Understanding American Government (with InfoTrac) - Softcover

Welch, Susan; Gruhl, John; Comer, John; Rigdon, Susan M.

2.86

22 ratings by Goodreads

9780534596439: Understanding American Government (with InfoTrac)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0534596436 ISBN 13: 9780534596439

Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing, 2003

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UNDERSTANDING AMERICAN GOVERNMENT is highly respected and trusted for its attention to research and issues of diversity, its award-winning team of authors, and its brief length, made so by not covering policy. While covering the basic foundations and features of American Government, this text also moves beyond the nuts and bolts, to explain why and how important features of government have evolved, their impact on government and individuals, and why these features are controversial (if they are) and worth learning. More than just narrating facts and current issues, UNDERSTANDING AMERICAN GOVERNMENT attempts to leave the students with an understanding of the "why", so their knowledge can be applied long after the course is completed. AMERICAN GOVERNMENT (with policy chapters) is a three-time winner of the American Government Textbook Award for the Best Treatment of Women in Politics, by the Women's Caucus for Political Science.

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About the Author:

Susan Welch received her AB and PhD degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is currently Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Professor of Political Science at The Pennsylvania State University. Her teaching and research areas include legislatures, urban politics, and women and minorities in politics. She publishes widely on issues of race, gender, and urban politics.

Review:

"The features in this textbook are outstanding. The pictures are easily the best I've ever seen in a government textbook. ...But best of all were the "you are there" boxes. These more than anything else, I think, will help students to read, learn and get excited about reading a textbook. In fact, I think my students will actually read this textbook. That's the highest praise I can give to a textbook.

This was amazing. Frequently, American Government textbooks are dry. There are no wasted words in Welch et. al.'s 700 plus pages! The sentences are short and the best part is this: the authors assume the students know nothing, but they don't make the students feel inferior in any way! I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I think it'll be a joy for our students to read this text."

"The level of writing is one of the most important factors is choosing an introductory text. To provide important information to students in a clear and concise manner that without "talking down" to them is an extremely delicate balance to strike. Welch, et al., have mastered this skill. The writing style is also very good -- serious without being pedantic."

"I think you have a good text. As I have said in detail, it is well balanced with narrative, illustration, maps, and other visual aid, extraneous to the narrative. The narrative is well written and understandable to students who have reached this level of academic acumen."

"Photographs...This book is unusually good in this regard. The choice and use of photographs, cartoons, paintings, etc. is excellent. The authors obviously put considerable attention into finding some appropriate and illustrative images."

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