Karen Silverstrim
WAC Assignment
2 formal, 2 informal assignments
Purpose:
The purpose of the writing assignment (Formal #1) is to make you the Monday Morning
Quarterback for a select genocide from history. You will use information received in class
lectures and reading assignments to engage you in the practical problems surrounding the subject
genocide.
Knowledge:
To successfully complete this assignment, you will need to analyze information and
problem-solve to come up with an evacuation plan for a victim population, based on the mistakes
made in this genocide by the experts in the field at that time.
Audience:
Your audience is both the general public, to educate them on the complexity and needs in
dealing with genocides to help them understand the true costs of dealing with genocide.
Length/Format:
Your evacuation plan should be no more than twenty pages in length, 1 inch margins,
double-spaced, Times Roman font. You will use Chicago/Turabian format, citing sources used
in developing your evacuation plan.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Informal
1.
Given the instruction you received in class and using your notes for reference, write an
abstract for the article attached. Remember to review the article for its main themes, lead
with an introductory sentence, and use keywords in the first few sentences that can be
picked up in Internet searches.
2.
Write a letter to Congress persuading them of the need for adequate funding to stop the
genocide in Darfur. Address the political ramifications of dealing with the China issue
and discuss the long-term importance politically, socially, and economically of ending
this genocide.
Formal
1.
You are the Non-Governmental Organization charged with evacuating a subject
population that is the target of genocide in Rwanda. Using general research and
information given during class, draft an evacuation plan for refugees figuring in:
a.
Will you need military support to evacuate the subject population? How many
troops will be needed?
b.
How many people will need to be evacuated? Given this number,
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
2.
how many tents will be needed
how much food and water will be needed to support the population for a
year
what medicines will you need
which countries will provide food, water, medicine, for how long
which countries will provide temporary asylum for the evacuated
population
how much money will the U.N. and NGOs need to give to fund your
evacuation,
factor in emergency supplies in case of attack by rebels or outbreak of
disease
make note of actual events when drafting your plan as to which countries
will give you aid, when and how much
if you fall short of your need, how will you get additional aid, from whom
what will you do with dead bodies and new babies, calculate their needs
into your budget
After World War II, as a practical solution, the term “genocide” was supposed to trigger
international support for populations targeted for genocide. As a practical problem, the
time, costs (both financial and personnel), plus politics associated with intervening in
genocide has caused nations not to define mass killings as genocide, but rather “ethnic
cleansing” to avoid the mandate of United Nations’ Resolution 260 for international
involvement and to save face when they choose not to get involved and allow people to
die.
Research United Nations’ Resolution 260, look at the lack of intervention in genocides
since World War II, and using the language and tactics used by countries to avoid
intervention, draft new language for Resolution 260 so that there is no wiggle room for
countries to avoid intervening in genocides in the future. (5-10 pages, 1 inch margins,
double-spaced, Times Roman font. You will use Chicago/Turabian format, citing
sources used in developing your new Resolution.)