College Political Science Tutoring (Poli Sci/ Poly Sci)

Intro to Political Science

Common topics in political science introductory classes:

Development and impact of political philosophies; structures and functions of government; political systems across the world and throughout history; foundations of democracy (in action and in practice); role and powers of the government and its branches; formation and implementation of policies; how a bill becomes a law; voting behavior and political engagement by the masses; the purpose and formation of political parties; comparing government institutions; how to read and understand political science articles; and so much more…

Many universities skip the general info class and simply start you off in American Politics, Comparative Politics, or Political Theory, so if you’re lucky enough to take an introductory political science class, congratulations! You get to do a little bit of everything! But worry not, this class isn’t meant to overwhelm you or “weed you out” like other subjects’ intro-level classes—only to give you a taste of all the wonderful topics Political Science has to offer. If you need a little extra help to contextualize it all (and don’t want to sort through the full Encyclopedia of Political Science), our exceptional political science tutors are ready and eager to help you!

Political Philosophy/Theory

Common topics in political philosophy/theory classes:

Plato, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Honnes, Locke, Rousseau, Descartes, Marx, Thoreau, Nietzsche, Kant,  Hawthorne, Tocqueville, Lincoln, Adams, Paine, Du Bois, Mao, Mandela, Sartre, Neumann, Olson ….  How have these philosophers and many, many more impacted the development of government in the ancient and modern world? What did they have to say on freedom of speech, religion, and/or association? How did they conceptualize the role of race, gender, wealth, and/or national identity as it relates to society as a whole? What arguments and narratives did they pose, promote, and/or challenge about bureaucracy, socialism, republicanism, democracy, communism, and enlightened monarchies? 

Some of these names might already be obvious to you, others might sound vaguely familiar or seem completely strange. Regardless, when you work with our amazing political science tutors, you’ll gain all the tools to match each philosopher with their given political theories, as well as articulate and argue your own political philosophies and why you agree (or disagree) with those of our predecessors.

Helpful Resources:

• Encyclopedia of Political Theory

• Journal of Political Thought

• Philsophy Crash Course

• Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

• Philosophy Basics: Political Philosophy

• The Daily Idea -- Political Philosophy
  

Global/International Politics

Common topics in global/international politics classes:

American foreign policy; government and politics of East Asia, Eurasia, Africa, the Middle East, South America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Pacific Nations; Government and Politics of Early and Modern China, Russia, England, Iran, and India; the Middle Eastern Conflict; the South China Sea Dispute; Tribal Governments and Politics in Early and Modern America; European Union Government and Politics; the Rise of Ethno-Religious States; Foreign Economic-Relations and Policies; the United Nations; Global Politics During World War I and World War II; Cold-War Era Politics and Policies; and so much more…

Global and International Politics classes come in all shapes, styles, and forms! Introductory classes teach you background knowledge on the historical and political foundations that contextualize and impact the world’s countries, political systems, and governments as they exist today. Other classes of advanced study might focus on special topics like: national or international political conflicts and wars; the politics and government of one country or region of the world; examining global political systems during a specific time period in history. So if learning about global or international politics feels as confusing to you as learning a new global language, our tutors are available to work with you one-on-one so you can pass your class and succeed in your studies.

Helpful Resources:

• Europa World Plus

• World 101

• World History Crash Course

• Politics and International Relations Websites

• Google Drive of World Politics Free Articles and Website Sources
  

American Politics

Common topics in American politics classes:

The U.S. Constitution and its origins; Federalism, Democracy, and Republic forms of government; checks and balances on the three branches of government; powers and roles of the executive, legislative, judicial, (and bureaucratic) branches; the formation, function, and effect of political parties; interest group politics and political participation; civil rights and liberties; public policy making and the public’s role; state and local government functions; the formation of states; contemporary issues in American politics; and so much more…

People take American political science classes for many different reasons – to understand their rights and role as a U.S. citizen, to understand why the American election system seems so broken, to jumpstart their future career as a politician, to talk circles around Uncle Joe at holiday dinners… the list goes on and on. But no matter why you decide to take a class on American Politics, rest assured that our political science tutors will expertly guide you through your class (like Washington guiding revolutionaries across the Delaware River!) and frame each topic of study in an understandable way that speaks to you.

Helpful Resources:

• Encyclopedia of U.S. Political History

• Judicial Branch Resources (Federal Judiciary Homepage)

• Legislative Branch Resources (Compiled by the Library of Congress)

• Executive Branch Resources (Compiled by the Library of Congress)

• American Political Science Association

• U.S. Government and Politics Crash Course

• U.S. History Crash Course

• Branches of US Government

• The United States Cabinet: History and Development

• Most Powerful Jobs in White House

Constitutional law

Common topics in Constitutional Law classes:

The amendments and their historical context; the role of the supreme court and court precedent in setting and solidifying law; how constitutional arguments are structured and why they matter; constitutional law developments advancing social and civil liberties over the span of American history; the Articles of Confederation and their failure at securing individual rights and liberties; state powers versus federal powers; selection and tenure of supreme court justices; supreme court trends and effects on law making over time; and so much more…

We can’t beat around the bush on this one: Constitutional Law is HARD! How hard is it? It’s so hard, every year, the Supreme Court hears 100-150 court cases (out of some 7,000 cases appealed to the Court!) to try and make sense of what exactly is Constitutional when applying a 200-year-old document to modern problems (many of which the founding fathers couldn’t even have begun to imagine!). Of course, that is not to say you shouldn’t study Constitutional Law—only to say that if you are struggling, it is perfectly normal. People take Constitutional Law classes to understand their rights, better analyze and critique recent court cases that personally affect them, and/or prepare for law school. So, let us help you! Our political science tutors understand the structure of Constitutional arguments, how and why cases are heard by the Supreme Court, and why even the Justices of the Supreme Court often cannot all agree on what the Constitution says.

Helpful Resources:

• Supreme Court Decisions

• Supreme Court Yearbook

• Judicial Branch Resources (Federal Judiciary Homepage)

• Constitutional Law Studicata Lessons

• ACLU

Comparative Politics/Governments

Common topics in Comparative Politics/Government classes:

Pros and cons of different forms of governments from the perspective of those in power and the general masses; the similarities of and differences between U.S. and European Union governments, politics, and policies; comparisons of tribal governments and political systems in the Americas and throughout other continents; understanding the policies and practices of competing political movements and rebellions; global comparisons of perspectives on ethno-religious states, economic development, international aid, and environmental policies; and so much more…

Comparative Politics/Governments classes task you with analyzing various aspects of governments, countries, political parties, and political movements over different time periods, amongst different cultures, and/or on a national or international scope. If all the many comparisons are too much for you to keep track of or you need help understanding the basic political science concepts your class is requiring you to compare, our political science tutors will provide individualized instruction to help you. We can show you how to keep track of and organize comparative materials, master the political science concepts you need to compare, and pass your class.

Helpful Resources:

• The Oxford Handbook of Political Institutions

• Center for Comparative Research

• European History Crash Course

• Comparative Politics Flashcards on Quizlet

• Journal on Comparative Politics

Politics and the Media

Common topics in Politics and the Media classes:

History of the media and evolution of mass communication; media systems and political communication models; media ownership, regulation, and freedom of the press; political agenda setting and framing in the media; extremism, interest group theory, and media competition; media bias and objectivity; word selection, rhetoric, and communication techniques to influence; role of social media in politics; media effects on public opinion and behavior; media and political scandals; political media in relation to race, culture, religion, and social behavior; media coverage of politial campaigns; media and government relations; media literacy, consumption, and analysis of sources in a digital age; and so much more…

Nearly everyone has an opinion on politics and the media, and, if you’re like most people, you probably get your political news from social media and hear the same opinions reiterated in virtual echo chambers. You might attribute all this to modern technological advances in communication methods and random chance, but you’d be wrong. The science of using media techniques and structuring political communication to influence and shape the beliefs of the masses and the media available to them for consumption is much more nuanced. Intrigued? Confused? Outraged by the potential unfairness of it all? Our political science tutors are here to explain why the political media system exists as it does and how you can better navigate it with eyes wide open.

Helpful Resources:

• Media Literacy ToolKit (Download Available)

• Media Literacy Crash Course

• iCivics Media and Influence Lessons

• Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective - Media and Politics

• PEW Research on Politics and Media