When in Rome, Do as Jon Stewart Does: Using America: The Book as a Textbook for Introductory-Level Classes in American Politics

Abstract

This article draws from different experiences in teaching Introduction to American Politics classes over a six-year period. It examines the value of using nontraditional texts in introductory political science classes that may also fulfill general education requirements, in order to engage as many students as possible in the subject matter. It also looks at the ways in which academic rigor and scholarly integrity can be maintained while incorporating less than traditional sources (in this case, Jon Stewart's America: The Book) into class materials. In the end, the article suggests that it may be possible to update introductory American political science class texts to be able to identify with new and unique audiences without sacrificing the standards necessary to ask important questions and foster critical thinking.