Wisconsin History Highlights: Delving into the Past

Wisconsin History Highlights encourages middle and high school students, including National History Day participants, to use Wisconsin topics and resources as they research American history. The book guides students on their way, drawing them in with the topics most likely to spur their curiosity and enthusiasm. Wisconsin History Highlights introduces students to essential skills for historical research, including locating primary and secondary materials, choosing and narrowing a topic, and avoiding plagiarism.

The text includes nine chapters: Discovering the Past; Immigration; Agriculture; Industry; Environment; Social Issues; Government; Tourism; and Arts, Entertainment, and Sports. Each chapter has a variety of concise historical vignettes about specific events, people, or places in Wisconsin history, and within each vignette, students will find hints to get started with research on that or a related topic. The chapters contain many illustrations of sample source materials, and each closes with a detailed bibliography of available primary and secondary resources.

Students will find ample guidance in many places, from the helpful introductory material, the table of contents, and the topical chapters to the thorough index, which together make Wisconsin History Highlights an essential tool for expanding students' conceptions of history and refining their research skills.

Bobbie Malone was the director of the Office of School Services at the Wisconsin Historical Society until 2011, overseeing National History Day in Wisconsin events each year. She is the author of several books on Wisconsin history written for Wisconsin classrooms. Jon Kasparek received his Ph.D. in history from UW-Madison. His book on Governor Philip La Follette and the Wisconsin Progressive Party earned the 2003 UW Baensch Award for best dissertation on a topic in Wisconsin history. Jon has published several articles on the history of the state. He lives in Madison with his wife and son.