Socials studies

Unit Final Essay Holocaust and Human Behaviour

Unit Essential Question: What does learning about the choices people made during the Weimar Republic, the Nazi regime and the Holocaust teach us about the power and impact of our choices today?

The goal of our unit is to learn about the power and impact of the choices made during this history in order to teach us about the power and impact of our choices today.

Essay Criteria

A. Structure

Introduction and Thesis ❏ Introduce the topic and purpose of the essay ❏ Present a clear and concise thesis--a 1-2 sentence statement addressing your response to the

essay question. What are 3 most significant lessons learned that teach you the power and impact of our choices today? Organize them into themes. ❏ What happens when we don’t stand up for democracy? Your rights and freedoms? Each

other? ❏ What happens when people narrow their obligation toward others? ❏ What happens when we ignore our social responsibilities? ❏ What happens when we let others define our identities for us?

Body Paragraphs (3 in total, 1 paragraph for each lesson in your thesis) ❏ A clear topic sentence -- includes a point (in our case, a lesson learned) you are making directly

connected to your thesis. ❏ Evidence -- provide relevant and specific evidence of the choices that were made, and the

consequences of those choices (first 2 columns) ❏ Provide more than one piece of evidence per point. A variety (no more than 3) from

across the four research stages shows a stronger argument for your point. ❏ Use criteria (concepts of human behaviour) we have learned to assess the choices

and their consequences (identity, stereotypes, universe of obligation, us vs them dynamic, pressures of conformity).

❏ Explanation -- Column 3! You will notice that there will be overlap and patterns in Column 3 across the four stages of your research. Treat these as conclusions to your point. Fully explain how the choices and consequences made in the past teach you about the power and impact of our choices today with reference to major themes.

Conclusion ❏ Summarize the explanations (what did these lessons teach you about the power and impact of our

choices today?) presented in the three body paragraphs, and concluding thoughts such as what this found knowledge will mean to you or can do for you in your life.

B. Formatting

❏ Title Page (Title, Name, Course, Block). See example for proper formatting. ❏ Minimum of 1700 words. Maximum of 2400. ❏ Paragraphs are indented, size 12 font, 1.5 line spacing. ❏ In-text citations. See example for proper formatting.

❏ Either directly reference the source’s title followed by a direct quote from the source, or cite the source’s title at the end of the direct quote.

❏ Works Cited Page at the end of the essay. See example for proper formatting. I am not asking you to do outside research. Any sources you use from class/Google Classroom should be used as your supporting details for your evidence. For your Works Cited page, provide the Titles of the sources in quotations that you used in your essay in alphabetical order. If there isn’t a title (for example, an image), create one.

Title Page Formatting

The Holocaust, and the Power and Impact of Our Choices

Jacob Bower

Social Studies 11 Block A

Works Cited Page Formatting

Works Cited

“A Matter of Obedience”

“Bystanders in Hartheim Castle”

“Difficult Choices in Poland”

“Hyperinflation Statistics”

“Public Humiliation”

“Who Chose the Nazi Party”

In-text Citation Example

Direct reference of the title followed by quote:

In “Allegory of the Cave,” Plato says, “He [human/prisoner] would be a wit's end and in addition would

consider that what he previously saw [with his own eyes] was more unhidden than what was now being

shown [to him by someone else].”

Direct quote followed by Title in parenthesis:

This is shown when Plato says, “He [human/prisoner] would be a wit's end and in addition would

consider that what he previously saw [with his own eyes] was more unhidden than what was now being

shown [to him by someone else]” (“Allegory of the Cave”).

Incomplete Developing Meeting Exceeding

Ethical Dimension

Uses Criteria - Concepts of

human behaviour (identity, stereotypes, universe of obligation, us vs them dynamic, pressures of conformity).

Student has not used criteria to draw conclusions from the choices made in the past to teach them about the power and impact of choices today. Conclusions are not explained, appropriate, based on relevant themes nor addresses the essay question.

Student uses some criteria to draw conclusions from the choices made in the past to teach them about the power and impact of choices today. Conclusions are somewhat explained, reasonable, based on relevant themes, and addresses the essay question.

Student uses most criteria to draw conclusions from the choices made in the past to teach them about the power and impact of choices today. Conclusions are explained, reasonable, based on relevant themes, and mostly addresses the essay question.

Student uses criteria to draw conclusions from the choices made in the past to teach them about the power and impact of choices today. Conclusions are articulate, insightful, based on relevant themes, and specific to the essay question.

Essay Criteria

A. Structure B. Formatting

Student has not applied any of the necessary criteria and there are major errors throughout the essay. The essay has been entirely compromised.

Student has applied some of the necessary criteria with some major errors which has compromised the essay to some degree.

Student has applied all the necessary criteria with some minor errors without compromising the essay.

Student has successfully applied all the necessary essay criteria without errors in a masterful way.

Written Clarity Student’s essay contains many clarity issues. Their points, supporting details and explanations contain glaring spelling and grammar errors, and gaps that completely take away from the flow and train of thought of the essay.

Student’s essay contains some clarity issues. Their points, supporting details and explanations contain spelling and grammar errors, and gaps that, at times, take away from the flow and train of thought of the essay.

Student’s essay is mostly clear and concise. Their points, supporting details and explanations contains some minor spelling and grammar errors but overall the essay is clear.

Student’s essay is written clearly and concisely. All points are articulated, supported with evidence, and fully explained without errors, gaps or confusing language.