[POLS W3922] Seminar: American Politics

I took Direct Democracy, one of the American Politics seminars in the Political Science department with Professor Phillips, and it was an amazing class.

Professor Phillips really rocks in a seminar setting. He's good at leading the discussion. By that, I mean he gets the discussion going by posing some questions about the reading and building up the discussion based on what the class has gleaned from the reading. However, he's also good at letting the students go back and forth on a point if the discussion gets really interesting. Which it did, since some of the topics we covered included Gay marriage/ Prop 8, The referendum on Gov. Grey Davis and subsequently Arnold.

I love Professor Phillips! Sure, this class will seem much like your high school civics class, but he really is a nice guy who cares about the material. I think he actually recognizes that the department is sticking him with the Intro class since he's a younger professor, but he always tries to make jokes and keep people awake as we go over the three kinds of grants-in-aid.

Professor Phillips is also a real gem when you go to his office hours. He's always willing to help you with the material and even help you with questions from other political science classes.
The class is pretty simple, just make sure you cite the heck out of readings in your exams if you want to really do well

This class was a joke. The tests are not cumulative. You do not have to go to lecture or buy the books. Just get the notes from someone who goes to class and read them the night before the test. Try not to get a TA who is picky and you will surely get an A. Phillips is a genuinely nice guy.