Features and Benefits
The pedagogical approach of By The People is designed to provide numerous opportunities for students to engage in historical inquiry and to focus on historical analysis and interpretation. Each feature connects to the historical thinking skills that are an essential part of the study of history and essential to success on the forthcoming new AP exam. They are intended to serve as points of discovery through which students learn and understand the past and its significance.
Chapter Learning Objectives
Objectives for each main section of the chapter correlate to the Key Concepts of the AP U.S. History Curriculum Framework that relate to the chapter. These objectives serve as a guide for the student learner to the chapter’s main topics and themes.
Critical Thinking Questions
Questions that ask students to use skills necessary to the practice and study of history conclude each main section of the chapter. These questions ask students to construct arguments, consider cause-and-effect, evaluate patterns of change, and evaluate comparisons and contrasts. Students are asked to use these skills both as they relate to the content of the section and to overall themes in the new AP Curriculum Framework.
American Voices
Primary source document excerpts bring history alive by introducing students to the words, thoughts, and ideas of people who lived and experienced the events of the time. Each document includes a brief head note and critical analysis questions to help students put the sources in their historical context.
Thinking Historically
This feature continues the emphasis of providing ample opportunity for the practice of
historical thinking skills. These brief document excerpts relate the themes of the new AP Curriculum Framework to content within the chapter. The feature includes questions that connect to the skills.
In-text References to MyHistorylab Resources
Icons integrated in the text connect resources available on the MyHistorylab web site to specific topics within the chapters, making assigning resources easier, and drawing attention to some of the most high-interest resources available on the web site.
End of Chapter Critical Review
An extensive set of review questions based on the chapter learning objectives, key concepts and themes from the AP Curriculum Framework, and writing about history continue the focus of the pedagogical program in the text. Also included is a list of the key terms and concepts that are highlighted in the text.