Libraries: Tutoring: GOVT

Handouts and Images

Fact versus Opinion
This handout is reprinted from https://writing.colostate.edu/guides/teaching/co300man/pop12d.cfm)
"When forming personal convictions, we often interpret factual evidence through the filter of our values, feelings, tastes, and past experiences. Hence, most statements we make in speaking and writing are assertions of fact, opinion, belief, or prejudice. The usefulness and acceptability of an assertion can be improved or diminished by the nature of the assertion, depending on which of the following categories it falls into."
Objective versus Subjective
This handout is reprinted from http://www.differencebetween.net/language/difference-between-objective-and-subjective/ This explains and gives examples of objective and subjective writing.
"Houston: Past, Present, and Future" (e-book) (Texas State Historical Association)
You can click through this e-book to learn about Houston's history and predictions for its future progress. For more about the Texas State Historical Association, click here: https://www.tshaonline.org/home/
Interactive Maps: The World Wars, the Holocaust, and After the Cold War
This is a list of links to interactive maps dealing with World War I and its aftermath, World War II, and the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Liberal vs Conservative Media Outlets
This diagram illustrates the bias in various media outlets (such as TV and magazines). It uses logos to help you recognize them.
Plato vs Aristotle: "Who should govern?"
Two legendary philosophers from the fourth century, Plato and Aristotle, were very influential with their views on politics. They have different ways of approaching the topic based on what each philosopher were interested in as well as what each one believed in. Both strived to answer this question: Who should govern? By examining each philosopher’s interests and works we will be able understand why they chose their distinct positions on this topic.

Websites and Videos - General

Declaration of Independence, Constitution, & Bill of Rights -- America's Founding Documents (National Archives)
"These three documents, known collectively as the Charters of Freedom, have secured the rights of the American people for more than two and a quarter centuries and are considered instrumental to the founding and philosophy of the United States." The site gives history and information about each document.
History -- UNC Writing Center
"This handout [website] was written with several goals in mind: to explain what historians do and how they approach the writing process, to encourage you to think about your history instructor’s expectations, and to offer some strategies to help you write effectively in history courses."
The Library of Congress - Home
"The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, with millions of books, recordings, photographs, newspapers, maps and manuscripts in its collections. The Library is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office." (https://www.loc.gov/about/)
The National Archives
"The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the nation's record keeper. Of all documents and materials created in the course of business conducted by the United States Federal government, only 1%-3% are so important for legal or historical reasons that they are kept by us forever." (https://www.archives.gov/about)
Office of the Texas Governor Homepage
The state's official website for the governor of Texas.
Political Science -- UNC Writing Center
"This handout [website] will help you to recognize and to follow writing standards in political science. The first step toward accomplishing this goal is to develop a basic understanding of political science and the kind of work political scientists do."
Texas Secretary of State Homepage
"The Secretary of State is one of six state officials named by the Texas Constitution to form the Executive Department of the State. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with confirmation by the Senate, and serves at the pleasure of the Governor."
The Texas Veterans Portal (State's Official Website)
"The Texas Veterans Portal connects veterans, their families, and caregivers to the benefits and services earned through their military service. Thank you for serving our country!" Scroll down for information about the mobile app.
VOTETEXAS.GOV [Texas Secretary of State link]
"What do you want to know about voting?
Thank you for visiting VoteTexas.gov, the one-stop resource for voter information."

Websites and Videos - Think Tanks

It is important to recognize when a think tank has a particular bias. Just because you do not agree with the site does not mean the site is unbiased.

Think Tank (definition, explanation, and history) (Encyclopedia Britannica)
"Think tank, institute, corporation, or group organized for interdisciplinary research with the objective of providing advice on a diverse range of policy issues and products through the use of specialized knowledge and the activation of networks. Think tanks are distinct from government, and many are nonprofit organizations, but their work may be conducted for governmental as well as commercial clients."
Brookings Institute (liberal news)
News site with a liberal bias.
Cato Institute (libertarian news)
News site with a libertarian bias.
The Heritage Foundation (conservative news)
News site with a conservative bias.

Tutoring: GOVT

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Handouts and Images

Websites and Videos - General

Websites and Videos - Think Tanks