History

Why Learn History?  History Readiness & Writing Readiness Grades 7-8

This course helps students find the inspiring, enlightening and exciting aspects of history.

• This class researches, debates, discusses, and argues over key American historical figures, events, and documents.
• The class includes debates over the Constitution and between Founding Fathers.
• Additional discussion topics include the American Revolution, Jeffersonian and Jacksonian America, and the Civil War.
• Students get the chance to improve speaking and writing skills related to historical events, while developing analytical skills necessary to excel in future history classes.
• We focus on historical theses writing, analyzing primary sources, and understanding cause and effect.
• Students are shown how history can come alive and provide them with the historical background so they can begin to analyze how the individuals, groups, leaders and founding fathers of this country helped influence the country that they live in today.
• Students discover a new appreciation for how history has shaped our world.

AP U.S. History Readiness Grades 10-12

This course provides great preparation for World or United States history, as we focus on analytical and writing skills, as well as test preparation.

• The major themes of history are covered, including expansionism, slavery, sectionalism and nationalism, politics, societies, and economies.
• This engaging course includes writing, debates and class discussions.
• Students improve their historical writing by focusing on thesis statements, topic sentences, and outlining.
• With the new AP Test format, students need training on how to approach the new style of multiple choice and short answer questions.
• There is an emphasis on primary source identification and critical reading skills.
• Students should be prepared to find a new passion for history, causing them to read history books for their own knowledge and pleasure.