The history of the development and formation of the United States is one of the most important areas of science for citizens. At the same time, this science is extremely complex and multifaceted. Therefore it is necessary to research it using certain methods. Today, dialogue and discussions with all directions and trends of world-historical science, without exception, come to the fore, and the main criterion for attitudes towards the conclusions and concepts of a particular school is their compliance with historical reality. This does not mean a refusal to critically check and evaluate the positions of historians, but it suggests that if they correspond to historical reality, then scientists can use them in their own constructions.
For the most effective study of the history of any state, it is necessary to divide it into specific completed periods, which will help facilitate the task. The next step will be to establish key dates and events, historical figures, and social movements (Radstone, 2020). A detailed analysis of each factor will allow you to understand and correctly interpret both a specific fact and its context (Radstone, 2020). In addition to the element of study, it is required to introduce discussions, reasoning, and reconstruction into the process of cognition. It is important to understand that history as a science differs from exact schools such as mathematics, and for completeness, education requires both visualization and concretization of any topic under study.
It can be argued that the main method of study is reasoning, that is, the independent building of logical and cause-and-effect relationships. With regard to students and their goals, it should be noted that the ultimate goal of the student should not be to obtain the highest mark but to fully understand the specific period studied (Radstone, 2020). At the same time, the assessment factor cannot be ignored since it is important for the overall success of the student and also serves as an indicator of the quality of knowledge (Radstone, 2020). It is necessary to give effective advice to the students. To obtain the highest score, an individual must familiarize himself with the proposed assessment criteria and pay attention to the necessary tasks and facts in a timely manner. For example, the essence of writing an essay is to show your vision of a certain topic within the framework of the academic style and also, after checking by the teacher, to identify your own misconceptions and gaps in knowledge (Hands & McMaster & Dolfsma, 2019). Chasing an A is not worth it; however, in order to earn the highest score, you must have a body of knowledge and follow the norms of academic research.
Finally, it is essential to understand that mastering the methods of analyzing the history of critical thinking is very important because they are applicable in life. For example, through a discussion and reconstructive approach, much of the knowledge gained can be applied in the context of modern society (Hands & McMaster & Dolfsma, 2019). Talking about myself today, knowing the causes, consequences, and worldview of citizens during the period of slavery, I can avoid mistakes and violations of the law when interacting with representatives of other races (Hands & McMaster & Dolfsma, 2019). This is not the only area that explains the need to study history and apply knowledge in practice, but the most widespread. Finally, full knowledge of history allows me to take a fresh look at my own state, which fosters healthy patriotism, respect, and understanding of some social and political problems. In other words, history itself, as a science, does not develop a person’s social skills, but the methods used by the student make the individual a versatile and accurate citizen.
References
Hands, D. W., McMaster, R., and Dolfsma, W. (Ed.). (2019). History, methodology and identity for a 21st century social economics. Taylor & Francis.
Radstone, S. (Ed.). (2020). Memory and methodology. Taylor & Francis.