help with resource

Rara · 18th May 2009, 11:29 PM

We have taken our daughter (nearly 14 yo) out of the school system again.
one of the things she would like to look at is politics.
I am unable to find an introduction to politics online,and many books that i looked at on Amazon seem to be at university level.
the "dummies" series do one for the American political system but not UK....does anyone have any suggestions?
thanks

Dancing David · 19th May 2009, 04:48 AM

I am sure there are decent entry level politics books, in fiction there is always Dickens and Tale of Two Cities, but there is always history in general. (The history of the UK is so much more varied as are the politics.)

Roma · 19th May 2009, 05:20 PM

I'd let her use the university texts if they were just introduction level.

Azimer the Mad · 25th May 2009, 09:07 AM

Agreed with textbooks. If she's not told they'll be too hard for her she won't be afraid of them.

Rara · 25th May 2009, 12:36 PM

thanks.
we generally do use higher level text books than used in school( which is why she left...boredom,being patronized and generally poor level of education) ,so i will look again.

Rara · 20th June 2009, 02:29 PM

i have found a politics unit at http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/ which is part of the OU(open university in UK)

Rara · 20th June 2009, 02:31 PM

lots of other very good "stuff" there...this wasn`t done this way to boost post count...grand daughter hit return

Wudang · 21st June 2009, 12:33 PM

Some of the MIT online stuff is accessible as well.
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm

Rara · 21st June 2009, 12:43 PM

thanks

lightfire22000 · 21st June 2009, 03:11 PM

Good luck with homeschooling!
I'm American so I have a different perspective, but I think I can help.

There are numerous resources available for free and for little or no cost on British politics.

What specific areas of British politics do you want to study right now? Election format, Parliamentary procedure, party tensions, etc. For the history of British politics, I second Wudang on MIT's open course ware. You should also supplement it by seeing many different political groups. For instance, by talking to people that are pro-labor unions and socially conservative, you should get a good idea of what Tory politics were like.

This is an introductory site for British politics.
http://www.rogerdarlington.me.uk/Bri...calsystem.html

You can also use wikipedia before you begin to read deep books. I find that it is very useful for acquiring introductory knowledge because the links it uses allows the reader to meet prerequisite knowledge for an article quickly. The links explains terms I don't know.

lightfire22000 · 21st June 2009, 03:14 PM

Oh, have you ever tried styling elections for clubs and so forth? I had an excellent Middle School History teacher who did this and it was very helpful.

Rara · 23rd June 2009, 01:50 PM

thank you,the roger Darlington site looks very interesting....especially "how to prepare for death",this man is very practical and down to earth.

Lightfire, she has been involved in "mock elections" several times,in several schools in several countries.

We listen constantly to radio 4,she wants to understand the Ins and outs of politics more...perhaps to enjoy the satire more??

18th May 2009, 11:29 PM	#1
Rara Thinker Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Nort Posts: 129	help with resource We have taken our daughter (nearly 14 yo) out of the school system again. one of the things she would like to look at is politics. I am unable to find an introduction to politics online,and many books that i looked at on Amazon seem to be at university level. the "dummies" series do one for the American political system but not UK....does anyone have any suggestions? thanks

19th May 2009, 04:48 AM	#2
Dancing David Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 34,724	I am sure there are decent entry level politics books, in fiction there is always Dickens and Tale of Two Cities, but there is always history in general. (The history of the UK is so much more varied as are the politics.)
	__________________ Hell, dynamiting fish in a barrel is more challenging. - Ladewig I suspect you are a sandwich, metaphorically speaking. -Donn And a shot rang out. Now Space is doing time... -Ben Burch You built the toilet - don't complain when people crap in it. _Kid Eager

19th May 2009, 05:20 PM	#3
Roma Master Poster Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 2,062	I'd let her use the university texts if they were just introduction level.
	__________________ I only know what I want to know.

25th May 2009, 09:07 AM	#4
Azimer the Mad Student Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 33	Agreed with textbooks. If she's not told they'll be too hard for her she won't be afraid of them.
Azimer the Mad Student Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 33

21st June 2009, 12:33 PM	#8
Wudang BOFH Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sheffield Posts: 8,245	Some of the MIT online stuff is accessible as well. http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm
	__________________ Aphorism: Subjects most likely to be declared inappropriate for humor are the ones most in need of it. -epepke

25th May 2009, 12:36 PM	#5
Rara Thinker Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Nort Posts: 129	thanks. we generally do use higher level text books than used in school( which is why she left...boredom,being patronized and generally poor level of education) ,so i will look again.

20th June 2009, 02:29 PM	#6
Rara Thinker Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Nort Posts: 129	i have found a politics unit at http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/ which is part of the OU(open university in UK)

20th June 2009, 02:31 PM	#7
Rara Thinker Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Nort Posts: 129	lots of other very good "stuff" there...this wasn`t done this way to boost post count...grand daughter hit return

21st June 2009, 12:43 PM	#9
Rara Thinker Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Nort Posts: 129	thanks

21st June 2009, 03:11 PM	#10
lightfire22000 Muse Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Nashville, TN. Posts: 699	Good luck with homeschooling! I'm American so I have a different perspective, but I think I can help. There are numerous resources available for free and for little or no cost on British politics. What specific areas of British politics do you want to study right now? Election format, Parliamentary procedure, party tensions, etc. For the history of British politics, I second Wudang on MIT's open course ware. You should also supplement it by seeing many different political groups. For instance, by talking to people that are pro-labor unions and socially conservative, you should get a good idea of what Tory politics were like. This is an introductory site for British politics. http://www.rogerdarlington.me.uk/Bri...calsystem.html You can also use wikipedia before you begin to read deep books. I find that it is very useful for acquiring introductory knowledge because the links it uses allows the reader to meet prerequisite knowledge for an article quickly. The links explains terms I don't know.

21st June 2009, 03:14 PM	#11
lightfire22000 Muse Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Nashville, TN. Posts: 699	Oh, have you ever tried styling elections for clubs and so forth? I had an excellent Middle School History teacher who did this and it was very helpful.

23rd June 2009, 01:50 PM	#12
Rara Thinker Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Nort Posts: 129	thank you,the roger Darlington site looks very interesting....especially "how to prepare for death",this man is very practical and down to earth. Lightfire, she has been involved in "mock elections" several times,in several schools in several countries. We listen constantly to radio 4,she wants to understand the Ins and outs of politics more...perhaps to enjoy the satire more??