Very Good Prof. Still Harvard Expectation but he is very knowledgeable and knows how to have a good time in the class. very worthwhile class

Good lectures, no overheads, a lot of statistics and demographics. He couldn't lead a tutorial to save his life, but as a lecturer, he was very good in from of the class. His marking was pretty hard as well, and he lets you know he used to teach at Harvard like 8 times in the first week.

awesome prof. great lecturer, tutorial leader. i enjoyed 224 so much that i am also taking 225 with him now. not sure why he didn't use powerpt. last term b/c his slides are great. he also e-mails questions & study terms each week. he's not too hard a marker if you do the work and go to office hours. I learned a lot about writing and got an A-

smart, interesting guy. loved the lectures and tutorials. even better, he's down to earth, easy to talk to, very approachable and friendly. he's not the easiest prof. but also not the hardest

As a recent grad, I can say Paul was one of the best profs I had @ SFU. Funny, super smart, reasonable, VERY fair marker: you get out what you put in, pretty simple. Seminars were a blast, and I learned sooooo much in this class (good readings - sometimes a lot, films, research paper, etc). I highly recommend but be prepared to earn your mark.

Garfinkel rocks. His lectures are clear and engaging, things get done in his tutorials and he is an incredibly fair marker. He's also really helpful one-on-one. If you're not prepared to read, however, stay far, far away. I've been drowning lately.

simply terrific. great lecturing style (clear, to the point, good slides, funny), totally fair marker. i thought i bombed the midterm but ended up doing well. hard but manageable, but you better like to read. and he's kinda cute in a professorial sorta way:)

Ignore the sour grapes below. Paul is top-notch, passionate tchr, grt guy. Exc class: m/term, essay, final, so rdng amts = bearable. M/term was easy if u have a brain in ur head, not ur head up ur arse. Paul practically GAVE us the ?s, but u must attend lectures, read & not blame him for ur own failings. Will def. take more of his classes.

Sometimes his expectations are a little unclear (or change), but he is an extremely knowledgable prof who wants to see his students do well. Be prepared to participate and keep up with the readings, but also enjoy the high level of discussion his classes usually contain. A pretty solid prof on the whole.

Can't say enough good things about Professor Garfinkel! I loved this class even though the final makes me a little nervous. But he did give us the two essay questions in advance and has arranged review sessions. As usual he's very fair and helpful and does want students to do well.

Yes, by far one of my faves!!! An all around good guy and very approachable. He doesn't pass out As like candy, so expect to do the work to earn your mark. He doesnt seem to care much for slackers.

Prof Garfinkle taught a fair class and if you were willing to work for your grade then it was obtaainable. He was completley fair about the midterm and final and we knew what to expect. His marking of the essay papers was a bit brutal but other then that he was agreat teacher and i would recommend

One of the hardest and worst professors I've ever had, but one of the nicest guys. I learned nothing from his lectures and struggled considerably in this class despite my interest in the course material. However, he's an understanding guy in tought circumstances. Don't take this class unless you like boring lectures and working like an ox.

Get a life, crybabies! Garfinkel was superb in every way which is why student comments are overwhelmingly positive. His class was painfully fair, and if you took his advice and attended his (brilliant) lectures then it was easy to do well. He's a super, funny, fair prof for serious students, not for those wanting A's as handouts for doing nothing.

Best professor ever!!!

Great Prof! He is a very fair marker and the readings were not excessive for a 400-level course (100-120 pages a week). If you do the assigned readings and assignments on time and attend the lectures/seminars than an A can be obtained. In short, hard work is the only way to an A. Highly recommended!

Finally someone who teaches modern Italy, and Professor Garfinkel is just the guy to teach it. Brilliant prof and a terrific guy. This was the best history course I've had at SFU, but I had to work my butt off to get a good mark. Avoid him only if you're a loser or an ****. This class reminds you why you're at university.

Outstanding teacher and lecturer and very likeable. I was a little intimidated at first but soon discovered that he was really nice and very helpful, and even a little bit of a softie. You'll do yourself a great service if you show him that you're trying hard to do well in the course. I highly recommend him, at least if you're motivated.

A VERY HARD COURSE! One of the texts was incredibly difficult to read due to the dull nature of the book, a massive amount of reading and his lectures weren't all that great. He does give you chances to get your mark up there, though you still have to work your ass off to get a decent mark. I have no idea how I survived his class.

Garfinkel flat out rules. He's everything you want in a prof. -- fair, approachable, his demands are very reasonable, & his lectures & tutorials are clear & engaging & often amusing. Exams were very fair. He's only a hard marker if you're not a hard worker. A good mark is not hard to get if you work a little. I'll def. take another class with him.

Way cool prof. Clear lectures, dry humour, very helpful and thorough in office hours. Super nice guy if you get to know him. Not so sure about my TA tho.

v good prof. a real sweetie and cute goatee too. lectures are engaging and through but subject matter is not always so exciting. hes really passionate and cares about students. he doesnt have tutorials but is really approachable and helpful if you want to talk to him. i wish more profs were this nice.

what a guy. hate the exams, they were hard and unfair, but lectures interesting - you can tell he puts a lot of effort in, and is passionate about the subject. its a mixed bag with this one.

The textbook is USELESS. Too much... 'waffle'. But if you took other EURO or world history before, this is almost just a review of it. So for me it was pretty easy and not a lot of studying. If you took HIST's before 1850-1980, would make your life a lot easier. If not, prepare to do a lot of memorizing. Got over 100 years to memorize =)

Garfinkle's great, but demanding. Very interesting, very difficult as a TA. Also very engaging.

Garfinkel is Great! He sends out study terms and questions every week, is exteremly organized in his lecture material and is very clear about what exams will consist of. There is so much content to cover in the course and he really tries to help his students out.

Garfinkel IS great! Loved this class. Prof is fair, funny, friendlty. Exams were a breeze, hardly unfair. Never noticed the "uhhh" stuff, but sounds like a disgruntled classmate looking to hate the prof for their own crappy marks. Enough spoonfeeding for first year students, and challenging enough for older ones. I recommend, but not a GPA booster.

A really nice guy witha good attitude. His lectures were always good because he keeps his pace up and uses point form exclusively. His mid term and final were "fair"...by no means easy and by no means horrible. His term paper though was a little sketchy. All in all I enjoyed his class but this is NOT a GPA booster.

I can't say much for Garfinkel himself. Did not have him as a TA or go to his office hours, but he seemed like a nice guy and made a couple good jokes during class. I wouldn't recommend taking this class in your first year. The grading scheme and exams are taylored a little more for second years.

Great class, great professor! I liked 106 so much, I am taking another class with Garfinkel next term. Sad to say, it was the only class I enjoyed last term. I looked forward to every lecture. And it was great when he took over our tutorial from the useless TA. It was comedy hour, but we really got things done. Helped me big time for the final.

My favourite history prof at SFU!

I agree: excellent professor, great class. Teh class got even better when Garfinkel took over tutorial. Really helps you if you're willing to help yourself.

He was very amusing, at the right times, providing entertaining and witty remarks along with pictures, in colour many a time!

Very interesting. A few too many notes but overal a good class. He was also very knowledgable

Can sum it up in one word: outstanding. And the films rocked.

Il Professore Garfinkel is probably the best and definately the nicest prof I have had at SFU. Loved the modern Italy class, interestign & innovative, inspired me to learn more about Italy, which I knew nothing about. but if you want a high mark you better be ready to work for it.

Interesting Prof, but, tons of assignments! Lots of books, articles to read and films to watch. be prepared to devote most of your time to this class. Other than that it was very interesting.

I love Professor Garfinkel!!!

Garfinkel is great, he knows his stuff, articulates it well and directs his course to you being able to do well on his exams and papers. Don't skip class and definitely do the tutorial readings, otherwise you may be left in the dark very easily.

Garfinkel is a terrific teacher and a funny, personable guy. Seminars are interesting and entertaining. Expect to be challenged and pushed, and don't expect easy marks. He REALLY stresses writing (more than any prof I've had), so if you're not a good writer, or don't try to get better in a hurry, you're going to have a hard time.

An excellent professor who has both the passion for history and the ability to teach history. However, he is not the most generous when it comes to giving grades.

Great course! Garfinkel is an outstanding lecturer. The class is just hard enough to be challenging and easy enough to be fair. And who else uses Darth Vader and Jerry Garcia in powerpoint slides?

As far as teaching, this professor gets an A, but for marking: F. I hope he reads this message because he needs to realize that undergraduate students are NOT obtaining their PhD! I am a B+/A- student but this course dropped my GPA. He is way too picky and belongs in the English department, not history.

Garfinkel is the best. He runs a great seminar (I've done 2), and his Italy courses are fascinating. I don't recommend if your main/only concern is GPA (see below). You'll love him if you're interested in learning, esp. writing. I became a MUCH better writer thanks to him. His comments are xtremely helpful and more thorough than any I've had at SFU

very good prof and well prepared.. my only complaint is that he just flies through a ton of material each lecture and i dont think he even takes a breath

50% of the grade is based on movie essays. You better get used to it.

Great prof, funny guy. Seminar discussions are super high quality. I like the film component, too. Makes the seminars much more interesting and enjoyable, not just your usual primary/secondary texts or research papers. But it's true: with him, there's no such thing as an easy A.

Awesome prof. Excellent discussions and films, fair amounts of reading, a bit too much writing. Expectations for writing are high, but going for extra help def. paid off for me.

Great professor!

Why can't we get more profs like him? His Italian film/Italian history class was the best class I took at SFU.

I have never had a prof who is more passionate and knowledgeable about their subject and who cares more about his students than Professore. That doesn't mean his seminars are easy. Expect to be challenged. He makes you work for your marks, but it's well worth the effort.

People, this is the question: do you want to learn something? If yes, take a course with Garfinkel. If you work hard everything will be OK. If you don't, things will not work out so well. It is that simple. Bottom line, your writing will improve. I strongly recommend PG.

Hands down the best & most human history prof I've had @ SFU. Take the "Italian Films, Italian Histories" seminar if you're open to new (but challenging) ways of looking at history & can handle the workload. You'll work a ton, but it's well worth the trouble. I'll never watch films the same way again, and that's a good thing.

One cool cat.

Garfinkel is awesome.

Agreed: Paul is a great prof. I look forward to taking more courses with him. He combines a no nonsense teaching style with good humour and fair marking. He also doesn't try to shove a particular point of view down your throat (unlike other history profs I've had).

A great intro course. This prof has an obvious passion for teaching and genuine concern for students. Lectures are clear and engaging (even if they run OT sometimes), office hours are helpful, and assignments are designed to help you succeed. Basically, you get everything you need, and the rest is up to you. I learned a lot and enjoyed the class.

I agree with previous people who wrote that the Italian Films, Italian Histories seminar was the best history class they've taken. You will work hard, and yuo'll discuss excellent films every week. You're expected to participate, write and think at a high level, so if you're afraid to talk, or if your writing stinks, then avoid.

Outstanding professor. Has good lectures at a good pace and is the most prepared and approachable prof I've had.

Here's what's great about Professore: unlike other profs, he teaches u how to think, write & argue analytically. His film & history approach is innovative but hard work. U can make any case u want so long as u have evidence to back it up. He's also hilarious, & passionate about his subject, so class is enjoyable. Best prof I've had, hands down.

Is not clear on the exam prep. You have to prep for 50 years of european history for each exam, and its just too much. This class has no papers, just exams, which is not to your advantage. The final is 50%.

Garfinkel is a prof that teaches you to think and analyze. The course is interesting; however reading is 40+ pages per week. The exams cover 12 chapters/lectures but there are only 5 questions to answer. 2 id questions 2 short answer and 1 primary source analysis. His lecture slides are the bare minimum and you have to pay attention to everything

An absolutely fantastic professor -- one of the best at SFU. His lectures were clear and often funny, his exams and marking were fair, and tutorials were based on 3-4 short readings every week. Expectations were reasonable -- just learn how to make and defend an argument. Only drawback: my TA was horrendous, but I hear the other one was great.

Tons of reading to do but he's very effective at teaching the topics. He's funny. Tutorials are hard though.

Good prof

Really good prof

Funny guy, but tutoriasPSA can get hard.

Paul is a very good prof. His lectures are clear, structured, and efficient. Some may find him to be a little fast-paced though. HIST 106 grade was based on the midterm, final, and primary source analysis assignments (all done in class). Exams are fair but a little hard to prep for as he doesn't give specifics as to exactly what you'll be tested on

Paul is easily the best professor I have ever had. His lectures are fantastic, not only because he's hilarious, but because they're SO organized! With each lecture, he outlines what questions he'll be addressing, so you know exactly what's going on and what to expect. I wish I were a history student so I could take more of his classes. 1010!

History 433W was an extremely tough, but even more rewarding course at SFU. Dr. Garfinkel is a very tough grader, but when it comes to your writing, he will turn even the most sub-par writer into the most proficient. His feedback on each essay is long and thurough, and I highly suggest that despite its difficulty every student at SFU should take it

Professor Garfinkel was a great professor! His lectures were exceptionally organized and interesting. He is very clear on his expectations for PSAs & exams, and gives detailed information on how to do well in the class. If you attend lectures and write down his lecture slides, you will do well. Textbook wasn't needed for passing, just for clarity.

Hands down the best prof in the History department, and unquestionably one of the best at SFU. The Italian films class is amazing.

Cannot agree enough with the posts below mine: this professor is as good as they come. I especially appreciated the animated and organized lectures, the helpful study guides and tips, and the very fair marking and exams. And unlike some in the History department, he's a down to earth guy who doesn't act haughty and self-important. Will take again.

awesome!

By far the most organized prof I have ever had. Especially for a history course, he is organized, knows how to talk in lectures (not boring at all), and clear with his expectations. Although PSA's can be challenging, you still enjoy the course and feel that he's helpful. I HIGHLY recommend taking a course with him! Never came across a great prof.

Fantastic seminar; if you attend every class and put in the effort, you'll do just fine. Recommended for students interested in Italian cinema, analyzing films, & Engl Lit students/related majors looking for upper-level electives. No Hist background necessary, just close analysis skills like in lit classes. Prof. Garfinkel is a great prof

So. Excellent lecturer. Extremely clear on the material to study. I recommend trying to keep up with the readings because they are vital on the tests. Stick to the key ideas and then go into detail. Extremely tough grader, always getting TAs to lower grades, but overall really great class, interesting lecturer, and impressive German impressions

Excellent prof. A tad long-winded, but that means you're never left in any doubt of what's expected, & enriches every seminar. Witty, down-to-earth, very approachable, but not a cakewalk. In 5 years of studies across different universities/faculties, Garfinkel gives the best feedback for & the best engagement with your work I've yet encountered.

I've had Garfinkel for two courses, I find that he is extremely clear in his lectures and organized. His assignments are straightforward, there isn't any homework or papers, and he's always available for extra help. A bit long-winded but he definitely is passionate about History. Would recommend.

Garfinkel is second to none. His Italian film/history seminar was far and away the best class I've taken at SFU. Discussions are lively and funny. He gives better and more extensive feedback than any prof I've had. His marking is very fair, and he makes extra time for you if you need writing help. I definitely recommend the Professore.

Far and away the best Prof I've ever had at SFU. I've taken two courses with him. He is hilarious, an excellent lecturer, and always willing to help you outside of class. Go to office hours! He will go into great depth about why your paper was marked a certain way, and how you can improve next time. Get ready for fast-paced lectures, though.

I've taken four classes with him. His history/film courses are beyond great and are the best that the History dept has to offer. You'll love the films, discussions & esp feedback, and your writing will improve. Very funny guy too. Highly recommended!

This prof is the best in the department. Organized lectures, great humour, excellent feedback on papers and helpful in office hours. I will definitely take again.

He's a good prof, knows his stuff, and is very passionate about the subject he teaches. He marks tough, but fair. Be prepared to read a lot.

Paul's film courses are a treat and I highly recommend. You'll enjoy going to his class every week. A lot of work is required, but it really does pay off in the end. Very helpful in office hours so go visit him often. Tough marker, but you'll refine your writing skills a great deal. Overall a good guy, and one of the best @ SFU so don't miss out.

Paul's Italian film/history classes are really exceptional. Great films and discussions every week. The prof knows how to get things done and make the seminars entertaining at the same time. You'll work for your mark, but the effort is definitely worth it. Great feedback on written work too. Highly recommended!

I struggled in this class but that wasn't Garfinkel's fault. Really passionate about what he's teaching and his lectures are clear and easy to understand, if a little dense. PSAs are especially tough for any non-history student--work with your TAs and get to know what they want! Do your research before taking this class--it is NOT a GPA booster.

Paul is a great professor who really cares about what he is teaching but this is not an easy class, the 2 of our 3 PSAs were not known and are easily the hardest part of this class. You have to do prior research into each of the primary documents and practice. Luckily the exams are not cumulative.

Great prof for lower division history classes. Very clear lectures leaving you with little doubt and questions. His tests were fair and as long as you go to the lecture you will do fine on the midterm and final. I suggest typing the notes rather than written because he speaks pretty fast.

Garfinkel is a great prof, maybe the best I've had at SFU. His Italian history/film seminars are unique and fascinating and I recommend them to anyone. I'm not a history major but still got a good mark. It doesn't matter so long as you do the work, talk in class and want to get better at analytical writing.

Great professor - dont miss out! Love the Italian film seminars!

Paul is great, he gives extensive feedback and instructions for assignments. His course is alot of work and it isnt easy but its actually a class that you can take alot away from and improves your writing.

Dr. Garfinkel assigns a lot of readings and weekly writing assignments along with a 2hr film each week that can feel overwhelming a times. However, if you put in the work he will reward you. His seminar classes fly by due to his amazing ability to guide the discussions and create a comfortable environment for his students.

He is an amazing prof. His lectures are very clear and easy to follow. He helps to build a good undestanding of how to approach material. If he throws a info session before the final, it would be helpful to come+(it's bonus mark, even though it's optional). He grades fairly and provide interesting PSAs to read. He helps to approach PSAs analysis

Hes a gem! The Sicilian Mafia film course is easily the best Ive taken in the History department. The films are great and everyone talks in discussion. The papers can be challenging but he offers a lot of help and gives more feedback than Ive ever gotten from any other prof. Will take again.

If all History profs taught the way Paul does, I would be a major.

I agree with the comments I've seen. I never thought I'd be interested in modern Italian history (and film). Then I took a class with the Professore. Now I can't get enough. Highly recommended!

Not a GPA booster but learned a lot in his class. A superb & engaging lecturer. PSAs are definitely an area that you have to work for. There is an expectation for students to dig deeper than what might be on the surface of the documents. Paul wrote me a paragraph on things I can work on. It really helped. Makes me more confident to write PSAs

Paul is a fantastic prof. His Italian film and history courses shouldn't be missed. He welcomes non-majors and leads discussions that include everyone. In his seminars the time flies, you learn a lot and he keeps you laughing at the same time.

Really glad I took one of Paul's Italian film courses. This course on Italian style comedy was great. He takes a really innovative approach to reading history through film and teaches you how to analyze evidence in ways that other profs just don't. He was also amazing through the switch to remote learning and is really responsive to student needs.

Pauls Italian history/film seminars shouldnt be missed. They take a completely different and more creative approach to understanding the past from the other history courses Ive had, and thats a good thing. The film courses are also great because you dont have to be a history major to do well in them. And Italy is a fascinating place to study.

The dolce vita film seminar was amazing, even with masks on. It was by far the best history class I have taken at SFU. The focus on satire and comedy was well timed for the moment and much appreciated.. The professore is very passionate about what he teaches and really cares about students.

I looked up Professor Garfinkel on the History department website and he wasn't there. I saw that he's now in Global Humanities. I look forward to taking more courses with him there. Great prof.

This has been a great class and unlike anything I've done before at SFU. The professor takes a really unique approach: using Italian films about the Sicilian Mafia to teach critical thinking and writing. It's the one class that I really enjoy going to this semester.

A great class! I loved going to seminar every week and appreciated the professor's willingness to meet in Zoom office hours whenever I needed extra help. His regular feedback helped me to improve my writing a lot, and my grade was better than I expected. If you are interested in analyzing film as text, then I recommend his classes.

As a science student, I was nervous about a HUM course based on film. But this class was amazing. Paul met with me often at first because I wasn't sure what I was doing. I figured things out and had a great time. Paul gives awesome feedback/advice and means it when he says anyone can do well in his classes regardless of their major.

I'm really liking this unique class on art & the humanities. The prof uses Italian cinema to teach critical thinking and reading films as texts. It is nice to take a course like this in the first year. He's very approachable and helpful and is a fair marker. Take advantage of office hours on Zoom for extra help. The feedback is great.

Excellent professor, excellent films, excellent discussions, excellent class. I'm planning to take another one.

Professor Garfinkel's class was a unique experience. He provided great feedback and was always willing to meet for extra support. The course content was engaging, and the use of films added an interesting twist. unstuck AI was a helpful study tool alongside the readings. Overall, a rewarding class.

The comments below mine are right on. Prof. Garfinkel's Italian film courses are one of a kind. Even online, he keeps you engaged through his passion and knowledge of Italian film, history and culture. He teaches how to read films as "humanistic texts in context". I learned more in his class than all my others combined. Very worthwhile class.

Great class! Il Professore is top notch and will challenge you to do your best. He teaches independent critical thinking and writing through Italian cinema. If you buy into the process, do the work and participate in discussion, he will reward you. Office hour feedback is great, way better than written comments. If you rely on AI, it won't help.

Great experience! I learned a lot about Italian film & reading them as texts. Prof is passionate, caring & available. Films & discussions are engaging if you talk (a MUST). Short, informal writing tasks (not hard) until the 8 p. final paper. His process based approach was great for me, but probably not if you're lazy or having AI write your papers.

Paul ran an outstanding class. The films were an interesting mix. Discussions were engaging. The assignments and expectations were challenging but manageable, but you have to put in the work. He's very approachable and gives GREAT feedback during office hours (Zoom). You'll learn a lot about Italy and film from his courses. Enjoyed going to class.

This is my second time taking this prof. They are one of my favourite classes. He has adapted the course into films and readings outside of class with short in-class writings and discussion about the weeks film. This class I genuinely think rewires your brain from the AI pandemic as it allows you a space to think creatively and critically.

Paul is an amazing prof. The migration films were captivating. The course makes you realize how much movies have to offer and Paul teaches you how to read them. All writing was done in class, with a creative role play for the final. Discussions were excellent and informative. Paul's relaxed approach and humour gets (almost) everyone talking. 10/10

Fantastic class! No AI, no screens, all writing done in class. Just talking about films and analyzing them as humanistic texts. I wish more profs would do this. Prof G made learning fun again, without all the artificial intelligence BS.