Is this an easy A?
HardWork
48/100An A is possible through curves and study tools, but , and serious preparation.
Online evidence is negative and test-heavy, while but still requires work.
Cabrillo College · Political Science
PS1MW · POLS3 · PS180105 · PS179369 · PS1 · PS3 · PS6969 · PS2AND3 · POLSC1 · PS37937 · PS3PS3 · 15 lifetime ratings
The decision
Key questions
Is this an easy A?
An A is possible through curves and study tools, but students describe hard tests, time-consuming work, and serious preparation.
Online evidence is negative and test-heavy, while in-person evidence shows some grade recovery through curves but still requires work.
Is the course easy?
The content is demanding for general education because lectures move quickly and tests ask specific reading-based questions.
The single online review calls the course especially confusing, while in-person reviews consistently describe a tough but learnable class.
Is attendance flexible?
Students mention he is strict about attendance and expects responsibility for the syllabus.
Attendance evidence comes from in-person reviews, with no clear online attendance policy evidence.
Is this professor recommended?
Many recommend him for serious learning, but the workload, tone, and hard tests make him a poor fit for easy-course seekers.
In-person reviews lean positive overall, while the only online review strongly says to avoid the class.
Course guide
Grading
Fair
55/100
Grading can feel tough on papers and tests, but at least one review says the curve made an A possible.
Format shift
The curve evidence comes from in-person reviews, while the online review focuses on difficult testing without grading leniency.
Workload
Heavy
30/100
Students report time-consuming homework, heavy reading, long tests, and fast lectures.
Format shift
Both formats show workload pressure, but the online review emphasizes unclear test preparation while in-person reviews emphasize readings and assignments.
Teaching experience
Good
78/100
Most students call him passionate, knowledgeable, helpful, and intellectually engaging despite fast pacing and mixed tone.
Format shift
In-person teaching feedback is mostly positive, while the single online review gives no meaningful teaching praise.
Assessment method
FocusOnExams
75/100
Reviews repeatedly mention quizzes, tests, midterms, readings, and textbook-based assessment more than projects.
Format shift
Online evidence centers on a four-part midterm, while in-person reviews mention long quizzes, tests, papers, and reading-based exams.
Luni fit check
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Course format
Classroom format
High confidence · Best fit for Hardcore Learner
In-person students describe him as passionate, knowledgeable, and worthwhile, but also tough, fast-paced, and test-heavy.
Main concern
Students must keep up with readings, attendance expectations, and specific tests.
What students said
“If you are hard working and not afraid of a challenge then take his class”
“Quizes/tests are long and hard.”
“He teaches very well, yet he goes through his slide shows EXTREMELY fast.”
Remote format
Low confidence · Best fit for Hardcore Learner
The only online review describes a very difficult course with unclear midterm guidance and test questions beyond the readings.
Main concern
Tests may feel under-guided and disconnected from the assigned material.
What students said
“DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS!”
“The midterm is in 4 parts with no guide to which concepts will be covered by which parts of the midterm.”
Exam style
Exams appear difficult and specific, but reviews do not clearly prove proctoring, webcam use, Lockdown Browser, open-book rules, or closed-book rules.
Assessment risk
Strict
32/100
Low score means less forgiving assessment conditions.
In-person reviews describe long, hard, reading-based tests, but do not clearly prove proctoring, open-book rules, or closed-book rules.
“Quizes/tests are long and hard.”
“His tests are difficult-long and full of pretty specific questions”
“the tests are based on them”
The online review describes a four-part midterm and difficult tests, but does not clearly prove proctoring, webcam use, Lockdown Browser, or open-book rules.
“The midterm is in 4 parts with no guide to which concepts will be covered by which parts of the midterm.”
“The tests ask questions that have barely been covered by the books”
Student evidence
Top student voice
“If you are hard working and not afraid of a challenge then take his class, but if you want to just skate by wrong class.”
“Mr. Nakagawa is one of the most passionate teachers that I have ever had the pleasure of being taught by.”
“He makes the class way to hard for a Gen Ed class.”
“Quizes/tests are long and hard.”
Theme 1
Theme 2
Theme 3
Data context
Analysis sample
15
Recent reviews read by the AI
15
Lifetime ratings
82/100
Evidence confidence
Fifteen reviews across multiple political science courses give consistent evidence about strong teaching, high difficulty, and test-heavy grading.
Inside 15 stored ratings
Reported outcomes
1 reported outcomes
A 1
No reported values
No reported values
No reported values
No reported values
No reported values