Following the precept that strong citizenship education requires strong law education, the Special Committee on Youth Education for Citizenship (YEFC) of the American Bar Association compiled this introduction to programs and resources in pre-college law education. The objectives of law education, described in Section I, include developing…

This project's study of pressure groups in Canadian urban government proposes the development of an interdisciplinary social science cirriculum for the secondary school student in grades 9 through 12 which would give meaningful perspective toward the various decision-making structures and processes. Other major objectives are: 1) to enable the…

This special instructional handbook presents a unit of study on the United States Constitution for educable mentally retarded students at the secondary level. The adapted material explains the structure of the national government, and is designed to promote citizenship and patriotic values. Preliminary information includes a glossary of new words,…

The objective of this manual is to provide analyses of curriculum materials that will allow administrators, curriculum coordinators, methods teachers, and classroom teachers to select materials which are appropriate to their needs and situation. Materials included here reflect the three major categories of innovative social studies curriculum…

The purpose of this curriculum unit on citizenship education is to enrich the way students think about American Indians by presenting the history of American Indians and their relationship with white Americans. The first chapter discusses the kinds of ideas people have about Indians, especially stereotypes of Indians being wild, red-colored, and…

Culture, Leadership, Empathy, and Power (CLEP) are important phenomena or variables in the global political system. The significance of these variables cannot be understated or underestimated because nation-states vis-a-vis the developed countries need to understand fully cultures and the roles they play in global politics; the developing…

In this high school U.S. government and U.S. history curriculum unit, students examine in depth the Monroe Doctrine. Detailed activities are provided to teach students about the origins of the Monroe Doctrine and its subsequent impact on U.S. foreign policy. The materials include informational handouts for students, background information for…

Notes some of the problems and payoffs involved in adding brief field projects to political science classes. Recommends a variety of activities including attending a public forum, community meeting, or legislative session. Students view first-hand how these organizations operate and sharpen their research skills. (MJP)

Asserts that variance between a university's reputation as an institution and its commitment to research have a greater impact on political science department rankings than any internal factors within the department. Includes several tables showing statistical variables of department and university rankings. (MJP)

Suggests that an interactive student journal (maintained through e-mail with only the teacher and student having access) creates a space allowing for closer and more productive communication between the two. Describes an Introduction to Political Theory course that used this approach, and the resulting benefits. (MJP)

Criticizes the National Commission on Social Studies in the Schools' report, "Charting a Course: Social Studies for the 21st Century," for its contradictions, traditionalist views, positivistic approach to social science, and failure to identify ways to teach democratic values. Suggests that the report qualifies as an updated version of…

Reports on a controlled experiment that tested the effectiveness of a multimedia method of instruction using a hypermedia-based program and interactive video against two alternative methods--traditional instruction and regular computer-assisted instruction--in a political science course at Northwestern University. Evaluation of the experiment and…

Argues that critical thinking is best learned where fellow students respond and react as well as replicate and evaluate. Suggests methods and techniques for doing critical thinking. Discusses thesis formulation, concept application, judgments and conclusions, cause and effect relationships, criteria identification, structure and function,…

Claims denial of genocide has become a routine defense as a result of the United Nations definition of international crimes. Describes grounds for denial by various governments and list arguments they have made to justify genocidal policies. Argues some academics assist in the process of denial by using revisionist strategies. (NL)

Reviews recent literature on urban politics and urban policy. Focuses on issues faced by cities of the 1990s: city planning, growth, politics, problems of housing, homelessness, cost of government, racial, and ethnic conflicts. Suggests that field trips and computer simulations can be used in college courses in urban studies. (CH)