The narrative is engaging and very well written. 3. For class, it would probably be necessary to inform students of the most important links to review. Instead the textbook chooses to avoid the high stakes conversations. Facilitate mastery of complex principles with dynamic digital tools. The online navigation is exceptionally good. 13-23) A. Overall, all expected topics, and then some, are covered, hence the text is certainly comprehensive enough by any measure of expectation in an introduction to American government text. As for as substantively, I find the grouping of Chapters 4-7 to be curious. I like to 'build' my curriculum from a variety of sources; this book could provide a foundation. If you click on a chapter title, say Media, nothing happens, except it opens the subsections of the chapter. Following each chapter are a glossary and comprehension/study questions. The historical approaches in many chapters provide contextualization of concepts. No obvious grammatical errors that I noticed. Identify politics should be present in more sections of the text. Additionally, if I made any additions to the text, you may not have them. There are some nice inserts in each chapter called Link to Learning. I didn't read every line, but the broad sections I read contained no technical writing errors that I observed. Charles N. Quigley, Executive DirectorCenter for Civic Education5115 Douglas Fir Road, Suite JCalabasas, CA 91302(818) 591-9321(818) 591-9330 (fax)e-mail: web@civiced.org. It does a good job of defining terms used in the text and citing relevant sources. Offers coverage of topics that most instructors would cover in such a class, including political behavior, civil rights/liberties, American The index and glossary are well formulated. Get it as soon as Monday, Feb 20. The book uses a standard framework/structure, and so there is no problem with consistency. This is one of the strengths of this textbook. Print Edition ISBNs: Student (2018): 978--07-668113-6 ; Teacher (2018): 978--07-668108-2 ; Contact the company representative for ISBN numbers for online/eText editions. The formatting of the text throughout is excellent. read more. References are balanced--not exclusively conservative or liberal--and include non-partisan resources.This text appears to be carefully edited and reviewed. I found the book well-organized and based on a logical structure. That is as comprehensive or more comprehensive than other textbooks I have used. Overall, it is solid and accurate. First President of the United States. This means that our government is elected by citizens. At times, the chapters are heavy with history and not as much with theory. Not every one covers Civil Rights and Liberties or Foreign and Domestic Policy, but this text does offer a chapter on each of those. I did not see any clear grammatical errors in my review. It even has a chapter on Local government and two policy chapters, Domestic and Foreign. The importance of this document and the story of Shay's Rebellion are too often overlooked and they are covered well here. Reviewed by Leslie Caughell, Assistant Professor, Virginia Wesleyan College on 2/8/17, This book is very comprehensive. These aren't things I ever bother with in textbooks, so I have no opinion about whether they are useful or not in this case. Language is neutral and seems to avoid leading or biased undertones. Very well done. The book also includes more whitespace than a typical textbook (e.g. The concise introductions at the beginning of each chapter effectively frame the chapter topic. It dedicates entire chapters to state and local government, domestic policy, and foreign policy. The chapter on civil rights includes sections on African Americans, women, native Americans, Alaskans, Hawaiians and the LGBTQ community. To some extent, though, that would make this a book with a specific orientation, which defies one of its strengths. For printing purposes, it would be helpful if graphics and/or sections did not run onto the next page. textbooks Openlibrary_work OL2298885W . While the textbook references race, ethnicity, gender, and other identities in expected chapters like Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, and even the Media, overall the textbook offers a limited approach to identity politics in the context of American politics and government. There are even two chapters on public policy, which many basic textbooks omit. I see no reason why that would be different with this text. This progression is evident, for example, in the learning objectives that begin each section of the text. This looks like an excellent resource--well researched and in depth. There were graphics to illustrate some of the material, and it is nice that PDF and online versions are available. This text is VERY detailed in its coverage, which is impressive and surprising given its relative brevity. .nav-contain-highered{ However, this text would need to be updated after all national elections (mid-term and presidential). Although this book is culturally sensitive, I challenge the authors to do more. The new survey of the public's views of democracy and the political system by Pew Research Center was conducted online Jan. 29-Feb. 13 among 4,656 adults. A good example of such are the Continuing Challenges sections. The textbook covers all the essential parts of American government. According to Locke individuals held authority through a divine power that existed in the people that formed the basis for the "fountain of authority"? However, it does do a nice job of considering the broader themes that characterize United States politics today. Logical and standard fare. Yes, the text is clearly divided into sections, chapters, and subchapters, all numerically outlined and structured in a clear way. While there are changes I would like to see, that is true for any book. It provides an effective index as well as a glossary of key terms at the end of each chapter. . As noted, perhaps the authors will consider a further subdivision in this regard. Sections open with learning objectives that tell students the 2-5 most important things to take away from that reading, and quiz questions populate the text at the end of sections to help students self assess their understanding of the reading. Arrive Math (K-8) Achieve3000 Literacy (2-12) C; Achieve3000 Math . The chapters in the Kurtz et al e-book covers all relevant chapters of American Government and even offers chapters on Foreign policy, Domestic policy and State and Local government. Overall the textbook is highly consistent. Using a free text ensures that all students will HAVE the book, which has been a problem for me in recent years with 'standard' texts. From the founding and Constitution to the major institutions of Congress, Courts, and the Presidency, these major areas are all covered. The text can easily be consumed in small portions without sacrificing a broader understanding of the material. It contains accurate references to the Trump presidency. Particularly appropriate for an undergraduate audience. As clearly noted, I found far more to like about the text than not. It dedicates entire chapters to state and local Has good index. I encourage any professor of U.S. Government to take a good look at this text and strongly consider its adoption. The interface is excellent. The graphics, photos, and primary documents add a visual appeal as well as provide students to other literacies. Right from the get go I enjoyed the section on Civic Engagement as However, I always start American Government with a discussion on political culture and that seems to be missing. On the Appendices section, I like that it includes an appendix with relevant court cases (Appendix E). American Government and Civic Engagement, entire unmodified textbook can be accessed here on OpenStax, SLED (Statewide Library Electronic Doorway), "Slave Streets, Free Streets" - Virtual Tour of Baltimore, c. 1815, World War I: Why Young Men Wanted to Go To War. Each module is self-contained with its own summaries, key terms, assessments, and suggestions for further study. A Constitutional Democracy Interactive Notebook, which works for both print and Google Drive, investigates and helps gain an understanding of how the federal, state, and local governments in the United States work under the Constitution and the responsibilities of citizenship. Democracy is a means of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy reflects citizens' preferences. Question #55 61. As for "flow," here again I suggest that there are too many "Note" interruptions to the readings. Includes pre-built and customizable tests and quizzes, with a variety of question types to provide critical practice for high-stakes assessments. 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. I liked the fact that the book had several subsections within each chapter. Second, key terms in Chapter 17 are wanting. The text was easily navigable and the Index, search function, and drop-down menus in the Table of Contents functioned seamlessly. (1) $6.50. This is the easiest area for remarks for this review. read more. I can definitely see the advantage of having them all in one place. The content delivers plenty of perspective for students to learn about American government. And the conclusion of each chapter follows a common format including key terms definitions, summaries of each subchapter, about twenty multiple choice and essay questions, and a list of suggested readings for further study. read more. But as with any American government textbook, this information will need to be periodically updated. We have stopped printing many old products, but we might have some stock in our warehouse. One note of concern is that the captions thereon in many instances are not fully compatible for a text reader. This is a hard aspect of any textbook. While the examples could become outdated, the issues used have been relevant for a long period of time. The fact that it is free is even more impressive. It also includes a chapter on state/local politics, which is a unique addition to the textbook. The text is extremely consistent. I would have included in most, if not all chapters after the constitution, sections where students would be guided on how to engage with politics effectively in the context of each chapter. The sources cited, within the sections of each of the various chapters, are from reputable, recognizable experts in their fields of study. So do be sure, if adopting this text, to carefully preview the chapters for any issues like this. There are chapters on media literacy, public opinion and polls, civic engagement, that might be taken separately from the actual discussion of government structure. The concepts are: growth of democracy, federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, civil liberties . The text is impressively comprehensive, both with respect to its range of coverage and depth of discussion of each topic. This textbook is very comprehensive. The content delivers plenty of perspective for students to learn about American government. The textbook contents are organized in an insightful way, beginning with core foundational elements of the Constitution, federalism, civil liberties and civil rights. In his haste to laud American democracy as a good, if evolving, system, the author sometimes fails to recognize critical perspectives, or interpret them as straw-men. I would consider using this textbook in my American Government 101. It avoids jargon and does a very good job clearly defining terms. 11th Amendment: Grants states immunity from outside lawsuits, 1795. . Digital Teacher Lesson Center: Easily access all teaching resources and classroom management tools for the curriculum. Krutz textbook is set up exactly the same as the three different United States Government textbooks I have used in nine years of teaching at the community college level. US Government Textbook PowerPoints - McGrawHill; Power Points Economics; Power Point files from US Government: Mr. Juan Calderon. And the Fall of the Patronage system in Section 1 of Chapter 15 also stood out to me as excellent. Reviewed by Peter Wielhouwer, Associate Professor of Political Science, Western Michigan University on 12/14/18, This text covers nearly all of the major topics covered in American Government texts. This textbook is very clear and straightforward. They are usually a couple of paragraphs long and illustrate key concepts with practical examples followed by links to websites that have additional relevant information. when necessary. From an aesthetic perspective, the textbook has a fair amount of graphic material that is appealing to students. The continuing calls for student engagement is also a nice addition in that it allows the student to see more of how they can be active participants in governing beyond just paying taxes or voting. Such can pose a roadblock for the easily distracted student or the person using the aid of a text reader. The text follows the standard format for American Government texts. I find this a potentially helpful framework to shape my courses. Engaging for an open textbook. Similar to other Introduction to American Government textbooks this book covers the typical material and then some. For example, Chapter 1, Section 3 has a discussion on civic engagement along with colorful graphs and data pertaining to 18-29 yr olds and their political participation. The text appears to be free from grammatical errors. All of the topics you would expect to be covered in an American government 101 course are here: origins of our republic, institutions, individual action and collective action. read more. As for bias, the author(s) definitely stayed neutral in their descriptions of the events regarding the Trump presidency and their effect on American society. "in order to" was overused. That might help to draw students into the material earlier in the semester, that is if you teach the chapters in order. Foundations of American Government. Present the electoral information in tables and use the 2016 election as a case study. Excellent charts and interactive materiel. 978-5-8592-8019-3. The text is very written and edited, I did not notice any grammatical errors, although that was not the primary focus of my review. I did not find any grammatical errors in the text. read more. The chapter organization was not revolutionary but logical and familiar. But there is never a number or way to identify the image/picture attached to the Figure reference. I believe the language used in the text is entirely appropriate for an introductory college course on the subject. This means that you promise loyalty to the United States. It provides an effective index as well as a glossary of key terms at the end of each chapter. This text, American Government 2e by Krutz and Waskiewicz, covers all areas and ideas of the subject appropriately beginning with the origins of each political construct, through its evolution in America, and trends into the future. most of the chapters are pretty well self-contained and explain relevant concepts from other chapters so the student doesn't get lost. I think the flow of the book is clear, with different headings and images to explain the material. In this textbook, you will find a built-in structure that helps you identify the key concept in every lesson and see it in action. The text does not contain any grammatical errors. The details and interpretations of major issues provided by the text are accurate and helpful. I don't think that would be a problem here, because the chapters are for the most part logically defined and pretty self-contained. 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. The introduction and the summaries are useful starting and ending points for the reader and the addition of thoughtful critical thinking questions plus the keyword pages are another useful addition to the work. There is a consistent pattern in terms of the major headings outlined at the beginning of the book. But as I noted above, the unhelpfulness of bolded terms can be genuinely confusing and are inconsistent (Katie Holmes gets bolded? Only 2 left in stock - order soon. The text is very culturally sensitive and I see no cultural offensiveness. The textbook is very comprehensive with more than 650 pages of content plus appendices with relevant documents. Uses contemporary examples, but not in depth cases that may be needed in higher level courses. Publication date 2003 . Some of this material is bound to become somewhat out-of-date in the relatively near term, but it appears to authors are releasing new editions of the book with updated information quite frequently, so this is less of concern to me than with other texts on this subject. Exceptionally clear. The pros and cons of government regulation of group activity (spending) are both presented accurately, and the student is asked to make their own determination. This textbook covers all the main topics need for American government 101. 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. Finally, there is no sufficient definition of due process anywhere in the book. this revised book on our United States Government. Some may view this as a benefit, as there is more room for each instructor to add their own "big story" to their courses. The textbook's content is accurate, free from errors, and unbiased. The textbook is consistently outlined. My only critique of the book is that the sections on Congress, the presidency, and the court system appear later on in the textbook. This New Deal-era publication was published initially as a loose-leaf notebook, its pages held in place by three metal rings. Aristotelian "rule of the many" (direct or participatory democracy) a) Fourth-century B.C. Have used it this semester in 2 sections of my intro Am Gov class with no student complaints. read more. The topics seem to be organized in a clear, logical fashion, with no jarring transitions. The inclusion of the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, selected Federalist Papers and electoral college results will aid the student in referencing those materials over the instructor including a link (to be lost) or the student conducting a search. There's A LOT of flexibility with the text content. You'll learn how the men who created the U.S. Constitution set up a structure of government intended to stand the test of time, and how the compromises they made left some questions unresolved that continue to be debated today.
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