Very helpful and interesting, also not bad to look at.

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Really a great professor, very interesting and keeps you on your toes. It doesnt hurt that he is quite possibly the most attractive professor that I have ever had, it can be a distraction.

I really enjoy Mr.Johnson's lectures. He makes history interesting.

I love how he starts his class with music, it's so much mroe fun that way.

Johnson is the easiest teacher once you get how he opperates.

I thought history was boring until I took this class. Johnson made it interesting and really made me think. He lectures off the top of his head without notes and with a great sense of humor. At first I was afraid of class participation, but I grew to enjoy it. He also seemed genuinely interested in his students. I highly reccomend him.

Tom Johnson is a walking wealth of knowledge. He will teach you how to think critically and form your own thesis. Thank you, I enjoyed your class.

Johnson did an excellent job at making this course interesting and challenging. The text used provided viewpoints from both spectrums and allowed the reader to make interpretations upon their own beliefs while still maintaining the required factuality.

Great Teacher,interesting teaching methods. You have to speak up to succeed!

I only took Hist 17 because I had to, I didn't think that I would like it at all. But this class turned out to be one of my all-time favs!

The class was pretty difficult, based on the workload, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed your lectures and your teaching style. Excellent taste in music as well.

I thought Johnson was a very intelligent teacher who had a lot to teach. His class is rigorous, but left me with a very strong knowledg of the subject

An excelent student can learn a lot from him, he is energetic, knowledgable, and intense. But the downfall may be that you can breeze by his class once you know his operation. Not very helpful for the learning process; however, ethics and usefullness in life is of question for me and many others I have spoke to.

Great teacher, but does have some downfalls. Some days he is great and then other days it feels like he is a totally different teacher. If you don't know the information when he ask you he most likely will embarass you.

Johnson pours his heart into his teaching and is facsinating to listen to, especially when he talks about his real life experiences as a lawyer. He is also very interested in the pesonal growth of his students. His courses are hard but he you lots of opportunities to prove yourself and is a fair grader.

Amazing, dynamic lecturer who will keep you rivetted. Sometimes gets off on tangents, but even those are thought provoking. He is so passionate and inspiring he will motivate you. The course is difficult, but he really cares about students and will spend hours in his office helping you to succeed. A rare combination of compassion and brilliance.

Whoever made the last comment is obviously an imposter. Professor Johnson is not only an excellent teacher but he is one of the kindest persons on the Columbia campus. Note, the last comment states they took "history 101." There is not even such a course taught at Columbia!

Tom made a history lover out of me (a near-impossible feat). I went into this class dreading it, but came out of it a history minor! I can't get enough of Tom's classes. Take this class and have a fantastic time! learning!

Intelligent, stimulating, & well read gentleman whose courses are designed to expose you to all sides of an issue & assist you in determining your own thesis. May be difficult if you are used to being force-fed information which you then regurgitate on a test. I would highly recommend you take his courses if you are truly interested in learning.

Tom Johnson was one of my favorite teachers at Columbia. Everyone should take at least one class from him.

When I signed up for Johnson's history and poli sci classes I knew the subject matter would be stimmulating but I did not expect to be as enthralled as I have been thus far. His lectures are captivating and he goes above and beyond to help you understand. He challenges us to think critically, and his teaching style has made me a better student.

Professor Johnson's classes are analytical and interesting;I have learned how to study more effectively as a result of taking his classes. Make use of his office hours and participate in class if you want to succeed--he will give you the grade you earn. If your goal is learning rather than simply passing, I highly recommend Professor Johnson.

I don't recommend this class for a person who is not reading and writing at a college level. Most of the complaints I have heard about the class have come from people who lack the critical thinking and reading comprehension skills that the class necessitates. Johnson is great. A bit of advice: use his office hours! A+!

If you want to learn something TAKE HIS CLASS! I really liked his non biased approach on politics, which made u feel free to say what you want politically knowing he would not hold it against you Many people did not like the class because it was difficult, but if you do the reading and participate in class discussions you will get an A like i did

Notice how he sticks his tounge out when he talks, it's really funny/distracting. I wouldn't take him again.

He is so funny and super sarcastic. At first I thought he was hard to follow but then I got used to his teaching style. As long as you do the work and speak uo he'll love you. There is never a dull moment in class.

Great guy, great teacher, never a dull moment!

Intelligent & entertaining guy - likes the hotties, lol. Worth taking/thought provoking. Can get a bit easy/boring if you know his style & take mult. classes (jokes are canned) but a great guy who does care & picks cheap textbooks to help students. Do the reading if you don't know material, *visit during office hours*, & join the discussion...

This is my second semester of college, and I think that this is one of my favorite teachers so far. Very informative and always holds my attention with the subject matter. Very funny and gets everyone involved at least once into the butt of a joke(including himself)

He is awsome

Great teacher Most of the complaints are probably from people who didn't try in his class. If you study and do the reading you will be fine. This man should really be teaching at the CSU or UC level. If you think his class is hard you are not ready for a 4 year school,4 year schools upper division political science courses are much more difficult.

Great guy! One of my favorite teachers at CC. Super-fun, energetic teaching style. He is like a living book in his knowledge about history and poli sci. Office hours, reading your books and class participation are a must, but add to the overall experience of the class.

He is a cool guy. Very down to earth. But is it me or does he licks his lips like hes the joker!?!

Johnson is one of the best teachers at Columbia. I have never liked history, but his energy made me excited to learn. Reading is necessary to succeed, and seeing him in his office hours helps a lot. He is a truly nice guy, and he wants to get to know his students, and for them to succeed. Would highly recommend taking if you want to learn a lot!

I never had an interest in history prior to taking his class. He is entertaining as well as helpful. Keep your study guide handy cause those are the exact questions that will be on the test. Go to SI (supplemental instruction, you can get a lot of the answers there. GOOD LUCK!

Terrific teacher. Enagaging, balanced, and has clear and reasonable expectations.

Great class. Loved his style of teaching. I also took polisci with him, both awesome classes. I already loved history but he made me love it more :P

Interesting. At first, I was a little put off by him; he was a little overbearing and demanding. Participation accounts for 1/3 of the grade, but he talks more than he listens; constant "uh huh" pushing you to shut up. In the end, once you play his game, know what he wants, then the information you get from him is great. Good class; will do again.

I like Tom. He requires analytic thinking when it comes to history; not what happened, when, or where, but WHY. This means seeing things from a different perspectives, and thinking. Assignments are few, reading is semi-heavy, and thinking is mandatory. One thing: he needs to listen more and talk less, more discussion and less "love of own voice".

Learned a lot in Johnson's class. Unlike Hamilton, who preaches, Johnson teaches. He is fair in his grading and expectations, of course this means you have to work for your grade. If you take him, you will probably be surprised by how much you will look forward to his class. It's an actually interesting class, plain and simple.

The first class you will be intimidated!It is a challenging class in the beginning but once you get used to Zinn, Johnson and Hofstadter, their thesis will come naturally. By the end the semester I always looked forward to his class! Word of advice, don't be afraid to email him questions. He straight gives you the answers in detail.

Johnson's classes require heavy reading, class participation, & simply an effort to do well. I loved his lectures & you can ask in class or email any questions you have. Utilize those times for Q/A. Even if you are struggling with understanding the material, Johnson recognizes when students are working hard in his classes & will help if you ask.

Dr. Johnson's lectures are very informative. As long as you ask questions he takes the time to make sure his students understand the material.

One of my favorite teachers so far. I took history 17 and History 13 with him in the same semester and I really like his teaching style. The overall grading system is the same for all his classes, 100 for the midterm, 100 for the final, 100 for participation. Easy enough if you listen and do the reading. I enjoyed the lack of pointless assignments

He definitely values participation in all ways. Attend every class, visit his office during office hours, email him with questions, type your notes up, and sit near the front and participate in class. I learned so much from him and I have a much better understanding of our Government and Constitution today. He makes you work, but it's worth it.

His teaching method is for auditory learners, so be sure to bring your notebook if you are not. He is understanding and gets to know his students pretty well. The course work is rigorous.

If you don't participate he will call on you. He grades down for folks who sit and daydream. Read each assignment and be prepared to discuss.

Great instructor! He approaches both U.S. history classes in the same manner, assigning three texts. You are expected to think critically, recognizing each authors prejudices and theory. You must read before the class and participate in class by commenting and asking questions. You should visit him during office hours.

AMAZING Professor! Very helpful especially when you go to office hours! (which you should do) He makes you work, but so worth it! Loved the class

Johnson lectures most of the time. He only assigned two homework and two essays for the whole duration of the class. If you prepare in advance for the essays and study for the final you will have no problem passing the class. He offers one on one meetings at office hours where he will give you great advice for writing your papers, this is the key.

How to get an A (from someone who has done so in 6 Johnson classes): PARTICIPATE- Ask so many questions he has no choice but to remember your name. Go to office hours and ask exam questions. PREPARE: Find a good study group to help you make your matrices, mark useful sections while reading texts, and practice writing your in-class-exams beforehand.

Johnson is one of the best professors for those who are just wanting to get their Gen Ed over with. As long as you take copious notes, actively participate in class, and study outside of class, you're golden!! Going to his office hours and communicating with him via email is always a big plus!

Johnson is a good teacher. He knows what he's teaching and he wants you to learn it. I definitely recommend going to his office hours. It was very beneficial to me. And ask a LOT of questions.

This class taught me so much! It definatly requires that you apply yourself but that is what college is all about. I would highly recommend him. Ask questions in class, go to his office hours and stay up to date on your portfolio/reading :)

Johnson is a good professor. He is very knowledgeable about the subjects he teaches and enjoys what he does. Write down everything he says, it is beneficial to you in the long run. If you don't read, do the portfolio, or ask questions you won't pass. Study HARD for the exams because there are only 2 and they are basically your entire grade.

Johnson is hands down the best professor I have ever had. The key to success: VISIT HIS OFFICE HOURS! Even if you don't need it, visiting him will help him remember you and that WILL help you significantly. With that being said, he has almost half of his students get D or F, almost half get A or B, and around 2-3 get C. I highly recommend him.

Johnson may not be the most approachable guy, but he sure does know his stuff. Taken two classes with him and loved them both. I learn more from his courses than any other professor. Warning: He can talk for hours straight, but if you can handle that and immense reading, take his classes. You will leave his class a smarter person.

Tom was one of my favorite professors. He really makes the class interesting and I feel like I learned a lot. He is understanding and wants you to succeed as long as you put in some effort. I've taken multiple classes from him, and I would take more (despite being a psych major) if I wasn't about to graduate.

Johnson is one of my favorite proff. His teaching method is primarily lecture based, but always interesting. You definitely have to earn your grade. Expect a lot of memorization in preparation for your in class essays on both the midterm and the final. Paying attention to the lectures will save you. If you want to learn something, he's the best.

Dr. Johnson is one of the best professors I have ever had. His lectures are brilliant, he makes you think for yourself, and you will learn a lot in his classes. Participation is important, so stay off of your phone, pay attention and ask questions.

I absloutluely love Johnson as a person, i miss the class. At the beginning of the class and especially during midterms i stressed a lot about the in class essay which is 50% of our grade but looking back it was definitely managable. Make friends in the class to discuss with, sit at the front, ask questions periodically, make sure he knows you.

Johnson is very clear on what he wants and expects on exams. I am not the best at history yet managed to get an A on the midterm. As long as you do the homework, ask questions in class, and participate in discussion, you will pass. He goes over all the answers in class! The work itself isnt hard, its just hard to force yourself to do the work.

This class was incredibly difficult, but incredibly rewarding. Be prepared to read out of three books for the course. Class participation WILL help your grade. You won't pass if you do not attend. Part of the difficulty was that I took the condensed summer course. If you need to bang it out in 5 weeks, just beware that the final is the only grade.

Professor Johnson is incredibly knowledgeable and he does not mind sharing his knowledge with any student who has a question. In fact, he encourages class dialogue and gives students who participate extra credit. The key to getting a good grade is to participate, do the reading and pre-write your midterm and final essays. I took the online class.

Do your reading! Participate in class and make sure you're prepared for your midterm and final. Definitely a tough professor, but worth the work. I enjoyed this class and am looking forward to taking another of his classes next semester.

Johnson is super funny, fun, and interesting. His lectures are engaging and he is fun to listen to. He is a very kind grader and gives a lot of extra credit. Make sure to participate in his class and you will have a great experience! Love this professor!!