History 3030 – US and World War II
Fall 2015
Instructor – Dr. David Castle
Office – 330C Shannon Hall
Eastern Campus
E-mail – castle@ohio.edu
Skype ID – davidbcastle
Cell – 740 312-4692
Nature of an Online Course
This course is being taught completely via the Internet. All course materials and assignments are provided through
the Blackboard site for this course (Blackboard can be accessed through the “front door” to Ohio University). Your
interaction with me will be primarily through e-mail, although we will talk through video conferencing and I will be
available to talk by phone. The course material will be transmitted by assigned readings, watching films, streaming
video mini-lectures, reading material (essays), and discussion board interaction. All of your coursework will be
submitted electronically through Blackboard other than the videoconference.
You may work at your own pace; in the sense that you may work ahead, but there are strict deadlines for the
submission of assigned work. Online courses are notorious for the high number of failing grades and withdrawals
among those who begin such a course. You must be highly motivated and be capable of self-direction in order to
succeed in such a format. Please view mini-lecture one – Introduction for more on this topic.
I will try to answer e-mails and messages promptly. This syllabus contains all of the information needed to take the
course (and must be read carefully), but please e-mail or call me if you have general questions related to the
course material, clarification of historical information, and/or course protocols. I am also available to talk with
through video conference (Skype/FaceTime) should the need arise.
Course Objectives
This course focuses on America's participation in World War II and covers the period 1933-1945. Several topics will
be explored in depth, including: the origins of World War II; America's participation in the war (including both
diplomatic and military events); the tumultuous relationships among the allies during and immediately after the
war; the unique nature of the Pacific War, and the use of the Atomic Bomb to conclude the Pacific War.
The purpose of the course is twofold: (1) to improve your understanding of critical issues related to US
involvement in World War II; and (2) to improve skills of critical analysis and expression through writing
assignments, examinations, conference, and on-line discussion.
Course Expectations and Requirements
All students are expected to utilize their university issued Catmail accounts. Communications sent by the instructor
will be through this e-mail address. You can have your Catmail forwarded to any address you choose, but
Blackboard automatically uses Catmail addresses for course communications. You must check your email messages
frequently. If a time-sensitive message is sent and is not read, the consequences will rest with the student.
Students are required to have working access to the internet and the appropriate technologies to meet the needs
of the course, including the capability to send and receive e-mails; access Blackboard, use Microsoft Word as a
word processor (or have the ability to convert documents to MS Word); and open and/or download and print
course documents from Blackboard, engage in a Skype/FaceTime conference, and open and view streaming videos
and films from Blackboard. If you have questions about the technology required for this course, please contact the
eCampus of Ohio University (http://www.ohio.edu/ecampus/) or Peter Lim (740-699-2355 or lim@ohio.edu) at
Ohio University Eastern. Students must get course materials through Blackboard.
2
The instructor will not accept “technological difficulties” as a valid excuse for missed assignments. Please give
yourself ample time to complete assignments and get them turned in on time. If your Internet access is limited or
unreliable at home, you will be expected to use university computer resources or alternative facilities if necessary.
All written work must be in Microsoft Word format (or .rtf) and submitted in accordance with the protocols
outlined below. All work will be submitted as a document file within Blackboard. You must include your last name
as a part of the name for all document files (e.g. when you “save” word documents, be sure to use your last name
as part of the file name) along with the name of the assignment (e.g.: “jsmith MP ch1”). Any identification of your
submitted assignment within Blackboard should also include the same information (your name and the name of
the assignment). When communicating with the instructor via email, please include in the subject line of all e-mail
communications to the instructor the following information: Hist 3030, your name, and the subject of your
communication (e.g.: Hist 3030 “your name” midterm question).
Students are expected to meet all deadlines for submission of work. Due dates and times are based on Eastern
Daylight Time (EDT). Late submissions will be accepted with penalty. Assigned essay analyses can be turned in one
day late, but with a five point reduction from the graded score. Essay analyses will not be accepted beyond one
day late. Assignments turned in after the deadline of 11:59 PM will be considered a day late. This policy is firm and
there will be no exceptions.
It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that they have successfully submitted their assignment. It is
recommended that you log out of Blackboard and log in again to make sure your paper has been successfully
uploaded/submitted.
Required Reading
The following books are required: Michael J Lyons, World War II: A Short History 5th ed. Pearson Prentice Hall
(9780205660568) and Michael C.C. Adams, The Best War Ever, Johns Hopkins University Press (9780801846977).
Additional required readings will be available electronically. Students are expected to find and purchase texts on
their own. It is possible that some of the regional campus bookstores may have these texts in stock (but do not
count on it). There will be no extensions of due dates on the basis of delayed shipment or inability to obtain books.
Graded Components of Course
There will be one mid-semester exam and a final exam. The mid-quarter exam will be 100 points and will count as
24% of the course grade. The final exam will be 100 points and will count as 26% of the course grade. The two
exams are proctored (instructions are below). Each student will also have an oral conference with the instructor
about the book The Best War Ever by Michael Adams. The conference will be conducted over Skype or Face Time
and will be worth a total of 100 points and will be 15% of the overall course grade. Students will write six essay
analyses based on assigned readings in Major Problems in the History of World War II. The essays will each be
worth 20 points and in aggregate will count as 25% of the course grade. The final 10% of the course grade will be
based on participation in on-line discussion through the course Blackboard site. The amount of reading required
for this course is approximately 1200 pages total. This course strongly emphasizes the assigned readings, and
students will be expected to complete all the assigned readings.
Grading scale is as follows: 93-100% = A; 90-92% = A-; 87-89% = B+; 83-86% = B; 80-82% = B-; 77-79% = C+; 73-76%
= C; 70-72% = C-; 67-69% = D+; 63-66% = D; 60-62% = D-; and 59% below = F. Expectations and grading criteria are
posted on the Blackboard site for this course under “Grading Policy.”
Discussion Board Requirements
Students are expected to participate in discussion about the essays and documents they read in Major Problems in
the History of World War II and other topics posted by the instructor on the Blackboard discussion page. Students
will be evaluated on their active and regular participation, and their interaction with classmates. A passing grade
(75) will require a minimum of twelve posts, one for each chapter of Major Problems, each film and The Best War
Ever. Additional posts beyond twelve will raise the overall discussion grade. Discussion participation will be
3
evaluated at the end of the semester (December 12). Students are expected to be participating regularly.
Discussion topics will close three days after the end of the week in which the topic for a reading/film is assigned.
The last day to make discussion posts on the last few topics will be Friday, December 11. Students are free to voice
their (informed) opinions, but discussion should remain historically based. Students are to be civil when in
disagreement and to refrain from personal attacks and/or intolerant behavior.
Exam Protocols
The mid-semester and final exams are blackboard essay exams that must be proctored. Exams can be taken in
individual locations through arrangements made by following the “Proctor Arrangement” instructions sent to you
by Dorinda Hoyd (740-593-2902 hoyddohio.edu) of the Ohio University eCampus Office (also available in
Blackboard). The exams will be administered through Blackboard. The location for the exam must have browser
lockdown capability or continuous observation capability. It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements
for the proctored exam. If you have questions you should contact Ms. Hoyd. Watch for an email from Ms. Hoyd
with instructions. Arrangements for proctored exams should be made as early as possible (minimum – one week
prior). Exams must be taken by the deadlines outlined below.
All exams are essay format. Study questions for the exams are available on Blackboard. All exam material will be
drawn at random from the study questions, with each individual exam potentially being different.
Essays Analyses
Students will write six essay analyses based on assigned readings from Mark Stoler and Melanie Gustafson’s book
Major Problems in the History of World War II. The assigned chapters, questions to be addressed in each
assignment, and deadlines for submission are listed below. Students are expected to read the all of the primary
documents and essays in each assigned chapter. Each submitted essay analysis must conform to the following
format: Microsoft Word or .rtf document, 1” margins (right, left, top, bottom), times roman or calibri font, size 11,
double-spaced, properly paginated, and a minimum of 1000 words. Formatting and style will be consistent with
the Chicago Manual of Style/Turabian. All sources, direct ideas and quotes from the assigned material must by
cited using footnotes (Chicago Manual of Style/Turabian format). Title pages and bibliographies are NOT required.
Essay analyses must be clearly written and well organized. Your writing style is important. Be sure to proofread and
edit your paper carefully, as misspellings, incorrect punctuation, poor grammar, and incorrect formatting will result
in point deductions. Please review the essay grading rubric on Blackboard.
Essay analyses must be submitted by the specified deadlines. Late submissions will be accepted for one day with a
five point deduction from graded score. Analyses must be written in your own words, do NOT plagiarize from any
source. Analyses will be submitted through turnitin in Blackboard to check for plagiarized content.
The Best War Ever Individual Conference
Students will be required to schedule an individual videoconference with the instructor to discuss the book The
Best War Ever. This conference will serve as an exam over the material contained in the book. Questions will not
be provided ahead of time, but will be general in nature and related to the major themes and ideas of the book.
Details on the logistics of scheduling the conference will be posted on Blackboard. All conferences MUST be
arranged prior to 6:00 pm, Sunday November 8. If a student fails to schedule a conference by the deadline, the
student will forfeit assignment points
Academic Misconduct
The Code of Student Conduct prohibits all forms of academic misconduct: dishonesty in assignments or
examinations (cheating) and presenting the ideas or the writing of someone else as your own (plagiarism). The
policy for academic misconduct in this course will conform to University guidelines as outlined in the Ohio
University Undergraduate Catalog. The penalty for academic misconduct can include failure on a specific
assignment, failure in the course, and/or recommendation for expulsion from the University. Ohio University uses
plagiarism checkers that compares submitted assignments with all other submitted assignments, sources on the
Internet, and assignments submitted at other universities and secondary schools.
4
Topics, Readings, Assignments, and Exams
Week 1 – August 24 to August 30 – Origins of the War
Assignments: read chapters 1-2 of World War II; view mini-lectures 1 (Introduction) and 2 (WW I); read chapter 1
in Major Problems; post comments on Blackboard regarding Major Problems reading assignment.
Written Essay: Major Problems, Chapter 1: “US Entry into World War II”
Issues to address in essay: (1) explain the contrasting theses of Russett and Weinberg; (2) which of these
historians has the better argument and why?
Deadline: Written essay must be turned in by 11:59 PM, Friday August 28
Week 2 – August 31 to September 06 – Rise Of Germany
Assignments: read chapters 3-5 of World War II; view mini-lecture 3 (Rise of Germany); view online film Ultimate
Power: Evil Rising; post comments on Blackboard regarding online film.
Week 3 – September 07 to September 13 – Germany’s March of Conquest
Assignments: read chapters 6-9 of World War II; view mini-lecture 4 (Fall of France); view online film 1936-1941:
Over the Edge; post comments on Blackboard regarding online film.
Week 4 – September 14 to September 20 – The War Becomes Global
Assignments: read chapters 10-12 of World War II; view online film Barbarossa; read chapter 3 in Major Problems;
post comments on Blackboard regarding Major Problems reading assignment and online film.
Written Essay: Major Problems, Chapter 3: “Creating a Global Allied Strategy”
Issues to address in essay: (1) contrast the three views of US strategy and FDR’s strategic leadership by
Baldwin, Stoler, and Greenfield; (2) which of these historians has the better argument?; (3) what do the
documents say about strategic agreement and/or disagreement among the allies?
Deadline: Written essay must be turned in by 11:59 PM, Friday, September 18
Weeks 5 and 6 – September 21 to October 04 – Japan and the US
Assignments: read chapters 9-12 of World War II; view mini-lecture 5 (US and Japan); read chapter 5 in Major
Problems; post comments on Blackboard regarding Major Problems reading assignment.
Written Essay: Major Problems, Chapter 5: “The War Against Japan”
Issues to address in essay: (1) explain the main idea (thesis) of each essay (Spector, Dower, and Schaller);
(2) comment on the documents.
Deadline: Written essay must be turned in by 11:59 PM, THURSDAY, October 01
Week 7 – October 05 to October 11 – Midterm
Assignment: view mini-lecture 6 (midterm)
The proctored midterm exam must be taken by 5:00 PM on Thursday, October 08 – please see instructions in the
syllabus about procedures and protocols
Week 8 – October 12 to October 18 – The Grand Alliance
Assignments: read chapters 13-16 of World War II; view online film Civilians at War; read chapter 4 in Major
Problems; post comments on Blackboard regarding Major Problems reading assignment and online film.
Written Essay: Major Problems, Chapter 4: “The War Against Germany”
Issues to address in essay: (1) explain the main idea (thesis) of Overy and Sherry and in what ways they
disagree; (2) which argument is stronger?; (3) comment specifically on document #3.
Deadline: Written essay must be turned in by 11:59 PM, Friday, October 16
Week 9 – October 19 to October 25 – The Grand Alliance
Assignments: read chapters 17-18 of World War II; view mini-lectures 7a and 7b (US and USSR).
5
Week 10 – October 26 to November 01 – Total War
Assignments: read chapters 19-21 of World War II; view mini-lecture 9 (Yalta); read chapter 10 in Major Problems;
post comments on Blackboard regarding Major Problems reading assignment; schedule and confirm
Skype/FaceTime appointment.
Written Essay: Major Problems, Chapter 10: “Franklin D. Roosevelt and Allied Diplomacy”
Issues to address in essay: (1) what are the main arguments of Marks and Dallek?; (2) how do the
documents inform this debate?; (3) who is right and why?
Deadline: Written essay must be turned in by 11:59 PM, Friday, October 30
Weeks 11-12 – November 02 to November 15 – The Best War Ever
Assignments: read The Best War Ever; post comments on Blackboard regarding The Best War Ever; have
Skype/FaceTime conference with instructor over book.
Deadline: Conferences must be concluded by 6:00 PM, Monday, November 16
Week 13 – November 16 to November 22 – Triumph of the Allies
Assignments: read chapters 22-24 of World War II; view online film Ultimate Power: The Race; view mini-lecture
10 (Japan and the A-bomb); post comments on Blackboard regarding online film.
Week 14 – November 29 to December 06– Defeat of Japan
Assignments: read chapters 25 and “Aftermath” of World War II; read chapter 11 in Major Problems; post
comments on Blackboard regarding Major Problems reading assignment.
Written Essay: Major Problems, Chapter 11: “The Atomic Bomb”
Issues to address in essay: (1) explain the main idea (thesis) of each essay (Alperovitz, Newman,
Bernstein); (2) these three authors have strongly contrasting views – which of them makes the best
argument and why?; (3) how do the documents relate to the debate?
Deadline: Written essay must be turned in by 11:59 PM, Friday, December 04
Finals Week – December 07 to December 11
Final Exam
The proctored Blackboard final exam must be taken by 5:00 PM on Friday, December 11 – please see instructions
in the syllabus about procedures and protocols.
Discussion Grading: Students will be evaluated on discussion participation on Saturday, December 12. The last day
to post is Friday, December 11.