hidden history. the syllabus

what this course is

History is full of moments when the official story turned out to be wrong — and just as many moments when a juicy rumor turned out to be nothing at all. This semester elective is built around a single skill that matters more every year: separating verified historical fact from speculation, rumor, and misinformation. We investigate documented American scandals and cover-ups — Watergate, the Pentagon Papers, COINTELPRO, MKUltra, Iran-Contra — and examine the declassified JFK files alongside famous claims that have not held up. Along the way you learn how historians, journalists, and investigators actually work: weighing sources, corroborating claims, and tracing how stories spread and mutate through the media of their era.

the map

• weeks 1–3
  The Official Story vs. The Rumor — Roswell, Area 51, and the foundations of evidence. habit: question
• weeks 4–6
  Follow the Evidence — Watergate and the "Paul is dead" rumor. habit: research
• weeks 7–9
  Reading the Record — The Pentagon Papers and the Pearl Harbor advance-knowledge claims. habit: analyze
• weeks 10–12
  Trust and Verify — MKUltra and the mind-control myths; fact-checking in the social media age. habit: evaluate
• weeks 13–15
  Watching the Watchers — COINTELPRO and shadow-government myths; the surveillance debate. habit: debate
• weeks 16–18
  The Verdict — Iran-Contra, the JFK files, the moon-landing autopsy, and your Case File capstone. habit: think critically

the four verdicts

Every claim we study gets one of four verdicts, and you are graded on how you reach yours, not just what it is: confirmed (supported by reliable documents, testimony, physical evidence, or multiple independent sources), debunked (reliable evidence contradicts it), misleading (true or partly true material framed to create a false impression), or unproven (the available reliable evidence is insufficient). An honest "unproven" backed by good research beats a confident answer backed by nothing — in this class and in life.

grading

Grades are calculated with points, weighted as below. Letter grades follow the student handbook (93–100 A, 90–92 A−, 87–89 B+, 83–86 B, 80–82 B−, 77–79 C+, 73–76 C, 70–72 C−, 67–69 D+, 63–66 D, 60–62 D−, below 60 F).

• Unit tests and assessments 25%
• Exercises, logs, and fact-check portfolios 25%
• Capstone Case File project 20%
• Debate and seminar participation 10%
• Semester exam or equivalent 20%

the two class rules

(1) We attack claims, never people. In this course you will sometimes discover a belief you hold doesn't survive the evidence — that happens to everyone, including historians, and it is treated as a win, not an embarrassment. (2) Bring evidence for factual claims. Any factual claim made in discussion or debate can be challenged with "what's your source?" — including claims made by the teacher.

what to bring

A writing utensil, a folder or binder for handouts and logs, and your assigned device on lab days. Most readings are primary sources provided in class.

a note for families

This course teaches students how to evaluate evidence, using documented history — including declassified government programs — and famous claims that failed under scrutiny. Case studies draw on public government archives, original journalism, and established scholarship. The goal is neither cynicism nor blind trust: it is the ability to tell proof from noise. Questions are always welcome.

attendance

This course is heavily built on in-class labs, discussions, and team investigation work that cannot be fully made up at home. Poor attendance usually results in poor grades — follow the attendance policy.

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