecture. I learned a lot from him. He doesn't use textbooks, but instead uses actual non-fiction books that are pretty interesting and easy reads! His exams are cumulative so he repeats a lot of the same questions over again. The final is made entirely of questions from previous exams.
Really good teacher, not always clear on the usefulness of the additional texts.
One of my favourite profs!!! Like others have said before me, what makes him stand out is his pure enthusiasm for the subject as well as his ability to fuse communications with other disciplines such as English lit. and political sciences. If you are a new to CMN at Ottawa U. this is the prof. to get you into the subject.
This guy seems to be the only prof that's grounded in reality in the whole university. He's been in the working world, and he expects his students to meet real-world standards. His classes were the only practical ones in all my Comm. courses. He's tough, but a great prof.
he is possibly the best professor i've ever had. you have to do a LOT of work in his class, and it's not easy, but then, university isn't for slackers or dummies anyway. the things i learned from his classes i still hold today. he's sincere, interesting, and his lectures are insightful. i have learned the most from him.
a lot of reading, and wasn't really sure of the point of the course, but the prof was a nice guy, funny
He's really stimulating and I love how he makes fun of his own degree and talks about his wife and daughter non-stop, but he goes sooooo in depth about abstract theory that it's really hard to keep track of what is important to study. The books we have for the class are written by him most of the time so it's really difficult to be a smartie.
There are two types of professors - those who want to find out what you know, and those who want to find out what you don't. Professor Lowes definitely cares about what you know, and not about memorizing pointless facts. He gave us every opportunity to do well on his exams, so we could express our ideas and not stress about regurgitating readings
SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS!! horrible!!
Not as bad as most people think. If you take notes and listen to what he points out as important, than the midterm is not too bad. Can be kind of scary though...and it may be hard to keep up with, since he mainly just talks and you write.
talks way to fast for you to write anything..notes are all over the place because he doesnt use power point. i still have no idea what the class is about
He is an incredibly smart professor. Teaches the way students SHOULD be taught. Thank you for not using powerpoint, but maybe, slow down a bit so we can get all the notes. What an awesome class.
Bitter, self-congratulatory and condescending. I rarely laughed at his jokes. He repeated himself A LOT and was unorganized in presenting his information. He treated all of his students as though they could not think for themselves and knew very little. As a result I learned VERY little that I didn't already know. others liked him a lot though
Quite possibly the most condescending & conceited teacher I've ever had. BUT, also amongst the most brilliant. His lectures are captivating and if you miss what he says, chances are he'll repeat it about 4 more times (if it's important). I loved his class.
Biggest Jerk I have ever met in my life, with that being said, he's incredibly smart. Hard to understand sometimes, but he often repeats what he wants you to know. I love how he doesn't use Powerpoint even though it makes it harder to take notes.
Good guy, good lectures, and nice to look at. His lectures are at times pretty repetitive, but it's to make it perfectly clear to you what he wants you to understand and know. Learned a lot from him.
I loved his teaching method and his absolute refusal to use slides. I felt interested and compelled to listen. He made me understand the importance of academic integrity in research and made a seemingly boring subject fascinating. Speaks clearly and emphasizes what's important. Just work hard, listen, and you have everything to gain.
I had Mark for an intro to media studies, first year. I thought it would be a decent elective. Honestly, it was by far my hardest class, keeping in mind I had some business and psychology classes aswell. I would recommend dropping a class with Mr.Lowes. He got into Carleton with a 52. (He felt the need to tell the class this)
unbelievably condescending & arrogant. extremely hard to take notes from. what was this class even about?????? random journal readings don't explain that. will bring down your average. steer clear.
Mark Lowes is a genious. I am currently in two of his classes: CMN 2170 and CMN 3109 and took his intro to media class first year. If you want an easy A, do not take him. If you are looking to be challenged and learn more than you will in most classes... he is your guy! Iis important that you write down everything he says!
Very funny, has dry humour. I didn't do well in his class BUT I did enjoy his willingness to help and if you do join in on discussions he'll try to remember your name. His bark is definately worse than his bite. Amazing prof who teaches you taught me more than whats in a textbook.
No powerpoint, extremely difficult assignments, very expensive books/course pack, bad essays. If you have the ability to write down every single word he says then you might be lucky and get a C.
I had taken a course with him before and hated it, BUT, he is definitely the best professor I've had so far. You will take a while to get used to him, and you will want to hate him because he does push you, but you will do SO MUCH BETTER in all your other courses after one with him. You will actually learn something. Easy midterms and exams too!!!
This prof is hard only if you're used to online powerpoint slides. He doesn't have any, so you just have to suck it up and take notes the ol' fashioned way. But, the material he teaches is relevant to the REAL world, unlike some other profs who just have you write a blog for a semester. Bonus: he's funny, understanding, and helpful.
Amazing professor by far my hardest class. Him not using slides to teach really makes you focus on his lectures and you learn alot. The man is a genious
Second course I've had with Lowes. One of the best educators I've met in my life, I learned more in this course than I have in some entire semesters.
Thata boy Lowes! Guy is a hell of a Prof.Tough in the beginning but seriously if you take notes and go to the lecture then youll do great. He makes you work for it but is understanding and entertaining. Repeats himself multiple times if its on the test. Practically gives you the answer. I recommend him atleast once
Best prof so far at Ottawau. Helpful, intelligent, legit.
weird that as soon as i moved closer to the front of the class he began picking on me for answers, but my mark went up about 15%, really good prof, found him very interesting to listen to. would recommend him to anyone, will take a class of his again
He has a different teaching style, but his class teaches you so much more than the average professor. He's clear about what he wants (he repeats it a lot) and if you listen and take vague notes, you will be fine. I recommend him as a professor.
Amazing prof, take notes, and you'll do fine. Repeats exactly what he wants, and if you pay attention, you'll do great!
he just wants you to understand and think critically about the material (so you have to read it and attend lectures), and not just memorize slides like so many other professors require. so if you're dumb, you'll fail.. if you're actually worthy of a degree, you'll get an A!
Guy is seriously impressive. Teaches with no notes, no slides. Just talks like hes chillin with the class. This is what UNiversity is about. Hes the best. Go to class, take notes and pay attention. Instant A. If you dont youll fail for sure.
Never take his class if you have another one across campus right after... he ends the class 5 minutes before the limit (even though university policy states that classes should end 10 minutes before). Rather arrogant, but he knows his stuff and loves one-on-one help. Be prepared to come to the lectures if you want to understand the material.
Great prof. Will actually learn useful material. Not a class where you just copy down definitions from slides
Most stimulating prof I've ever had. You must attend classes and listen (which isn't hard because he makes the subject matter so stimulating). If you actually enjoy learning than take his class, if you like mindless teaching with no substance...Don't!
Very helpful prof. Teaches you to learn for yourself.
Honestly the world's best professor. Doesn't baby students; students really LEARN in his classes. Plus he's super hot.
He is one hundred percent the best professor in the Communication department at the University of Ottawa. Challenging prof, but so worth it, actually felt like I learned something. He makes you think, not just listen. Could not recommend a better course/prof.
Honestly one of the best profs i've ever had. Anyone who didn't do well probably didn't pay attention or do the readings. He's mad impressive and makes you feel like you are just chillen and discussing things. If you are looking for a bird course then don't bother but if you want to actually get your money's worth then great choice!
SO SMART. Very passionate, helpful, and deep. He knows what he's talking about more so than anyone. He really commits himself and it shows. He not only teaches you, but he teaches you how to learn. Very interesting classes and while the course work can be a little demanding, it is definitely worthwhile. Oh and good looking too.
Cannot say enough good things about Lowes. My favourite prof. He is great to talk to outside of class as he is always willing to meet up and discuss anything. If you attend class, actually pay attention and take notes, you'll get a good mark. Learnt many things in this course that I won't forget - until so many other courses...
Lowes teaching style makes you pay attention in class. If you're a hard working student who can read texts & remember facts, then this course will be easy for you. He is rated as a hard proof but i got an A+ because I payed attention! No presentations, all MC tests, he gives away free answers and the questions are always repeated. Go to office hour
Lowes is seriously one of the best profs I've had at uOttawa. If you go to class, do the readings and participate he'll like you and respect you. You need to put in a lot of effort but it will pay off..I got an A+ in his class so it's definitely doable. Exams are multiple choice and might have an essay question and are fairly easy for the material.
really good prof, keeps you entertained and interested in the course material
If you choose 'new media' for youtube video clip courses to entertain you, you are not right track. This course is profoundly philosophical,deeply human-loving-mind, and passion for justice. I loved the course, including prof's sincere concern towards students. Don't miss this course, your eyes become more open to the world, when you done.
amazing professor, the presentation of material is stimulating, and you learn a lot. go to class, do the readings (which are fun & interesting anyway) and it's an EASY A. plus he's gorgeous, BONUS.
He made a 3hour lecture very interesting and engaging. 4 multiple choice tests (one with a pass-or-fail essay at the end)which he repeats questions on. You MUST do all of the readings in order to do well.He reiterates frequently what he is looking for/testing on. Great class!
Best prof I've ever had at Uottawa! MUST do the readings which are interesting anyways, and attend class! He always hints to what might be on the midterms!
whatever I say, if you are in cmn, you have to take this course with this guy, cuz this course is mandatory and he is the only choice.
You will be terrified at the start of the course and wonder what you got yourself into. Work hard. Attend lectures. Read the cases. His MC tests are tricky but he repeats questions & drills the ideas in your head. Not the usual CMN course, and I'm so glad it's over... but he has taught me more useful knowledge than any CMN prof I've had so far!
The next time an engineering student tries to tell me my degree is useless, I'm busting out everything I learned in this class. I loved his legal perspective on the history of new media. Very interesting. And of course, his flip phone is pretty swell, and the Saturday night blanket emails he sends were hilarious.
Great professor, easily the best I've had at UOttawa. Makes coming to class an enjoyable experience, and covers the material very well. Read the cases and you'll be fine.
His course is very easy as long as you do what you are suppose to. He puts great emphasis on doing the readings before coming to class and if you do so you will have no problem. Overall, great professor.
For those who don't have to take this course, clap your hands, cuz the course itself is very difficult; However, Mark made it very interesting. He is extremely helpful and funny. One of the best professors in OttawaU. Take this course, if you want to learn real knowledge!
Although the material can seem complex at first, the professor breaks it down in the lectures. He is incredibly passionate about his course. Readings are a must before coming to class otherwise you will feel lost. And yes the readings can be long. Overall I love this class because it pushes me to see outside the box.
Interesting professor, quite arrogant, opinionated and acts like a pubescent hockey jock sometimes. He is no non sense type guy and pushes you out of your comfort zone. His research is sports themed which isn't surprising.His background is in law. But, I digress. He is very well spoken, very knowledgeable and well respected among students.
First thing: The guy demands respect. Don't use your phone during lecture he will call you on it. Secondly, do the readings or learn the main parts before class. Third he's not arrogant that's just him joking around. If you talk to him after class he's the nicest guy. Great prof, makes concepts clear. Exams are cumulative, easy if you prepare.
Mark Lowes is an interesting character. I went from hating him so much at the beginning of the semester because he picks on people and seems kind of arrogant. But I grew to really appreciate and respect him as a professor. He seems to really care about his students. And he is a very nice guy when you go into his office hours. Great prof!!
In a place with pretty "uniform" people and lack of interesting personalities, he makes a good impression by being different. This is what all the professors should have: the capacity to be more than regular people that teach what you can learn alone. He is inspiring and his attitude encourages students to be original, like he is able to be.
Wonderful professor. Challenges his students to think about the material while being an engaging and fun lecturer. Must do dense law readings, but he clarifies them in class. Tests fairly, but must pay attention to detail! Encourages questions and discussion in class. Made me want to go to class on a Friday morning! Would definitely have him again!
Dr. Lowes was a pretty interesting guy! Though maybe not the most accommodating professor ever, his expectations were clear and he had a great sense of humour. The readings were absolutely mandatory, but the midterms were based entirely on them: if you read them thoroughly enough you would have had no problem passing the course! Thanks Dr. Lowes!
Professor Lowes is easily my favourite prof at uOttawa. I was skeptical at first but he conveys the course content clearly and effectively. Would never skip a class with him - his lectures are mandatory if you want to do well and as a bonus, he is hilarious. He is super helpful if you go to his office hours (plus he's pretty easy on the eyes) ;)
Overall Lowes is a great prof. You have to be willing to put the work in to do well. Some readings are long and confusing. It is essential that you attend every lecture! He will explain the readings and his expectations for what you should take from each one. A clear understanding of the readings is mandatory for all tests!
Although I like his course, I wanted to take a NEW MEDIA course not a law course. It was very misleading and the subject of new media was completely overlooked. Both this guy and Strangelove are the running jokes of the Communications department at U of O. Expect ego stroking and sports talk, which makes you wonder why you took comm at U of O.
He is such an amazing prof, one of the best I've had. He is super passionate so he wants you to learn something. You have to work for your grade (go to class and do the readings) but he makes it enjoyable and he is such a fun prof. I worked the hardest in class but I would take it again he is awesome. Not hard to get an A if you show up.
Extremely nice guy, you can tell he is extremely passionate about what he is teaching. He is my professor for New Media and he completely changed direction by teaching law. If I wanted to take a law course I would have signed up for it.
The fact that there's a single negative review about this guy is shocking. Best prof by a landslide at UOttawa. I'm in fourth year and have yet to had a class in Comms that was actually interesting, engaging and that I looked forward to attending. The only thing I'll take away with my degree will probably be what he taught. We need more like him.
Best prof I've ever had. Go to class, pay attention, and he will make your life so easy on exams. All the material has been drilled into my head that the final was simple. Nice, friendly guy willing to do whatever to help you better understand things. It's not your typical New Media course but I couldn't recommend it enough.
Funny guy, approachable, no slides in class, but goes through each case study with a lot of detail, if you did not understand something he will clarify it. Really great guy and drills the information into your head with his energetic passion for the class
Very enthusiastic about content. Uses law proceeding to convey information. Makes all information crystal clear. No slides, so you need to pay attention in class. If you show up and pay attention, tests are easy. Makes jokes, can get off topic easy but makes class entertaining. Would take another class with him.
solid prof, solid guy
Great prof who knows his stuff and tries to make the class fun. Even for a late 3h Monday class he made it interesting. He doesn't use a textbook which by the end you'll thank him for it as the readings are actually somewhat interesting if you like sports. He's not the easiest prof so don't expect an A if you don't give the class 100%. Great guy!
About to give this guy a very fair review. Good guy, good intentions and does his best to keep us interested in a 3 hr lecture on a Monday night. He does not use a textbook, nor does he use slides. You HAVE to attend class to pass. When teaching, he can get very off topic and it's hard to get complete notes. Make a study group!!!
He made our research methods class a sports communication class. Does not use slides because "they make you stupid", so if you are a visual learner, be prepared for no visuals! Nice guy, passionate about sports comm. clearly, but would not take his class again
Trust me; you want to take this man's class. He's an excellent professor and genuinely cares about students. He's the type of guy to make it seem like the class is going to be brutal and then makes it extremely easy. Read what's assigned and know the definitions and you'll probably get an A.
One of the best professors I've had in four years by far. He's interesting and funny. Go to class, do the readings, you'll do well.
If you have a class with him, make sure you can keep up. His lectures are fast-paced, his readings are HEAVY and he doesn't use slides. Coming to class prepared and reading the cases beforehand will make his classes much easier. Don't be afraid to go see him to ask questions, he's actually really helpful. He's eccentric but his methods work.
he is a great teacher, but his readings are unrealistic. felt more like a law class. the entire class was based off of law readings and this was a pop culture class.
Great prof, easy grader and absolutely hilarious. Sure, he doesn't use slides but hes right, they do make us dumb. I'm a visual learner and I had no problem retaining information because he's so funny!! Hands down my favourite prof
you have to go to class and MUST do the readings if you want to do well on the tests. It may seem janky at first as you have a hard time figuring out how legal cases relate to pop culture but trust me it gets interesting and you'll soon learn. Mark is engaging and brilliant and knows what he's doing. He will trick you on his tests though.
BEST. PROF. EVER. just take a class with him. just do it. he is amazing, his exams are straight forward, multiple choice, and they revolve around things that he ALWAYS repeats in class. he doesn't post slides but for once that wasn't a problem! he is hilarious and very clear. just do the readings from the coursepack and you'll get an A.
Mark Lowes is an awesome prof! I had 2 classes with him in 1 semester! The material gets easier over time, and the midterm questions repeat themselves! Do your best to familiarize yourself with the readings, and you'll be fine! Don't be afraid to approach the prof either, he's super nice and funny! Cool guy, would like to take more classes!!
Friendly and realistic
He is very friendly and willing to help. Although his textbook is big and heavy, you do not need to read the entire thing. He will let you know the important sections in class. MCQ exams are very easy and questions are recycled.
His lectures can come off as tangential, but if you follow along and do the readings, the content is very accessible! Readings are long, but he mentions most important points in class and there are summaries of the readings which are helpful! No slides posted or used, so get ready to pay attention.
Great prof
Engaging speaker, helpful course pack. The info is handed to you, you just have to read it. Readings are lengthy. All exams are multiple choice and fairly precise, you have to listen to things he emphasizes in class because it's unrealistic that you'll read everything.
One of my favorite professors. His classes are very straightforward, as well as his tests. If show up to class and listen to what he's talking about, you can't do poorly. He's a captivating speaker. Sometimes it seems that he is rambling, but if he's repeating it, it's 100% on the tests. THERE IS NO GROUP WORK!!!
This is my second time taking a course with him, and I would take 5000 courses with him again if I could. AMAZING PROF. He obviously does not post anything online. Just Pay attention in class and do your readings. He's so clear on what is on the exams and midterms. There's a affordable course pack. Everything is cumulative and MC.
Go to class and you should be fine. He's quite funny but can be a little intimidating in class. When you go to his office hours and ask him questions, he's incredibly nice and helpful. Overall great prof!
if you go to class and listen to what he says, you will pass so easily. he literally teaches exactly what are on the tests. no tricks at all and very clear. if you don't want to go to class, you can still pass but have to do the readings very carefully and really understand. midterms multiple choice and SO EASY, questions reused in every midterm
Amazing prof!
Hes so straight forward in his teaching! All exams are multiple choice and he reuses the same questions on each midterm and the final. The readings may seem overwhelming at first, but if you pay attention in class, he goes through them and tells you more or less exactly what is going to be covered on the exams. Really wants his students to succeed
Absolute legend. Makes the class and learning material so easy. No group projects, no papers, no presentations, just show up with the course pack take notes and you'll be fine for the 4 multiple choice exams. He may tease but he genuinely just wants his students to get good marks with minimal stress. The class average was like an A-.
If you don't generally do well on objective tests, don't take this course with him. It was more legal than I expected. Seriously, don't take this with him if you're not good with objective tests. He's a decent professor though
One of My Best Profs throughout my whole university program. As long as you buy the course pack and pay attention in class, you're good to go.
Definetly try and take at least one course with Lowes if you can. His teaching style is different than most profs. He doesn't use power-point so you need to make sure to show up to class. The content of the course is interesting and explained in a way that makes it feel easy to learn.
10/10 for wearing a Pug Life hoodie for 2 of our lectures so far.
I took CMN 3105 with Prof Lowes. He is the most amazing prof at uOttawa! He does not post anything on BS. He is super funny! His lectures are engaging, his expectations for the midterms and final are clear and easy to study for. DO YOUR READINGS, GO TO CLASS, and everything will be a breeze! If you do your part, it is an easy A!
Do the readings, go to class, highlight was he points out, take good notes, if he repeats it: it's 100% on the exam, compare notes if you need to, ask questions if you need to. 3 cumulative MC midterms + 1 MC final. The class average was very high. He is clear! and his exams are SIMPLE. no all nighter needed! Easiest class I have ever taken.
EAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASYY AND AMAZING PROF!
If you actually care about school, this class is a BREEZE. He is against technology so don't expect powerpoints and notes posted on brightspace but just attend class and take good notes and you will be FINE!!! He is actually hilarious and he cares soooo much. Just be nice with him and he's gonna be even nicer to you
Buy the course pack and don't skip class!! You won't regret it. wasnt sure how the semester would go but it was one of my best lectures. He doesn't read off PowerPoint slides because he really knows the content.
The subject is vague, but he does a really good job at explaining it in different ways. He's very clear on what is important to know, and what you'll be tested on. Also very accommodating with tests.
he doesn't use slides and it's not at all an inconvenience, take a class with him at least once and you'll see how awesome of a prof he is. it's easy to retain info because of how clear and simple he makes everything and it's very hard to do bad in his classes.
Worst professor I've ever had. He's very condescending - his go to saying is "PowerPoint makes you stupid" but he doesn't take into account the fact that people have different learning styles. I had a very hard time following his lectures because he tends to go on tangents for 10 minutes before making his point. Definitely will not take again.
Mark Lowes: probably the greatest professor at uOttawa. Lectures are extremely captivating, he truly cares about his student's success, and he makes showing up to class a rewarding experience. That being said, definitely don't skip lectures, as he doesn't use PowerPoint. All in all, Mark Lowes made a seemingly boring class into an all-time fav :)
Before taking this class, I was on the fence about the whole no PowerPoint thing. However, the way he explains the readings makes up for it! I think that the people that complain about the lack of PPTs seem to just not like the idea of having to pay attention and take notes in class. So if you can do all these things, you'll be more than okay.
I will be honest. In first year I took CMN2170; it was overwhelming at first (a lot of reading and no PPT) but at the end of the semester, but i understood that I just needed to pay attention to what he was saying and I finished with a B+ with him. I took CMN3105 in 3rd year, A BREEZE. Go to class, YOU WILL PASS WITH AN A+
Best prof i had throughout my 4 years at University. Such a down to earth and funny guy. Always ready to help his students and wants to make sure everyone (who shows up) does well.
Professor Lowes is awesome! He completely taught media ethics in a new light and made it beyond interesting. He has 3 tests and 1 final (no paper) and honestly if you listen in class or if you even just understand the readings you'll do great in the tests. There's 1 reading per week too, so not too heavy. He is so so interesting and fun.
Mark Lowes, if you're reading this; you're a legend for that ABBA-party story. This man is such a fantastic lecturer that I would get EXCITED to go to class... I would look forward to waking up early, just to hear this man lecture. He is so personable and knowledgable and honestly everyone should take a class with him. Love U Lowes
Professor Lowes made my undergrad enjoyable. I'm surprised he doesn't have a better rating. His style of teaching is different, no PPT and you read Supreme Court judgements. However, once you get used to it, his exams are fairly easy. All multiple choice makes studying relatively simple. One of the best comms profs.
No slides, just him talking. coursepack are judgments of supreme court of Canada. Pay attention to what he repeat on the lecture, those are the points for your tests! Tests all MC&TF about the facts in readings, no paper/subjective questions, so read and then you can get a good grade. Test cumulative so questions in your 1st test will show up again
Lectures are kinda boring (pre-recorded and he just goes over supreme court judgements) but if you watch them the course is an Easy A. 3 M/C tests and a M/C final worth 40%. Some of the questions are very specific like "what is the exact wording" but... besides that pretty easy. Just pay attention to what he points out in the readings.
Love Mark Lowes, had him for two classes now and I'm honestly sad that it doesn't seem he teaches any other courses. Hi lecturing style is my absolute favourite, he is extremely passionate and it really comes through every lecture. Found out that he used to play football for Carleton, which is my only grievance against him. Other than that: elite!
This prof is the reason i didn't drop out of school during zoom university. He made reading supreme court judgements sooo easy. no powerpoints or notes just him reading through the judgements and explaining them. A highlighter and a few notes and you'll be guaranteed a good grade. he puts emphasis on what's going to be on the midterms. amazing prof
Professor Lowes made media ethics extremely interesting. The content and the lectures seemed daunting but he taught it in a way that made it easy to understand! The evaluations were fair and he made it clear that he wanted us to succeed. Easily accessible outside of class for any questions! Would definitely recommend.
This professor is one of the best in the CMN department. He uses actual court cases and goes in depth about how to read them and gain all the information you possible can from them. He is able to take any concept and find a way to make you realize the ethical POV with it. I loved this class. Funny guy too - Line G as in Gangsta was a class fave.
Lowes is a great prof! The course itself is very interesting and he delivered it differently form other profs using a different platform where he drops a recorded video and you have to listen to it. (I advise not to leave them for later because then next thing you know you have 3 hours of recordings to catch up on for a quiz) He is really nice tho!
Lowes is a great prof. The material is a little heavy but he does help go through it pretty well. You'll do a lot of reading and try not to skip lectures because it becomes a lot to catch up to. He's also very funny!!
The material is extremely dry. He doesn't make any effort to make it more interesting either. It is just like someone gave him the opportunity to talk about something he likes for hours! The problem is that as a student you are graded on it! A lot of memorizing. Lectures were pre recorded, and the readings were too long and boring.
Although he conveys the subject matter quite clearly and acts as though he is kind, hes actually a very condescending and rude professor. He sent me the most nasty/passive aggressive email after I asked him several questions about course content. DO NOT TAKE HIS COURSE. The guy is unhinged.
Boring but necessary. Not an amazing professor, but not a bad one. Tests (3 MCs) were pretty easy.
Mark Lowes is a professor who relies heavily on prerecorded lectures to educate a class. He gave us three assessments in our course, two midterms, and our final. If you're a student who relies on visual aids during lectures, you may struggle, as Lowes reads from court case documents in his lectures.
I did not enjoy this class as I found it insanely difficult, and not in a fun challenge kind of way. The readings were long and all law documents and the lectures were not very exciting. However, I did learn a lot and Professor Lowes is very fast at replying to emails. This class is online and asynchronous so if you don't like that don't take it.
prof who likes what he's studying. replies quickly to emails. his style of quiz/exams are unique format, all MC, lots of reading, and similar answers, thankfully they're all similar throughout so eventually you get used to it. the lectures are useful for getting the gist of the readings/court cases. Skim reading is your friend
The content itself is interesting but if you didn't take CMN 2170, it can be hard to adjust to learning how to read legal cases. The whole course is just reading legal cases and the prof will go over them in class. He does not believe in power point slides, but I still found it okay to follow along in class. The class can be hard but it ended okay
Professor Lowes has a unique teaching style - pre-recorded lectures and a lot of reading. While challenging, the material is interesting if you engage with it. Unstuckstudy was super helpful for studying the dense course content. Attend lectures, do the readings, and you'll do well.
Make sure to watch all lectures and do the readings. Every class is a legal case (def a learning curve) and there were 3 online multiple choice exams (+ the multiple choice final). I enjoyed taking his CMN 3105 class more (in-person). Material can be interesting but difficult sometimes. Takes up a lot of time. Should've picked easier elective.
guys honestly avoid. he doesn't use textbooks or slides because apparently it "makes you stupid" to have organized and labelled information. all he does is post random old cases to read. he really does not care about his students he makes it clear that theres no opportunity to raise your grade i seriously dont recommend
avoid if you love yourself
He is one of the worst lecturers I have ever heard. He refuses to use any kind of supportive slides. He rambles, and isn't clear at all. He only covers a bit of the material and expects you to understand the legal documents on your own. His tests are purposefully confusing, and doesn't even spell check the tests. He doesn't review before exams.
He doesn't use slides or textbook readings so it can be hard to get adjusted to that and stay focused in class but overall not a bad prof. He takes you through law cases (each week is a diff case) and clearly knows what he's talking about. If you take notes on what he's saying in class, the exams aren't too bad but not a great elective choice
Prof Lowes is amazing! He does not use any PowerPoint or visuals, so you have to be paying attention at all times or else you miss the notes, but this made me really remember and learn all the content. You can tell he loves his job and cares about his students. 2 midterms and one final - all bright space online and not proctored.
rambles a lot, goes off on tangents that may or may not be relevant to the content. the content itself has a learning curve (a lot of legalese) but he does an okay job of explaining. generally not super direct and hard to follow which is a big problem because there's no way to review except for your own notes (no slides/visuals). never again
He uses case studies and he does not believe in slide shows or powerpoint. He did two online midterms and the final was online
Worst professor I've had. Lectures consisted of senseless rambling and weren't accompanied by any slides or supplementary material. Bounces from topic to topic making it near impossible to take good notes. For a communications class it was almost entirely focused on law and legal proceedings, with all readings being direct court cases. 1/10
lectures go completely off topic, had little to do with the course theme and seemed more to be his area of interest. Would never take him again even if my diploma depended on it
If i could swear in this I would be.
His teaching style is different then the “norm”, so it does take a bit to get use to … but he's always there to answer questions and once you get the hang of it, honestly very enjoyable!
Professor Lowes is very hardworking and dedicated. He cares a lot for his students, which really shows in his kindness/generosity. I would definitely recommend taking classes with him. He is also very humorous which makes learning fun. Best of luck to you Professor!!!
Professor Lowes is by far one of the best professors I've had in my undergrad. You can tell how much he genuinely cares about his students and wants to see them succeed. I wish all professors taught like him! Would 100% recommend taking a course with him. :)
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
54%
Textbook Required
32%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.36 avg changeRatings by Course
CMN31053103
5.0
(1)AFEW
5.0
(1)CMN3100
5.0
(1)CMN3155
5.0
(1)COMMD
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
CMN1110
5.0
MEDIAETHI
5.0
CMN1301
5.0
CMNRSRCH
5.0
CMN3155
5.0