Clued In To Politics: A Critical Thinking Reader In American Government, 2nd Edition

Designed to teach students in introduction to American government courses to think critically about the political information they encounter, this reader provides relevant, accessible selections with a contemporary focus. Students learn to read critically though a new five-step process that binds each article. Developed by the authors, this consistent critical-thinking strategy, referred to as CLUES, asks students to Consider the source; Lay out the argument; Uncover the evidence; Evaluate the conclusion; and Sort out the political end.To draw students' attention a special preface, To the Student, explains the critical-thinking approach of the text and introduces the tools used throughout. In every subsequent chapter an essay defines the institution or political process discussed and briefly explains the major issues, why they matter, and how the readings illustrate and explore them. Each of the 16 chapters contains three to five articles that correspond to standard topics covered in an introductory government course, including political culture, the Constitution and Federalism, civil liberties and rights, Congress, the presidency, elections, and the courts. Engaging, contemporary articles from a variety of sources print, broadcast, and the Internet illustrate American government at all levels. Post-it-style call out notes within the readings draw students' attention to key passages to consider as they read. One classic reading per chapter, such as John F. Kennedy's inaugural address and Federalist No. 51, helps students understand and observe the changes or constants in key political arguments over time. Consistent end-of-chapter questions walk students through the CLUES method of critical thinking. Each chapter includes a personal account that shows the relevance of the political process to individual lives.Readings are balanced between objective and opinion-based points of view and vary in length and format to provide instructors with maximum flexibility.