“Learned Institutions ought to be favorite objects with every free people. They throw that light over the
public
mind which is the best security against crafty & dangerous encroachments on the public liberty”
-James Madison to William T. Barry (August 4, 1822)
The ideal classroom should not create encyclopedists, but analysts. That is, the ideal class will care little
about your ability to regurgitate memorized facts (which are then quickly forgotten). Rather, the ideal class will empower you to analyze, evaluate, and understand the world, even after you’ve left the classroom.
With this in mind, write a short essay reflecting upon what you have learned in Pol 1. Some questions you
might address, but don’t necessarily need to address: has this course helped your understanding of
American politics? Have you changed your mind about anything? Has covering this material affected how you interpret current political events? What major lesson might you hope to remember to evaluate political matters in the future?
Sample Solution