Contends that teaching students to read is the same as teaching historical interpretation. Provides a framework for teaching historical interpretation through a case study of books concerning Thomas Jefferson and his alleged illegitimate children. Identifies motives governing academic writing. Provides an analytical framework for historical…

Describes a team effort by an historian and a college reading specialist in which volunteer undergraduate students participated in hopes of improving their history papers. Weekly sessions involved summarizing history assignments. Results indicate the importance of both reading levels and reading styles. (KC)