Discovering the American Past introduces students to the analysis of historical evidence with a unique six-step process that allows students to evaluate, analyze, and draw conclusions from diary entries, statistics, advertisements, and other primary sources.
The six-step system found in each chapter allows students to follow a scholarly historical investigation from beginning to end. "The Problem" outlines the central question to be considered. "Background" places the problem in historical context, while "Method" discusses how to analyze primary source material relating to the problem. "Evidence" presents several primary source documents for students to analyze and thus reach conclusions about the problem. "Questions to Consider" focus on specific evidence and links between primary sources, and "Epilogue" explains the problem's historical outcome.