Reviews two recent books: Charles Tilly's 1985 work, "Big Structures, Large Processes, Huge Comparisons," and the 1984 volume edited by Theda Skocpol, "Vision and Method in Historical Sociology." Concludes that historians who still harbor negative images of historical sociologists would benefit by gaining a more accurate…

Describes a history project that was used to teach students in grades one through six data interpretation and other methods of the historian. (AM)

This collection of resource material includes descriptions of historical and cultural factors dealing with Cuba and Cuban Americans. Included are brief descriptions of Cuba, its people, its agriculture and natural resources, and its economic development. A brief historical review of Cuba, ranging from its discovery to its takeover by the…

Considers the impact of empirical social science methodology and data analysis techniques on the process of historical analysis and its product, generalizations about the past. Uses political preference and voting information as a vehicle to illustrate the differences in historical conclusions reached by Lee Benson and J. Morgan Kousser. (JDH)

Reviews the strengths of Kenneth Cooper's updated 1984 edition of Carl Becker's MODERN HISTORY. Contends that while other high school history textbooks sell better, that Becker's text does a better job of teaching European history while helping students develop the advanced academic skills needed for higher education. (JDH)

This special theme issue of the OAH Magazine of History contains articles that present a variety of perspectives on the Columbian Quincentenary--the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's voyages of discovery. The articles include: "Exploring the Columbian Quincentenary through Historiography" (John Hebert); "Science, Religion,…

This guidebook examines the kinds of oral history materials available to local researchers and presents ways to evaluate and interpret those materials. There are six chapters. Chapter one describes the relevance and scope of local history, the role of the interviewer within the community, the contributions that oral sources can make to local…

This guide is designed to introduce high school teachers of American history to the most recent scholarship dealing with the origins of the U.S. Constitution. Surveys of recent scholarship on constitutional origins are organized by the following topics: historiography of the Convention, the Anti-federalists, The Federalist Papers, ratification of…

These guidelines are designed to help teachers and school districts answer questions related to the national history standards as they develop their own local curriculum. The work is built upon the original guidelines from the Bradley Commission on History in the Schools. This booklet is divided into two parts: (1) "Introduction"; and…

This set of objectives is designed to increase teachers' knowledge about the historical and cultural heritage of Afro-Americans. Instructional materials and learning activities which can be used in meeting each of the objectives are listed. A preassessment test, criteria for measuring each objective, and numerous reference and resource citations…

The booklet is designed to help social studies teachers initiate oral history projects. Preceding the two major sections of the document, the authors specify that oral history is more than a person with a tape recorder; need not be transcribed to be useful; need not be a big project; and is not the final product of history. The next section…

A comprehensive handbook on investigating the history of your community, family, local institutions, and cultural artifacts, this fully updated second edition provides insights on how to find and use published, unpublished, visual, and material records; collect information through interviews; connect individual investigations with broader…

This booklet is designed to help teachers at all grade levels put the recommendations of "Building a History Curriculum" into practice. The volume offers suggestions and guidelines for curriculum development in world history. The guide is divided into two parts. Part 1, "Introduction," offers: (1) "Guidelines for Planning History Instruction in…

Guidelines for taking oral histories are presented in this guide. The guide was developed for a project to teach Nicaraguan literacy teachers how to record personal narratives for the purpose of preserving cultural history and heritage. An introductory chapter discusses the distinction and relationship between "testimony," which…

One of a series of booklets designed to make available to a wide audience thoughtful perspectives on issues of domestic and foreign policy, this booklet contains two essays which provide a solid base for elementary and secondary teachers to communicate the nature of America's place in the world, its responsibilities, ideals, and traditions to…