Touchstone 4: Thinking Like a Historian
ASSIGNMENT: 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 C’s: change over time, context, causality, contingency, and complexity. Recall each of these historical thinking skills from the Analyzing Primary Sources 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, it’s your turn to apply these skills of historical thinking by analyzing topics or events using the same framework.
To complete this assignment, download the submission template below. You will return the completed template as your Touchstone submission.
Thinking Like a Historian Template
Thinking Like a Historian Sample
In order to foster learning and growth, all work you submit must be newly written specifically for this course. Any plagiarized or recycled work will result in a Plagiarism Detected alert. Review Touchstones: Academic Integrity Guidelines for more about plagiarism and the Plagiarism Detected alert. For guidance on the use of generative AI technology, review Ethical Standards and Appropriate Use of AI.
A. Directions
Part 1: Change Over Time
Step 1: 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 over the course of that time 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 Topic Choose One Time Period
Western Expansion
U.S. Foreign Policy
National Politics
Race Relations
U.S. Society and Culture
Technology and Innovation
Immigration
The U.S. Economy 1877-1920
1890-1945
1940-1990
1970-2016
Once you’ve selected a topic and time period, prepare to respond to the prompts outlined below.
Identify and describe something within your topic that changed over the selected time period, using specific historical evidence to illustrate your point.
Identify and describe something within your topic that stayed the same over the selected time period, using specific historical evidence to illustrate your point.
HINT
If needed, revisit the US History II tutorials. Navigate to the most relevant course units and explore the tutorials related to your selected topic.
Step 2: Record Responses
Record your responses in Part 1 of the Thinking Like a Historian Template. Responses to each prompt should be roughly 5-6 sentences.
Part 2: Context, Causality, and Contingency
Step 1: Choose Primary Source
Choose one primary source from the U.S. History II Touchstone Primary Sources List. You do not need to choose a source from the same time period as Part 1 or follow those time periods in your response to Part 2. Submissions that discuss a primary source that is not on the provided list will be returned ungraded.
Study the source you selected and prepare to respond to the prompts outlined below.
Describe what is happening in the source you selected.
Context: Describe two other things happening in the United States during the topic or event depicted by your source that are related to it.
Causality: Describe two things that happened in an earlier time period that led to what is depicted in your source. Explain the cause/effect relationship.
Contingency: Describe two things that happened in a later time period as a result of what is depicted in your source. Explain the cause/effect relationship.
Step 2: Record Responses
Record your responses in Part 2 of the Thinking Like a Historian Template. Responses to each prompt should be roughly 5-6 sentences.
Part 3: Complexity and Reflection
Answer the following reflection questions in Part 3 of the Thinking Like a Historian Template. Responses to each prompt should be roughly 5-6 sentences.
Were you able to think of more than two things that led to or resulted from the topic or event depicted in your primary source from Part 2? How did you decide which things to write about?
How can you apply these skills of historical thinking to your daily life?
Refer to the checklist below throughout the writing process. Do not submit your Touchstone until it meets these guidelines.
❒ Did you complete all sections of the Thinking Like a Historian template?
❒ Did you choose a primary source from the provided list for Part 2?
❒ Did you review the grading rubric and compare it to your responses?
❒ Did you review the sample submission to see an example of a completed assignment?
❒ Did you proofread your work for proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization?
