World History (HST 106D)

Essay #2

Write a 3-4 page essay that responds to ONE of the questions below. The essay must be typed, double-spaced, with one-inch margins and 11 or 12 point font. Please number and staple the pages before submitting it on the due date. You will only need the materials that we have examined in class to write this essay. You should not do additional research.

Primary Source readings:

Henry S. Clapham, “Mud and Khaki, Memoirs of an Incomplete Soldier”

“Comments of the German Delegation to the Paris Peace Conference on the Conditions of Peace, October 1919”

Rudolf Höss, “Memoirs”

Henry L. Stimson, “The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb”

Iwao Nakamura and Atsuko Tsujioka, “Recollections”

George Kennan, “The Long Telegram”

Nikolai Novikov, “Telegram, September 27, 1946”

Le Ly Hayslip, Prologue from When Heaven and Earth Changed Places

Write an essay that responds to ONE of the following questions:

1) Write an essay that examines the nature and consequences of “total war” using evidence from a minimum of THREE primary sources listed above. Be sure to define “total war” and explain how each reading helps us understand the meaning of this concept. Also, do not forget to identify the historical context (time period, setting) and point of view of each reading. Has the nature and/or have the consequences of total war changed over time? Explain.

2) Write an essay that discusses the origins of the Cold War using evidence from the Kennan and Novikov telegrams. Be sure to identify Kennan and Novikov. What are their evaluations of the goals, policies, strengths and weaknesses of the Soviet Union and United States? How does Novikov’s analysis compare with Kennan’s? What does each feel must be done? What do these two telegrams reveal about the origins of the Cold War?

This essay will be due at the beginning of class on Monday, May 23. Late papers will not be accepted without a penalty. Please see syllabus for a description of the late policy.

Guidelines for writing a good essay:

- THINK before you start writing. Make an outline and organize your thoughts and ideas before you begin the writing process.

- Be sure that your essay has an introduction and a conclusion.

- You must use the Chicago/Turabian citation style for footnotes or endnotes. For an online guide, see http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/DocChicago.html

- Do not use the first person “I”.

- Use evidence from the assigned materials to support your analysis. Give examples from the text when necessary (and cite these examples.)

- Information alone will get you nowhere.

- Poor grammar will weaken the presentation of your arguments and influence your grade.

- Take advantage of the Campus Writing Center (located in the Academic Programs and Support Center in room 401), which offers individual consultations on writing projects.