CHC 2D1
World War I
You are to pretend that you are a Canadian soldier* fighting in the trenches on
the western Front during WWI. Your assignment is to write a letter home and
assume that it has somehow passed censorship. (*you could also assume the
role of a nurse) The letter should use facts to help create a vivid image of
what the war experience was like. It should also aim to illustrate the effects
of new technology on the way war was fought. Finally, it should have a
personal feel, reflective of a letter written during wartime.
Here is a breakdown of what should be done to successfully complete this assignment:
KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING:
The fact base of your letter must include the following:
 A minimum of 15 solid facts of your choice including details on the following:
 Details on one of the four major Canadian battles of WWI
 One new type of weaponry
 Key person (e.g. name of a commander, war hero, etc)
 Comments on the diet of a Soldier
 Conditions in the trenches - mud, lice, rats, dead bodies, etc.
* be sure that your factual data is appropriate and accurate for the date that you choose to write on
THINKING & INQUIRY:
The letter must also include:
 What you thought of the war
 A description of your feelings and emotions based on your “experiences”
 An explanation of how new technology has effected your life
COMMUNICATION:
 The letter should be written using proper paragraphs
 Aim to move towards a more sophisticated vocabulary & use of complex sentence structure
 Be sure to proofread carefully for spelling and grammatical errors
APPLICATION:
 Your work should be written in a letter style (which would include elements like a date, who the
letter is written to and signature at the end)
 At least five words from the list that soldier’s used at the time
 Aim to incorporate the facts you have selected smoothly into your letter so that they do not
sound too forced
 Try to give your letter a personal feel
PROCESS:
1. Be sure you have read this entire sheet carefully.
2. Use your class notes, handouts provided, scrapbooks, your texts and reputable internet sites to
gather data to assist you in completing this assignment. Start by making rough notes on the
information you will need to create your letter. Remember to aim to include specific details and
examples in your note taking.
3. Once note taking is complete, start your rough draft. Proofread, revise and polish (use the
checklist)
4. Highlight all facts on your rough draft to ensure you have covered the required elements. Next,
in another colour, highlight the parts of your letter where you have described your feelings on
war, your emotions and the effect of technology on your fighting experience.
Marshall McLuhan - Canadian & World Studies
CHC 2D1
World War I
5. Have a friend in class proofread the letter and give suggestions for improvement (use the
second checklist)
6. Finally, complete your good copy.
7. Hand in your research notes, the checklists, a rough copy with highlighting and a good copy of
the letter to your teacher.
Here are a couple of website that may be useful:
 www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/
 http://www.archives.ca/05/0518_e.html
 http://www.canadianletters.ca/collections.php?warid=3
List of Words used During World War I
What it means now
A friend is a
Friendship is
A horse is
The enemy is
Danger is
To conquer is to
To attack is to
To be brave is
Bravery considered after the fact is
The dead on the battlefield are
To be nobly enthusiastic is to be
The front is
Obedient soldiers are
Warfare is
Actions are
To die is to
To show cowardice is to
The draft notice is
To enlist is to
Cowardice results in
Not to complain is to be
To move quickly is to be
Nothing is
Nothing but is
To win is to
One’s chest is one’s
Sleep is
The objective of an attack is
A soldier is a
One’s death is one’s
The sky is
Things that glow or shine are
The army as a whole is
What is contemptible is
The legs and arms of young men are
Dead bodies constitute
The blood of young men is
Marshall McLuhan - Canadian & World Studies
What it meant then
Comrade
Comradeship or fellowship
Steed or charger
The foe, the host, the Hun, or Fritz
Peril
Vanquish
Assail
Plucky, staunch, gallant
Valour
The fallen
Ardent
The field
The brave
Strife
Deeds
Perish
Swerve
The summons
Join the colours
Dishonour
Manly
Swift
Naught
Naught, save
Conquer
Breast
Slumber
The goal
Warrior
Fate
The heavens
Radiant
The legion
Base
Limbs
Ashes or dust
The red-sweet wine of youth
CHC 2D1
World War I
Criteria for evaluation:










Thoroughly discusses one battle in detail and facts were accurate.
Battle is woven in as part of a flowing story
Trench life was explained accurately and in immense detail.
A soldier’s diet was perfectly described, wow! Did they have to eat that stuff?
All required vocabulary and language words were used as part of a flowing story and in the
proper context.
Complete mastery of structuring and communication
Only one or two spelling and grammatical errors and they do not have or make an impact on the
expression of ideas and content.
Tremendous, this letter belongs in the Canadian War Museum. Is this real?
Fantastic and innovative ideas. Very creative and interesting.
Met and went beyond all expectations for this assignment.
Criteria for evaluation:










Thoroughly discusses one battle in detail and facts were accurate.
Battle is woven in as part of a flowing story
Trench life was explained accurately and in immense detail.
A soldier’s diet was perfectly described, wow! Did they have to eat that stuff?
All required vocabulary and language words were used as part of a flowing story and in the
proper context.
Complete mastery of structuring and communication
Only one or two spelling and grammatical errors and they do not have or make an impact on the
expression of ideas and content.
Tremendous, this letter belongs in the Canadian War Museum. Is this real?
Fantastic and innovative ideas. Very creative and interesting.
Met and went beyond all expectations for this assignment.
Criteria for evaluation:










Thoroughly discusses one battle in detail and facts were accurate.
Battle is woven in as part of a flowing story
Trench life was explained accurately and in immense detail.
A soldier’s diet was perfectly described, wow! Did they have to eat that stuff?
All required vocabulary and language words were used as part of a flowing story and in the
proper context.
Complete mastery of structuring and communication
Only one or two spelling and grammatical errors and they do not have or make an impact on the
expression of ideas and content.
Tremendous, this letter belongs in the Canadian War Museum. Is this real?
Fantastic and innovative ideas. Very creative and interesting.
Met and went beyond all expectations for this assignment.
Marshall McLuhan - Canadian & World Studies
CHC 2D1
World War I
Assessment & Evaluation
Level 4
80-100%
Historical
Details
(K/U)


Facts selected are
accurate, highly relevant
and selected from an
excellent variety of
sources
Level 3
70-79%

Facts selected are
accurate, relevant and
selected from a good
variety of sources

Facts selected and
content of letter contain
detail that helps to
create a good picture of
a WWI experience
Facts selected and
content of letter are rich
in powerful detail, thus
creating a vivid picture
of a WWI experience
Level2
60-69%


Evidence of some
attempt to select
accurate, relevant
historical details from a
variety of sources
Facts selected and
content of letter contain
some detail that helps to
create a picture of a
WWI experience
Level1
59% & below

More attention to selection
of accurate, relevant &
significant facts needed

Additional sources need to
be used

Facts selected and content
of letter do not really
create a picture of a WWI
experience/creates a
limited picture of a WWI
experience
War
Experience
(T/I)

Highly effective
explanations are
included

Considerably effective
explanations are
included

Moderately effective
explanations are
included

Explanations are not
effective
Style
(Comm)

Spelling & grammar
error free

Very few errors with
spelling & grammar

Moderate editing for
spelling & grammar
required

Spelling & grammar
require considerable
editing

Sophisticated
vocabulary and complex
sentence structure used
consistently

Sophisticated
vocabulary & complex
sentence structure used
most of the time

Evidence of some
attempt at using
sophisticated
vocabulary & complex
sentence structure

Simple vocabulary &
sentence structure used

Letter is highly reflective
of task and time period
studied

Letter reflects task and
time period studied to a
considerable degree

Letter is somewhat
reflective of task and
time period

Letter reflects task and
time period studied to a
limited degree

Facts have been
incorporated smoothly
into writing

Facts have been
incorporated into writing
in a fairly smooth
manner

Facts are present but
need to be more
smoothly integrated into
letter

Much more attention to
smoothly incorporating
facts into your letter
necessary

At least 5 vocabulary
words have been
incorporated

3-4 vocabulary words
have been incorporated

1-2 vocabulary words
have been incorporated

Vocabulary words have
not been incorporated
Quality of
Finished
Product
(App)
Marshall McLuhan - Canadian & World Studies