A-G American History
About This Course
A-G American History is a college-preparatory history course that traces the full arc of the American story, from European settlement and colonial life through the founding of the nation, the Civil War, the rise of industry, both World Wars, Civil Rights, the Cold War, and into the era of globalization. Students develop the ability to analyze complex historical cause and effect by reading primary sources, weighing economic, social, religious, ideological, and geographical factors, and tracing lines of continuity and change across American history.
This course is grounded in four intellectual virtues: Intellectual Honesty, Intellectual Empathy, Intellectual Humility, and Intellectual Confidence. Rather than instilling political commitments, the course develops students' ability to examine historical evidence carefully, understand perspectives different from their own, and form well-supported arguments about why events happened the way they did.
The course combines a weekly lecture with a live online discussion session on Wednesdays. Students should expect to spend approximately 3.5 to 6 hours per week, depending on assignment and reading speed.
- Weekly lecture and live discussion, Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m. Pacific
- Recorded sessions available for students who cannot attend live
- Two graded assignments per week (quizzes and short essays)
- Two research papers over the course of the year
- Annual course, one history credit on transcript
- Trace the full arc of American history from European settlement through the era of globalization
- Analyze historical cause and effect by examining economic, social, religious, ideological, and geographical factors
- Read, locate, and cite primary sources; distinguish between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources
- Develop a focused historical thesis and support it with evidence from multiple source types
- Recognize how an author's perspective shapes historical narrative and argument
- Write a research paper and a historical analysis paper using primary and secondary sources
- Apply the intellectual virtues of honesty, empathy, humility, and confidence to historical inquiry
This course meets California A-G requirements. For complete standards documentation, visit the California A-G Standards Alignment page.
Schedule
A-G American History is an annual course. Each week includes a lecture and a live online discussion session. Discussion sessions meet on Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m. Pacific (3:00 p.m. Eastern); recorded sessions are available for students who cannot attend live. Pricing and purchase order details are available through your school's purchasing department.
| Session | Format | Meeting Time |
|---|---|---|
| Full Year | Live, online | Wednesdays, 12:00 p.m. Pacific |
Course Units
| # | Unit Title | Period Covered |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Settlement and Meeting of Cultures | 1500–1763 |
| 2 | Forming of the New Nation | 1763–1796 |
| 3 | Rise of Parties, Nationalism, and Populism | 1797–1840 |
| 4 | Expansion, Conflict, and the Civil War | 1840–1865 |
| 5 | Reconstruction and the Age of Industry | 1865–1900 |
| 6 | Progressivism, New Imperialism, and World War I | 1900–1919 |
| 7 | The 1920s, Great Depression, and World War II | 1920–1945 |
| 8 | Cold War, Civil Rights, and Globalization | 1945–2000 |
Required Text
Students are responsible for obtaining the required textbook below. All primary sources are provided as online links within the weekly assignment pages; no additional books are needed.
| Title | Author | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A History of the American People | Paul Johnson | Must purchase; not provided by WriteAtHome |
Assignments and Assessment
WriteAtHome's Mr. Napier grades all weekly assignments and both research papers. Optional A-G assignments (oral presentations, collaborative projects, visual projects) are overseen and graded by the student's charter school teacher or educational coordinator.
| Assignment Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly Assignments | Two assignments per week, alternating between quizzes based on the lecture and short essays or discussion questions that develop critical reasoning about historical events and ideas. Graded by Mr. Napier. | 2 per week |
| Historical Figure Paper | A research paper focused on a significant figure in U.S. history. Students develop a focused thesis and support it with primary and secondary sources. Graded by Mr. Napier. | Once Semester 1 |
| Historical Analysis Paper | A 1,200 to 1,500 word research paper analyzing a historical event or topic, using the economic, social, geographical, and ideological factors studied throughout the year. Students must use at least one primary source. Graded by Mr. Napier. | Once Semester 2 |
| Optional A-G Assignments | Oral presentations, collaborative projects, and visual projects are available as optional A-G assignments. Rubrics and assignment details are provided by WriteAtHome; grading is completed by the student's charter school teacher or educational coordinator. | Optional |
Instructor
How to Enroll
Enrollment is handled through your charter school. Check with your school's purchasing department for enrollment details, purchase order procedures, and course approval specific to your school.
Questions? Contact WriteAtHome at info@writeathome.com.
Supplementary Education Center/Program:
WriteAtHome (4-12) is Fully Accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Schools
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
533 Airport Blvd., Suite 200
Burlingame, CA 94010
Website: www.acswasc.org