Thompson, Robert  

Agribusiness

3.83/4.00

32 evaluations


AGB 212


Sophomore
B
Required (Major)
Aug 2001
Thompson is a unique professional who presents his material with humor and practicality to convey his points. He is not an easy teacher, but he is extremely fair


Junior
A
Required (Major)
Aug 2001
He was excellent, knowledgeable without being arrogant or condescending. Personable. When me and a friend had bought some "lucky" baseball hats, to help us on exams, he asked why they were lucky. He then told us that we couldn't wear them, we probably had written the answers to the test on the bill of the baseball cap. Cooler heads prevailed and we wore the hats, backwards, during the tests. They were lucky, I got an "A." Sorry for the aside, but he is a great teacher, and this rating is based on a 3:30-5:00, "damn I'm tired" class I was in.


Junior
B
Required (Major)
Aug 2001
Simply put the act of learning became on not of something required, but rather one that was looked forward to.


Freshman
B
Required (Support)
Aug 1999
He is an awesome professor. He teaching style is the best I have seen at Poly. Take him for any class.


Junior
A
Elective
Dec 2001
Dr. Thompson is a great teacher. He's incredibly passionate about economics and his enthusiam shows in his lectures. His tests are pretty hard and you have to study but they're not impossible. You will learn so much from this man. Take hime for ANY ABG class that you can!!!


Sophomore
B
Required (Major)
Jan 2002
Dr. Thompson was the best teachers i have ever had at cal poly. For the first time in my life, he made economics fun. Study the notes big time. Because most of his tests are from that. He learns your name fast and speak up in class. I would encourage you all to go to his office hours if you don't understand anything or if you just want to get to know him. Great guy, great class!


Freshman
N/A
Required (Major)
Mar 2002
Professor Thompson was an excellent professor and I would certainly reccomend taking abg 212 from him. The midterms can be difficult if you don't study, but if you keep up in class and pay attention, it's not too bad at all. He actually makes economics semi-fun!


Sophomore
A
Required (Major)
Jan 2004
This guy is freakin great, so if you have the opportunity to take him for any class, DO IT! He is so funny and very knowledgable about the subject he teaches. He can make difficult material appear easy, and his homework assignments are short and to the point. He is the best teacher ever!!!!!!!!


Freshman
B
Required (Major)
Jun 2005
Professor Thompson was awesome. He is a great lecturer and gives you all the information you are going to need for his tests. He has two midterms and a final, and gives homework assignments that aren't difficult and are very helpful. He assigns work with plenty of time to get it done and has office hours everyday and encourages students to come in for help. I would take another class from him in a heart beat!


Sophomore
A
Required (Major)
Feb 2007
Thompson is an awesome professor! He presents the material very clearly and the tests arent bad as long as you study your notes, and you are not tested on anything from the book. The homework is pretty easy and there isn't a lot of it. He is also very friendly and approachable if you have a question. The class time went by fast too because he is funny and will randomly tell jokes or stories to keep you interested. If you have a chance take thompson for any AGB classes.


Freshman
A
Required (Major)
Feb 2007
Thompson is a bad ass. If you go to class and pay attention you dont even have to touch the book. Everything is in the notes he puts on the board. And its not like you just write the notes and thats it. He has you learn and understand them in class. Great class. great professor. I highly reccomend him.


Freshman
C
Required (Major)
Feb 2007
Don't buy the textbook, waste a money. HE teaches you everything you need to know with notes. If you go to class, do your HW(Which is worth a lot of points and not hard at all), and study somewhat, this class should be a breeze. He is a sick teacher and he atleast tries to be funny. Definately take him for 212 and you won't regret it


Sophomore
B
Required (Major)
Jun 2007
HE IS AMAZING....I took econ in high school and hated every second of it, and i didnt do well either. Go to class and take notes. He presents the material in a very understandable way. There is homework which will probable take you 10 minutes and one quiz and 2 midterms and a final. The 1st midterm is pretty easy and the 2nd is a bit more difficult. the final is fairly easy if you study your first two midterms. MY FAVORITE TEACHER SO FAR AT POLY!!!!!!


Freshman
B
Required (Major)
Oct 2007
Nice guy, presents material really clearly, the homework is really similar to the exams, overall good class and prepares you for 313, he's old thought, he was my dad's teacher too!


Junior
A
Required (Support)
Dec 2007
Professor Thompson was one of the best teacher I have had at Poly. He has been doing th same thing for many years and has it really nailed down, he knows what he is talking about. If you go to class and copy the notes you will be fine. He doesn't believe in Blackboard and computer stuff, he is old fashion. You go to class, take notes, do homwork, and take tests, period! This is one of those classes where you do have to go everytime but the test and homeworks are a breeze. DON'T BUY THE BOOK! I was told this advice but we had a homework assignment from the book and decided to buy it. Find someone who has the book or go to the library because that is the only time you need it. Again if you have the chance to take Thompson take him, you won't regret it.


Sophomore
A
Elective
Aug 2008
absolutely a great guy and a great teacher. Go to class (attendance quizzes worth extra credit) do the homework (grade booster) and get an A.

AGB 213


Senior
B
Required (Major)
Nov 2001
Dr. Thompson is a great teacher, he is funny and explains the material clearly. Don't get me wrong this is a difficult class,and you have to study and keep up, but from what I've heard every other teacher for this class sucks. If you just do the homework and understand it the tests are a breeze, he makes the tests easier than the homework. He also gives partial credit for almost everything even if you miss most of the problem. If you've been putting this class off take Thompson.

AGB 310


Junior
B
Required (Major)
Nov 2002
Great teacher. Very funny and not boring. You need to go to class though, because he does pay attention to attendance. There was some HW, but not a lot and I'd recommend storing formulas into a calculator. There is a lot and it really helps. Take him if you want to learn and get something out of the class (especially finance concentrations), but if you want an easy class, take "Easy 'A' Avey."


Graduate Student
C
Required (Major)
Jan 2003
Even though I have already graduated, I feel it is my duty as an alumni to give back some of my input. By far, I learned more from all the classes I took with Dr. Thompson than any other instructor. As you can see from my average grade I received from him, I didn't sudy as hard and kinda slacked on homework (too much Z Club!). But, I still know the material and use the information that I received in his classes everyday. YOU MUST STUDY! He is very willing to help if you are willing to do the work, he will not give you the answers on a silver platter. I loved this teacher abilities to teach as well as relate to the students. I miss him dearly.


5th Year Senior
A
Required (Major)
Apr 2004
Bob is awesome...as his grade reflects. Aside from being a fun and good teacher, I think his stongest point is that he cares about the students. He will take the time with you if you want to, even after you've left his class. He is a wise guy, so don't be offended, rather roll with it and have fun. You are a great guy Mr. Thompson and Cal Poly will miss you.


Junior
A
Required (Major)
Jan 2005
Dr. Thompson is pretty laid back and is a good professor. This class relied heavily on lecture notes so it is important to go to class, plus he occasionally gives attendance quizes. The midterms and finals were huge, comprehensive, and without notes. If you can easily memorize lists, formulas, etc. you shouldn't have a problem. He gives homework which can really only help your grade unless you royally screw it up. Overall, not a bad class and a good prof.


Senior
D
Required (Major)
Jan 2005
Although I didnt get the greatest grade, I still enjoyed this class. The material was not very fun or intersting to me, but Dr. Thompson's enthusiasm and sense of humor is hilarious and helped to make the otherwise uninteresting material bearable. The tests are really hard and take forever, and the final is comprehensive so study the formulas and make sure you know where they apply and you'll do fine.


Junior
B
Required (Major)
Aug 2005
Thompson is a great teacher! He was always very intertaining and even though the class was sort of difficult... it was VERY do-able. Just go to class, take good notes and study your notes A LOT for the midterms. And make sure to memorize all the formulas (there arn't as many as it seems like)...make flash cards. If you do that, this class will be easy for you!


Senior
A
Required (Major)
Jul 2006
Nicest teacher at Cal Poly. Tests are fair and he's always willing to help you, the student. Take as many classes as you can with Bob.


5th Year Senior
N/A
Elective
Aug 2006
Great teacher! He is fun to listen to in class cause he is kinda goofy. He was helpful and everything was graded fairly. I liked the class a lot and learned a lot about the subject.


Junior
A
Required (Major)
Oct 2006
Thompson is the MAN!!! Please take this class if at all possible. The class can be hard if you are not good at understanding mathematical concepts. However, the class is fun to attend and is not hard if you pay attention. Please TAKE!!!!


Junior
A
Required (Major)
Nov 2006
Very nice teacher and easy to understand. He doesn't give loads amount of work, but enough so that you understand the material. You DO have to study for the tests, but as long as you come to class, listen, and take notes you'll be fine. The tests definitely don't just take 20 minutes though. He's not SUPER hard and an overall great guy.


Senior
A
Required (Support)
Jul 2008
Bob, as he likes to be called is just as casual and laid back as his name suggests. His teaching style is to include lots of funny jokes and humorous anecdotes in the material and knows the subject very, very well. He is simply the best teacher I have had at Cal Poly and is very knowledgable. His class is very structured, organized, and timely. He got all of the homeworks and tests back to us very shortly and the tests by the next class. Bob is a machine! There are many homeworks and assignments, but if you put some time in, they aren't too bad. You definitely need to know the formulas for the tests and there are a lot of them, so learn them! It really isn't too bad, and the material was boring at times, but Bob's personality kept the class fun. I learned a lot in this class and from him too. Read the book, do the assignments and go to class and you will do fine. It's too bad that Bob's retiring, but I am very glad to have had him as a teacher and future students are sadly missing out on an incredible teacher.

AGB 410


Senior
A
Required (Major)
Aug 2003
Bob has to be the BEST AGB teacher at Cal Poly. Not only does he actually know what he's talking about, he's a wise ass and funny. Some people don't get his humor, but they have to be idiots! I have learned SO much from this man, not only in this class but in AGB 213 & 310 - A's in both. His homeworks are the exact replicas of his notes and his tests are his notes and homeworks. Bob's always willing to help you if you don't understand what's going on. He will go over the material until you do get it. I always felt bad if I missed his class, so I truly tried not to, just b/c I have a great deal of repect for him...and b/c he'll make some smart ass remark about it in front of the whole class the next day that you arrive (it really is funny though). I have no more classes to take with Bob and will truly miss him. He also knows when everyone's hung-over, so he thinks it's hilarious! Plus he was probably at Bull's or Z-Club with us the night before.


Senior
A
Required (Major)
Mar 2005
THIS GUY IS THE MAN!


Senior
B
Required (Major)
Nov 2006
Bob Thompson is the best professor I have had at Cal Poly (Dr. Hurley probably being second). Even if you don't care about the subject it's still worth going to class just to hear him crack his jokes. He makes an effort to know everyone's name, and will say hi to you in the halls until you graduate. As for 410, I found this class to be almost identical to 310, except maybe a little harder because there are a few more topics. The project isn't difficult at all considering he takes it upon himself to get all the financial statements for you, unlike 322. Like any upper division project, I would recommend keeping ahead of the work, and he does like length. So really pile it on in the industry analysis, and you'll do fine. Bob also writes everything on the chalkboard that you'll need to know for the test, so you can be out of it, and still get everything you need. Take him for 310 too if you haven't already.


Graduate Student
A
Required (Major)
Apr 2008
If its on the board write it down. Frankly has a dry sense of humor but knows the subject. If you work, learn and generally try you will succeed.