HIST 1007: The Second World War
Research Essay Topics
1.
Discuss the British and French decision to follow a policy of Appeasement in
Europe. What motived this policy? Do you agree with the decision? Why or why
not?
Required Reading:
2.
Discuss the Allied policy of Area Bombing in the ETO and PTO. What motives
were behind its use? Do you agree with the decision? Why or why not?
Required Reading:
3.
Kenneth P. Werrell, “The Strategic Bombing of Germany
in World War II: Costs and Accomplishments”, The
Journal of American History, Vol. 73, No.3, 1986, pp.702713.
Discuss the characterization of Second World War as a ‘race war’. In what ways
did notions of ‘race’ shape the conflict and vice versa. Compare and contrast
notions of race and its impact in the PTO and the ETO.
Required Reading:
4.
Michael Roi, “Introduction: Appeasement: Rethinking the
Policy and the Policy-Makers”, Diplomacy & Statecraft,
Vol. 19, No. 3, 2008, pp.1-13.
Craig M. Cameron, “Race and Identity: The Culture of
Combat in the Pacific War", The International History
Review, Vol. 27, No. 3, 2005, pp.550-566.
Discuss the nature, process and outcomes of Allied war crimes proceedings. By
comparing and contrasting the ETO and the PTO, what motives shaped
prosecution and punishment? Were specific goals achieved? Why or why not?
Required Reading:
J. H. Hoffman, “German Field Marshals as War Criminals?
A British Embarrassment”, Journal of Contemporary
History, Vol. 23, No. 1, 1988), pp.17-35.
Getting started on your assignment
You have two linked writing assignments in this class. The first (due the week of 19 Oct.)
asks you to come up with a draft argument and a bibliography on a specific historical
question (topics are supplied above; you must choose one of these topics). This will act as
a starting point and outline for the more detailed research essay (due the week of 09
November).
Here is a step-by-step guide to completing the first assignment:
Step 1: Pick one of the topics that appeals to you.
Don’t dither – pick a topic and get to work on it!
Step 2: Familiarize yourself with some of the literature on the topic.
Start by reading the required reading for that topic. This will give you a basic
overview of how some leading historians discuss it, and will reveal some of the
basic debates that historians have had about it. In other words, it will give you
some context.
Step 3: Check the Zeiler textbook (Annihilation)
To get some more detail on your topic (and to broaden your perspective on it)
have a look at what Zeiler says about it in his book. Use the “Table of Contents”
and the “Index” to find out where he discusses your topic.
Step 4: Write a draft of your argument
Now that you have some familiarity with your topic you can start to think about
what sort of argument you can make about the topic
Step 5: Look up some scholarly articles and books on your topic
Start by looking in the library on-line catalogue for books that deal with your
topic. Some of the books will be available for loan, while others will be e-books
that you can consult online. Next, move on to journal articles to search for articles
that are relevant to your topic.
N.B. – If you do not know how to use the library catalogue or search for
scholarly journal articles, go to the Library TODAY and ask for help at the
Reception Desk. The professional staff at the library will be only to happy to
help you get started. Before you know it, you will access to an incredible
array of resources right at your fingertips.
Step 6: Produce your bibliography
Your bibliography is a list of books that (in this case) you plan to consult for
preparing the second assignment. You need not have read all of the sources that
you list, but you should have at least skimmed each one carefully to see that it is
relevant to your topic.