Bridge Over the River Qua: Using Simulations to Span the Divide Between Prelaw and Political Science Students |
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Authors: | Matthew Woessner Kathleen H. Winters Kyle C. Kopko |
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Affiliation: | 1. Penn State Harrisburg;2. University of St. Thomas;3. Elizabethtown College |
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Abstract: | Undergraduate public law courses often attract students with competing expectations. Some students enroll in these courses to prepare for law school, while others enroll in the courses to gain a broader understanding of courts in the American system of government. These differing student constituencies can create a dilemma for instructors. A course designed to cater to students with a general interest in the judiciary may not afford prelaw students with an appreciation for the demands of the legal profession. Conversely, a course narrowly tailored toward prelaw students risks alienating the majority of students for whom this class may be their only look at the judiciary. As a means to promote pedagogical balance and to appeal to varied student constituencies, we profile five public law simulations in this article that engage students in active learning and promote a greater understanding of law and courts. |
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Keywords: | Simulations public law constitutional law prelaw judiciary |
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