WWII Persuasive Essay Research

World War II Persuasive Essay Research Assignment

Common Task:

Research a social or historical issue related to a change initiated by World War II. Take a stand on the issue and outline your reasons. Write an essay persuading the reader to agree with your position on the issue.

Students will be able to...

• Write a thesis statement stating their position on an issue

• Determine key words which would be helpful in their research

• Locate and evaluate resources for investigation of their issues

• Examine text features as an aid in comprehension

• Identify useful information from print or electronic articles

• Take notes by paraphrasing and directly quoting

• Cite sources to avoid plagiarism

Assessed Indicators

• Apply comprehension skills by selecting, reading, and interpreting a variety of print and electronic informational texts.

• Analyze text features to facilitate understanding of informational texts.

• Apply knowledge of organizational patterns of informational text to facilitate understanding.

• Use the writing process to compose effective expressive, informational and persuasive writing.

AGOPP Research Process

• A- ask questions

• G- gather information

• O- organize information (Use the appropriate graphic organizers to take notes)

• P- prepare information (Write a first draft, re-read, revise, edit. Then write your final draft)

• P- present information (Present your paper to you teacher.You will be graded using the 1940's Persuasive Essay rubric.)

Should women in the military be allowed to engage in combat?

• Women in Combat: Why Not?  

• They Shoot Women Don't They?

• Women's Combat Role on Front Burner

• Report Leans toward Women in Combat

• A Women's Place Is Not On Combat

• Panel Votes to Ban Women from Combat

Should the media have a responsiblity to inform the public about all aspects of war?

• Online Lessons: War and the Media Press Freedom vs. Military Censorship 

• Censorship  

• How has the Onset of War Coincided with Limitations on Press Freedom Throughout Our Nation's History?

• War and the Media: A Resource Unit

• Reporters Without Borders: War in Iraq

• Reporting American at War

• Reporting American at War: Walter Cronkite

• Edward Roscoe Murrow

Should the U.S. have used the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

• Hiroshima: Was it Necessary?

• Hiroshima: A Survivor's Story

• Pro and Con on Dropping the Bomb

• The Atomic Option

• Hiroshima: Who Disagreed with the Atomic Bomb

• Truman Presidential Library: The Decision to Drop the Bomb

• Harry S. Truman Diary, July 25th, 1945

• The First Atomic Blast--1945

• Documents on the Decision to Use the Bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Should the Enola Gay be diplayed in the new Air and Space Museum?

• Enola Gay

• The New Enola Gay Controvery: Historians Protest the Latest Smithsonian Exhibit  

• The Enola Gay Controvery: Pro and Con

• New Air and Space Annex Lifts Off

Should Japanese-Americans have been sent to internment camps during World War II?

• Japanese Relocation During World War II: U.S. National Archives

• Children of the Camps: Internment History

• Internment History--Historical Documents: Executive Order 9066

• Japanese Americans and the U.S. Constitution

• Instructions to all people of Japanese Ancestry  

• Ansel Adam's Photographs of Manzanar

Should the military enforce a draft during wartime?

• Background of Selective Service

•  Selective Service Background Information  

• World War II 4th Draft Registration

• Wikipedia Encyclopedia: Conscription

• Debate:  Military Draft

Should the holocaust be taught in school?

• Why teach about the holocaust?

• Guidelines for Teaching about the holocaust

• On-line Resources

• Noodletools  

• Issues & Controversies