This is a great reading and writing skill builder for either US History or US History AP. First, the documents ask students to engage in active reading using a "thoughts, questions, epiphanies" reading strategies. Next, the lesson builds expository essay writing skills in the "DBQ" format. Through the lesson students will be asked to to group documents and explain the groupings. The lesson finishes by asking students to write a sample thesis using what they have learned. The lesson teaches stud