Teaching

Teaching Philosophy

In the classroom, I focus on teaching students the canonical texts and debates—from Plato to Locke to the Letter from Birmingham Jail—that have shaped our American experiment. I believe universities must foster environments of civil discourse and genuine intellectual freedom, where diverse viewpoints are not just tolerated but actively welcomed. My priority has always been to help students develop the critical faculties and intellectual independence to form their own well-reasoned positions on contested social and political questions. Given my experience with the political theory canon and my research focus on civic education, I aim to help students develop a truth-seeking ethos suited to an intellectually diverse environment.

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Courses Taught

Introduction to Political Theory
Primary Instructor – Summer 2024, McGill University

Comprehensive introduction to major political thinkers and debates from ancient to modern political thought.

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Introduction to Political Theory
Teaching Assistant – Fall 2019, Fall 2020, Winter 2021, McGill University

Student Evaluations

Introduction to Political Theory, Summer 2024

  • Instructor Rating: 4.5/5 (Department average: 4.2/5)
  • Lecture Quality: 4.4/5
  • Availability: 4.9/5
  • Overall Learning: 4.4/5

Selected Student Comments

"Mr. Crisman is an excellent instructor who lectures in great detail while keeping it interesting throughout. He spent a lot of his own time doing office hours and helping students for as long as they need."
"He is a very engaging orator, his classes are well-prepared and he communicates the material very effectively."
"Prof really embodied the theorist of each class, really answered each question as the author, really represented a die hard fan of each author, it was helpful to understand the theory, keep method acting"
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Sample Syllabi

  • The Political Theory of the American Revolution

    A chronological study of American Revolutionary political thought examining primary texts from Roger Williams to James Madison. This course explores natural rights theory, constitutional republicanism, and the foundational debates of American government, culminating in a comparative analysis with the French Revolution.

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  • Federalism in Theory and in Practice

    An examination of federalism as both a theoretical framework and practical institutional arrangement, exploring its role in managing pluralism, preserving liberty, and accommodating diverse communities within a unified political order. This course teaches students to read political theory, legal theory, and case law, encouraging rigorous logical argumentation about constitutional foundations.

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