Social Studies
Students explore fascinating events and themes in United States and world history, government, and economics with core texts and engaging classroom libraries. Concise and accessible Advanced Placement® texts equip students to excel in AP® courses and the exams.
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Advanced Placement®—Social Studies
Achieve AP® Success with AMSCO® Coursebooks
- Make college-level content accessible to all your students without sacrificing the rigor required for success on the new AP® social studies exams.
- Can be used as your primary classroom resource when you submit your course audit to the College Board.
- Get the benefit of decades of AP® expertise with our team of veteran AP® teachers, Exam Readers, Test Item Writers, Table Leaders, APSI Instructors, and College Board Consultants.
- Develop collaboration, writing, and analytic skills with features such as Think As a Historian, Think As a Political Scientist, and Write as a Psychologist.
- Organized by the most current CEDs, AP® texts by AMSCO® deliver streamlined content with just the right level of subject depth and text complexity.
- Diagnose student performance and build exam confidence and competence with carefully crafted AP®-style multiple-choice and free-response questions correlated to specific learning objectives from the course framework.
- Check for student understanding and assess skills with a complete practice test that mirrors the directions, timing, question formats, and content scope of the actual AP® exam.
Of the People: A History of the United States
Comprehensive coverage of all topic areas for the AP® U.S. History course
- Explore the historical changes in the United States that occurred in culture, government, society, the economy, the environment, and the military. Primary source documents, portraits of notable Americans, and sample document-based questions (DBQs) help students prepare for the AP® U.S. History Course.
- FREE Student Companion Website provides students with note guides, flashcards, further reading, and quizzes.
- FREE Instructor Ancillary Resource Center offers the teacher a comprehensive instructor manual, test bank, and PowerPoint presentation resources.
- Volume 1 covers important events and themes from 1450–1877.
- Volume 2 covers important events and themes from 1865–present.
Human Geography
Comprehensive coverage of all topic areas for the AP® Human Geography course
- Examine how human behavior transforms the earth’s surface in response to changing social, cultural, and political needs. The text covers all topic areas for the AP® Human Geography course and examines current events and key theoretical areas such as environmental determinism and psychogeography.
- FREE Student Companion Website includes a comprehensive study guide, Google Earth tutorials, student quizzes, video links, and much more.
- FREE Instructor Materials include a comprehensive instructor manual, National Geographic videos online, image bank, and PowerPoint slides.
Principles of Psychology
Comprehensive coverage of all topic areas for the AP® Psychology course
- Teach students how to think critically and scientifically about the underlying mechanisms of behavior and cover all topics for the AP® Psychology course. In every chapter, important discoveries are explained, the impact on everyday life is examined, and current research is used to see each behavioral principle in action.
- FREE Student Companion Website provides students with note guides, flashcards, further reading, and quizzes.
- FREE Instructor Ancillary Resource Center offers the teacher a comprehensive instructor manual, test bank, and PowerPoint presentation resources.
U.S. History (1865–Present) & Constitutional Foundations
Dive into fascinating events and themes in United States history
- This comprehensive one-year program explores United States history and the human experience, encouraging civic participation.
- The book covers the Civil War to the present, including the conflict with terrorism.
- An extensive introduction to pre-Civil War history provides a deep foundation and context for students to comprehend historic themes and patterns.
- Includes in-depth coverage of the origins, principles, and provisions of the Constitution
- Introduces the physical and early human geography of the United States and its impact on the American experience.
U.S. History and Government: Readings and Documents
Primary sources to extend topics in U.S. History (1865–Present) & Constitutional Foundations
- This collection of 122 primary source readings and documents, spanning from 1500 to the present, provides excellent preparation for Advanced Placement® or end-of course United States history and government exams.
- Excerpts include personal narratives, diary entries, songs, poems, writings about political and social rights, laws and codes, speeches and writings of United States Presidents, and important Supreme Court cases.
- The readings include a colonial indenture agreement, Thoreau on civil disobedience, statements on women’s rights, the hardships of the Depression, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, the war on terrorism, and more.
- Excerpted speeches and writings of United States presidents and selections from important Supreme Court cases document the breadth of government involvement in domestic and world affairs.
- Unit introductions provide historical background and an overview of the unit content.
- Follow-up explanations connect content to larger historical contexts.
- Document introductions describe the themes, time period, and persons in the document.
- Review questions focus on spurring critical thinking and thorough discussion of key concepts.
- Units conclude with a document-based question rooted in readings and an understanding of United States history and government.
Essential U.S. History
Tell the story of our nation's past in a text accessible to all students
- Covers the expanse of American history from exploration and colonization through the American Revolution, continental expansionism, the two world wars, the Great Depression, post-war America, the Cold War, and the current era of terrorism.
- Emphasizes the contributions of regional cultures and ethnic groups that have influenced the American way of life.
- Embedded, chapter-specific exercises develop map and graph reading skills.
- Chapter reviews include matching, multiple-choice, and document-based questions and essays.
- Regional maps, a glossary, and suggested websites aid student understanding.
- Teacher Package includes a Teacher Manual with detailed lesson plans and an additional assessment component.
Basic Principles of American Government
The structure and role of all the major components of American government
- The updated text puts recent political events in context, including the 2016 election campaign and outcomes and the early stages of the Trump administration.
- Seven units cover the principles behind American government, the American political process, the legislative branch, the executive branch, the judicial branch, state and local government in the American system, and looking ahead.
- Emphasizes the significance of civic involvement by encouraging Americans to stay informed about public events and government actions on all levels.
- Comprehensive introduction and chapter content reflects an emphasis on the social studies practices and historical thinking skills students should develop for college, career, and civic participation (C3).
Civics for Today: Participation and Citizenship
Develop and encourage responsible citizenship
- Direct involvement in civic life is emphasized in this single semester or full-year text for a United States civics or government course.
- The text stresses citizen participation in civic life, how government works at all levels, and how the economy operates in the world today.
- The content and organization follows guidelines set forth in Civitas: A Framework for Civic Education developed by the Center for Civic Education in collaboration with the Council for the Advancement of Citizenship and the National Council for the Social Studies.
- Covers the nature of law, the political process, how the economic system works, and making a difference.
Government for Everybody
Examine a wide range of governmental practices in the United States
- Units cover the origins of the United States government, the Constitution, the presidency, the Supreme Court, Congress, domestic and foreign policy, state and local government, and participation in government.
- Section review questions reinforce understanding.
- End-of-chapter reviews include multiple-choice questions, essays, document-based questions, and critical thinking skills exercises.
- Skills Exercises develop the essential skills students need to acquire, organize, and use information and to communicate their own views effectively.
- Maps, illustrations, photographs, political cartoons, graphs, and diagrams present concepts and information visually.
- Feature boxes discuss topics ranging from Patrick Henry’s patriotism to the First Amendment and hate speech to the government’s response to Hurricane Katrina.
- Appendices include the complete text of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution and summaries of landmark Supreme Court cases.
- Teacher Package includes a Teacher Manual and an Assessment component with lesson plans, unit tests, answer keys and related nonfiction and fiction books for extended learning
Global History & Geography: The Growth of Civilizations
A comprehensive chronicle of world history
- Designed to provide enough content for a two-year course of study.
- Thorough timelines and unique primary sources.
- Explores geographic, cultural, economic, and political influences on human development.
- Human-interest vignettes introduce each chapter, illustrating larger historical issues, events, and movements.
- Descriptions of physical environments link geography to historical events.
- Highlight social history, cultural and economic trends, and political figures and issues.
- Frequent "surveys of the physical environment" place historical developments in their geographic contexts.
- Assessments require both written and oral responses and include multiple-choice, thematic essay, and document-based questions.
- Teacher Manual contains unit and chapter objectives, lesson plans and suggestions to aid in implementing instruction, activities for extending lessons, and an Answer Key.
Global History & Geography: Readings and Documents
Primary sources to extend topics in Global History and Geography: The Growth of Civilizations
- This collection of 115 primary source readings and documents, spanning from 2000 B.C. to the present, provides excellent preparation for Advanced Placement® or end-of-course global history and geography exams.
- Includes unit readings with document-based questions.
- Excerpts include religious texts and classical narratives, writings about human rights, laws and codes of justice and personal behavior, diary entries, poems and folktales, and historical and contemporary illustrations.
- Includes documents that represent the laws, codes, and rules of behavior of various societies; special contributions to the human experience; writings about political, social, and human rights; and more.
- Documents emphasize the special contributions to human experience and knowledge that different societies have made over the millennia.
- Introductions provide relevant background information, describing the culture, time period, and persons in the document.
- Follow-up explanations connect content to larger historical contexts.
- Review questions focus on spurring critical thinking and thorough discussion of key concepts.
Enjoying Global History
Make history accessible and enjoyable for students
- A combination of informational texts and over 100 high-interest, thematic stories help teach the history of events from prehistoric times to 9/11.
- Narratives are presented in a variety of literary forms—short stories, plays, newspaper reports, interior monologues, and letters.
- Brief, informational text introduces stories and explains the political, social, and economic settings in easy-to-understand terms.
- Unit introductions contain motivating material about the events in the stories and raise questions that will help students anticipate outcomes and focus on the material at hand.
- Postscripts to the stories highlight the effects of the story's events and point to future developments.
- End-of-chapter comprehension, research, and critical thinking activities require close reading and the use of textual evidence.
- Teacher Manual offers useful and practical teaching approaches including lesson plans with suggestions for extensions and assessments.
Essential World History
Tell the story of the world's civilizations and cultures in a text accessible to all students
- Comprehensive coverage of the world regions and the civilizations that developed in them from prehistory to the 21st century.
- Emphasizes the contributions of regional cultures and ethnic groups that have influenced world civilizations.
- Embedded, chapter-specific exercises develop map and graph reading skills.
- Chapter reviews include matching, multiple-choice, and document-based questions and essays.
- Regional maps, a glossary, and world history websites aid student understanding.
- Teacher Package includes a Teacher Manual with detailed lesson plans and an additional assessment component.
Economics for Everybody
The economic foundations students need in and out of the classroom
- Addresses the critical thinking, inquiry, and problem-solving skills necessary to succeed in today's economy.
- Features detailed coverage of all the major fundamentals of economics such as saving and investing, using consumer credit wisely, finding a job, buying and selling stocks and bonds, regulating international trade, and more.
- Addresses the C3 Framework in order to prepare students for the challenges of college, career, and civic life.
- New and relevant data illustrates changes in the United States’ economy such as fluctuations in costs associated with the import and export of goods.
Personal Finance
Make smart economic decisions and secure a strong personal financial future
- Margaret Magnarelli, author, and former Assistant Managing Editor at Money magazine, covers financial planning basics
—working and earning
—budgeting, banking, and money management
— investing for the future
—using credit wisely
—managing risk - Illustrations, photographs, diagrams, tables, and graphs prepare students for understanding real-life financial presentations of data.
- Addresses the C3 Framework in order to prepare students for the challenges of college, career, and civic life.
Economics: Institutions and Analysis
Explore the role of the U.S. in the global economy
- Provides a systematic survey of both microeconomics and macroeconomics, with an emphasis on the major economic issues of American life today and a comparison of the American free-enterprise system with other global economic systems.
- Introduces the fundamental economic questions societies face.
- Focuses on the economic role of business, labor, consumers, and government, and how the United States fits into the global economy.
- Emphasizes the importance of early financial planning.
- Each chapter includes a multiple-choice exam followed by a set of critical thinking questions and most conclude with a skills exercise and suggested web sites to extend learning.
- Teacher Manual includes lesson plans with strategies for teaching and expanding the lesson, portfolio projects, and chapter and unit tests.
C3 Social Studies Program
Standards-aligned social studies titles for the classroom
- The College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards has informed state social studies standards since 2010. These rigorous standards outline the concepts and skills students should demonstrate at each grade band.
- A variety of text types, engaging selections, and range of reading levels will meet the needs of your diverse classroom.
- Each book has been meticulously aligned to one of four disciplines—history, civics, economics, and geography.
- The Bookroom Collection includes 6 softcover copies of 300 books.
- Grade-Level Samplers include 1 copy of each title.
- Expand your social studies program with additional Add-On Grade-Level Samplers. No duplication with titles in C3 grade level collections.
Smart Green Civilizations: Green Lessons from the Past
Explore the green customs of ancient civilizations
- Students reading below grade level will be drawn into this highly engaging series focusing on the lives and times of ancient peoples.
- Informational text paired with supportive visuals provide a humorous, but accurate, approach to conveying information. Readers are introduced to informational text features—maps, diagrams, labels, and more.
- Each culture's geographical boundaries, class structures, farming methods, housing, clothing, communication, and leisure activities are explored, all with a focus on environmentally friendly customs. Fact boxes on every spread contrast ancient "green" practices and modern practices. "Green" lessons are featured at the end of each book.
Mastering Social Studies Skills
Develop important social studies skills needed for success
- Covers global geography, world history, government, economics, and current events.
- Reading selections, writing exercises, maps, and illustrations reflect materials students regularly encounter in social studies classes.
- Focuses on essential reading comprehension skills needed for understanding key social studies concepts.
- Develops strong writing skills for constructing complete sentences and paragraphs when answering questions and opinion essays.
- Improves analytical skills for using maps and charts; picture, circle, bar, and line graphs; and photographs, historical prints, and cartoons.
- Frequent checks of understanding with answers and explanations and short passages keep students engaged.
- Assessment includes multiple-choice, true-or-false, essay, constructed-response, and document-based questions.
New York Regents—Social Studies
Comprehensive coverage of the New York Social Studies Framework content and skills
- Each chapter focuses on a Key Idea from the New York Framework, describes the overarching themes and enduring issues, and provides streamlined content and key terms.
- Standards-focused lessons include analyzing a primary source, historical content and context presented in concise language, questions for close reading, and primary source activities.
- Chapters end with stimulus-based multiple-choice and short-essay questions mirroring the Regents exam.
- Throughout the program, students are prompted to “think like historians” using Social Studies Practices, analyze primary sources, and use textual evidence in their written responses.
