Genocide and Holocaust Studies
Spring Semester 2016
SYLLABUS
Peter Kamilos, Instructor
peter.kamilos@matsuk12.us
School Phone: 352-8379
Home Phone: 373-6256
“pity this busy monster, manunkind,”
—e.e. cummings—
“Just as much as we have this extraordinary capacity for evil, so we have a
remarkable capacity for good.”
–Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa—
Description:
This course is designed to examine the stages and causes of genocide. We will analyze the
process and the steps that lead to the dehumanization of people to the point at which
genocide can be conducted. We will use real cases of genocide and learn how history,
politics, economics, and psychology converge to create environments where genocides
occur; and then we will look beyond the events and discover what happens after genocides
burn out in an effort to understand how to prevent them in the future. Specific case-studies
will include the Armenian, German, Cambodian, Rwandan, Bosnian, Darfur, South African,
and Middle-Eastern holocausts.
Readings and Resources:
Due to the nature of the topic of this class, several of the readings and video resources we
will use are of an extremely graphic nature. I have tried to include a comprehensive list of
the materials we may review:
Video:
1915 The Armenian Genocide (2013) Medusa Films
The Armenian Genocide. (2005) Oregon Public Broadcasting: Two Cats
Productions
Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State. (2015) BBC: History of World War II Series
Escape From Sobibor. (1987) Zenith Productions
Schindler’s List. (1993) Steven Spielberg
Cambodia: Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. MVD Visual
Pol Pot: Serial Killer. (1997) A&E Biography
The Killing Fields. (1984) Goldcrest Films & Television LTD (Warner
Brothers)
Ghosts of Rwanda. (2004) PBS: Frontline
Sometimes in April. (2005) HBO Films
On our Watch: The World Said “Never Again!” Then Came Darfur. (2007)
PBS: Frontline
Archbishop Desmond Tutu with Bill Moyers. (2005) Films for the Humanities
& Sciences
Syria: Behind the Lines. (2013) PBS: Frontline
Books:
Beah, Ishmael. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier.
Berenbaum, Michael. The World Must Know: The History of the Holocaust as
told in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Second Edition.
Bergen, Doris L. War & Genocide: A Concise History of the Holocaust.
Friedlander, Saul. Nazi Germany and the Jews: 1933-1945.
Hatzfeld, Jean. Machete Season: The Killers in Rwanda Speak.
Hinton, Alexander Laban. Why Did They Kill? Cambodia in the Shadow of
Genocide.
Power, Samantha. “A Problem From Hell”: America and the Age of Genocide.
Stehlik, Eduard. Memories of Lidice. Petr Kurfurst, Translator.
Totten, Samuel, and William S. Parsons. Centuries of Genocide: Essays and
Eyewitness Accounts.
Waller, James. Becoming Evil: How Ordinary People Commit Genocide and
mass Killing.
Literacy:
“Language is very powerful. Language does not just describe reality, language creates the
reality it describes.” —Archbishop Desmond Tutu— Reading and writing will be a major
part of this course. Reading and writing assignments are likely to be assigned frequently. I
expect assigned reading to be done PRIOR to the next class time. Readings will consist
primarily of non-fiction primary and secondary Alaska history sources. I expect written
assignments to be completed with good sentence structure and typed unless you are told
otherwise. All formal essays must be typed in MLA format. If writing is not in MLA format,
the essays will be returned ungraded.
I will expect students to be in class with pen or pencil and paper EVERY class time. I will
expect students to bring any and all reading materials (i.e. the textbook) to class every time
as well.
Grading:
Student work is evaluated using the A-B-C-D-F system.
A
90+%
B
80+%
C
70+%
D
60+%
F
Less than 60%
Grading categories are:
Formative Assessments — 25%
These will be quizzes and daily assignments
Summative Assessments — 45%
These will be unit tests
Final Project — 8%
This will be your final region-study. Due: _______________________________________________.
This is a big project! It will take time to complete! Do not be caught off guard!
Final Assessment — 7%
This is the semester final. The final will be the oral presentation of your Final
Project. We will start these presentations ________________________________________________________.
Employability Skills — 15%
This will be graded every day on a 4 point basis: 2 points for punctuality; 2 points
for appropriate, professional participation and behavior in class.
*Excellent attendance is of the utmost importance. Attending class is like attending
work. Do not be late!
*If a student is caught skipping, assignments given and/or due on that day will be
entered as a zero.
I do not provide extra credit assignments. I expect students to do well on class
assignments—if students go above and beyond what is expected I may, at my discretion,
award additional points for effort and learning demonstrated.
Submitting Your Work:
Each assignment will come with clear instructions on how it is to be submitted.
These instructions do occasionally vary. In general, however, submission on
a disk, jump-drive, or via email is acceptable and desirable. Email
submissions are expected before midnight on the due date.
Last day for late work for the Semester will be _______________________________________.
My email, again, is peter.kamilos@matsuk12.us. I will send confirmation when I
receive an assignment. My response is the only assurance students have that
essays have been received. Be careful and watch for confirmation because
the district’s e-mail filters are very discriminatory and the system slow.
Absences:
The importance of attending class regularly cannot be stressed enough. Some
activities cannot be recreated or made up based on the nature of the activity.
For your convenience I try to post assignment rubrics on my teacher page on the
Wasilla High School Website. You will also find all tests with questions and answers
on this site in advance so that you may practice before you test.
Students are responsible for finding out what was missed and for making it up.
Class time will not be used to catch up students as it takes instructional time from
the others. See me before school, after school, lunch, or during advisory time.
Test make up will take place before/after school or during advisory period only.
Alternate assignments will be given when circumstances justify making up a missed
activity.
Absences that are a result of skipping class or suspension will cause forfeiture of the
student’s right to make up missed work and will result in a zero for the assignment.
Late Work:
Setting and meeting deadlines is an important life skill and highly stressed my
classes. It is expected that work will be turned in on its due date and at the
appropriate time. If that expectation is not met, you may expect the following:
o Missing assignments may be docked up to 50% of the credit earned.
o Late work must be given to me directly. Do not put late work on my desk
and expect me to grade it. *Late work often gets lost or recycled if I do not
receive it directly from you!*
Students who are involved in extra-curricular activities: talk to me before your
absence and turn in your work before you leave.
o It is not your coaches’ and/or advisors responsibility to inform your teachers
of planned absences!
o I need to see YOU personally before you leave. This is an employability skill
and good communication is critical to your future success.
Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty:
All work submitted in this course must be your own. I cannot stress enough that the use of
a source (idea, concept, quotation, or paraphrase) must be properly documented and
attributed. In cases where plagiarism has been clearly established, no credit will be given
for the assignment. Any additional incident of plagiarism may lead to a Withdraw/No
Credit for the course. Plagiarism is a serious offense. Give credit where credit is due and
cite that source.
Classroom Rules:
1. Social Contracts: We will create a social contract in this class. Our social contract
will define who we want to be as a class and as individuals. I will define many of
our expectations for the instructor, students, and guests.
2. Eating and drinking: I ask that you not eat or drink during class time. I do allow
drinks provided they are sealable containers—no open bottles or cans. The first
time you spill or fail to pick up after yourself is the last time I allow you to bring
food or drink—this is your only warning!
3. Bathroom Policy: Take care of your bathroom needs before coming to class.
4. Profanity is unacceptable, shows a lack of linguistic depth and creativity,
disciplinary action will be taken.
5. Classroom Procedures: We will have many procedures that will cover daily life in
my class. We will go over them a few times, but once we have gone over these, I
expect students to be responsible and follow them in the interest of conservation of
time and respect for each other.
6. You may NOT interfere with another person’s learning. If you choose to do so,
disciplinary action will be taken.
FINALLY! Tips for surviving Mr. Kamilos’ classes:
Mr. Kamilos is hearing impaired.
1. This means that you will need to speak clearly and confidently in order to be
heard!
2. This also means that you will probably have to repeat yourself—I’ll be honest
you will probably have to repeat yourself often—be patient and we will have
a lot of fun this year.
3. I will often ask for written responses instead of auditory ones because of this.
The single greatest factor within your control that affects your grade is attendance.
1. If you show up every day and participate to the best of your ability, I will
provide you the tools you need and lead you successfully through this class.
2. I understand that life sometimes does a REALLY good job of getting in the
way of our best intentions—if it does, communicate! I’m pretty reasonable
and accommodating.
I promise to treat all my students with the respect that young adults deserve.
However, if you have a Jr. High or an elementary moment (we all do on occasion), I
may have to address and deal with that as a Jr. High or elementary teacher would.
All my students have access to the Anchorage Daily News online. This is a free
service and is the Anchorage Daily’s full and unedited paper—every day.