I was really interested in the subject so that probably helped, but the class only consists of two assignments. 40% midterm and 60% final. They're both short essays but it's hard to effectively cram in all the details and evidence you need with the word limit. I'd recommend going to office hours and getting feedback about the midterm to help for your final.

I actually took Meranze for American Intellectual History 142A, but am too lazy to create a whole new profile so here is the review. This class was set up like the one here, with one midterm (40%) and one final exam (60%). For 142A he had a TA help him grade midterms, she was a beast, so pray you get a cool TA that does not enjoy going crazy with the red pen. Meranze allows for students to ask questions, which was interesting but setback the class, we did not reach the end of the syllabus. Sometimes this is a good thing but not for this class because I had bought the materials beforehand and we did not end up reading Harriet Jacobs. I collect books so this was not a bother, but if this is not you or you're strapped for cash, buy books as the course progresses. Also, Meranze was the most unwelcoming professor during his office hours. Actually the only one who was this way. Perhaps I got him on a bad day, or maybe our personalities did not mesh. Lastly, Meranze gets irritated if you walk in late, he chewed a couple of people out for this and does not allow for students to record him because he "does not like the sound of his voice." A bit superficial and uptight in my opinion.

40% mid-term, 60% final. The class can tend to get boooooring, although Professor Meranze makes little jokes here and there that alert me to attention. I don't think his exams are too bad, but it's really unfortunate he doesn't give us a study guide or review session. It's extremely time consuming to study EVERYTHING we went over in class, especially since a lot of the stuff we copied down for notes (like every monarch in England for 200 years) didn't relate to anything on the exam. Unless you REALLY want to know constitutional history, there are surely better history classes to take.