Research Assignments (1 and 2)

The research assignment for the course will be to evaluate the assigned novel, All Quiet on the Western Front in comparison with the experiences of the actual participants in the war found in The Canadian Letters and Images Project.  Overall the objective of the assignment is to examine the intersection of history and literature and to evaluate the historical accuracy of the novel.  The assignment consists of two parts.  The first part is a preliminary research paper which discusses the theme you will examine from the novel and discusses some of the primary sources you will use in the final essay to support your contentions.  This is to be approximately 1,000 words in length.  The second part is the completed research essay which builds on the argument and research that you have done in your first assignment.  The final essay is to be 2,500 words in length.

Assignment 1 (1,000 words)

There are three components to the first assignment. 

1.    Based on your reading of the novel, you need to identify the theme  from the novel that you will use for your basis of comparison between the novel and the CLIP materials.  Possible themes might include aspects of the war experience such as the home front, the battle experience, relationships, living condistions, patriotism, etc.  Discuss how that theme is presented in the novel using specific examples from the novel.    This first step is crucial to the overall success of your final essay and it will require work on your part to determine what theme will work.  You need to choose a theme which has corresponding materials in CLIP.  Unless you have a similar theme in both the novel and the letters for discussion you will not have a basis for comparison for the essay.  Therefore you need to be working both with the novel and the letters at the same time to determine what will work as a theme for discussion.

2.    Discuss three (3) primary sources from The Canadian Letters and Images Project with themes that correspond to that which you have chosen above  that will be used in your comparison of the novel and the soldiers' experiences.  Discuss how each of those primary sources differs or agrees with the theme you have chosen from the novel.

3.    Based on what you have found in The Canadian Letters and Images Project, construct your argument on the intersection of history and literature based on this novel, arguing whether or not Godwin and the novel can be considered an accurate reflection of the WWI experience.  Remember that you do not have to agree that the novel is an accurate historical source.  You can argue it is or it isn't, or you may decide that the novel contains both aspects.  There is no single right or wrong answer and you can argue what you want, as long as you fully substantiate your argument with supporting evidence.

Assignment 2 (2,500 words)

This assignment is the formal essay with correct reference and bibliographic form which builds on the themes and research of the first assignment.  There are a number of minimum research requirements which must be followed for the essay.  For the essay you must use in the writing (ie made reference to in the body of the essay, not simply listed in the bibliography):

• a minimum of 12 primary source from CLIP
• a minimum of 2 scholarly articles
• a minimum of 1 monograph (in addition to the assigned novel.  It cannot include the course text or another novel)

If you are unclear what constitutes a scholarly article, the link on the History 482 homepage will provide examples.

Due Dates:

Assignment 1        Tuesday October 11, 2011

Assignment 2        Tuesday November 22, 2011