Consistent emphasis on history as interpretation | |||
Continuous attention to the critical skills of identifying historical interpretation and then evaluating it on the basis of evidence | |||
Consistent attention to the use and interpretation of primary sources, in and of themselves and in relation to DBQs | |||
Employment of a wide variety of different instructional techniques (e.g., discussion, lecture, debate, modified brainstorming, video, audio, Web-based) | |||
Striking of an effective balance between teaching an interesting survey of U.S. History and preparing for the AP exam | |||
Consistent attention in connection with all major issues to race, class and gender | |||
Repeated discussion of the question of whether Britain's North American colonies and, later, the United States were or were not a "land of opportunity" | |||
In conjunction with the previous question, continual raising of the question "For whom?" | |||
Clear, sharp and continuous focus on defining one's terms | |||
Close attention to chronology | |||
Devoting of considerable attention to the analysis of essay prompts | |||
Devoting of considerable attention to formulation of a thesis in response to an essay prompt | |||
Selective attention where needed to dealing with the complexity of important issues | |||
Striking of a balance between creative and analytical writing assignments | |||
Selective use of DBQs and FRQs from past AP exams as instructional materials | |||
Close and continuous attention to the principles allegedly fought for during the American Revolution and the way in which the understanding and implementation of those principles change after 1776 | |||
Continuous attention to the key theme of federalism, the division of power and authority between the central government, on the one hand, and the state and local governments, on the other | |||
Repeated revisiting of the key issue of the relationship between government and economic activity, especially the hotly debated issue of the extent to which the federal government should attempt to stimulate and/or regulate economic activity | |||
Consistent attention to the United States Constitution, its origins, content and interpretation | |||
Consistent attention to the evolution of political parties and their role in the political process | |||
Consistent attention to the business cycle of prosperity, recession, and depression and its impact on the political process and different social groups
| Consistent attention to the formulation and implementation of U.S. foreign policy and to the changing role of the U.S. in the world | |