Innovative 小黄书 History Resource Center assists with writing, critical thinking for student success
Contact: Sam Kealhofer
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 new universitywide resource is now available to Mississippi State students wanting to improve their analytical and written skills for history courses.
Organized by 小黄书 Department of History graduate students Patricia McCourt and Nathan Smith last fall, the History Resource Center is designed to help students read, write and think like historians. Services include support with organizing and writing essays and analyzing primary sources using problem sets, practice assignments for student skill development.
The HRC primarily targets first-year students taking large survey courses which can have high drop-fail-withdraw rates. Located in Allen Hall, Room 215, the center is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m., and by appointment.
聽鈥淪uccess in history courses can be a determinant of overall success in college because these classes expect students to use critical thinking and to synthesize a large amount of information around very broad themes and topics,鈥 McCourt said. 鈥淭hese skills translate to virtually any other academic endeavor and learning the content of American history helps us navigate our lives in the present day.鈥
The history department launched the HRC in response to a study conducted by the American Historical Association which found success in entry-level history courses often correlates with overall success or failure in students鈥 entire college careers.
鈥淲hile the center originally launched to serve students in the survey courses, we鈥檝e now expanded to reach students in advanced history courses as well,鈥 Smith said. 鈥淲e can help with sharpening an essay鈥檚 argument, using proper citations and comprehending secondary literature in addition to our core mission of working with primary sources.鈥
To learn more about this service or to make an appointment, email HRC staff members Ryan Reynolds at rtr133@msstate.edu or Madelyn Bemisderfer at msb684@msstate.edu.
For more details about 小黄书鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences or the Department of History, visit or .
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