Streamlined narrative focuses on the significance of major developments. 30% percent shorter than the full-length text, this careful abridgement retains The American Promise's highly effective balance of political, social and cultural history and helps students grasp important issues so that they come to class ready for lecture or discussion. Understanding includes the American voices — from Presidents to pipefitters and sharecroppers to suffragettes — that are popular in the full-length book.
Strong and coherent chapter pedagogy fosters students' understanding of what's important. Designed to pique students' interest and guide them as they read and review, each major section poses engaging questions, supports the study of chronology and cause and effect, includes key terms in the margin, and ends with a review question. All images and maps are tied to the chapter narrative and strengthen student understanding.
Innovative three-step chapter review sections go beyond textbook conventions to teach historical thinking. In step one, students identify key terms and explain why each matters. In step two, they work on understanding the connections — cause and effect, change over time, and compare and contrast — among the chapter's major ideas. And in step three, students pull it all together with analytical and synthesis questions that treat the whole chapter.
A bold new design invites students in and supports the text's pedagogy. The text's fresh, dynamic look appeals to students and resonates with what they might read outside of class but it avoids appearing busy or distracting and supports students in learning and studying.