American Government: Stories of a Nation, The Essentials - Softcover

Abernathy, Scott F.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1544327617 ISBN 13: 9781544327617

Publisher: CQ Press, 2019

Synopsis

In the Second Edition of American Government, Essentials Edition, author Scott F. Abernathy tunes in to the voices of all Americans, showing how our diverse ideas shape the way we participate and behave, the laws we live by, and the challenges we face. From the Constitutional Convention to Ferguson, Missouri, each chapter features rich, personal narratives that illustrate how the American political system is the product of strategies, calculations, and miscalculations of countless individuals. It focuses on real people, the actions they take, the struggles they face, and how their choices influence outcomes. The key concepts are memorable because they are tied to real politics, where students see political action and political choices shaping how institutions advance or impede the fulfillment of fundamental ideas. Participation is at the heart of this groundbreaking new text, with ample background on how and why to participate. Not only will all students see themselves reflected in the pages, but they will come to understand that they, too, are strategic players in American politics, with voices that matter. 

American Government, Essentials Edition, is identical to the full version of the text, minus the three policy chapters.

Also available as a digital option (courseware). Contact your rep to learn more about American Government, Second Essentials Edition - Vantage Digital Option.

About this title

About the Author

Scott Abernathy was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. While an undergraduate at Dartmouth College, he volunteered for three months with Mother Theresa’s Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India.

After graduation, hoping to do service work closer to home, Scott worked as an on-street counselor with homeless adolescents in Boston, MA, with The Bridge, a non-profit multi-service youth agency.

Scott then received a Master of Curriculum and Instruction and taught fourth and seventh grades in Wisconsin public schools. Hoping to learn more about the underlying systems that drove the educational outcomes he was trying to change, Scott completed an M.P.A in domestic policy and then a Ph.D. in Politics from Princeton University.

Scott is now an associate professor of Political Science and a University Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Minnesota. He is also the author of School Choice and the Future of American Democracy and No Child Left Behind and the Public Schools, both from University of Michigan Press. 

While Scott says that being a “streetworker” was the most transforming job he has ever had, this textbook, and the chance to teach students--not in a subway stop, a squat, or a classroom, but through writing--is pretty cool as well. 

Review

"The main strength of this book is that it presents a ‘human’ side to American Government that challenges students to think critically while still presenting the ‘teaching’ side with objectives, self-tests, and chapter reviews." Author: Kathleen Barrett

"One of the main objectives of the author is get students engaged, and I think [he] goes a long way in accomplishing that goal.... [The text is] thought provoking and a pathway to presenting American Government content that will lead to promoting meaningful critical thinking and discussion among college students." Author: Elizabeth Prough, PhD

"This text does [have a relatively] unbiased in tone and does try to integrate contemporary controversies and debates into the text. The story telling element enhances the relevance of the subject to students...The book offers a storytelling element to the traditional American government textbook. It provides built-in cases to use as examples in class that are relevant to a younger demographic." Author: Agber Dimah

"I think there is a very nice balance [in this text] between storytelling and substantive information...I really appreciate this...the author [also] seems to recognize its limitations and rather seamlessly moves from storytelling to the more utilitarian delivery of course content." Author: Scot Schraufnagel

"I have had a favorable impression of the text since its gestation...I find its organization, coverage, and inclusion of stories quite helpful among other strengths." Author: Samantha Mosier

Edition details

• Publisher: CQ Press
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1544327617
• ISBN 13: 9781544327617
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 576