Thinking Like a Historian

In this course, you have been introduced to the skills of historical thinking by examining events in modern U.S. history with attention to the Five Cs: change over time, context, causality, contingency, and complexity. Recall each of these historical thinking skills from the lesson.

• Change Over Time: History happens over a period of time. During any given period of time, people, events, and ideas can change.
• Context: Think about historical events in terms of their greater context. Nothing occurs in a vacuum, isolated from the social, cultural, economic, or political setting of the day.
• Causality: All historical events have multiple causes and effects. Before the first shot of World War II was fired, a long history of political, economic, and social unrest set the stage.
• Contingency: Everything is related. Historians think about the ways in which historical trends and events are related to other trends and events, making connections between them.
• Complexity: We live in a complex world. Historians understand this and create historical narratives that reflect a world of different meanings and perspectives.

Historians apply these critical thinking skills when creating accounts of the past. Now, its your turn to apply these skills of historical thinking by analyzing topics or events using the same framework.

To complete this assignment, you will use the template provided below. You will return the completed template as your Touchstone submission. A sample assignment is also provided.

Choose Topic and Time Period

From the chart below, choose a combination of one topic and one time period. Within that topic, you will identify and describe something that changed and something that stayed the same throughout that period.

EXAMPLE You might choose to write about U.S. foreign policy between 1970-2016, or immigration between 1877-1920, or the U.S. economy between 1890-1945. You may select any combination of topic and time period that interests you.

Choose One TopicChoose One Time PeriodWestern Expansion

U.S. Foreign Policy

National Politics

Race Relations

U.S. Society and Culture

Technology and Innovation

Immigration

The U.S. Economy1877-1920

1890-1945

1940-1990

1970-2016

Once youve selected a topic and time period, prepare to respond to the prompts in Part 1 of the template.

HINT

Revisit the US History II tutorials. Navigate to the most relevant course units and explore the tutorials related to your selected topic.

Step 3: Record Your Responses

Record your responses in Part 1 of the template. Responses to each prompt should be roughly 5-6 sentences.

Part 2: Context, Causality, and Contingency

Step 1: Choose a Primary Source

Review the and choose one for your assignment. You can choose a source from any time period. Study the source and prepare to respond to the prompts in Part 2 of the template.

Step 2: Record Your Responses

Record your responses in Part 2 of the template. Responses to each prompt should be roughly 5-6 sentences.

Part 3: Complexity and Reflection

Step 1: Reflect

Answer the reflection questions in Part 3 of the template.

Step 2: Review the Rubric

Review the rubric (Section B) to ensure you understand how your Touchstone will be evaluated, and revise as needed.