Can “The Literature” Be a Mentor? Early Career Instructors Write a Review Article

In writing this chapter, we reflect on our experiences writing “The Disciplinary Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Political Science and International Relations: Methods, Topics, and Impact” (Murphy et al. in International Politics 1–19, 2023). We consider how our experiences co-authoring a review article fit within the broader structures of academia and scholarly writing. This chapter identifies an insightful and valuable, albeit nontraditional, source of guidance and mentorship for early career instructors and researchers. Reflecting on our experiences writing a review article, we begin with a discussion of our approach to the writing process and discuss how our group formation and rootedness in “the literature” offered a variety of benefits to us as early career instructors. We underscore the importance of highlighting students’ experiences and perspectives and fostering a more collaborative partnership between students and instructors, with the ultimate goal of enhancing learning outcomes.