Learning American History: Critical Skills for the Survey Course

PREFACE ix

CHAPTER 1 The Writing of American History 1

EXERCISES Part I, 1942-1650 7

Part II, 1865-1898 13

CHAPTER 2 The Nature of History 16

EXERCISES Part I, 1492-1650 23

Part II, 1865-1898 26

CHAPTER 3 Historical Thinking 29

EXERCISES PART I, 1650-1776 33

Part II, 1890-1920 37

CHAPTER 4 Context in History 41

EXERCISES Part I, 1650-1776 46

Part II, 1890-1920 50

CHAPTER 5 Gathering Information 55

EXERCISES Part I, 1176-1820 63

Part II, 1918-1941 69

CHAPTER 6 Evaluating Evidence 75

EXERCISES Part I, 1776-1820 81

Part II, 1918-1941 87

CHAPTER 7 Interpreting Evidence 92

EXERCISES Part I, 1820-1860 96

Part II, 1941-1963 101

CHAPTER 8 The Stages of Writing 105

EXERCISES Part I, 1820-1860 108

Part II, 1941-1963 117

CHAPTER 9 Meaningful Writing: The Paragraph 127

EXERCISES Part I, 1850-1877 130

Part II, 1960-Present 135

CHAPTER 10 Structured Writing: Paragraph Strategies 139

EXERCISES Part I, 1850-1877 141

Part II, 1960-Present 146

CHAPTER 11 Television, Film, and History 152

EXERCISES 159

APPENDIX A Reading History 161

APPENDIX B Writing a Book Review 163

APPENDIX C The Term Paper: An Overview (Harry James Cargas) 166

APPENDIX D Oral History 169

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING 176