This project posits that incorporating political humor into the classroom can have a positive effect on learning in higher education. Specifically, we present preliminary findings from a quasi-experiment in which a humorous, "mock" textbook titled America (The Book) (Stewart, Karlin, and Javerbaum 2004) was incorporated into Introduction to…

Encouraging students' use of satire, irony, and parody in college writing assignments is recommended to help students voice their concerns, think critically, and discover how a form of discourse contributes to both form and substance of the writing. Samples of student work illustrating the effectiveness of this approach are offered. (MSE)

Utilizes a 1775 political cartoon as the centerpiece of a lesson on political controversy and violence in Colonial America. The cartoon, printed in Britain, lampooned the coercive measures directed at Tory merchants. Learning activities include an extensive analysis of the cartoon, discussions, and timelines. (MJP)