Professor
Julia Payson
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2025 - Payson is a pretty good lecturer. She even offered extra credit at one point! She goes through slides at a manageable pace and its very approachable in office hours, though it can get monotonous. Moreover, the class setup is extremely easy – she doesn't even use a textbook, and she breaks down readings in class – so I would recommend it for a GE if you aren't a political science major. The readings were some of my favorite parts of the class because they are some of the more intricate parts of the class (which is mostly surface-level). If you took AP Gov, you'd probably know most of the stuff in this class, but it can be nice to break it down further. However, I found some lectures became dry and slow. As for TAs, it can vary greatly. Many are helpful and have practice questions for the tests, quizzes, and midterm, but mine did not manage the section very well.
Fall 2025 - Payson is a pretty good lecturer. She even offered extra credit at one point! She goes through slides at a manageable pace and its very approachable in office hours, though it can get monotonous. Moreover, the class setup is extremely easy – she doesn't even use a textbook, and she breaks down readings in class – so I would recommend it for a GE if you aren't a political science major. The readings were some of my favorite parts of the class because they are some of the more intricate parts of the class (which is mostly surface-level). If you took AP Gov, you'd probably know most of the stuff in this class, but it can be nice to break it down further. However, I found some lectures became dry and slow. As for TAs, it can vary greatly. Many are helpful and have practice questions for the tests, quizzes, and midterm, but mine did not manage the section very well.
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2024 - payson is the poli sci professor ALL poli sci professors should take note from. this is mainly regarding her reading guides. poli sci is a reading HEAVY major, and payson recognizes that. she literally cuts that reading time in more than half by giving us a reading guide and telling us EXACTLY what to focus on and what to skim briefly and what to skip completely. it made this class such an easy workload. the midterm was online, open note, and fairly easy. it was mc, short answer, and some "essay" qs but those were really like a paragraph or two. she reviews exactly what she wants in those essay responses, and it should be the most straightforward response, no fluff at all. the best part was that she rotated grading the responses through herself and all the TAs, so your grade was not based on JUST your TA, but all of them combined so it was very fair. the final was also online, and payson made it easier based on the midterm. it was also open note, and you choose 5 terms and write about them and find a connection to another topic in class. it was also easy and i think fairly graded as well. lectures were super engaging and she was so personal and tried to learn everyone's name. i've never seen a prof ask the class a question, and for every person responding, she would ask their name and write it down. she would try to remember everyone (it was like 100+ people) in lecture and she made it so straightforward and easy to digest. she is def a professor every pol sci major should take.
Winter 2024 - payson is the poli sci professor ALL poli sci professors should take note from. this is mainly regarding her reading guides. poli sci is a reading HEAVY major, and payson recognizes that. she literally cuts that reading time in more than half by giving us a reading guide and telling us EXACTLY what to focus on and what to skim briefly and what to skip completely. it made this class such an easy workload. the midterm was online, open note, and fairly easy. it was mc, short answer, and some "essay" qs but those were really like a paragraph or two. she reviews exactly what she wants in those essay responses, and it should be the most straightforward response, no fluff at all. the best part was that she rotated grading the responses through herself and all the TAs, so your grade was not based on JUST your TA, but all of them combined so it was very fair. the final was also online, and payson made it easier based on the midterm. it was also open note, and you choose 5 terms and write about them and find a connection to another topic in class. it was also easy and i think fairly graded as well. lectures were super engaging and she was so personal and tried to learn everyone's name. i've never seen a prof ask the class a question, and for every person responding, she would ask their name and write it down. she would try to remember everyone (it was like 100+ people) in lecture and she made it so straightforward and easy to digest. she is def a professor every pol sci major should take.
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