This primary source reader in the popular DISCOVERING series contains a six-part framework that guides you through the process of historical inquiry and explanation. The text emphasizes historical study as interpretation rather than memorization of data. Each chapter is organized within the same pedagogical The Problem, Background, The Method, The Evidence, Questions to Consider, and Epilogue.Important Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.
Why aren't more historybooks like this? If they were, I'd have enjoyed/understood history far better when I was taught it in elementary school. Basically, this book is a collection of primary sources. This is awesome because it cuts down on the biases that historians may have when talking about past events. (Obviously, there is still SOME bias, in that you have to wonder what made them pick the documents they picked, what was left out, who is speaking in the documents - and how much we can generalize these sources, that is, their accuracy regarding post-civil war America). But yes. It probably helped that I had a good teacher guide me through this book. Still, props to the authors.
Just another text book... It did a good job of stirring up some conversations in class. I had to give a presentation and write a paper on the chapter about the causes and effects of the attacks on Pearl Harbor.