Resources

 The American Yawp  This is a free, online, collaborative text book, edited by two recent Rice Ph.D.s.

History Matters

Outline of U.S. History  This is a free pdf, provided by the U.S. Government

Crash Course.  Some students really like these 10-minute history jams.  Just keep in mind that you may not be getting the entire picture.

And, not surprisingly, wikipedia has a fairly reliable version of American History. Check the links to the subheadings.

 COURSE OBJECTIVES

Be able to

Construct a basic, meaningful, and intellectually honest narrative America’s history from late 19^th century to the present

Execute a basic set of moves that constitute historical thinking

Comprehend, ponder, and write about key ideas, events, and interpretations relating to the history of the period

Work effectively as a team

THEMES

Three major themes run though the course material.

1.  expanding role of the federal government

2.  expansion of personal and civil rights

3.  expanding U.S. international role

Subthemes

a.  home & family

b.  society

c.  economy

d. diplomacy and foreign affairs

e. reform & critique

f.  race, gender, equality

g.  media & technology

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU MIGHT FIND USEFUL

Tips for Writing Successful History Essay Exams

Grading an Essay –General criteria for grading an essay exam

History Exam EXAMPLE

 Research: Through the UT library, students have access to a wealth of research databases (EID required). If, while reading, you come across a name, place, or event that you don’t understand, we recommend:

Gale Virtual Research Library

Britannica Online

Oxford Reference Online

Dictionary of Literary Biography

Finally, if you’re the type of person who likes to have a paper reference at hand while reading, we recommend Eric Foner and John Garraty’s Reader’s Companion to American History. Amazon sells copies for as little as a penny (plus shipping)!

Reading: A professor named Mortimer Adler, who wrote a whole tome on the subject (How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading) , has posted some tips on approaching a difficult text while keeping your wits about you.