You Decide!: Controversial Cases in American Politics - Softcover

Drachman, Edward; Langran, Robert

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0742538052 ISBN 13: 9780742538054

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2007

Synopsis

The second edition of You Decide! Controversial Cases in American Politics provides a unique and innovative way to learn more about American government by examining contending points of view on controversial issues. Drawing on many years of combined teaching experience, Edward Drachman and Robert Langran present fourteen original cases and encourage students to make choices from policy options that might help resolve the case controversies. To facilitate the reading of the cases, the authors developed a format that provides the necessary background information on each issue, a list of options to address the controversy under consideration, and the probable future direction of each case controversy. Each case also includes discussion questions that focus on highlights of the case, classroom activities designed to complement more traditional learning, and a list of suggested readings and websites. On a range of topical, hot-button cases―from organized school prayer and affirmative action, to the electoral college and the tension between Congress and the president over war-time powers―students have the opportunity to become directly involved in discussing, debating, and evaluating controversial issues. With this help of this classroom-proven text, you decide!

About this title

About the Author:

Edward Drachman is professor of political science and international relations at the State University of New York at Geneseo. He has received awards as a teacher and student advisor and has authored several books and articles on political affairs. He resides in Geneseo, New York. Robert Langran is professor of political science at Villanova University and has been the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching and Faculty Service awards. He has authored three previous books and numerous articles. He resides in Villanova, Pennsylvania.

Review:

You Decide! is an interactive text in the good old-fashioned sense, presenting the facts and the arguments of both sides of current issues and offering challenging questions to the reader. Reading it as it is presented in manageable chunks, issue by issue, eliminates any excuse to avoid the public debate. Highly recommended. (Nancy Brown Speckmann, San Diego State University and Grossmont College)

Ideal for classroom use. Employs a highly effective pedagogical framework that includes concise overviews, case studies, and policy alternatives of relevant political issues in American politics. This volume will both inform and critically engage the student. (Joseph R. Fornieri, Rochester Institute of Technology)

You Decide brings institutional and public policy issues to life with interesting narratives that frame issues of the day and incisive questions that are sure to provoke classroom debate. This expanded and revised second edition promises to engage students of politics in addressing some of the most challenging topics in U.S. politics today. (Michael J. Goff,, Loyola College in Maryland)

About this edition

• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0742538052
• ISBN 13: 9780742538054
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 192