Citizen, Know Thyself: Intro American Government and Misinformation

• In Event: Fostering Durable Civic Skills in Undergraduates

Abstract

With this year’s theme of misinformation in mind, this paper explores the use of Kenneth Janda’s “Idealog” survey in tandem with George Packer’s Atlantic Monthly article about the “Four Americas” of U.S. politics for an introductory American Government and Politics course at an urban state university. Starting with the premise that misinformation about politics often begins with students’ lack of understanding of their own political beliefs, the course orients around students taking the Janda Ideolog survey at the beginning of the semester and then examining each of the four ideologies identified therein via Packer’s four different “Americas.” Course readings are then centered around the historical development of each of these Americas using original source material identified in the Packer piece. Five essays are assigned throughout the class where students interrogate each of Packer’s Americas considering their own ideological view. The final course assignment is a research essay where students either defend their ideological position as determined at the beginning of the semester via the Janda survey, or the reason as to why they switched positions. This paper discusses the advantages of approaching this American intro course in light of students’ own ideological beliefs and the role this plays in their understanding of misinformation in history and politics. Advantages to this approach include increased appreciation on the students’ part regarding the complexity of political beliefs, improved analytical skills through writing exercises where students defend their own political views, and increased student retention through courses materials that focus on students and their role in politics and history.

Author

• Patrick McGovern, Buffalo State University