Essay Question Holocaust

Effective from January 2013

Syllabus for HIS353

Holocaust Duration: 4 Weeks | Credit Hours: 3

Course Quick Links: Course Description Course Outcomes Grading

Course Schedule Materials Course Requirements

Instructor Information

A short biography, contact information, office hours, course guidelines, etc. for your instructor may be found in the Instructor Information discussion area in this module.

Course Description Examines the deliberate, systematic and mechanized murder of six million Jews of Europe by Nazi Germany during World War II. Explains anti- Semitism, the Nazi anti-Jewish legislation of the Nuremberg Laws, the plans for the extermination of European Jewry after 1939, the implementation of the Holocaust: victims, perpetrators, and bystanders. Also identifies other examples of genocide, including the Turkish murder of the Armenians, Cambodian genocide of 1975-79, the genocide of Tutsis in Rwanda, and the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia. Analyzes why genocide took place prior to the Holocaust and continued after the Nuremberg Trials and UN Convention of 1948 outlawing genocide. Compares and contrast the rationales, motivations, and methods used to justify and implement mass murder and what the international community did to prevent and punish crimes against humanity.

HIS*102, HIS*121, and/or HIS*341 strongly recommended

This is an 8 - week format. If you have experienced 15 - week formats, you can expect the 8 - week format to be nearly double the workload of a 15 - week format.

Prerequisites:

HIS*102, HIS*121, and/or HIS*341 strongly recommended

Course Outline:

Studying the Holocaust and genocide since the 1890s will enable you to synthesize key elements of European and non-Western history.

Class papers on the Holocaust and genocide will allow you to apply and assess methods of historical inquiry and historiography through research using primary and secondary sources.

Class assignments will allow you to plan, organize, and deliver effective communications that inform and/or persuade. The first class project is intended to give you the opportunity to inform and persuade, while the second project focuses on the skills of planning, organizing, and delivering effective communication by writing a research paper on the Holocaust and comparing it to another example of genocide.

Studying the Holocaust and genocide will provide you with the ability to evaluate the importance of social responsibility and civic engagement and identify ethical problems faced by individuals and communities dealing with governments and groups engaged in ethnic cleansing and genocide.

identify ethical problems faced by individuals and communities dealing with governments and groups engaged in ethnic cleansing and genocide.

Explaining the events of the Holocaust and genocide will allow you to analyze major international problems and articulate those problems and the difficulties in finding solutions to hatred based on race, religion, and ethnicity.

You will have an understanding and appreciation for the complexity of diversity, will demonstrate an understanding of group differences and will explain why some societies, like Nazi Germany or Rwanda, resort to mass murder to deal with those differences.

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Course Outcomes Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of individual and group differences and alliances and explain how they may be influenced by race, gender, sexual orientation, age, class, religion and/or disabilities. General Education Outcome 5.2

2. Synthesize the broad outlines of European and non-Western history. History Program Outcome #1

3. Compare and contrast the Holocaust with other examples of ethnic cleansing and genocide, focusing on the limits of the international community in preventing, stopping, and punishing genocide from the late 19th century to the present.

4. Analyze the development of anti-Semitism and the evolution of political, social and political anti-Semitism in the 20th century.

5. Explain the limits of the international community’s ability and willingness to prevent, stop, and punish genocide from World War I to the present.

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Materials Hilberg, R. (1992). Perpetrators, victims, bystanders: The Jewish catastrophe, 1933-1945. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Dawidowicz, L. S. (1986). War against the Jews: 1933-1945 (10th ed.). New York, NY: Bantam Books.

Levi, P. (1967). Survival in Auschwitz. New York, NY: Collier. or Wiesel, E. (1960). Night. New York, NY: Hill and Wang.

Totten, S. & Parsons, W. S. (Eds.) (2012). Century of genocide: Critical essays and eyewitness accounts (4rd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge. ISBN: 978- 0-415-87192-1

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Course Schedule There is no term schedule for this course.

Weeks start on Mondays at 12:01 AM and end on a Sundays at 11:59PM, ET, US. Unless otherwise noted, all assigned items are due at the end of the module (by 11:59PM, Sunday).

Week Module & Title Reading Assignments Online Discussions

Course Outcomes Related to this Module

Week 1

Module 1: Anti-Semitism, Holocaust, and Genocide in Historical Perspective

War Against the Jews, Chapters 1-2

Century of Genocide, Introduction, Chapters 3- 5

Perpetrators, Chapter 1

Read about Project 1

M1D1: Genocide in Historical Perspective M1D2: Origins of Anti-Semitism M1D3: The Armenians

1

Week 2

Module 2: Jews in Germany and Nazi Nuremberg Laws, 1933-39

War Against the Jews, Chapters 3-5, 9

Century of Genocide, Chapters 6

Perpetrators, Chapter 10

Work on Project 1 Read about Project 2 Submit topic for Project 2

M2D1: Perpetrators and Bystanders M2D2: The Nuremberg Laws and the International Community

3,4

Week 3

Module 3: War, Concentration and Ghettos, 1939-41

War Against the Jews, Chapters 6-8, 10, 14

Complete and submit M3A1: Project 1 Work on Project 2

M3D1: International Community’s Response to Genocide in the 20th Century M3D2: German Racial Ideas Applied to the Disabled and Roma (Gypsies)

1,5

Roma (Gypsies)

Week 4

Module 4: Perpetrators Perpetrators, Chapters 2- 8

Century of Genocide, review Chapter 6

Complete and submit M4A1: Midterm Exam Work on Project 2

M4D1: Role of the German State and Nazi Party in Implementing the Holocaust M4D2: Role of Non-German Perpetrators in the Holocaust

1, 3, 4

Week 5

Module 5: Victims Perpetrators, Chapters 9, 11-17

War Against the Jews, Chapters 11-13, 15-16 Either Night or Survival in Auschwitz

Submit M5A1: Project 2: Bibliography and Outline

M5D1: Primary Documents: Survivors’ Accounts of the Holocaust M5D2: Jewish Response and Fate During the Holocaust

2

Week 6

Module 6: Bystanders Perpetrators, Chapters 18-24

Submit M6A1: Project 2: Draft Abstract Continue working on Project 2

M6D1: Allies and the Holocaust M6D2: Bystanders: Saving or Refusing to Save Jews

5

Week 7

Module 7: Genocide after the Holocaust: Bangladesh, Iraq, Burundi, and Cambodia

Century of Genocide, Chapters 7,9,11 and PDF for Chapter 10

Complete and submit M7A1: Project 2

M7D1: International Community and Genocide in the 1970s and 1980s M7D2: Post World War II Genocide

2, 3, 5

Week 8

Module 8: Genocide in the 1990s and Ethnic Cleansing in the 21st Century

Century of Genocide Chapters 13,14,15

Complete and submit your M8A1: Final Exam

M8D1: Genocide in the 1990s and Ethnic Cleans M8D2: Ethnic Cleansing and Genocide in the Former Yugoslavia

2, 3, 4, 5

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Grading

Excelsior College Grading Policy:

Available Grades: A=90-100% B=80-89% C=70-79% D=60-69%

F=below 60%

Discussion Participation 25%

Project 1 10%

Project 2 25%

Midterm Examination 20%

Final Examination 20%

Rubrics Used In This Course:

Liberal Arts Discussion Board Rubric

Liberal Arts History Writing Rubric

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Course Requirements Course Activities:

Before beginning your course work, be sure to review the Excelsior College Guidelines for Online Interaction (a.k.a. Online Etiquette or "Netiquette"). If you have any questions regarding these guidelines, please feel free to direct them to your instructor.

Discussion Participation - 25% You are required to complete all discussions and learning activities, and you must complete them during the week they are assigned. Weekly discussion participation is required throughout the course. You should plan to review the assigned discussion questions and associated learning activities early each week so that you can begin your work and finish it in a timely manner. If you are having difficulty with the assignments, or in meeting deadlines, you should contact your instructor immediately.

When posting your discussion responses, it is important that you be both honest and respectful of the ideas and comments of your fellow students. You should remember that the discussion postings take place in an open forum. Please refrain from vulgar, racial, or sexist remarks or comments that might be considered offensive.

For additional information on how your work will be graded see the Discussion Board Grading Rubric.

M3A1: Project 1 - 10% Choose one of the following issues and write 750 words (3 pages) on the topic. Please write an introductory paragraph explaining which topic you have chosen and your position.

1. It is 1915, and you are a member of Congress. Write a speech for or against American action to help the Armenians.

2. It is 1937, and you are a member of Congress. Write a speech for or against changing American immigration laws to admit refugees fleeing Germany into the United States.

3. It is 1944, and you are a member of War Department. Write a recommendation to Secretary of War Henry Stimson on whether priority should be given to bombing Auschwitz and other German killing centers.

4. It is 1948, and you are a member of Congress. Write a speech for or against American approval of an international convention to outlaw and punish genocide.

Your essay requires citations, outside sources, and a bibliography (APA or Chicago/Turabian). For help with proper documentation, check out the Citing Sources page in the library.

This assignment is due at the end of Module 3 and will be assessed according to the Liberal Arts History Writing Rubric. It is worth 10% of your overall grade.

Be sure to submit your project in one WORD document and place it in the appropriate assignment dropbox.

M7A1: Project 2 - 25%

Throughout the course, you will be learning not just about the Holocaust, but about other instances of genocide and ethnic cleansing, as well, and the motivations that led to these events. Your paper should demonstrate knowledge of the historical background for anti-Semitism and hatred of other ethnic groups.

Choose an example of genocide or ethnic cleansing from your reading and, in a 6-8 page paper, cover the following points:

Summarize the development of anti-Semitism that led to the Holocaust.

Compare and contrast what happened to the Jews in Europe to your example of genocide or ethnic cleansing in the 20th century.

Using the models from Perpetrators, Victims, Bystanders and/or examining motivations and methods, discuss the limits of the international community in preventing, stopping, and punishing genocide or ethnic cleansing.

Your paper requires citations, outside sources, and a bibliography (APA or Chicago/Turabian).

Use the Excelsior College Library to find outside sources. A great starting place is the Get Started with Your Research page.

In the library, we also have a History Research by Subject page. On this page, search the recommended databases in the Library Research Databases section for outside sources for your paper.

Need help searching the databases? Our Instruction 24/7 page has tip sheets and tutorials for searching databases, evaluating sources, understanding peer reviewed articles, and more.

Visit our Organize My Resources page for free tools to help you keep track of your research and generate bibliographies.

Contact Your Librarians- We can help with search strategies, citing sources, and much more.

Use the Excelsior College Library to find outside sources. A great starting place is the Get Started with Your Research page.

In the library, we also have a History Research by Subject page. On this page, search the recommended databases in the Library Research Databases section for outside sources for your paper.

Need help searching the databases? Our Instruction 24/7 page has tip sheets and tutorials for searching databases, evaluating sources, understanding peer reviewed articles, and more.

Visit our Organize My Resources page for free tools to help you keep track of your research and generate bibliographies.

Contact Your Librarians- We can help with search strategies, citing sources, and much more.

This assignment will be assessed according to the Liberal Arts History Writing Rubric. It is worth 25% of your overall grade, and grading will be broken down as follows:

broken down as follows:

Module 2 – Submit your topic by course email for instructor approval.

Module 5 – Bibliography and Outline due and are worth 5% of your final grade.

Module 6 – Abstract due and is worth 5% of your final grade.

Module 7 – Final project is due and is worth 15% of your final grade.

Be sure to submit your project in one WORD document in APA or Chicago/Turabian format and place it in the appropriate assignment dropbox.

M4A1: Midterm Examination - 20% There will be five (5) essay questions on the Midterm Essay Exam; all five (5) essays must be answered. Your answers should be 1-2 pages (250-500 words) in length.

This examination will be available for you to take beginning 12:00 AM EST on the Wednesday morning of Module 4 and will close promptly the following Sunday evening at 11:55 PM EST. You should properly cite all your sources using Chicago/Turabian or APA style, including textbooks and any other outside sources you may use. It is suggested you write or print out the essay questions for handy reference as you develop your responses. Be sure to submit your exam in one Word document and place it in the appropriate assignment drop box.

The Midterm Essay Examination is due by the end of Module 4 and is worth 20% of your final course grade.

For additional information on how your work will be graded, see the Liberal Arts History Writing Rubric.

M8A1: Final Examination - 20% There will be five (5) essay questions, from the content covered during the second half of the course, on the Final Essay Exam; all five (5) essays must be answered. Your answers should be 1-2 pages (250-500 words) in length.

This examination will be available for you to take beginning 12:00 AM EST on the Wednesday morning of Module 8 and will close promptly the following Sunday evening at 11:55 PM EST. You should properly cite all your sources using Chicago/Turabian or APA style, including textbooks and any other sources you may use. Also, unlike the requirements for the Midterm Exam, you are required to use at least one primary source for each response (in addition to any secondary sources that may be used) on the Final Exam. Moreover, it is suggested you write or print out the essay questions for handy reference as you develop your responses. Be sure to submit your exam in one Word document and place it in the appropriate assignment drop box.

The Final Essay Examination is due by the end of Module 8 and is worth 20% of your final course grade.

For additional information on how your work will be graded, see the Liberal Arts History Writing Rubric.

By registering for a web-based course, you have made a commitment to participate regularly with your instructor and other students in online discussions. You will be expected to use online course tools (Discussions and Chat rooms) to interact with your peers and work collaboratively to improve your understanding of underlying course ideas and issues.

To lessen the risk of losing your work, do not write major discussions directly into a discussion posting. Instead, compose and check your work in other software (such as Microsoft Word) and then use the Create Message button and copy and paste your text into the new posting.

FORMATTING AND STYLE FOR WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:

Unless noted in the Syllabus, Excelsior College requires that all papers, projects, charts, etc. be submitted using the APA writing style.

COURSE ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION:

Course attendance and weekly course participation are required. Please see the policy on Excessive Absenteeism for more details.

Instructor Participation

Your instructor will:

post a welcome message during the first 24 hours of the course.

schedule real time office hours through the chat room and/or by individual appointment.

will communicate with you through the Blackboard communication tools, including internal course messaging.

respond to your communications within two business days and will participate substantively in the discussions at least 3 times a week in 15-week courses, or 4 times a week in 8-week courses.

provide you with formative feedback midway through the course based on work submitted to that point.

grade all formative assignments within 7 business days in 15-week courses and 4 business days in 8-week courses, and will grade final summative work within 5 business days after the end of the term.

POLICIES

You are responsible for being familiar with all the policies that are related to your activity in this course. Complete information on Excelsior College policies can be found in the Course Information area or by visiting www.excelsior.edu/policies.

ACADEMIC UNIT POLICIES

Effective July 2013 Term:

School of Liberal Arts Late Policy:

School of Liberal Arts Late Policy:

No exams or quizzes will be accepted after the due date.

Discussion posts must be completed within the module where they appear. Late discussion posts will not receive credit. Instructors may impose additional due dates for initial posts or responses and assess late penalties accordingly.

All graded assignments (e.g., projects, papers, homework, lab reports) submitted after the designated due date/time will be assessed a late penalty of five percent per day for the first 5 days (for example, -5 points each day on a 100 point assignment, or -2.5 points each day on a 50 point assignment). Any assignment submitted after the fifth day will receive a grade of zero.

No work will be accepted after the final day of the term unless an official course extension has been granted.

Situations involving extenuating circumstances will be considered at the discretion of the instructor.

Effective March-May 2013 Terms:

School of Liberal Arts Late Policy:

All graded assignments submitted after the designated due date/time will be assessed a late penalty of five percent per day for the first 5 days (for example, -5 points each day on a 100 point assignment, or -2.5 points each day on a 50 point assignment). Any assignment submitted after the fifth day will receive a grade of zero. Assessments (multiple choice format quizzes and exams) will not be accepted after the due date. No work will be accepted after the final day of the term unless an official course extension has been granted. Situations involving extenuating circumstances will be considered at the discretion of the instructor.

Turnitin.com:

Excelsior College subscribes to Turnitin.com, the world's largest plagiarism-detection service, and reserves the right to check all student work to verify that it meets the guidelines of this policy.

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