Fostering Scholarly Discussion and Critical Thinking in the Political Science Classroom

Abstract

This article suggests strategies for promoting scholarly discussion and critical thinking in political science classes. When scholars study politics they are engaged in an investigation into the dynamics of governance, not a debate over personal political beliefs. The problem with a politicized classroom is that it gives students a false impression of what constitutes the study of politics and the discipline of political science. Discussion in political science classes should not be drearily dull affairs centered on dry topics that put students to sleep and dampen their interest in politics. However, neither does classroom discussion have to rely on appeals to personally held political convictions to spark students' interest. Exciting and lively classroom discussion can be had by emphasizing the dynamic theoretical debates and empirical investigations that are a part of the discipline of political science.