Benjamin Abelow Teachers Make a Difference: Norman Miller & Marc Trachtenberg

The speaker discusses the profound influence of two professors on their academic development. At Trinity College, sociology professor Norman Miller introduced the speaker to a tutorial system that emphasized critical reading and writing. This experience helped the speaker discover their analytical talents. After transferring to the University of Pennsylvania, history professor Mark Trachtenberg further honed the speaker's critical thinking skills through a seminar on American foreign policy. Trachtenberg's approach challenged students to form independent opinions, despite authoritative endorsements. Both educators significantly shaped the speaker's intellectual growth.

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