WORLD WAR I PROJECT

World War I started in 1914 between the Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire and the Alliance of France, Great Britain, and Russia. At the start of the war, many young Europeans were enthusiastic about the chance to gain power for their country and glory for themselves. When they reached the front, the soldiers discovered that the war was different from previous wars. New weapons and the use of trench warfare ended any chance for “glory” and the war bogged down into a long stalemate (that means no one was winning and no one was losing for those of you who need a reminder).

All Quiet on the Western Front is a novel by Erich Remarque that follows a German soldier named Paul Baumer. The novel shows what it was like to be a front-line soldier in World War I: the boredom of trench life, the cold rationality soldiers used to survive, the horror of high-tech weapons, and the high numbers of casualties. For this project, you will need to obtain and read a copy of All Quiet on the Western Front. This book can be found at most libraries and bookstores, and the school store is selling copies for $6.50.

For this project, you are to do the following:

§          Keep up with the reading schedule below. The book has been divided into ten sections. Each section should be read by the due date. Reading quizzes will be given on the due dates to ensure that you are keeping up with the material.

 

1.        WWI Background Quiz:  _____________

2.        Characters Quiz:  _____________

3.        Chapters 1-2: Due _____________

4.        Chapters 3-4: Due _____________

5.        Chapter 5: Due _____________

6.        Chapter 6: Due _____________

7.        Chapter 7 (137-151): Due _____________

8.        Chapter 7 (151-185): Due _____________

9.        Chapter 8: Due _____________

10.     Chapter 9: Due _____________

11.     Chapter 10: Due _____________

12.     Chapters 11-12: Due _____________

§          Write five letters as if you were a German soldier fighting in the war. The letters can be addressed to your family, a friend, a girlfriend, etc. The letters must follow the following guidelines:

-          Each letter must be at least one page in length. The length is not as important as the content. If you write a page and do not cover the material, expect a bad grade. If you type the letter, your font should be a normal, book-style font, not cutesy Comic Sans MS or the like. Margins should be 1 inch or less.

-          The letters should include outside research and specifics from the book. However, the information should be included creatively, NOT JUST LISTED.

-          Use correct grammar and punctuation.

-          Put the information in your own words. Do not copy any sources verbatim. Summarize information from the novel, the textbook or other sources. MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT PLAGIARIZING.

-          Each letter must include a visual. The visual MUST match the information in the letter and should not be a random picture printed off of the Internet. The picture can be hand drawn, from a book, or from the Internet.

-          1st Letter: The first letter should be a farewell letter. You have just entered the German army. Your letter should include

1.        The expectations from people at home.  Include general beliefs about the lengths of the war, the possibilities for glory, and style of warfare.

2.        The German point of view on the causes of the war and the goals of the war

3.        The ideas of the character Kantorek as support

-          2nd Letter: The second letter should cover your first impressions of the war. You have arrived at the front and experienced some fighting. The letter should include

1.        At least three ways the war was different from expectations. Find specific examples from the book to use as support. You should have three DIFFERENT ways that war was different. This section of the letter should be different from the second section.

2.        Three new weapons used in the war and how they have impacted the war. Find specific examples from the book to use as support.

-          3rd Letter: The third letter should be about life in the trenches. The letter should include

1.        At least three examples of misery of life in the trenches. Find specific examples from the book to use as support.

2.        A description of No Man’s Land.  Include a definition, the reason why it is called No Man’s Land, and one example from the book of attacks or events in No Man’s Land.

3.        At least two problems with food and supplies at the front. Include at least two ways that men used to solve these problems.

4.        Attitudes of the regular soldiers toward officers, corporals, and sergeants. Use examples from the book as support.

-          4th Letter: The fourth letter should be about a soldier’s time on leave. The letter should include

1.        Attitudes of the soldier returning home after fighting in the war. Find a specific example from the book regarding Paul’s feelings about leaving his comrades and find a specific example from the book regarding Paul’s feelings about seeing his parents to use as support.

2.        Attitudes of the soldier’s friends and families at this point in the war. Find two specific examples from the book to use as support and incorporate them into your letter.

3.        Attitudes of the soldier about returning to the war. Find a specific example from the book pertaining to Paul’s feelings about leaving his family and a specific example about how Paul felt about rejoining his fellow soldiers to use as support.

-          5th Letter: The fifth and last letters should be a soldier’s retrospective on the war. The soldier should look back on the war as a whole. This letter should include

1.        The soldier’s feelings about all the friends and fellow soldiers lost in the war. Was the war worth the cost? Find at least two specific examples from the book to use as support.

2.        The soldier’s beliefs as to why the war ended. How does the soldier feel about this? Remember, this should be from the German point of view. In the soldier’s opinion, why did Germany surrender?

3.        Three impacts of the war on Germany.

-          The information in the letters should be included creatively. Listing facts or making little attempt to be creative will cost you points in this area.

Grading

-          1st Letter:

1.        The expectations from Germany at home                                                         _____/6

2.        The German point of view on the causes of the war and the                       _____/6

goals of the war

3.        The ideas of the character Kantorek as support                                                            _____/6

4.        Appropriate visual.                                                                                             _____/3

5.        Correct grammar and punctuation.                                                                   _____/2

6.        Creativity. DO NOT LIST FACTS                                                                     _____/5                 _____/28

-          2nd Letter

1.        At least three ways the war was different from expectations.                      _____/9

Find specific examples from the book to use as support.                             

2.        The new weapons used in the war and how they have impacted the         _____/9

war. Find specific examples from the book to use as support.                    

3.        Appropriate visual.                                                                                             _____/3

4.        Correct grammar and punctuation.                                                                   _____/2

5.        Creativity. DO NOT LIST FACTS                                                                     _____/5                  _____/28

-          3rd Letter

1.        At least three examples of misery of life in the trenches.                                              _____/9

Find specific examples from the book to use as support.

2.        A description of No Man’s Land.                                                                     _____/4

3.        Problems with food and supplies at the front. Include ways that                               _____/8

men used to solve these problems.

4.        Attitudes of the regular soldiers toward officers, corporals,                        _____/2

and sergeants.

5.        Appropriate visual                                                                                                              _____/3

6.        Correct grammar and punctuation.                                                                   _____/2

7.        Creativity. DO NOT LIST FACTS                                                                     _____/5                 _____/33

-          4th Letter

1.        Attitudes of the soldier returning home after fighting in the war.                               _____/4

Find specific examples from the book to use as support.

2.        Attitudes of the soldier’s friends and families at this point in the                              _____/8

war. How have their attitudes toward the war changed? Find specific

examples from the book to use as support.

3.        Attitudes of the soldier about returning to the war. Find specific                              _____/4

examples from the book to use as support.

4.        Appropriate visual                                                                                                              _____/3

5.        Correct grammar and punctuation.                                                                   _____/2

6.        Creativity. DO NOT LIST FACTS                                                                     _____/5                 _____/26

-          5th Letter

1.        The soldier’s feelings about all the friends and fellow soldiers                   _____/8

lost in the war. Was the war worth the cost? Find specific examples

from the book to use as support.

2.        The soldier’s beliefs as to why the war ended. How does the soldier        _____/3

feel about this?

3.        The impact of the war on Germany.                                                                  _____/6

4.        Appropriate visual                                                                                                              _____/3

5.        Correct grammar and punctuation.                                                                   _____/2

6.        Creativity. DO NOT LIST FACTS                                                                     _____/5                  _____/27

 

__________/142

DUE DATE FOR THE FIVE LETTERS:  _______________________

PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE:  _______________________________________________  DATE _______________