HIST 200 - Writing California Political Histories

1. Practice the skills of historical writing, interpretation, and organization;
2. Craft original, balanced arguments in writing, with attention to audience, in order to participate in debates and discussions inside the classroom and beyond;
3. Investigate California’s political histories from perspectives other than your own;
4. Examine California political history as a case study on the relationship between the US Constitution, local political movements, and the state constitution;
5. Analyze contests over power between communities with distinct social identities and the political, economic, educational, and social outcomes of these struggles.

1. complete a variety of reading and writing tasks that incorporate subject-matter knowledge;
2. adjust their writing for different audiences, showing awareness of expectations for academic writing in general and adhering to discipline-specific conventions when appropriate;
3. demonstrate critical thinking and logical reasoning, including strategies coming in a discipline, in the development and organization of ideas in written texts; take into account multiple perspectives and key disciplinary concepts when presenting their ideas in writing; and
4. revise their writing in response to feedback in order to improve development, clarity, coherence, and correctness.

1. Describe the development of the Constitution from the political philosophies of its framers to its later interpretation and amendment;
2. Explain how the Constitution influenced the development of American political institutions and government;
3. Explain citizen rights and responsibilities under the Constitution.

1. Describe the role of California’s Constitution in state and local government;
2. Explain the place of California’s Constitution in the evolution of federal-state relations;
3. Describe the political processes that enable cooperation and conflict resolution between state and/or local governments and the federal government.