Introduction:
Oral Historian Studs Terkel famously titled his book on America in the Second World War The Good War. Only Americans see the war in such lofty tones. The war made America a superpower and brought the nation out of a depression, but for the rest of the world, the war brought unprecedented suffering. The best guess is that 50,000,000 people died as a result of the war. For the first time in history the majority of deaths were civilians. This course will look at the global tragedy that was World War II in international and comparative perspective.

Books:
Browning, Christopher. Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland. New York: Harper Perennial, 1992.

Dear, I. C. B. and M. R. D. Foot. The Oxford Companion to World War II. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.

Murray, Williamson and Allan Millett. A War to be Won: Fighting the Second World War. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2000 (M).

Recommended Web Site For Good Maps:
http://www.dean.usma.edu/history/web03/atlases/atlas%20home.htm

Assignments:
Midterm exam (25%): 23 Feb
Prospectus (15%): 14 March
Paper (25%): 27 April
Comprehensive Final Exam (35%): TBD

Paper Prospectus: You will turn in a 750-word paper that tells me what you wish to write your final paper on, what thesis you plan to prove, and what materials you will use to support that thesis. You must present me with your THESIS and your ARGUMENT not just your subject. See below for more.

Paper: The paper should be roughly 2,000 words, exclusive of footnotes, bibliography, etc. You should feel free to write on any aspect of the war that interests you. You can write on military aspects if you wish, but art, culture, gender relations, music, and literature are all perfectly acceptable.

Ten Tips for Better Writing:

1. Buy and read William Strunk and E. B. White's The Elements of Style. It remains the best short and cheap book on how to improve your writing.

2. Make sure that you know how every word, every sentence, and every paragraph of your paper supports your main ideas.

3. Make the paragraph your primary unit of composition. Focus each paragraph on one main idea connected to your larger thesis.

4. Write in the active voice as often as possible. Example: “Islamic terrorists attacked the World Trade Center” instead of “The World Trade Center was attacked.” The second sentence leaves the actor vague. Writing in the active voice forces you to make critical choices in your writing.

5. Be specific in your language. Avoid weak or useless words like "very" and "thing."

6. Omit unnecessary words.

7. Use the positive form as often as possible. Example: “He was often late” instead of “He did not often show up on time.”

8. When discussing events that occurred in the past, use the past tense. Example: “The Americans entered World War I in 1917” instead of “The Americans would enter World War I in 1917.”

9. Write with nouns and verbs as the basis of your sentences. Adjectives and adverbs support nouns and verbs, not vice versa.

10. Revise and rewrite! Do not be content with your first (or even your second) draft.

How To Write a Prospectus

1. Present your thesis: What, exactly, do you propose to prove? A successful thesis statement should:

* Be provocative. "General Pershing was a good general" is not a thesis because it is neither provocative nor really provable. "General Pershing successfully blended American political needs with operational reforms to lead the AEF to victory" is a thesis;

* Be sufficiently interesting to you to merit your attention for the term paper. Pick a thesis that interests you. Don't pick a topic because you think it will be easy or because you once wrote a paper on a similar topic. Pick a thesis that appeals to your intellect;

* Be provable. Do not select a thesis so obscure that you can't find sources.
2. Present your sources. What sources will you be using? In your prospectus you must demonstrate that you have thought carefully about how you will prove your thesis. You do not need an annotated bibliography, but you must show a range and variety of appropriate materials. The internet is acceptable in small doses, but be very careful. Be sure that you demonstrate not only that you found these sources, but have thought about how they will tie in to your paper.

3. Show a connection between the paper you want to write and the themes of the course. How does your paper relate to the course more generally?

Remember:

* A prospectus is not set in stone. You may change your thesis as you research. If you do make significant changes, you would be well served to check with me first.

* You can often find a good thesis by following up on a subject that we cover only lightly in class discussion.

A Military Order of Battle:

The sizes and terms of military units change over time. In peacetime, units tend to be much smaller. What follows is a typical World War II order of battle from smallest to largest:

Squad: 8-11 men commanded by a sergeant
Platoon: 30-50 men commanded by a lieutenant
Company: 100-200 men commanded by a captain or major
Battalion: 600-1,000 men commanded by a lt. colonel
Regiment: 2,000-3,000 men commanded by a colonel
Brigade: 4,000-5,000 men commanded by a brigadier (one-star) general
Division: 12,000-20,000 men commanded by a major (two-star) general
Corps: two or more divisions commanded by a lieutenant (three-star) general
Army: two or more corps commanded by a (four-star) general
Army group: two or more armies commanded by a five-star general or field marshal

Battalions usually formed the basic tactical unit of an army, regiments the basic social units of an army, and divisions the basic administrative units of an army.

Notes:
I do expect you to come to class, in large part because I have no intention of using my lectures simply to replicate the readings. I expect you to take notes, be prepared to answer any questions I might pose, and to ask questions if something is unclear. Please turn off all pagers and cell phones in class and have the courtesy to come to class on time. Be prepared to accept serious deductions in grades for work turned in late and be prepared to give me an electronic version of your written work if I ask you for it. I will be available for office hours, but if these hours are not convenient for you, please email me or see me after class to arrange another appointment. Please also let me know if there are any special circumstances that will require you to be absent or late.

Academic Dishonesty: Scholastic dishonesty will not be condoned under any circumstance. See the current Undergraduate Bulletin for a good definition of such behavior. Cheating on an exam or demonstrated plagiarism on a paper will automatically lead to a grade of “F” for the course and can result in dismissal from the college. The instructor reserves the right to use electronic resources, such as turnitin.com, to detect plagiarism. If you have questions or concerns about this policy—please see the instructor during office hours.

Students with Disabilities: If a student has a disability that qualifies under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and requires accommodations, he/she should contact the Office for Disability Accommodations (ODA) for information on appropriate policies and procedures. Disabilities Covered by ADA may include learning, psychiatric, physical disabilities, or chronic health disorders. Students can contact ODA if they are not certain whether a medical condition/disability qualifies. Mailing address: 118 College Drive # 8586, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001; Telephone: (601) 266-5024; TTY: (601) 266-6837; Fax: (601) 266-6035 or at:
http://www.ids.usm.edu/ODA/default.asp