Rationale:
My book selection is comprised of books that explore both current political paradigms as well as longer views on globalization and its impact on America. While the books I selected are fairly advanced I believe they are well fitted for a high-school level government or social studies class. I chose the following books because they will help the students to gain a better sense of understanding regarding the world in which they live. Each of the books is well written with language that will be both challenging and educational to my future students. The content area covered within in the books will serve as background filler for many of the lessons we will be covering in class.
The first two books covered will focus on diversity within America as well as the continuing globalization of our world. I believe the first book will provide an excellent look at where we came from as a nation, while the second book will help show students where we are going. The final three books focus primarily on domestic politics and political parties. This will help my future students to better put in context much of what they see and hear within my lessons as well as in their everyday consumption of news and current events.
While I do realize that my first two books go beyond the copy write parameters set forth in the assignment, I believe the subject matter in conjecture with my content area, social studies, makes them ideal candidates for my future classroom.
Title: A Nation of Immigrants
Author: John F. Kennedy
Illustrator: N/A Pictures taken from a variety of sources
Publisher: Harper & Row
Copyright: 1964
ISBN #: 0-00-03-00887502
Genre: Non-fiction
Library Location: WTAMU Cornette Library, Canyon, Texas
Brief Summary: This book was written by John F. Kennedy in 1957 as a brief refresher on the impact immigrants have had on our nation and vice versa. The book also served as a companion piece toward Kennedy's push for immigration reform in light of the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act. The book starts out by describing the motivations of millions of immigrants who came to our nation since its founding. The book then goes into chronological detail of two distinct "waves" of immigration into the U.S. Kennedy goes on to describe the many contributions immigrants have made to the American way of life. Kennedy ends the book with a look at the current, at the time (1960's), immigration policy and his proposals to change it for the better.
Personal Comments: The book is an interesting and informative look back at the many contributions our nation has garnered from immigrants. I have always enjoyed books penned by U.S. presidents, especially ones written pre-presidency. I think it gives us a look inside not only 1960's America, but also into a future president's motivations and passions. Kennedy's prose is very approachable, to the point that you can almost hear his pronounced Yankee vernacular as you read it. The book is a fairly typical position piece by a future presidential candidate in its format, yet the subject matter and author manage to speak beyond its original purpose.
Suggested Use in Classroom: I would use this book as introductory piece in a government class. I think this would be a great summer reading assignment to get students prepared for the semester. Assignments would include a brief report on the book itself followed by a review on immigration policy in the United States and how it has changed over the years.
Title: The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Author: Benjamin Franklin
Illustrator: N/A no illustrations
Publisher: Dover Publications
Copyright: 1996
ISBN#: 0585233578
Genre: Autobiography
Library Location: WTAMU Cornette Library, Canyon, Texas
Brief Summary: Ben Franklin's autobiography begins by addressing his son to whom the book is written for. The book then goes on to detail Franklin's family history. Most of the first section of the book is used to describe the many adventures of his youth with the many ups and downs that entails. As the book continues we get to see Franklin come into adulthood and deal with his ever expanding intellect and influence. In the final sections of the book Franklin continues to deal with his celebrity status as well as his efforts to better not only himself but mankind as well. The book ends with Franklins unsuccessful efforts to deal diplomatically with the King of England regarding the colonies. The autobiography unfortunately ends at this point due to Franklin's death.
Personal Comments: I really enjoyed this book due to the amount of time it gives to Franklin's youth. I was also greatly inspired by Franklin's intellect and his will to make the world a better place. While the reading will come off as quite dry to many students, those who are able to place it in context will be able to gleam far more knowledge from its words. I think it's always important to humanize those who we revere and this book does an excellent job of showing that Ben Franklin was at one time just a boy looking to make something of himself. Reading this book, especially the early sections, allowed me a greater understanding of this giant of early America in way that history textbooks never could.
Suggested Use in Classroom: Due to the more difficult nature of this reading I believe this would be an excellent in semester reading project, particularly to be used in conjuncture with studies on early American government. In class discussions over sections read would be absolutely necessary to ensure the students were fully grasping the text and in an effort to get over the language barrier necessitated by Franklins use of a more antiquated form of English.
Title: Why Parties? The Origin and Transformation of Political Parties in America
Author: John H. Aldrich
Illustrator: N/A no illustrations
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
Copyright: 1995
ISBN#: 0-226-01272-7
Genre: Non-fiction
Library Location: WTAMU Cornette Library
Brief Summary: Why Parties? is a very thorough book which attempts to explain how politicians have used the political party system in the U.S. to further their own political careers. The book serves as an introduction into political party theory. While it does go into the history of our contemporary political parties the main thrust throughout the book is the motivations and machinations of the politicians who over the years created and transformed the parties within the U.S .
Personal Comments: The reading is quite advanced yet very informative. While it does put forth a personal theory as opposed to just historical regurgitation, it nonetheless played a pivotal role in my personal view of the American political system. In a way it removes the facade many Americans take at face value when viewing their respective political party. By doing this it allowed me to view the actors and actions of these parties in a purely objective light.
Suggested Use in Classroom: This is another book that due to its advanced nature would need to be read during the year with regular discussions in class involving what the students had read. I would assign this book near the beginning of any section in Government class which deals with our current political paradigm. Since the book does put forth a point of view I think it could also be used to help the students think critically about what the author puts forth. This could then be channeled into an assignment where the students write a response in either agreement or disagreement with the author's conclusions.
Title: Red Over Blue: The 2004 Elections and American Politics
Author: James W. Ceaser & Andrew E. Busch
Illustrator: N/A
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Copyright: 2005
ISBN#: 0-7425-3496-0
Genre: Non-fiction
Library Location: WTAMU Cornette Library
Brief Summary: Red Over Blue offers a detailed, non-partisan and analytical look at the 2004 presidential election and the factors that led up to it. The book begins by delving into the rapidly shifting paradigm of the American electorate and political system in the later half of the 90's and early 00's. The book then examines the election of 2004 from the Democratic Party primaries to the conclusion of the general election. The book wraps up with a small foray into the congressional elections which were also held in 2004 and ends with an issue by issue discussion over the American electoral system and possible reforms for said system.
Personal Comments: I found this book to be an excellent "straight to the facts" account of the 2004 election and the issues that surrounded it. It also serves as a first rate primer for the American electoral system. Although the read is dry the information it contains is very insightful and should be enjoyable for anyone interested in or studying presidential politics and elections.
Suggested Use in the Classroom: This book would be excellent to use in conjuncture with any unit discussing the electoral system in the U.S. I would assign this reading after the last book I listed, Why Parties?, as its subject matter easily leads into this books. Much like my last reading this would need to be read during the school year and partnered with a system of regular discussions regarding the subject covered.
Title: Political Behavior of the American Electorate
Authors: William H. Flanigan & Nancy H. Zingale
Publisher: Congressional Quarterly
Copyright: 1998
ISBN#: 1-56802-332-4
Genre: Non-Fiction
Library Location: WTAMU Cornette Library
Brief Summary: This reading covers the American electoral system from top to bottom in a non-partisan analytical fashion. The book starts out with an in depth examination of the political culture in the U.S. The book goes on to discuss in detail the many motivations behind the actions of the participates in the electoral system. The book also delves into the complicated relationship between candidates and mass media in modern America. The book wraps up with a look at a candidates image and how that interplays with electoral forces.
Personal Comments: I found this book to be an absolutely necessary companion when trying to navigate the many twists and turns of the U.S. electoral system. The language used within is quite easy to absorb and relatively engaging. This was one of the first academic books regarding the electoral process I read while still in high school and much of the information I learned I use to this day.
Suggested Use in Classroom: This book is an excellent companion piece to Red Over Blue although its level of detail does seem to make it a bit more detached. Much like the other books on my review this would need to be read during the school year and accompanied with frequent and in depth discussions concerning what was covered. Due to the straightforwardness of the book students could also be tested on its contents after reading. Once students have completed the book several possible class projects could also come out of it, mock elections being chief among them.
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