The book certainly has all of the topics expected of an Introduction to American Government text. Log in to your program from these platforms: McGraw Hill Science Interactives (612), .bs3-nav-link-support a{
Ive covered organization under clarity above, so setting this aside, the textbook is good at being consistent in its tone and content, and chapters are easy enough to utilize. The 'Insider Perspective' sections in each chapter reflect this in their profiles of diverse individuals. There are a few points the author may want to consider. The text does a good job of covering the standard content (governments, federalism, civil rights, separation of powers, media, etc.). Each chapter starts with basic concepts and moves discussion toward topics which need more critical thinking. I believe the entire flow of the text and ease of read would increase by ditching this method of citation and simply using end notes or foot notes. To be clear, it is not culturally insensitive. Following Logical and standard fare. There seem to be problems with the formatting, though that could just be on machine, with some not converted paragraphs. Excellent. In terms of content, the textbook has all the chapters one normally expects from an introductory American Government textbook. This book is easy to divide into chapters or sections that make sense for the progression of the semester. The book is accurate with but few exceptions. Right from the start is an engaging "What is Government" and "Who governs" introductory sections, followed by excellent descriptions of our constitutional backgrounds and developments, While some textbooks do delve deeper into certain subjects (seemingly at random), it is good to see a textbook that offers nuts and bolts that will make it usable to nearly any instructor, allowing them ample room to discuss areas of their expertise without conflicting with the textbook. Within each unit, the chapters are structured to provide connections between topics that build upon the prior chapter's learning objectives . But it is an impressive work overall. I agree that the content is relevant, and can be easily updated. There are even two chapters on public policy, which many basic textbooks omit. Generally speaking, I think this textbook does as good a job at this as any other good textbook. Accuracy is excellent, with essentially an unbiased and error-free content (and i do judge rather stringently the accuracy of historical content given I teach history as well). Information is presented in a logical order. I read the "theme" as being about civic engagement, and the theme appears consistently throughout the text. Each chapter offers an introduction, 3 to 5 written sections covering the topic, key terms, summary, review questions, critical thinking questions, and suggestions for further study. There are occasional editorial comments and examples of protests which suggest liberal criticisms of the status quo. The textbook utilizes a wide array of references to various cultures, both in its written content and its supplementary graphics. read more. In fact, the text compares positively with other leading texts in this regard. Excellent use of sub-sections in each chapter. It covers all the areas that may be taught in an American Government intro class. The book was very culturally sensitive but more could be added throughout each chapter. The historical approaches In particular, the sections on civil rights, civil liberties are grouped near the beginning with section on public opinion and elections. Concepts well explained and presented. The accuracy of the content presented in the Kurtz et al book is as accurate and unbias as one would expect. and J. D. and Lee Arbetman and Megan L. Hanson and M.S. Though as I said before, more recent in time statistics, graphs, charts, and pictures would help, the use of the visuals organizationally as far as charts, maps, and graphs is very good. From the origins of the US political system, the constitutional framework, participatory inputs, formal institutions, and public policy, the major points are addressed. I wish there were more pictures though to break up the text and to enhance the reading. The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way. Geared as a unit in t I liked the film recommendations as references, although I wondered why they only came after three chapters (Intro, Congress, Courts)? The point-by-point "Summary" section is a great way for students to review the main ideas in the chapter. Right from the start is an engaging "What is Government" and "Who governs" introductory sections, followed by excellent descriptions of our constitutional backgrounds and developments, and next the originality and purpose of our federal system of government. Reviewed by Andrew Thangasamy, Associate Professor, Metropolitan State University of Denver on 8/28/20, In terms of content, the textbook has all the chapters one normally expects from an introductory American Government textbook. I found no appreciable errors in the textbook. The book leans more towards describing American government than explaining it, which may be fine for many instructors, especially for an introductory course. The Iroquois Confederacy, founded by the Great Peacemaker in 1142 1, is the oldest living participatory democracy on earth 2. Electoral case studies provide for a story within a history. That said, those places were few and far between. Washington set precedents. Additionally, there is a strong foundation of accurate historical background presented, especially in the Constitution chapter that provides the background necessary for understanding. For example, I may not get the chance to dedicate a whole class to elections but I can use sections of the chapter on elections in relation to civil rights, to Congress and to the Executive. There are also some advantages to this textbook, including clarity of the writing and various appendixes that include the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Federalist 10 and 51 right in the book. 34 Question #69. Create assignments for whole class or individual students. I saw no problems with the navigation or images. I found the content of the book accurate and complete. I was impressed by how up to date the text was. While the examples could become outdated, the issues used have been relevant for a long period of time. Of course since a key feature of this book is to present a considerable amount of material that combines theory and application and stimulate critical thinking, covering the volume of materials given the way it is divided may present a challenge over one semester. One of many things I like about this textbook is that it is well organized throughout. read more. And the text generally attempts to present its material in a balanced and unbiased way, presenting several perspectives on controversial issues. VII of the Constitution. Reviewed by Randall Newnham, Professor of Political Science, Penn State University, Berks Campus on 2/1/18, Coverage same as most standard Am Gov textbooks, with chapters organized same as most (expensive) standard texts and each chapter about as long as standard texts. Elsewhere in the same chapter, the descriptions of Shays's Rebellion and the Boston Tea Party leave out important details that would help students relate the events to the broader topics under discussion. Overall, the organization and flow of the textbook is logical and it follows a traditional American Government textbook. I noticed no issues of the kind. For over eight decades, The United States Government Manual has been the "official handbook" of the Federal Government. . The index is clear and useful and the chapter glossaries are excellent. The graphics were very well done. I found no problem with navigating the text. read more. This is something that can be adjusted by the instructor, and I rarely teach in the order books present the material anyway. 2. Tipping the Scales Toward National Power. The figure icon needs to be fixed or dropped. These hyperlinks will distract the reader. Well written with solid organization, the chapters flow nicely together. The materials contain frequent references to variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds. The index and glossary are well formulated. margin-bottom: 1rem !important;
I am considering switching to this textbook for my department. I looked more at concepts and content. It is certainly a viable option for my course. The book builds upon what students have already learned and emphasizes connections between topics as well as between theory and applications. read more. Exceptionally clear. Overall, this looks like a viable option for an American government 101 course. The language is sophisticated throughout the text. One issue, however, that might be addressed is with the word "media." Instead the chapters information jumps around and the data needs organizing. While some sentences are a bit languid and I might have organized thoughts differently, there is no direct error in any sentence that I could see. Introduction, Consitution, Federalism, Civil Rights and Liberties, Parties and Ideology, Opinion and Media, Congress, President, Courts, state and local, and International Affairs. This item: United States Government; Our Democracy, c 2018, 9780076681136, 0076681130. by McGraw-Hill Education Paperback . The authors updated the contents reflecting current events and political landscape. I only use online textbooks and sources for my classes, but have students who want a hard copy option. The text is written in lucid prose with technical terminology highlighted, defined in the text, and listed again in a glossary. Some of the current graphs and charts will need to be updated.The links to learning sections make it possible to quickly find current data and information. The comprehensiveness of Krutz's American Government text is such that it more than adequately addresses the curricular requirements of the American government and politics courses offered by the Virginia Community College System. Most textbooks for undergraduates in this topic area Overall the book is balanced, but there are areas where things could be more even handed. It dedicates entire chapters to state and local Today's must-read. Style is straightforward. That is, of course, just one area. This textbook provides a comprehensive framework for introductory American government. The chapters on civil liberties and civil rights, in particular, demonstrate the cultural relevance of the text. I also very much like the end of the chapter contents. Aristotelian "rule of the many" (direct or participatory democracy) a) Fourth-century B.C. I found the text to be eminently user friendly with no issues what so ever navigating within the chapters. The work provides a comprehensive overview of both the formal and informal political institutions that one would expect to find in an introductory-level American Government text. As for as substantively, I find the grouping of Chapters 4-7 to be curious. Also helpful are the key historical moments "milestones" allowing a broader context viewpoint. From the origins of the US political system, the constitutional framework, participatory inputs, formal institutions, and public policy, the major points are By the standards of Introduction to American Politics textbooks, this is a comprehensive offering. Table 17.1 on page 643 is useless. This textbook is extremely comprehensive. The grammar is fine, and the book seems well-written. Not much to comment on here. Because of the breakdown by the author, students can tackle smaller blocks of material easily and I believe that this will help with comprehension of the material. read more. By breaking each chapter into sections, the modularity of the textbook itself is enhanced and should allow the instructor to break apart and/or chunk particular sections of interest. 5.0. font-weight: 400;
There could be more treatment of the concept of power in the beginning of the book. The chapters are subdivided into appropriate sections with relevant information with documentation given with charts, diagrams, references to Supreme Court decisions and stories from media sources. I have not tested it on a smartphone; however, on a computer the book is easy to navigate - to move between chapters, sections, pages, etc is easy. read more. This book would be easy to update as changes occur. The organization and structure are good. when necessary. On diversity: Notwithstanding the fact that the book has text and images that represent different groups based on sex, race, religion and sexual orientation, among other characteristics; there is general reference to Hispanics being the largest minority group in the first chapter which is supposed to set up the main characteristics of our country. I look at these minor issues as an opportunity for teachers to clarify in lecture, rather than deal-breaking issues. No obvious grammatical errors that I noticed. However I do feel that stylistically the presentation of in-text citations is cumbersome and distracting. The concepts represented in the text also make case teaching via policy/politics news easy, even if the textbooks examples were to be stale - - which they are unlikely to be. Modularity in this textbook is handled well. For students looking to identify key terms, this bolding does feel mightily inconsistent. read more. I did not notice anything plainly inaccurate. For instance, right off the bat, the critique of socialism seems to take the position that socialism is inherently and entirely distinct from our system, which isnt accurate. United States Government Our Democracy View larger image. Uses current issues as examples of concepts. But thats ok! There are areas where graphics examples could be updated; a few of the federalism chapter charts are using 2014 data. Democracy and government, the U.S. political system, elected officials and governmental institutions Americans are generally positive about the way democracy is working in the United States. It also includes a chapter on state/local politics, which is a unique addition to the textbook. I like how you included the FCC. The deeper learning tools like Middle Ground and so forth allow the reader to learn more about a specific concept using a real world application and should provide the instructor with a ready-made activity that will more actively engage the student be it in an online or seated class. democracy: key principles, institutions and problems professor david beetham 21 the judiciary in democratic governance: some insights from the indian experience ms. justice m. fathima beevi 31 some important problems and aspects of democracy in the context of the black african states professor abd-el kader boye 37 Nevertheless, this section is missing the Articles of Confederation. While it is rare for any textbook to be completely full of errors, there are a few more errors in this book than in my preferred American Government textbook and other leading textbooks on the topic. Gun-rights groups believe that the Second Amendment gives citizens the right to own and carry guns. Madison and Hamilton cite him in the Federalist Papers. In addition to the readings at the end of the book like The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and Federalist #10 and Federalist #51, the textbook includes links to other readings and primary source documents to supplement the material. Digital Student Learning Center:Includes the full student edition and inquiry journal, plus engaging resources that provide context and bring the narrative to life such as maps, timelines, infographics, primary sources, images, and videos. American Government by Glenn Krutz covers a lot of ground. Reviewed by Robert Perry, Chair, Department of Social Sciences, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin on 6/19/18, Very well done. The text makes the content more relevant to students by providing opportunities to analyze and interpret charts, data, and graphs to better understand current examples and the applications of the material. This coverage emphasizes and links back to the section of the text on Civic Engagement. The formatting of the text throughout is excellent. Although the U.S. has been a strong proponent of democracy, it did not invent democracy. At the time this edition was written, the information in figure 3.17, presented data on the legality of same sex marriage by state in our country in an easily understood and precise manner. Of course, whenever there are big changes on the Supreme Court or in the American governmental structure updates would need to be made. The text is internally consistent with respect terminology and framework. Overall, the content is relevant and won't quickly become obsolete. Although it lacks some of the additional material that other traditional textbooks provide (i.e., more information on judicial decision-making or constitutional interpretation), the text accomplishes its goal--to provide a clear and accessible overview of the American political process. Its review of Civil Rights and the groups fighting for their rights is one of the strongest parts of the text. I do think that some modules could be combined, but for the most part the author accomplishes this well. Its publication in 1997 was well received in Russia; it has had significant influence within the Russian military, police, and foreign policy elites, [1] [2] and has been used as a textbook in the Academy . I do think the other subsections on elections get a little shortchanged. In general, the content is suitably up to date, although some tables and figures should probably be updated soon. Some texts may cover only one additional chapter other than the Identify politics should be present in more sections of the text. The authors or editors clearly made an effort to be inclusive in this chapter. There were a few places where the order within the chapter was slightly distracting (the media chapter comes to mind), but this was not a major issue. 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The book is updated through to the present day. Plus, they blend with the gray boxes of the same color that are often used, otherwise effectively, to present case studies or specific examples. read more. The text repeatedly incorporates up-to-date examples to illustrate its reasoning and explain how foundational themes relate to contemporary political developments. Have questions? The main framework chapters are excellent and thorough. The previous comment represents a slight stylistic concern in the area of organization, but not a major one. In addition, some of the information on the map can be confusing for students: the UK is a monarchy and a democracy; and some countries that appear as democracies are transitioning to democracy or are really autocracies. Overall the organization is quite good. Seems quite well written. One of the first things that I check when reviewing any textbook is the organization of the information in the table of contents for its structure. Identity politics should be an integral part of academic conversations and should provide opportunities to students to engage with difficult topics by using critical thinking strategies. I would have preferred more of this, but the book was adequate in this regard. Otherwise, I find the content accurate, sufficiently in depth, and excellent. For example, I do a lot with the 9th Amendment, but it only has three paragraphs in the textbook. I have used this text this semester (fall 2017) here at Penn State Berks with good success. However, I cant really think of a way to sidestep these concerns all authors must make choices. However, the preponderance of examples from the Obama and Trump eras will become outdated and need updates supplied by the instructor. Useful explanation with visual of common goods & excludability; unitary, federation and confederation; contents/concepts of Constitutional amendments. The only suggestion that I would make is to include a little bit more political psychology, especially in the chapters on public opinion and the media. al have done so in this text. Us Government Democracy In Action Teachers 2000. Learning goals are explicit and each chapter has a clear structure and consistent features that carry throughout the chapters. 28 . The cosmetics of the book is well done. In the table of contents, chapter 17 is titled "Chapter 17: Foreign Polict.". The Colonial Experience. I liked the incorporation of the graphics, which will enable students to work on their graphic/data interpretation skills. The content is mostly up to date. Below are the modified excerpts that are assigned to you. The chapter-to-chapter progression is logical. have even added very impressive policy chapters (domestic and foreign) that you only see on occasion. The fully integrated print and digital content of United States Government: Our Democracy is grounded in solid pedagogy, strong authorship, and includes a full suite of thoughtfully designed teaching and learning tools. By comparison, another online textbook on American government (which will remain nameless) had a clear bias from the very first chapter. There are a number of instances where, as was previously noted, there are significant blocks of text in long paragraphs without subheadings or some other type of break. In reviewing the table of contents, I found the book has a logical flow that begins with defining what government is and then proceeds to provide information on the critical subjects of our The etymological origins of the term democracy hint . The text is a fully integrated print-digital solution for students and teachers. The appendix is also important; and for example, it contains the Constitution, and some of the Federalist Papers. The text is easily and readily visible and permits an instructor to select what to cover based on the learning objectives of each chapter. In my view, chapters four and five are stellar and provide alternative voices to the narrative. Reviewed by Jack Philips, Lecturer, University of Texas at Arlington on 11/12/20, This book contains everything I need for intro American government classes. This Electoral College voting method is referred to as the district system." The book is comprehensive, covering the major topics one would expect to find in a U.S. government textbook. Geraldo Rivera?) I repeat that the textbook content is well written. Almost all said that the United States . This text is not culturally insensitive. Mixed views of structural changes in the political system. Those considering a new adaption for the introduction to American Government class would do well to give Kurtz et. The textbook follows the usual model of an American Government textbook. democracy: [noun] a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections. The index is useful. Second, key terms in Chapter 17 are wanting. Your textbook makes no mention of Rousseau. I made significant checks throughout the textbook and found it to accurate in the information provided. I dont think its as good as hearing from some of the real experts in the field and their approach, and I dont think it would be a good match for some faculty who like to teach from a given perspective. read more. The book is actually slightly longer and denser than other texts I have assigned for an introductory course in American government. United States Government Our Democracy Chapter 1 PDF Book Details . The book seems unbiased - and includes the traditional readings of American Government. It would be easier if the chapters would focus on the 2016 and 2018 elections. Equality in voting 2. With this objective in mind, the content of this textbook has been developed and arranged to provide a logical progression from the fundamental principles of institutional design at the founding, to avenues of political participation, to thorough coverage of the political structures that constitute American government. The modularity of the chapters should allow the instructor to more effectively chunk material than most other textbook options. The information presented in the text book is accurate and comparable to all other books I have used on the market. Reviewed by David Weiden, Associate Professor, Colorado State Board of Higher Education on 11/23/19, The book covers all of the basic components of American government. These officials represent the citizens' ideas and concerns in government. The entire unmodified textbook can be accessed here on OpenStax, where you can also download a PDF, install the app, or even order a hard copy from Amazon if you desire. The text effectively frames controversial topics in American politics and the reader does not come away with the impression that the author's are putting their thumbs on the scale in favor of a particular interpretation or political ideology. In addition, the chapter on the Bureaucracy is placed in the "Outputs of Government" section alongside the chapters on domestic and foreign policy, rather than its more traditional place just after The Presidency. The 5 sections of the book could also be broken apart, for instance I would assign Chapter 15, but not 16 or 17, given the constraints of time. Similar to other Introduction to American Government textbooks this book covers the typical material and then some. Again, the book uses a standard organizational framework/structure, and it is organized appropriately for an introductory text. - Good supplementary framing around the founding documents and federalism I think it would be interesting to point out that when the USA had the chance to write other countries' constitutions, those new systems (Japan and West Germany) were created with parliamentary governments.
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