Honors Virginia and U.S. History

In this course, students examine American history from exploration to the present, focusing on political, social, and economic history. Students also explore American culture through a chronological survey of major issues, movements, people and events in United States and Virginia history. Students enrolling in the course at this level should have reading and composition skills appropriate to their grade level. The course emphasizes the development of reading, writing, analytical and research skills necessary for understanding historical materials. Students encounter a variety of activities and materials including maps, college-level readings, document-based question essays, Socratic seminars, analysis of primary and secondary historical documents, free response research papers, and library sources. Students are required to complete several comprehensive writing assignments throughout the school year.