Current instructor
Original student reviews · all captured dates
McCoy went on off-topic rambles, didn't have a clear structure or plan for the class (she was sometimes surprised by the content on her own slides), didn't direct discussion well, and rarely addressed the core topic of the class (rhetoric). She is clearly kind and well-intentioned, but the course was not enjoyable whatsoever.Rate My Professors ↗
Really nice and caring professor! Love her so much.Rate My Professors ↗
She is a very caring professor and the class content is fascinating. I did not find the course reading to be mandatory, but it was generally very interesting. She is very accommodating and helpful, truly a gem. Only thing I would note is that grading can be pretty slow to turn aroundRate My Professors ↗
I am absolutely convinced that she is a very caring professor, as she is easily accessible in office hours, but she is a very nervous presenter. She seems passionate, and is clearly knowledgeable about her subject, but she reads verbatim from a script the entire class, and mumbles tangentally often. Also, incredibly long midterm & so much reading.
McCoy is extremely kind, but mumbles a LOT (which is so hard to understand while she wears a mask) and reads straight from her notes for the majority of lecture, making it feel like a nervous class presentation. Be sure you're interested in revolutions before taking--the class isn't impossible but definitely difficult due to McCoy's lecturing styleRate My Professors ↗
Professor McCoy is one of the best professors I've ever had. She is so passionate about all of her material. Her lectures are super interesting, it makes you want to attend class. She has a weekly short essay based on the readings that are super easy to do, two exams and a final paper.Rate My Professors ↗
Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.
Argumentation and Debate course focusing on constructing and evaluating arguments in democratic societies, discussing differences, and examining advocate/audience roles.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2026: 3.83 GPA, 95.0% A/AB (n=100 letter grades).
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Analyze the persuasive communication of demagogues, dictators, and extremists across various media to understand how they exploit uncertainty and gain power.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Directed Study is an advanced level project under faculty direction, such as independent reading with a research paper, production project, or membership on a research team.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2025–Spring 2026 · limited sampleIndependent Study involves independent research and writing under the supervision of an instructor.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Distinct courses recorded per term
Explore courses taught by this instructor →| Term | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2027 | COMARTS 262 | Argumentation and Debate |
| Spring 2027 | COMARTS 362 | The Discourse of Dictators, Demagogues & Extremists |
| Spring 2027 | COMARTS 699 | Directed Study |
| Spring 2027 | COMARTS 799 | Independent Study |
| Fall 2026 | COMARTS 262 | Argumentation and Debate |
| Fall 2026 | COMARTS 799 | Independent Study |
Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.
{
"instructor_uid": "instructor_bbe4113f2c4c2988f3363238",
"source": "enrollment",
"source_instructor_id": "mccoy2",
"identity_basis": "netid",
"identity_status": "source_identified",
"name": "Mary McCoy",
"email": "MCCOY2@WISC.EDU",
"first_observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00",
"last_observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00",
"ratings": {
"review_count": 20,
"quality": 4.1,
"difficulty": 2.7,
"quality_count": 20,
"difficulty_count": 20,
"profile_id": "rmp:1203394",
"source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1203394",
"match_basis": "exact_name",
"observed_at": "2026-10-14 18:54:45.574441+00:00",
"courses": {},
"bayesian_quality": 3.8795967902482347,
"prior_mean": 3.65919358049647,
"prior_weight": 20
},
"current": true,
"courses": [
{
"course_uid": "course_53cf09c7f22202ee06d3d57a",
"course_id": "COMARTS 262",
"title": "ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE",
"credits_min": 3,
"credits_max": 3,
"gpa": 3.362
},
{
"course_uid": "course_5f42941708a50f667d631c2c",
"course_id": "COMARTS 699",
"title": "DIRECTED STUDY",
"credits_min": 1,
"credits_max": 3,
"gpa": 3.988
},
{
"course_uid": "course_baeba6dae06592b8d56c4465",
"course_id": "COMARTS 799",
"title": "INDEPENDENT STUDY",
"credits_min": 1,
"credits_max": 3,
"gpa": 4
},
{
"course_uid": "course_e822b414a255e1a5ea0b9af8",
"course_id": "COMARTS 362",
"title": "THE DISCOURSE OF DICTATORS, DEMAGOGUES & EXTREMISTS",
"credits_min": 3,
"credits_max": 3,
"gpa": null
}
],
"revision": "fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf",
"instructor_url": "/instructors/MARY_MCCOY"
}