Students of all abilities will have the opportunity to strengthen their essay writing in a succinct and powerful manner. This class is designed for A.P. and Honors students particularly since the AP exam is geared towards mastery of this skill. However, students of all grades and levels are welcome. Sounding and writing like a historian is no easy feat as the learner must be able to combine facts and opinion with insight. The instructor will guide the students by modeling the do's and don'ts of persuasive writing and speaking, calling upon students to practice with each other and with the teacher. The instructor will provide examples of thesis statements, short answer responses and the use of power verbs throughout the session on a powerpoint format. Furthermore, the instructor will create sample responses in a live format and guide the students towards proper historiography. Each class will utilize power verbs to demonstrate credibility and rhetoric, focusing on a different topic each session.