Deepen your knowledge and understanding of US history on a journey through time. You will learn about the major events, people, and ideas that have shaped US history, and you will gain a deeper understanding of the forces that continue to shape our world today.  Explore primary documents and engage in historical study as a historian. 

This course is a rhetorical level course intended to introduce the student to the major themes and moments in US history.  This course will involve both writing and reading.  We will be reading a full-range of primary documents from each time period and geographical area we study.  You will be learning how to read, think about, analyze, argue with, and present ideas about history and to connect events to the larger trends and themes in world history.

This class can coordinate with my American Literature 1 course.  Students may join even if they have not completed part 1.

This class is a discussion-based, interactive format.  Each week you will be responsible for reading background material and assigned primary documents.  You will be expected to write a reading response for each of your readings.  These reading responses should be 1-2 pages on the background material for each time period in history and the important elements of the work.  You should be building a timeline of major events in US history across geographical boundaries. In class, we will spend much time discussing our reading, putting themes in their historical context and asking questions about the author’s and our own worldviews.  I expect you to come to class prepared to participate in this discussion. You will also be assigned brief presentations.  These presentations will involve researching the biographical information for significant figures and key information for major moments we will study in class. 

What to expect from this course:
-Strengthening your skills of primary text analysis
-Improve critical thinking skills through oral and written discussion
-Develop an understanding of the major moments and themes of US history
-Explore political, economic, social, and military changes that shaped the modern world