Term paper on relevance of american history and sociology

My experience in learning the American history was fun and my passion ever since I joined high school. My experience in history made me to love the subject especially since it gave me a chance to know where I came from giving a hint of what to expect in future. It also gave me an inspiration to work towards experiments and surveys to extract the truth and explain the occurrence of some phenomena that are common in the American soil.
In my personal capacity, I can claim that my history teacher was one of the best trained instructors I have ever met. He was always smart and having answers to all our questions at his finger tips. This made him a genius in the subject. His explanations on the subject matters were also very clear and relevant to some of the current issues affecting the American society. His understanding and modes of evaluation made a student like me always alert and completely conversant with the topic sentence of main argument in discussion (Andersen, 56).

The main mode of evaluation used by our teacher was a mix of the most common and best evaluation modes. To begin with there were sitting examinations that were used to evaluate personal understanding of the American history. The questions posed were brain cracking making the learner to think critically and reflect on the past and its influence on the contemporary society. They were mostly discussion questions that asked for a personal analysis of the issue on question. The second mode of evaluation was personal class evaluations through presentations. The presentations were made once per week where the student was required to make a personalized presentation on the understanding of the just covered topic. This evaluation mode made the learner much alert during class time since one would be asked to address any issue covered in class. Failure to reflect on the relevant work or context would make the teacher induce another mode of evaluation which called for questioning after the presentation (Norton, 26). This was mostly done when there was an ideological mix up thus evaluates understanding of specific aspect of the American history.
The last but very relevant mode of evaluation was the case studies. A student would be asked to investigate a particular aspect of the American history in the contemporary society and report on the findings of the case study. This evaluation made use of research data and analysis of the gathered information using the skills acquired in class. In short, the evaluation tested the ability of a learner to apply the skills acquired in class to real life situation. On my personal case study test, I was asked to research about racism in the current American society. This case study questioned enabled me collect data on racism in the current society making me learn of the changes that have taken place in the American racism.

Most of the learning activities were conducted through organized research work and case studies. In the classroom, the teacher gave us topics that he wanted us to read and research about. This mode of teaching gave us a chance to collect a lot of information on the research topic and the relevant case study work. On making class presentation one would develop courage to face a large audience making it possible for the learner to defend his/her argument in class or during any class discussion. It also gave the student a chance to express personal feelings on certain issues on the American history and some of the criticism on the American historical account. Class debates were also part of the learning methods in which we engaged in heated debates on some issues on the American history (Norton, 35). This broadens our understanding of the American history.
Looking at the course content on the subject matter, it covered the topic work comprehensively making it possible for us as the students to understand the whole account well and have a background data that could be used for analysis of the current issues on the American history.
One the most relevant topics that I still remember quite well today were the history of American racism and other social aspects. In fact the topics are too relevant to let go of their content and their relevance to the current situation in the USA are very relevant.

Applying the lessons learnt in American history on racism and sociology, I have developed an interest in analyzing the current situation in the American society in which I live. From the American history, sociology mainly defines how people of different races and social status relate. This is a very important aspect in my community which is a multi-race community. The main occupants in my community are from diverse social background and ethnicities. I am a white but most of my neighbor and friends are of black origin (Norton, 47). This makes me feel to be competent to living in any community since I also associate with the black children and others of Asian origin.
The religious point is also addressed in the sociology of American history. Initially, American religion was Christianity which with time appeared eradicated leaving the US without any particular religion. Different forms of religion developed with time and by this year of 2012, virtually all religious are present in US (Andersen, 54). Though Christianity is the main religion, Islam is taking root since the American constitution gives freedom of worship to its citizens.
Back to my class racial composition, the dominant race was the white race though there were some black students among us. The class competition was much stiff and did not reflect the racial backgrounds since most of the top performers in our class especially the American history and mathematics were black children. This disapproved a mentality inculcated into us by some of racist books that black were stupid and always slow in learning.

In conclusion, the sociology learned through the American history was much relevant to me and the whole lot of us. It helped reduce the amount of grudges and racial discrimination that had started accumulating in us (Andersen, 72). It also enabled me relate well with people from different social backgrounds and ethnicities. My opinion on this topic would be to encourage the learners to analyze the society and take the best steps to curb this vice racism and social division which is discussed in detail by the resources we used in class. Therefore, I would recommend sociology and a historical account of the society in which one lives in order to relate well with society and world in general.

Works cited.

Norton, Mary B. A People & a Nation: A History of the United States. Australia: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.
Andersen, Margaret L, and Howard F. Taylor. Sociology: The Essentials. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2013. Print.