U.S. History-Based Writing

This course offers a comprehensive exploration of advanced writing skills within the context of U.S. history, spanning from the era of Explorers to Modern Times. Tailored for high school students with at least one year of prior experience in IEW writing, this curriculum delves deeper into refining writing techniques, embracing more sophisticated concepts, and mastering the nuances of scholarly writing.

Course Content: Throughout the course, students will immerse themselves in a diverse array of U.S. history topics, utilizing the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) framework to enhance their writing prowess. The curriculum is structured to elevate their skills in various areas:

Thesis Development: Students will learn to craft concise and compelling thesis statements, honing the art of presenting coherent arguments and opinions.

MLA Formatting: A dedicated segment focuses on mastering the intricacies of MLA formatting, ensuring students grasp the essential guidelines for academic writing and citation.

Persuasive Essays: Through engaging prompts and structured guidance, students will harness persuasive writing techniques, mastering the art of influencing readers with logical arguments and evidence.

Research Papers: The course will provide a systematic approach to conducting research, synthesizing information, and composing well-structured research papers, adhering to academic standards.

Advanced Writing Techniques: Building upon foundational IEW skills, students will refine their writing through varied exercises, including complex sentence structures, effective transitions, and sophisticated vocabulary usage.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Communicate effectively in writing: Mastery of narrative, research, and comparison/contrast writing styles will enable students to articulate ideas cohesively and persuasively across diverse forms of expression.
• Apply critical thinking through writing: Students will adeptly analyze issues, evaluate arguments, synthesize information, and solve problems, employing writing as a tool for structured thinking and intellectual exploration.
• Execute the writing process proficiently: From meticulous scrutiny of materials for relevant information to crafting detailed outlines, developing polished rough drafts, and producing final drafts enriched with diverse sentence structures and literary styles, students will navigate the writing process with finesse and precision.
• Conduct adept research and source evaluation: Students will demonstrate the ability to assess sources for research credibility and effectively incorporate information gleaned from these sources into their original research.
• Produce exemplary research writing with proper citation: Students will showcase their mastery by creating a comprehensive example of research writing, employing appropriate in-text citations and bibliographic references in adherence to established academic citation standards.

Texts

Advanced U.S. History-Based Writing Student Book