HIST 106 Extra-Credit
Spring 2009
A maximum of 20 points will be available to all students. These can be submitted at any time
during the semester. Check the Course Calendar for final due dates. Follow the guidelines
for each presentation. Note point values. You can “mix and match” types of extra credit, but no
student will be able to earn more than a maximum of 20 points.
Movie Evaluations:
Guidelines: These guidelines must be followed in order to receive credit for the assignment.
1. Point value – 5 points maximum for each.
2. Summarize the key points of the film using specific examples from the movie. Do not copy
from any film review.
3. How did the film help you understand the topic, period of time, event that was featured?
Explain. If you can compare the film with the real event or person, do so, providing the
references that you used.
4. What viewpoint did the film take—was it sympathetic to its subjects, hostile, what bias?
5. You may make a brief presentation to the class instead of writing a summary. For the Oral
Presentation: Schedule a presentation with me. Summarize the film briefly, then explain to
your classmates: What are the things in the film that you would most like to mention (you
can always bring a film or an example of what you chose and show some of it—perhaps 5
min. at most)
6. Cite all sources that you use, write in your own words, and be thorough by providing specific
examples to support your statements.
Suggested Films: Some of these films are current, or available at the Brookdale library, Netflix, or
video store. You can use others as long as you get my approval (no Ben Affleck’s Pearl Harbor—it
really stunk, historically speaking!)
Commercial Films
Slumdog Millionaire – heartfelt story about young people from the slums in Mumbai.
Defiance – based on a true story of resistance during the Holocaust.
The Lives of Others – gripping story set during the Cold War in East Germany.
Valkyrie – based on an attempt to assassinate Hitler.
Babel – 4 stories from different parts of the world about loss and miscommunication.
Letters from Iwo Jima – look for local listings, Japanese view of battle during WWII.
Blood Diamond – story about how diamonds fueled the conflicts in several African countries.
The Last King of Scotland – story about Edi Amin, former dictator in Uganda.
Swing Kids - story of young people during the Nazi period.
Europa, Europa - (foreign film)-true story of a boy caught up in WWII between Nazi and Communist.
The Downfall – film on the last days of Hitler.
Life is Beautiful – film on the Holocaust in Italy.
Tora, Tora, Tora – film about Pearl Harbor (much more realistic than the one w/ Ben Affleck)
Empire of the Sun – film about the Japanese during WWII
Hotel Rwanda – 1994 personal account of the genocide there.
Goodbye Lenin – nostalgia for communist East Germany (will be shown at school—look for date)
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Munich – on the aftermath of the Munich Olympics of 1972-currently playing
City of God – set in a Brazilian favela – widely available in video, DVD
Sometimes in April – 1994 Rwandan massacre through the eyes of two brothers – video/DVD
Cry Freedom! – story of African journalist, Biko – video/DVD
Enemy at the Gates – Russian sharpshooter during WWII.
Nowhere in Africa – based on true account of Jews escaping WWII Germany in Africa – video/DVD
Che – story of the revolutionary leader. video/DVD
Gandhi – Indian independence leader – video/DVD
Lumumba – two months during his leadership of the Congo – video/DVD
One Day in September-documentary on Munich Olympics – video/DVD
Missing – true story set in South America – video/DVD
The Killing Fields – true story of Cambodian genocide – video/DVD
Charlie Wilson’s War – commercial/current film
Persepolis – based on the personal memoir of a young Iranian woman – commercial
Documentaries (Either find in our library—check the card catalogue as some of these may have been
transferred to DVD or housed at the Holocaust Center)
Hitler: Portrait of a Tyrant VT2218
Hiroshima VT4265
Oil and WWII (see Karen Sieben, Learning Assistant, MAN 127)
Confessions of a Hitler Youth VT4120
9. Master race, 1933 D42 .P46 1998 Vol. 9 (1933) People's century
10. Total war, 1939 D42 .P46 1998 Vol. 10 (1939) People's century
11. Brave new world, 1945 D42 .P46 1998 Vol. 11 (1945) People's century
14. Fallout D42 .P46 1998 Vol. 14 (1945) People's century
If you would like to use music, posters, cartoons, documentary film, or art, see this website:
Hollywood at War see site for film clips of propaganda, music, cartoons, and films:
URL: http://www.teacheroz.com/WWIIpropaganda.htm
Campus Presentations: There will be various presentations sponsored by the International Center,
WWII Center, Holocaust Center, and OBCD that will be available. Listen for announcements in
class, and check the Happenings and other campus communications.
Guidelines: Be sure to follow the guidelines in order to get credit.
1. Point value – 5 points maximum for each.
2. Summarize the key points of the presentation using specific examples. It’s always a good
idea to take notes during the talk and collect any handouts available. You could pretend that
you’re a journalist writing an account for a local newspaper, or someone in attendance that is
writing a letter to the editor, or making a recommendation to a fellow student—how would
this change your account or review?
3. How did the presentation help you understand the topic, period of time, event that was
featured? Explain with examples.
4. Did the speaker appear to have a bias, a certain point of view? Explain.
5. Cite all sources that you use, write in your own words, and be thorough by providing specific
examples to support your statements. Be sure to identify the speaker, time, and other
important information.
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Current Events Moderator:
1. Choose one of the current events questions the class chose to discuss and speak on take
responsibility for leading the discussion on that day.
2. Check the references below for background.
3. You can also bring in a video clip (approx. 5 min. in length) from a commercial film,
relevant YouTube or other video segment to show in class. Let me know before the class and
I’ll make time for it. Be sure the clip is relevant to the topic we’re discussing. You’ll
introduce, explain why you chose the clip, how it relates to the topic discussed. (5 pts. max)
YouTube University Presentations: 5 points each. 5-10 minutes. Find a video
presentation that relates to a topic we’re studying. Arrange with me prior to the class to show
the video and lead a discussion on the information presented.
Additional RGH Summaries:
1. You can submit additional RGH summaries, following the format found on the Course
Calendar on p. 5, up to a total of 20 points max. (that is, submitting a total of 4 additional
RGH summaries).
2. Be sure to follow the format in the Course Calendar or points will be deducted.
3. The RGH summaries must be handed in for extra credit at the time we are discussing the
topic. In other words, you cannot go back to a topic we’ve already studied and hand in RGH
summaries long after the fact.
Suggested Resources and References
These are suggested and will get your started, but you are not limited to these.
New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/ (good for all regions and background)
National Public Radio: http://www.npr.org/
International Herald Tribune: http://www.iht.com/ (good for Europe)
News and Newspapers online: http://library.uncg.edu/news/ (Bankier Library database for all
regions, good for English and all language newspapers from the region)
Electronic Resources at Brookdale: http://www.brookdalecc.edu/library/elecresources.php
(you need your BCC ID, but there are several good sites for background information—
look under Countries, for example)
Google Earth: http://earth.google.com/ (you have to download the program, but it’s really cool!)
world-newspapers online: http://www.world-newspapers.com/ (another Bankier source-all
regions)
World Press Review: http://www.worldpress.org/ (newspapers from around the world, with
articles translated into English and with bias of the paper cited)
Websites or News broadcasts from Commercial and Cable News Programs-(npr.org; pbs.com)
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