After 12 years of pre-university education, a student wishing to enter college should be able to:

A. 1. 2. 3. 4. B. Inquiry Formulate or define a problem or argument. Locate information from varied sources relevant to the problem or task at hand. Use maps and atlases to find locations and other geographical information. Apply technological tools to seek out sources of information. Analysis and interpretation of data 1. Read and interpret data presented in tables and graphs. 2. Apply statistical or mathematical methods to analyze quantitative data and economic phenomena. 3. Read critically, taking sources in their historical context, accepting that authors have motives, perspectives, premises and positions. 4. Critically evaluate the credibility of sources. 5. Appraise information by identifying any bias and/or perspective of the author(s). 6. Differentiate between fact and opinion, supported and unsupported generalizations, evidence/data and judgment/conclusion. 7. Assess the quality of information by using prior knowledge and comparing/corroborating information from related or relevant sources. 8. Infer from data or evidence. 9. Appreciate the significance of events, processes, institutions, and human actors. 10. Link events, movements, institutions or structures, the environment, and human actors, and understand these within their historical context. 11. Understand and establish causal relationships. 12. Understand the nature, distribution and migration patterns of human populations on the earths surface. 13. Understand the role and impact of geography in environmental and human change. 14. Interpret different (and conflicting) explanations of the same event or phenomenon. C. Research 1. Support ones thesis or argument with appropriate evidence. 2. Consider contrary evidence and possible objections to ones argument. 3. Organize, summarize, and synthesize research findings in a coherent way. 4. Complete a problem or assignment requiring some two weeks of independent research. 5. Apply technological devices in research, analysis of data sets (including numerical data), writing papers, and preparing presentations. D. Communication 1. Integrate information from a fairly wide range of appropriate sources. 2. Logically introduce and incorporate quotations. 3. Synthesize information into a logical sequence. 4. Present a concise, clear introduction and conclusion when making an argument. 5. Write a three to five-page essay built on a clear historical argument, substantiated by proof, applying a coherent line of reasoning, and incorporating references from several credible sources, citing each of them appropriately.

E.

Ethical Standards 1. Understand her/his rights and obligations as a citizen so that s/he can participate meaningfully in the life of the community, nation, and world. 2. Treat those who think differently with fairness and respect even if s/he might not agree with their ideas or positions. 3. Respect and appreciate the diversity of peoples, races, cultures and faiths, and human rights. 4. Be conscious of her/his biases or personal preferences while abiding by the standards of scholarship. 5. Concede to ideas superior to her/his own, and refine or revise her/his position in the light of evidence/data. 6. Accept that scholarliness does not rest on any social, ethnic, or biological factor but on the quality of research, the evidence presented, and the clarity of reasoning. 7. Be generous in acknowledging the authors of ideas, creators of images, photographs, and other information used in the course of research and cited in the paper or presentation. 8. Avoid plagiarism (direct and indirect). 9. Be aware of and steer clear of the pitfalls of research, such as taking the authors words out of context, abbreviating quotations that change the meaning of the text, citing sources improperly, etc.