My Joomla - John P. McCaskey

Rate My Professors

Easiness: Helpfulness: Clarity:	“This class was hands down the best class I’ve taken at Brown. Challenging and reading intensive, but so worthwhile. Every reading was interesting, and Professor McCaskey pushed us to look beneath the surface and find what wasn’t there. He challenged us to make and support an argument and was always made himself available for help. Great professor.”
Easiness: Helpfulness: Clarity:	“Very clear and helpful, led very interesting discussions. Held somewhat rigid and uncompromising opinions (he’s an outspoken Objectivist), but was accepting of differing views if they were very well articulated.”
Easiness: Helpfulness: Clarity:	“Moral Foundations of Capitalism was a great class! Professor McCaskey is very passionate and engaging. But be warned: he will cold call on you and if he suspects that you haven’t kept up on the reading he will send you an email entitled ‘Are you keeping up?’ Very very worth it though.”

Rival Defenses of American Capitalism, Brown, 2012

• The best course I have ever taken at Brown. Absolutely incredible. Extremely challenging, lots of reading, but my writing improved immensely and my ability to develop and support an argument in class discussions as well as in my writing. I learned how to think on my feet, and how to critically read, to understand the arguments made by others. 
• Good focus on writing skills and argumentation. 
• Simply one of the greatest classes I've taken at Brown. Prof. McCaskey was among the best professors I've had in my 3 and a half years at this school. More professors should be like him. I would recommend any class he teaches to any student even if they are not concentrating in a related field.

Moral Foundations of Capitalism, Stanford, Winter 2012

Instructor

• “Very enthusiastic about the subject, connected topics well.”
• “Awesome seminar-leader. He is very helpful in understanding content, treats opposing viewpoints fairly, and really care about student development. His tips on writing better papers and engaging in productive discussion are unmatched among teaching staff.”
• “Hands down one of the best teachers I have ever had the fortune to learn from. An amazing class discussion facilitator, and really gives individualized attention to our papers/writing. I haven't had such an attentive, caring, brilliant teacher since high school.”

History of Modern Science and Technology, Stevens, Fall 2011

• Professor McCaskey was one of the best professors I’ve had at Stevens. I had not read as much for any previous humanities before this class, and I was able to keep up with the course load, and not feel like the reading was a burden. My writing has significantly improved, or I would hope it has. I would recommend this class to anyone who can take it.
• McCaskey was a great professor, maybe one of the most engaging humanities professors I’ve had at Stevens. He would also go out of his way after class to talk with students even though he was constantly flying places.Taught me to be a much better writer too. Keep this guy.

Moral Foundations of Capitalism, Stanford, Spring 2011

• Perhaps the best teacher I've ever had.
• very enthusiastic, brings excitement to discussions, really wants students to succeed, very helpful, always willing to meet outside of class
• Very thoughtful with feedback and comments - really cares about you improving
• Very outgoing, engaging, available, passionate and attentive.
• Sometimes stressed personal view of things (morals) a little much, leaving space for a dialogue but not as much as I would have liked.

History of Scientific Methods, Stanford, Fall 2010

Instructor

• “Really engaging and very invested in his students’ learning. Those qualities are rare in professors.”
• “actually inspired all students to actually do the reading!”
• “Best professor I have had at Stanford—he treats and talks to students like equals, which fosters high level, intelligent discussions that would not otherwise occur. Absolutely brilliant class.”

Moral Foundations of Capitalism, Stanford, Winter 2010

Instructor

• “Best instructor I have had at Stanford. Forced students to think clearly; did not let anyone get away with hand waving in class discussion. Got students to think without belittling them, an unusually rare skill. Great attitude towards students. I felt challenged and respected.”
• “Prof. McCaskey is a phenomenal teacher. Deftly facilitated engaging and intellectually exciting classroom dialogues. Some of the best class discussions I’ve ever had in college.” “Too little classroom time. Course definitely deserves at least another 30 more minutes a week”
• “Very effective teacher—one of the first I have had who was able to allow for rampant discussion in class while simultaneously ensuring that students were grasping the most important material. Very open to engage with students outside of class, and very thoughtful towards each individual teacher.”

Nineteenth-Century Philosophy of Science, Stanford, Fall 2009

• Professor McCaskey created the type of learning environment that makes a college experience: open discussion of all view points, an intimate engagement with the material, and demanding analysis of great works of scholarship.
• Assignments were appropriately challenging.
• This was a great class. With only four students, it can be difficult to keep a discussion going, but McCaskey ensured that every student contributed and was heard. He clearly knows and loves his subject, and his enthusiasm is infectious.

What is Science? Explaining Nature from Pythagoras to Popper, Stanford, Winter 2009

• This is probably the best class I’ve taken at Stanford, and I’m an engineering major. The material is extremely interesting and thought provoking, Prof. McCaskey is awesome, and the work is 100% useful. Everyone should take this class!
• the readings were time consuming and sometime difficult but totally worth the effort. the paper requirement was confusing at first, but after I heard his explanation, that because everyone came from different backgrounds and each person would want to focus on different things. it makes sense. 
• John’s ability to engage students and make them excited about the material is what makes him such an excellent discussion leader.
• Probably the best class I’ve taken at Stanford. All around fun, interesting, and informational.