HIS-200 is Southern New Hampshire University's applied history course, which asks how the past informs life in the present.
The catalog says students explore how history has shaped the role of the citizen in America and use historical perspectives to understand a topic relevant to American society today. The listed prerequisite is 3 credits from HIS courses. The course is hard to do on autopilot because you choose and defend your own topic rather than answer a fixed question.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) |
| Course code | HIS-200 |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Credits | 3 |
| Prerequisite | 3 credits from HIS courses |
| Subject area | Applied history, citizenship |
| Typical work | Source gathering, a writing plan and an analysis essay |
What HIS-200 Covers
| Area | What it involves |
|---|---|
| History and the citizen | How the idea of citizenship in America has changed |
| Everyday relevance | Why the past matters for informed public life |
| A contemporary topic | Applying historical perspective to an issue today |
| Research skills | Finding and using primary and secondary sources |
Key Concepts Explained
Choosing a Topic That Works
The best applied topics have a present-day issue and a traceable history, such as voting access, immigration policy or public education. A topic that is too new has little history; one that is too old has little relevance.
From Question to Evidence
Start with a question like "How have debates about who counts as a citizen changed?" and then look for primary sources (laws, speeches, court decisions) and secondary scholarship that speak to it.
Worked example: topic: public debate about school curricula. Historical thread: earlier conflicts over what schools should teach. Present link: a current dispute. Argument: today's debate repeats patterns from earlier controversies, but the participants and stakes differ. Each part needs at least one source.
Writing Plan
A writing plan sets out your question, thesis, source list and outline before you draft. Use it to check you have enough evidence for each section.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
| Assignment type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Source search | Locating primary and secondary sources | Use library databases and note what each source offers |
| Writing plan | Organizing an argument | List thesis, evidence per section and gaps still to fill |
| Analysis essay | Using history to explain a current issue | Connect past and present explicitly in every section |
Where Students Get Stuck
- Topic too broad. Narrow to one issue and one thread of history.
- History and present kept apart. Link them in each section.
- Opinion in place of evidence. Support claims with sources.
- Weak source mix. Include both primary and scholarly secondary sources.
From Topic to Finished Essay
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Topic | Pick an issue and write it as a question |
| 2. Search | Find at least two primary and three secondary sources |
| 3. Annotate | Write two sentences on what each source adds |
| 4. Plan | Draft thesis and a one-line point per section |
| 5. Write | Draft, then check each section links past to present |
| 6. Edit | Cite consistently and trim repetition |
The counts of sources above are a suggested working target, not a course requirement; follow your assignment instructions.
What a Strong Paper Looks Like
Applied history succeeds when past and present speak to each other. The table shows common differences.
| Weaker response | Stronger response |
|---|---|
| Opinion on a current issue | Argument that uses historical evidence to explain it |
| History in one section, present in another | Links between them in every section |
| Only websites as sources | Primary sources plus scholarly secondary works |
| Plan lists headings only | Plan shows the claim and evidence for each section |
A Second Illustration
Invented plan outline: question, "How have ideas about who can vote changed?" Section 1, early restrictions, with a legal document. Section 2, a major expansion, with a speech. Section 3, a current debate, with a news analysis. Thesis: current arguments echo earlier ones about who is a full citizen, while the legal tools differ.
Before You Submit
Because you pick the topic, check that the whole paper is held together by it.
- Is the question clear and answerable with the sources you have?
- Does every section connect a past development to the present issue?
- Does the source list include both primary and scholarly secondary works?
- Is your writing plan consistent with the final essay?
If your plan and essay differ, update the plan or explain the change; markers notice inconsistencies between them.
Where HIS-200 Fits in the Program
HIS-200 requires prior HIS credit, so it builds on skills learned in earlier history courses such as HIS-100. It leans on research and writing more than on content knowledge, which is why planning pays off.
Share your topic and thesis with your instructor as early as the course allows; early feedback on scope is the most valuable help you can get.
Study Tips for HIS-200
- Test your topic by finding two sources before committing.
- Write the thesis early and revise it as evidence develops.
- Keep a separate list of sources that disagree with you.
- Ask your instructor if your topic is suitable.
How We Help with HIS-200
Send your topic, assignment instructions, rubric and any draft. We can help you narrow a topic, explain how to find and evaluate sources, prepare a custom plan for study, or review your draft for argument, evidence and citation style.
Work you submit must be your own under SNHU's academic integrity policy. GradeEssays is independent and not affiliated with Southern New Hampshire University.
Make Sense of HIS-200
Share your topic, sources and feedback. We prepare a custom plan and analysis you can study and compare with your own.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Using history to understand the role of the citizen in America and a topic relevant to society today.
The catalog lists 3 credits from HIS subjects.
SNHU's catalog lists 3.
The catalog says historical perspectives are used to understand a topic relevant to American society today; your instructions say how the topic is selected.
A mix of primary and scholarly secondary sources, as the assignment directs.
Yes. We can help you test topics and build a writing plan.