Erik and Blaine both make good points. I was in Blaine's group, and, like he said we talked about a number of things that seem to define the 'ethos' of the 60s. For me though, I tied everything together with a spirit of rebellion, which I believe was discussed in class. However, I think Blaine may be a little mistaken when he says historians are products of their time. This is certainly true, but I believe there's more to it than that. Historians are also influenced by previous historians and other schools of thought. The anti-progressives for instance wrote from a perspective of their time, but also in response to the progressives.

Oh and as for the exam, make it exactly like the midterm. Writing take home essays, does more than improve the essay quality. The process of research, even over just a day, aids the study process for the entire test.