He is one of my favorite profs. SOO Brilliant, sweet, open, passionate about literature and philosophy and politics. Has a wonderful teaching style and really brings out the best in his students. If you can, do take a course with him.

Great professor, very interesting and direct. His discussion is thought provoking

Wistead knows his stuff, and he is passionate about helping students understand the complex writings of ancient political thought. Incredibly profound and articulate.

Amazing Prof. If you are interested in political theory he is the man to take. Challenging, but very rewarding class.

best teacher I have had at GW period. I've taken a couple classes, hope to take more.

Winstead is a great professor, very knowledgeable, but also pretty tough. He's got an extreme liberal bias, and makes you feel inferior if youre conservative. But he is so knowledgeable and interesting, its alright.

He truly strives to be a philosopher himself. Ancient greeks are cool you should definitely take this class. Oh and as a conservative I did not find Winstead to have an "extreme bias." Yes, he's liberal, even holds his own liberal preconceptions, but tries his best to be fair to all views.

I took Winstead's Nietzsche seminar, 107 and 105 classes. He's usually fair, but his biases really come out in the seminar. Still, he's a great teacher--always clear in lectures and about what he expects from us. He's very helpful outside of class. He's an easy grader too.

Made me enjoy ancient philosophy. As a conservative, I noticed bias, but did not receive any put-downs when I defended the right. Great teacher, fairly easy grader.

Truly one of the greatest talents at GW -- a prof. who will challenge both your political beliefs and your intellect, a prof. who will transform you, a prof. you will remember for a long time to come. His class is everything an education ought to be and more. Take him -- you won't regret it.

It's always great to get an honors professor teaching a standard course. Intense, fun, extremely intellectual, and fair. A must-take class for all interested in where political science as a field comes from.

Top 3 Professors Ive had at GW. Makes you interested in material no other professor was able to. Tough but fair.

I love Winstead!! Such a great prof. He's brilliant...I could listen to him lecture for hours. He really is passionate about what he teaches, and he really seems to love his students. He's a cutie too (if you're into the "hot nerd" type).

very intellegent, led thoughtful discussions. I thought it was a tad boring, but really not my area of interest. The readings were managable and the papers were the essence of class. If you went to class you should have gotten the material for the paper. Recommended---if you have to take the class.

his nerdy appearence can be deceiving at first but give him time. awesome professor-one of the best i have had in 3 years. hes absolutely brilliant. he presents politically philosophy in such a clear and precise form. the readings are challenging philosophical writings. 3 essays for the semester. go to class,take notes and you will do fine.

Great class, awesome teacher. As others have said, he really is brilliant and knows the material unbelievably well. Take this class.

Never expected myself saying this, but you will ENJOY going to this class. It challenges your mind in an intellectual way, and his lectures are extremely interesting. He knows what he is talking about. Essays are counted as your midterm and final, and no need to take lame exams. Definitely recommend this class.

This was the best class I've taken at GW. Winstead is incredibly interesting and a fabulous teacher. I live for classes like his. It was just wonderful.

Good lecture, paper were fairly straight forward and easy

I LOVE Prof. Winstead! He is the best professor at GW. I have taken most of the classes he has offered and every one is interesting. He is extremely intelligent without making you feel dumb. He is just a sweetheart! His classes are hard and you have to be willing to work in them, but if you do you will get a good grade and a ton of information!

Among the best at GW. Brilliant and down to earth in an esoteric kind of way. Great lecturer: very clear, formal, and organised. Extremely engaging and loves participation. Three papers each worth 30 % of grade. Papers on class texts which are interesting and engaging. He is challenging but not too difficult. Not hard to get above a B. Take HIM!

Awesome, awesome teacher. Not super difficult if you pay attention and take good notes - papers at the end of classes are the most important part of the grade. Don't always have to do all of the reading. Amazingly smart, sometimes overintense - take advantage of office hours. Bonus: extremely good looking.

Excellent Prof. Very engaging. He is orgainzed, clear, and formal. He likes participation and allows discussion. You will get a lot out of a course with Winstead. Does not require many assignments but he will challenge you nonetheless.

He's probably the greatest prof I've had at GW, and I just graduated so that's saying something. He actually engages you in the topic and wants to hear what you have to say. He asks more of you than just regurgitating what you read. It's a great class and he is incredibly helpful. He isn't too hard on grading either.

Prof. Winstead is by far the best teacher I've had at GWU. The readings are intense but very rewarding. Faciliated class discussions make class engaging and fun. Take him!

The best professor I've had a GW.

I heard he was a hard prof, but he's definately not. Tons of readings that are complex philosophical texts, but I just went to class and took good notes and did fine - 3 short papers that can easily be done from class notes alone. Incredibly intellectual and passionate about the subject.

One of the best professors at GW. You really do learn a lot. I've taken him twice in one year as I just couldn't get enough of him. Great emphasis on the texts and class is always discussion based but the notes are really important in writing papers. Pretty easy grader, most kids got B's and A's on papers. DEFINITELY take this class!!!!

Great professor and really nice guy. A little pretentious, but he's a good lecturer nonetheless. Class was fairly easy.

He's not the easiest grader, but he's a great guy and you can definitely learn a lot from him if you are willing to be open minded. A lot of reading, but most of the time you only talk about half the reading, so you don't necessarily have to do all of it. He grades his papers fairly- but is really big on word choice, so choose wisely!

I find the below comments and name-calling upsetting. Of course, political philosophy isn't a discipline for everyone, but if you do have the interest and willingness to learn, Prof. Winstead's classes (and I've taken a few) were incredibly rich, fascinating & worthwhile. And he's the only GWU prof. I've had who genuinely cares about every student.

I found this class to be incredibly rewarding. Professor Winstead helps students interact with profound material. For me, this interaction not only increased my reading and writing capabilities, but facilitated deep contemplation on issues which continue to be of dire importance to the attainment of meaningful existence within modern society.

Great professor who can make dense and difficult material understandable. The subject matter gives the opportunity to read great texts and the class is more a discussion of ideas than anything else. Only 2 papers and a final, which if you attend class, are easy.

Awesome teacher. Very intellectual and passionate about the subject matter. I was a bit uninterested in ancient political thought, but he made everything easy to understand. Good discussions in class, and papers are rather straightforward. Always willing to help during office hours!!!

Really great course, great professor, great readings. Winstead is smart and helpful. Actually cares about his students!

Love him!!! I've never learned so much from one human being in my life. His intense eye contact and intelligence can be a little intimidating. Lots of readings but you come away with a great understanding one he discusses things. Also consult him when you write your papers because he makes lots of his own edits.

He is a great teacher with a funny sense of humor. He makes really boring subjects interesting to discuss. I went in for help on all my papers, and if you listen to his comments, then he will help you get a good grade.

It is an interesting class because of the topics of discussion and the readings we delve into. The professor makes even the most difficult of readings manageable and understandable. If you're interested in political thought or philosophy, take his class.

He's an expert in this field of political philosophy and his lectures are a must! You don't even have to read from all the books if you take good notes during class. The total grade depends on the 3 assigned papers, as he will not know your name and face if you don't see him during separately during office hours. Overall, an okay class!!

The best class I've had at GW by far! Amazing readings -- very intense and well-chosen by the professor -- great discussions in class, and the professor is extremely helpful in illuminating dense material. Love him!

Professor Winstead was one of the best professors I have ever had in my college career. He is extremely passionate about the material and made it not only approachable, but also exciting to his students. Class discussions were fantastic and the assigned papers were thought-provoking. He's the best. Take any class you can with him!

An actual teacher. Very clear, promotes discussion, interjects new ideas.

Great professor who leads legitimately fascinating discussions. Never have I been in a class where a teacher has so ably been able to guide the class towards discovering ideas without spoonfeeding them. Do the readings (you'll want to anyway) and he deconstructs every sentence of your essay which makes you a far better writer. Go out of your way.

Prof Winstead was great in Western political Thought. You are required to read alot but i barely read and still got an A. Go to Lectures, he explains everything in detail and makes lecture interesting. His passion is evident and is an expert on political thought. Take one of his classes

Professor Winstead is by far the best professor I had at GW. He really cared about what he was teaching and really got the class to think about the readings. I've never seen a group of students hesitate to leave the room during the last class but that's how great his class was. By far my favorite class at GW so far.

Wow. Just wow. What a phenomenally smart person, incredibly nice man, and great professor. Even if you aren't interested in the subject, his intellect will draw you in. He gives lots of help on the papers and grades very fairly (pretty easy grader). I learned so much from this class. By far my favorite professor at GW. Take anything with him

Winstead is awesome - as someone only barely interested in philosophy, I was intrigued by this man's intelligence and interest. He turns any subject into a profound exploration. For papers and discussion, he's super helpful if you put in the effort. Overall cool dude, highly highly recommend

The best professor I have had at GW. He is an incredibly intelligent man, and he is a deep knowledge of political philosophy. His lectures are extremely engaging, and he really gets great conversations going in class. If you even have a passing interest in philosophy, definitely make sure you take him while at GW

My favorite professor at GW. He really wants you to leave his class with an understanding of philosophy. That being said, he helps with papers immensely if you go to office hours or even email him. He's otherwise just a really kind, good-hearted person, who is very fun to talk to outside of class. He isn't one of those arrogant pretentious profs <3

Best professor I have had so far. He is extremely clear and explains concepts in multiple ways. Go to class and read the books. Absolutely worth every second. I can't recommend him enough.

Amazing professor. I still have him in class and I'm looking for future classes he teaches. You'll love him, take any class he's teaching. You won't regret it.

As others have said, Professor Winstead is very intelligent. His summaries and explanations are crystal clear. Definitely attend class if you want to do well on the papers. However, with minimal feedback it was difficult to know where I stood in the course. Perhaps that was unique to this semester.

Winstead is the kind of professor that you dream of at a higher-learning institution. I knew nothing about Nietzsche before the course, but his passion and nuanced analysis captivated me for an entire semester. I admire the passion with which he pursues academia and wish he wasn't on sabbatical so I could take another class with him.

William Winstead is a wonderful human being all around. He is also super intelligent and a fantastic professor. He will make you rethink the way you see the world, and do so in a kind, compassionate way. Honestly just hanging out with him for two lectures a week is a treat. I took him for a year, learned a ton, and became a better writer.

Winstead is an extremely intelligent man, which at times can be a bit intimidating in class. But he's really brilliant, and his ideas are interesting and definitely help to open your mind to philosophy. I highly recommend him, but do be prepared for a bit of tough grading. He is very open to office hours, and you should definitely go to those.

Professor Winstead's course will greatly improve your writing ability. No homework besides reading, but challenging essays that you have to be willing to put effort in to. The readings are, for the most part, interesting and if you do them class discussion is very intriguing. He is a very kind, intelligent professor and I would highly recommend him

Winstead is the best lecturer I've had at GW. Classes are incredibly helpful to understanding the readings and writing the papers. The readings are dense and complex, but he helps to make it much clearer. Taking notes on his lecturers makes writing the papers fairly easy and he grades fairly.

I'm not the biggest fan of philosophy but Winstead made the class enjoyable. The class discussions were really rewarding and he's very helpful to talk to during office hours. Grade is basically based on 3 papers but other than that the class is pretty chill. Just make sure you write in the style that he likes and you'll do fine.

Professor Winstead is a great teacher. He leads discussions very well and helps you through the texts really well. Be careful with your papers and you will do well. Make sure you edit and going to his office hours is never a bad idea even though they are on the Vern.

I really learned so much in this class and when he talks you can tell that he really chooses the words he uses carefully. The class is more him talking than discussion and there is a lot of reading. He is really picky on papers about format and word choice but your grade is usual better than the comments you receive and he gives great feedback.

Can't say enough great things about Professor Winstead. He is extremely accessible and invested in his students, especially if you go to office hours. The class was a normal amount of reading, and he simplified a lot of the tough concepts. I learned a lot and would 100% take him again!

Winstead is an excellent person and an above average professor. An A is achievable if you plan out and carefully organize your essays. As a side note, avoid using this phrase &quot;this demonstrates&quot; like the plague. You will have to spend upwards of $200 on books which he orders from a local bookstore.

Winstead is one of a kind. He deeply cares about his students and their success. You have to work hard for an A, but it is definitely achievable if you do the readings and provide thoughtful responses. He was a great professor for first semester freshman year and I would gladly take him again!

Winstead is fantastic! Be prepared to do a lot of work and grow a lot

Great discussions, and he was a fair grader.

Great professor, makes you into a better writer. Grading isn't too harsh, he's more focused on helping you learn and understand the material.

I had him for 1015 &amp; regret not taking him 2nd semester. I really became a better writer with him &amp; learned a lot. He is very picky about word choice, so listen to the phrases he wants you to avoid. Pay attention in class &amp; take notes on what he says about the texts. He grades the first paper the hardest, but your grades usually go up from there.

Professor Winstead is brilliant- his lectures and discussions are engaging and I would recommend showing up to class as it will help you on papers. There are no official tests, its all paper based which can be a good or bad thing depending on what you prefer. He is super accessible and I would recommend taking this class.

Professor Winstead is truly a wonderful professor. He is caring, funny, smart, and respected. I learned so much from his class - he's a great presenter. Definitely a class you have to participate in to get an A, but that goes for all origins classes. Plus, participating is worth it because you'll probably learn a lot about the topics and yourself.

Honestly by far one of the best professors I have ever had. If I could keep taking his class I would! Grades the first essay the hardest but grades do go up from there. You will leave his class a better writer and a more articulate individual.

Professor Winstead is a humble genius who really cares about his work and his students. In office hours once, he told me that &quot;literature is my love,&quot; and you can really tell by taking his class. He certainly made me a better writer and helped me better understand somewhat complex philosophical texts.

Professor Winstead is a god. I took him first semester for HONR 1015 and loved him so much I took him again. His readings are super tough and long but he will take the time to make sure you understand them. His lectures on the texts have completely changed the way I think about life and our institutions.

Winstead is a gem! Hell teach you to think and write, and his classes are entertaining and inspiring! Hes a wonderful professor who I hope to take again soon.

Winstead is a GEM!! His is the only class where I forget I'm in online school and feel like I'm actually in a classroom. Engaging, Knowledgable, changes the way you see the world. 3 essays, but he helps a lot along the way. Whether or not you think it's challenging depends on your writing experience. A lot of reading but you can skim it &amp; do well

Love Prof Winstead! I learned so much from this class and really enjoyed his lectures and our class discussions. Graded qualitatively, if you show him that you care about the class you'll be fine. I took extensive class notes and that really helped me when writing papers. Go to office hours and run ideas by him, he gives great feedback!

Winstead is awesome. He completely changed my view of life--and that of friends in the course as well. Lots of challenging readings, but lectures and class discussion were tremendously illuminating. Highly recommended for students who really want to learn.

Professor Winstead is amazing. All of his lectures are engaging and act more as conversations rather than just him droning on. His essays can be difficult to get used to as he does have a specific way he wants you to write. However, I can say that my writing has significantly improved since being in his class.

I love Professor Winstead! The class is based on discussions, one presentation, and many essays. The first essay is one that he critiques heavily! Although it was painful to see only red ink on my pages, it helped me improve my writing! Winstead is super helpful, kind, and knowledgeable! WE LOVE WINSTEAD.

Winstead is truly so kind and caring towards his students. He gives meaningful feedback on the three essays you write over the course of this semester. Highly recommend taking Winstead! Take advantage of office hours and ask questions in class to get the most out of the experience. Some truly diverse and fascinating texts as well!

One of the best Profs at GW. Immense knowledge of political philosophy & theory. Grade consists of Participation, 1 Presentation (on readings), and 3 Papers. Papers are tough & dense...start early and ask the Prof for help! He is SUPER kind, accessible, and truly wants you to succeed. A great resource who I would highly recommend.

Professor Winstead is easily the best Honors professor, he has such extensive knowledge of course material, offers a great deal of support in understanding relatively difficult topics, and has a generally interesting class. He's an amazing introduction to philosophy and writing at GW.

Very knowledgeable about Nietzsche and was excited for the class to read and discuss these books. Graded on two 5-7 page essays and a 8-15 page final research paper. Gave great feedback on papers and was accessible outside of class for any questions I had about these very dense readings. Do the readings, pay attention in class, and you will be fine

This professor truly made me excited to go to class. He is truly an amazing professor so engaged with his class, and makes everyone feel welcomed. He is so available in and out of class, always willing to help and offer feedback. The reading can be a bit tough but he goes very in depth about the information and readings.

After finishing this course, you'll have a better grasp of the world and your own views. Prof Winstead takes you through centuries of philosophy, including Greek, Buddhist, and feminist thought. The course includes challenging, yet rewarding, readings, discussions, and assignments. He has office hours on the Vern and responds promptly to emails.

Professor Winstead is such an amazing human. He cares about his work and his students. He wants you to get an A and will provide very clear feedback on your essays. Do the readings and engage!

Prof Winstead is amazing. We read really interesting books that changed the way I view the world. His explanations were always very clear and helpful. He's also a super fair grader and his assignments really helped me grow as a writer and student in general.

Took for HONR 2053: pretty good professor and a nice person. Best if you're really into politics and can stand to be in class with a bunch of Poli Sci people. The class was really boring but i don't blame that all on him.

This was a wonderful course. We read fantastic works from a real range of traditions and cultures. Lorde and Baldwin and Zen were especially interesting. Class conversations were fascinating. Hope to take another course with Winstead

He is a kind man, and if you go to him for help, he's super accommodating with extensions, etc. He clearly has an expansive knowledge of philosophical topics, but sometimes, he doesn't explain them in the most graspable way. If you already know/have an interest in philosophers and concepts, it may be easier for you to stay engaged.

Winstead is perhaps one of the smartest professors I've had and a great lecturer (a really calming speaker, too). Grades are based on participation and 3 papers, so try your best. He cares a lot about the material, so he will read your papers in-depth. Make sure you do the reading for the papers. Material can be difficult, but he explains it well.

Professor Winstead is a knowledgeable and engaging instructor. The class discussions on a range of philosophical works were fascinating, though the readings could be dense at times. Using unstuck study along with the free textbook helped me stay on top of the material. Overall, a rewarding course.

Winstead is such a lovely professor, super knowledgeable and super caring about his students. If you want to know how to write an academic paper, he's definitely the professor to talk to. My only complaint is that when I took him, he often became sick and pushed our paper deadlines back so that the end of the semester was non-stop essays.

Winstead is a great lecturer--gives clear, comprehensive accounts of thinkers, an expert on Nietzsche, with a deep knowledge of German thinkers. A caring professor who wants you to succeed. Read the texts, take papers seriously, use office hours, learn a lot. A gift to GW.

A really wonderful, kind, clear professor, who goes out of his way to support his students. Very highly recommended.

Winstead is caring and super smart. You have to read carefully and participation can be important, but it's well worth it for the insights and wisdom and breadth of learning. A great prof!

Professor Winstead is one of my favorite professors. Any thought class can be quite hard to understand but he does an amazing job at synthesizing theorist into easy to understand concepts. Tough but fair grader. There's no slides so you really have to pay attention during lecture but as long as you pay attention you'll gain a lot from the class.

He is very knowledgeable on what he teaches and is passionate about it, the most important part of the class is making sure you show up and are present in the discussions. His grading is a little eh but just get on his good side.