3.2
Quality3.3
Difficulty46%
Would Retake133
Reviews46%
Would Retake
133
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
40
4
26
3
24
2
19
1
24
What Students Say
“Novotny is, by far, one of the best professors that I've ever had”
POLS2130 - 5.0 rating“He loves this subject and that is evident”
POLS1101 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
24%
Textbook Required
29%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.50 avg changeRatings by Course
POLS3323
5.0
(1)POLITICSMEDIA
5.0
(2)POLS3232
5.0
(1)HIST1101
5.0
(1)HIST1111
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
POLS1112
5.0
POL3233
5.0
POLS
4.3
POLS2112
4.0
POLS3332
4.0
Reviews (133)
Very good teacher. He knows what he is teaching and makes it easy to understand.
He's boring and has some facts wrong...otherwise he's good natured and the class is easy
Great Professor, who will help you with anything you need.
He was really cool. He knows what he is talking about. His tests are kind of hard though. A lot of material and not a lot of material that flows if u know what i mean
He was a little goofy, but has been my favorite professor so far. His lectures are on powerpoint, and then gives a handout of things you need to know from the book for tests. I skipped classes, and still made a B!
No Comments
Hard to listen to. Tested on quotes and other misc. stuff that is almost too hard to pass. Prepare to fall asleep.He loves the microphone. Bring a friend though and should be OK.
Easy "A" if you attend lecture and pay attention. Read notes for at least 30 minutes a day. He likes to use quotes that he gives out during lecture on the exams. Uses true/false questions on exams a good bit. Doesn't trick you on exams. Gives out quizzes randomly throughout semester so it's imperative to attend class.
He is a great teacher and the class is not difficult at all. The tests were a bit hard to study for because he did test on quotes. But if you come to class and participate in lectures you wont have a problem getting a good grade
I really enjoyed his class. I think it might be bacause i was intersted in the material, but if you study and take notes and pay attention youll have an easy A without a doubt.
The material was easy to understand and I thought that the class was going well until we got our first test results back. There was right at 150 in the class and no one made above a C. The tests had nothing to do with what we had been going over. At the end of the semester there were still only Cs in the class so he had to create a serious curve
Go to class, take notes and you will make an Easy "A". He also gives curves and bonus points. Very interesting man to boot.
Very good teacher! He makes it interesting because he knows what he's talking about and he's very passionate about it. Go to class and you'll have a good grade.
This is the most boring and corniest man ever!!!!! His class is easy just study the notes. It will be alot and there are pop quizzes. Very easy class (I got an A) but very boring and cory professor!!
Ive never been interested in history or politics - he made it interesting. Take notes from powerpoint everyday. Only shows about 10-20 slides per class - he talks a lot. He doesnt test much over things he says. He just goes into a little detail about them. Don't miss much though bc he gives 5 random quizzes that cannot be made up. Only 2 tests
Great professor...you have to go to class, he gives 5 random quizzes that cannot be made up, but they are easy. He gives two test, but usually gives extra points if class attendance is good. He is passionated about what he teaches. You will learn a lot. I definitely recommend you take him.
Great Teacher. Just go to class and take notes and you will be fine. tests and quizzes are kind of tough but if you go to class and study the notes it is an easy A
He's a really good teacher and he trys really hard
very interesting guy, but the quizzes and tests are kind of tough. As long as you study his keywords from the book, remember the notes(and the QUOTES from notes), then you should do fine on the tests. There are random quizzes throughout the semester, so attendance is mandatory.
No Comments
Not as easy as i was made to believe. Tests are a mix of lectures(big power points) and terms. His study guides are long and only about 5% of whats on the study giude is on the test. Lots of material. Do what he asks and youll be fine... i made a B (but i feel i deserved an A, b/c i studied)
He is very passionate about his work. We had to do a 8-10 page research paper. He collected rough drafts several times throughout the semester and gave insightful feedback, even suggesting certain sources to look at.
Very nice guy, and passionate about what he teaches. His quizzes can be tough if you dont study, but he does mean it when he says he will do everything he can to help you get a higher grade.
I thought this was going to be an easy class...I was wrong. I was highly interested in POLS prior to his class, even wanted to major in it, this was a Major dissappointment. He is really annoying and you have NO idea what he is talking about, he jumps around and makes no sense at all. Test and quiz are hard bc you have no idea what to study and whe
Boring class, everything from lectures and notes. Test on details and trivial things, so expect that when you take him. 5 random quizzes, did have curve b.c w/o curve, only 1% of class gonna make A. If you take him, expect study EVERYTHING. about 10% curve for every1 >> A
Interesting guy, very passionate about nation and what he teaches. Show up to class to take useful notes, and you don't want to miss any of the unannounced quizzes. Tests and quizzes can be confusing, but amount of EC given is INSANE. I jumped from 84 to 98% in class within 3 weeks because of it. Good prof.
extremely passionate teacher- loves politics, yet somehow hides his views. you don't take a lot of notes- mainly quotes. yet, he can put ridiculous questions on the tests & quizzes such as: "how many of President Bush's vetoes did congress override from January 2001, to January 2009?"- yes, that was an actual question on a test- 50% are like that.
Uses power points and talks about material. Curves the tests and quizzes like crazy, but also puts a lot of ridiculous questions on them. Very passionate about his subject, so he stays animated all class. A few pop quizzes here and there to make sure you show up to class. Would recommend.
HATE this man. He must have paid ppl to put good ratings for him. He babbles about excessively irrelevant information. As someone said above, the questions on the quizzes are just stupid statistics you will soon forget and don't matter in actual life. He needed to focus on concepts in American Government, not the stuff no one cares about.
I studied for 5 hours for the second test we had and got a 96, so it is possible to do well in his class - you just have to memorize all of the irrelevant things that he says in class to get a good grade. By far the hardest class Ive taken thus far at GSU
He is a very passionate about what he teaches but he doesn't always teach what is on the exams. You will definitely need to read through the chapters (not long compared to other books) and note all of the facts he says in class. The questions can be HARD on the exams. My advice: Talk to him if their is a question on the exam that he never taught!
he is the worst professor i've ever had. all he does is ramble & repeat himself so you cant comprehend the point he's trying to get across. also, his tests are based off of quotes and dates from his powerpoint slides. i do not recommend taking him cuz the way he talks makes me not even want to go to class. his voice annoys the stuff out of me!!!
Unless you want to waste your time. don't bother with him. he just rambles and rambles about useless stuff. He'll say "one last thing before you leave" and keep talking for 30 minutes. Tests are hard unless you really study. and i mean study every night, and i got a B.. had to be my least favorite class i've ever taken. AVOID HIM IF YOU CAN!
I really enjoyed this professors class. He is really passionate about American Government and that definitely comes across to me.Try to sit close to the front, take good notes (mostly on what he says)Stuff on the slides are mostly quotes which he DOES ask about on the test. Read the book and you should get an A. Plus he likes to give Extra Credit.
Do not take him!! If you do, don't miss any quizzes, (in other words class) although it will be difficult because he is constantly repeating himself and veering off on tangents. Write down what he repeats and random facts that are way too specific and irrelevant to be on an exam because they will be. Very annoying voice so good luck focusing
Loves to preach, very long-winded without coming to a point. Starts class early to get "warmed up" so you have to listen to him more. Turns the lights off in order to be able to talk better and so you can't take notes. NOT RECOMMENDED!
Dr. Novotny is one of the best professors you will have. If you go to his class and take notes from what is on the slide and the key things on what he says you will be fine. He doesn't ramble, he's just loves what he does. He loves giving extra credit. If you study for two or three nights before the test and know the study guide you will do fine.
He is an okay guy. Very willing to help you if you ask for it. Gives pop quizzes. His tests ask detailed questions and he tends to ramble a lot.
Gives you tons of extra credit on everything. Tests are not on basic principles of gov they are more on specific instances that affected decisions, people and the stances they made and a few quotes. While the info may not be broad its easy material. Easy b, have to at least glance at notes and book to get A.
Great teacher. Loves his job and being in front of the class. He also gives extra credit. The only issue is he rambles sometimes, but he presents slides in front of the class and that is what you need to know.
Professor loves government, and definitely enjoys teaching it. Most of the test questions come from the powerpoints in class. Never opened my book. Unannounced in class quizzes, so it benefits you to go to class, and someties gives extra credit.
I liked him as a person because he gave me doughnuts, but he's kind of hard to follow. I made a B in his class but I didn't really try very hard or study very much. He says attendance isn't mandatory.. but if you miss a day that a quiz is on he will NOT let you make it up. But his grad assistant is really nice and helpful so get on her good side!
Great Guy, nice person, but exams are hard. 4 exams whole semester and 3 random unannounced quizzes. Gives random extra credit here and there. attendance isnt mandatory but you never know when the quizzes will be so GO TO EVERY CLASS
Easiest class I've ever taken. Dr. Novotny is so nice/helpful it's ridiculous. He repeats himself and rambles, but just take notes and you'll be fine. Attendance is important - he gives three quizzes and lectures vital for tests. Tons of extra credit on everything. People failed because they weren't attending. Came out of the class with a 120.
His powerpoints are random, and a little weird. He loves his class and loves his job. He gives TONS of extra credit. Tests are hard and have questions you have never heard. No homework, and class isn't mandatory but go to class because there are 3 random quizzes. Made a B in the class without really studying
Do not take this class if you're a bad note taker. His test are 90-95% from his lectures. Gives unannounced quizzes and random extra credit assignemnts so go to every class. He rambles on alot so you dont really know what to write down or not. But, he's a nice guy; he curves test and quizzes so its hard not to get a good grade if you just show up
Dr. Novotny is a nice enough guy, but I didn't enjoy his teaching. I felt like my questions were scrutinized rather than answered and he made me feel dumb for asking them. His tests are extremely specific, but he wants you to succeed and won't count questions that a lot of people get wrong. His drafts are annoying but help you write the papers.
He seems really nice, but his tests are extremely detailed. He says they come straight from the notes which isn't true. He makes you feel really stupid especially if you ask him questions. He is a little flexible on grading. If a lot of students get one question wrong he'll count it right for everyone. If you could take someone else I would.
Literally one of the worst teachers at GSU. Gives random quizzes that are impossible. So spastic in class, never stops talking which makes you want to pull your hair out. Tests are ridiculously hard, but he does give study guides. For your GPA and sanity's sake, don't take him.
Do NOT take this professor. He rambles in class and you do not know what you need to know for the test and what you do not. If you try to ask questions in class, he will make you feel stupid. This class was the worst class I have ever taken.
You're either going to like his teaching style or not. I had no problem w him & took him twice. Definitely a talker. Super knowledgeable in the field. If you can't listen to take notes wo him directly saying "write this down"-don't take him. 4-5 pop quizzes. Gives out extra credit points at random. If you're in class & take notes, you'll be fine.
His lectures are super random but necessary to pass his exam. If you're a bad note taker don't take him. Some of the exam questions are pulled straight from the book. He gives extra credit if you attend class. He seemed to like me but other students tell a different story of him being rude to them which I believe.
I would consider myself a good student and I do not have any trouble with note taking. I actually did understand what was being taught, the problem were the random question on his tests. If you are into taking notes of everything he says, and I mean EVERYTHING, then by all means take his class. With another teacher I wouldn't have had to withdraw.
He puts random questions on the tests that you had to pay specific attention to in the lectors to get. Some test questions are in the book. If you are not a good note taker DO NOT take his class. However he does offer extra credit that adds up and it will bump you up all full letter grade in some cases.
Dr. Novotny is quite possibly the most peculiar, quirky guy I know, but once you get past his odd personality, he is truly an INCREDIBLE professor. He is passionate about politics and the media and knows his stuff. My best advice is to come to class, meet with him in his office, and make a point to show an interest in the subject.
Dr. Novotny clearly loves his job and this subject. His power point slides are a little weird, but the test questions mainly come from what he says. Random info is on the tests, but no pop quizzes now. Write down everything. He lets you record him, so I would to make sure you don't miss anything he says. Hope to come out with a B.
Professor Novotny is a very passionate professor. He loves his job and love political science. He lectures all class and assigns readings; however, his tests do not represent the information in the readings and lectures at all. I have good study habits and have a 4.0 GPA but this class was terrible. I have never struggled so hard to receive an A.
i didn't attend class very often, but i took great notes. failed every test and only took 1-5 pop quizzes. made a B . I was distracted by his teaching method and his use of time.( most times he goes over) his book, like his lectures ,is very long winded. but what do i know i'm just happy i passed no. attendance policy.
Worst teacher ever ! Do not take him if u don't wanna stress
If there was ever a teacher I would say "don't take" it would be Novotny. He's a cool guy, but his class is awful. Lectures are long and he basically just rambles about whatever he feels like, and then the most obscure thing he mentioned would be on the exam. Even attending every class and reading the textbook, I made Bs and Cs on the exams.
Dr. Novotny's lectures are very long and confusing. His tests are strictly true/false and multiple choice but they are very tough. You HAVE to study to pass. Outside reading is required and questions from the book will be on exams. Attendance is never checked but I would not advise missing his class. I would not take this class again.
overall not a bad professor. he just includes a BUNCH of true or false questions that could easily go either way unless you listen to and write down basically every little comment he makes in class. includes questions from the assigned book. he is a pretty cool guy, apologizes a lot for random stuff, and get ready to here him say "ok" a lot.
This professor is very passionate about this course; however, he presents the material in a very boring way. It was very hard for me to stay focused because its just him talking on and on. I feel that politics should be a very interactive class. He is willing to help you out and wants you to do well. So, if you don't mind long dry lectures take him
This man is not worth your GPA. A person who does not post their syllabus on Folio is a person you should not trust. If you don't already know a good bit,on the subject or have a decent study buddy or tutor, don't take him. Take Kevin Cook if you can. He talks too fast, does not really explain his power points and his tests reflect nothing taught.
He was a great person but his lectures are extremely long and very boring. He gets off subject a lot and often repeats things. His tests are tough, they consist of multiple choice and true/false. This had to be my worst class fall semester. I hated his class for several reasons. Like I've previous stated, he's a great person but an awful professor.
Dr. Novotny is, by far, one of the best professors that I've ever had. His passion for his field is contagious, and the dedication that he has to working with his students is incredible. Ask tons of questions and try to be interest in the subject. You will learn more from him in one conversation than you will in a semester will other professors.
First of all, I went to see him during his study hour (Yes, ONE HOUR) and he criticized all of my questions. I asked if I should re read the text book chapters along side the notes that he gives during class and he said that me asking this question was a "red flag". He never even answered my question. I also left his office crying. Overall terrible
Worst professor I have ever had. Tests on random facts that have nothing to do with our subject, he is very rude and belittling to students during office hours, doesn't even give out study guides so you basically have to study EVERYTHING. Rambles during lectures and I'm pretty sure he's scatterbrained. Don't take if you're not a good note taker.
I would not recommend if you're looking for a high letter grade. His tests are really hard and cumulative from all lecture notes. He puts random stuff on the tests and he is super boring.
Don't do this to yourself... The tests are impossible. His lectures are lenghty, boring and often times all over the place. Be prepared to copy down everything he says (if you can keep up).
Dr. Novotny is one of the best professors that I've taken in my time at Southern. He is very passionate and knowledgeable about his field and wants his students to have an interest in the subject as well. If you are willing to meet him half way, he will go above and beyond to help you.
The grades were only our four exams and the final, all of which he curved. Yes, CURVED. His office hours were 5 days a week for an hour each day, and if you can't make those then he'd work with you on getting to look at your exams. Attendance isn't mandatory, but don't skip, almost all the material on the exams are from his lectures. Take notes!!
Please do not take this class. The lectures are extremely long and boring. While the lectures may cover important topics the tests are a montage of random facts that you have to memorize. Half the test questions are in the notes. If you're stuck in this class just read the textbook in your free time, because a lot of the questions come from there.
Novotny has good intentions but struggles with execution. He loves this subject and that is evident. But he has an almost photogenic memory and sometimes expects his students to as well. He is EXTREMELY lecture heavy and his tests are HYPER specific. If you aren't listening to every word he says odds are you are missing a test question.
Pay attention to every single word he says, and wrote every single word down. Don't waste time with the book. If you take solid notes, and review them intensely you will survive. Tests often include random facts, and smallest details/quotes/dates that may not even be on topic. Tests are curved, he is very passionate as well. Don't skip.
DON'T TAKE THIS CLASS! Professor Novotny comes across as a super cool guy on the first day of class, and says he will bend over backwards to try and help you...... not true. I've never had a teacher be so rude to me when asking for help after class. Not to mention the lectures are long and brutal. Ended up dropping the class because it was so bad.
Nice professor but I attended every single one of his classes this semester and I sit, take notes, and pay attention but do not do well on the tests at all. His tests are lecture heavy but he focuses on very unnecessary details that have almost nothing to do with the test or the course subject.
Although he does not take attendance, all tests are based on lectures so if you miss you will not pass. Goes off on tangents but be warned, those may end up on tests as well. Write the things he stresses during lectures. To study I rewrote my notes which helped me better understand what was being taught. Textbook not required but helpful.
I took Dr. Novotny for my American Government class - loved him! He is an amazing professor and his lectures are very straight forward. You just have to make sure you go to EVERY class and take really good notes so that you don't miss any information. You are only graded by 4 exams, so getting all the info is important. I would 10/10 recommend him!
A lot of people complain about this class, but if you go to class every day and take notes it's easy to pass. You need to write down everything he says and study for it. You can buy the book for like $7 online, and you really only need to read the chapters once because it's not that important.
Tests are everything he lectures and more. Full of random facts that don't make any sense to the topic. Belittled me during his office hours. Says he doesn't take attendance, but brought up every absence I had during a meeting. When asked questions in class makes the student feel stupid for asking. I would not recommend taking this class.
Dr. Novotny is a total gem at GSU. He was one of my favorite profs. Hes almost always available and loves talking to students. Everyone should visit him at least once while taking him. He will help guide you through his somewhat. esoteric lectures with personal explanations. He respects poli sci on a deep level and wants his students to succeed.
No extra credit, no homework, no papers, nothing except for 4 tests and a final. Extremely lecture heavy and powerpoints barely have anything on them! When I went to his office so he would help guide me in the right direction on how to study, he made passive aggressive comments and was no help. He just made me more stressed. Ended up withdrawing.
I only had 4 test and a final. You arent required to attend but I suggest you do. Its the only way to get notes besides from someone else. Its a lot of listening and few slides.
Novotny talks for just about every second he has in his one hour fifteen minute lecture. He repeats himself so much and talks about random things. The only grades in the class are four tests and a final and his tests are over his lectures and even more. If you skip class, you will not be able to pass.
Okay, first. He talks for the entire time. He mostly spends his time talking about what he's going to be talking about, rather than actually talking about it. When you talk to him during office hours he doesn't make eye contact, he just closes his eyes while he talks. Also, don't buy the book, he told me to not bother reading it.
Dont waste your time taking this professor, unless you can remember every single thing he mentions in his lectures. He mostly rants the entire time you are in the class and mentions irrelevant things. Youre graded based on four exams and a final, and the exams are very specific. Dont even bother buying the book, its a waste of time and money.
Dr. Novotny is one of my fav profs at GSU. Long lectures but very informational & interesting. You can tell he loves what he does as well as his students & i find that refreshing. Easy A as long as you pay attention.
Lectured for the entire class period. Graded by 3 exams and a final. I took his lecture on Tuesday and Thursday at 11:00 and he was so energetic and happy to be teaching the class. His energy towards the class shows how much he loves the subject. Overall, the class was 7/10 but he is a 10/10. Recommend if you know how to study.
Great Lectures! Very funny and very enthusiastic.
take this class if you can write down everything he says. everything. study groups help a lot. he tells you to buy a book, but you do not need it. If you take really thorough notes and study everything he says, you should be fine. after the first test or two you learn what kind of questions he asks. only 4 exams, all multiple choice and true/false.
He includes current events discussed in the lectures in the test material. At the beginning of the semester, he said that you do NOT need to purchase the book and that ONLY the lecture would be in the exams, but that is NOT TRUE. BEWARE OF VISITING HOURS: He's rude outside of class, won't answer questions, and doesn't accept emails of any sort.
So many things I did not like about Mr. Novotny. If you can't write down what he says word for word, you are going to struggle on his test. The only grades are the five test he gives and they are cumulative, filled with random stuff he says in class, and mostly true/false. Study Groups Help!!! Also hates receiving emails.
Took Pols 1101 and you can easily finess this class. Textbook is not needed. He advises you to share. All test are cumulative and based off what he says rather than textbook. So either go to class or get notes from someone who writes down everything he says.
Funny guy early class if you take good notes
This professor may put on a sarcastic and caring persona in class but outside he is totally different. He is rude, arrogant, and is not understanding to students who are struggling and are just asking for advice. My only advise is to not taking his class and please do not take this advice with a grain of salt.
Just show up and listen. His tests are really easy. 50 true or false questions. People don't pass because they don't pay attention.
He doesn't take attendance at all, but if you don't show up and actually listen and take notes, you won't pass. He only has a few slides up per lecture and doesn't post them, so you really have to listen. He's kind of annoying but his tests line up with the lectures. The only grades are three tests for 50 pts and a final for 70 pts.
He will up your grade at the end. All of his tests are super easy. Hint: always choose true for true or false questions. Always choose the last answer for multiple choice questions. With this, youll at the very least make a B
Professor Novotny went out of his way to make students feel bad when i took his course. i only ended up with an A because of study groups and quizlets. His tests are made up of side comments and irrelevant facts mentioned in class. You need to write down everything he says.
Dr. Novotny is doing a lot with what he's been given. Keeping a class of 100 people interested can't be an easy task, yet he does a decent job at it. He recommends to buy a book at the beginning of the year, but take my advice and don't. You really don't need it. His tests are lecture oriented and there's a "system" people go by. It works sometimes
I recommend that if you think about taking pols 1101 DONT take professor Novotny. Im typical A/B student but this class Im struggling in. I failed every test and you only take 4 exams and a final. He says he curves your grade. He doesnt. His lectures involve irrelevant information that has nothing to do with the tests.
This class is great if you actually show up and listen. I record every lecture but don't actually have to go back and listen to them. I have gotten A's on the first two exams and a B on the third- keep in mind there are 4 exams and a final which are your only grades. It is cumulative so try to pay attention as much as you can. He is v entertaining!
Um. He's pretty strange. I didn't like him. His tests are made up about 50% of random facts he says in class. There is a "system" to his tests that you can follow to most likely get at least a B. I never went to class and got an A because of this. 4 tests and a final are the only grades. He says he curves but I don't think he does.
I really enjoyed this course. If you show up and use the method youll at least make a B. You are definitely going to have to put in extra work to obtain an A because his tests are made up of random material from lectures. With that being said, I enjoyed his class as a whole. He tries his best to keep most lectures entertaining.
Test are 75% random facts that he mentions in class. I only studied the notes that I thought would be relevant to an American Government course, but that didn't help me much. He does a good job of keeping the class interested but his test are pretty hard.
If you miss out on class, your grade may be in jeopardy. When you are writing down notes for this class, please write most everything that he says (even the "insignificant" ones). Each exam builds off of one another so when you're studying for an exam breeze thru previous notes. Be sure to visit him during office hours; it helps!
He's super nice and passionate, but I didn't like how the class was structured. His tests are on random things he says during class, so you have to record what he says and remember EVERYTHING. He typically has 50 question with either multiple choice or True and False questions. Each test is cumulative. Only four grades which are 4 tests...
He lectures heavy!!! You will spend hours upon hours studying for this class and the only grades you have are 5 tests. Impossible to have social life. Class is VERY HARD.
The most boring class ever. All you do is listen to hours of boring lectures which he gets off topic constantly. Funny and nice guy but such a boring class. I would not take this professor again because of how long his lectures were. Write down all the quotes that he says because he cites them on the test.
Super nice guy and passionate about his field of study, but this class was really hard. Usually an A student but not in this class. 5 tests made up of random info which are the only grades. He was very clear that he didnt offer extra credit and told us not to ask. We couldnt ask what concepts would be on the test and no study guide either.
This professor absolutely knows what he is talking about. It is easy to get an A if you take good notes on all of the lectures. Watch out for specific details, though. I got random questions on exams about insignificant facts I did not think would be on the exams. He only grades based on four exams and a final so do study for the exams.
I loved this class! He brings so much energy to the room and makes the most mundane lectures bearable. He expects you to match that energy and you will be graded on participation (not just attendance). It is not a hard class if you show up and maybe skim the book. He has a really unique personality and teaching style that I really benefited from.
Dr. Novotny is high energy & v generous. He doesn't take attendance but you should still show up, type almost everything he says, then clean it up after class. Note what he repeats. All of the info is kind of like a story, so once you get used to his specific style, you'll be fine. He just gives 5 quick cumulative MC tests. Don't buy the textbook.
No just no. Just don't do it. Take literally anyone else you can.
Write down every single thing this professor says, especially for the first exam. He only grades based on 5 tests, each one with info from the last, so study everything you write down from the beginning of the semester to the point you reach before each exam. Never miss a class, if you do, consider making a few buddies that can give you good notes.
Too much. Exhausts me.
Only grades are 5 exams including final, but theyre super easy, big curve, most questions are just true false, pick true for most of them. Take notes on everything he says, dates and such arent on the tests, he rambles a bit but his lectures are fun! . Visit him during office hours hes super interesting and loves to talk, and he gives out scantrons
History has always been my worst subject, yet I actually made an A in this class. The professor was hilarious and always kept me listening (even though I was doing homework for other classes). There were 4 exams and a final, which were the only grades. He does a curve on every exam (including the final). I would love to take him again.
Not a fan. You have four tests throughout the semester and a final. All he did during his lectures was talk and talk, very quickly. That is not teaching, and our grades being relied on exams which sucked. He was sometimes funny but he really just winged every lecture and I think he is lowkey lazy. He does give 2 or 4 extra points on every exam.
I didnt like how reliant our grade was on the 4 tests plus final which are the only grades. The test info could be on anything from a tangent that the professor went on to material on the board to current news happening locally or nationally. I liked him as a professor but wish the grade weight was changed
Truly a good dude, cares about his students. Just pay attention to class and you will pass. 4 exams and a final are your grades, and he gives a goodddd curve. Talk to him sometimes with questions or something random, he will like you from there on. Also big fan of tiny rubber ducks.
Professor Novotny is an engaging lecturer, but his reliance on high-stakes exams can make the class challenging. I found unstuck ai and good note-taking essential for acing the tests. Overall, a rewarding course if you're willing to put in the work.
While the comments are correct in stating he is a good guy, he is simply not a good professor. Exams were obscure bits of information taken from miniscule parts of the lecture. Mind you, no study guide was provided for the midterm or final. When I requested help on how to study, I received none. Save yourself, find another professor if you can!
Great professor, and really cares about his students. Tests are brutal but typically have a generous curve. Took him for 3-4 classes and love him. He truly is an academic and if you care about the topic 20% as much as him you'll be fine. He just expects effort
Great professor, lectures were engaging, though all grades were the exams, offered bonus points on each exam and questions were true or false and was what he talked about in class. Didn't like how attendance was crucial, missed one class and felt behind, notes super important, make a friend and share notes. Take notes and listen and you'll be fine.
Great professor. Not a complaint for me, but I will mention it, the course is exam-heavy. Your grades rely on them. As long as you're actually willing to put the work in and listen, you'll pass. He gets students engaged in a good way, and is passionate about every topic he mentions. Helps keep up with current world events. Office hours are great.
Dr Novotny is amazing, definetly cares about his students. Only thing nothing is posted on folio and if you dont go to his lectures you wont get the exams. He only grades on 5 exams 4 regular 1 final. All exams are cumalitve, honestly just go to class and listen. I didnt go and luckily passed
Worst professor I have ever had. It was a political analysis class and all the tests were about him and his life. He was rude and was not understanding about students circumstances. I have never had a professor not care about material or their students as much as he did. This class and professor alone almost made me switch my major. DO NOT TAKE HIM
I'm not the best student by any means and I'm going to pass this course with flying colors because I literally just went to class and made somewhat of an effort to pay attention. I can tell he wants his students to succeed which is something I look for in a professor. Not sure why his ratings on here are as low as they are. Great guy and professor.
Senior seminar class for political science, do not take Dr. Novotny. His senior seminar is a three hour long class in which he will lecture for 2 hours and 30 minutes non stop, bang on the desk repeatedly, and act as if your opinions are stupid. his office hours are worse. 50 question exams and no study guide. Superiority complex on another level.
In my Senior Seminar class, Novotny expected you to put his class first, expected 50-100 pages of reading per class, and little instructions for the semester long project. He was extremely harsh in his grading. If you want to destroy your GPA, take his class. I wouldn't even wish my worst enemy to take his class. You've been warned.
Awesome teacher! I never went to this class once except for test days and got A's on every test. Every single test For his American government class is so easy. Every single answer is true. And have the test isn't even about government.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
24%
Textbook Required
29%
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