Assignment: SCREENING THE TRENCHES: ESSAY
Soldiers, you must achieve an essay of 6-8 pages.
You can basically write on any topic concerning WWI, but here are some ideas:
1) The Schlieffen Plan - did it exist (see Terence Zuber)? What is the status of the controversy?
2) US involvement - how decisive was it? There is considerable debate on this point (see "The Myth of the Great War," John Mosier)
3) The Sykes-Picot Agreement: has it been bad for the Middle East? What would have been a better solution?
4) The Rape of Belgium: Did it happen? What is the status of the controversy?
5) German alternatives in 1918: Should they have attempted an offensive, or negotiated? (see Hans Delbruck)
6) What was the major technical innovation of WWI? Consider it from any angle. Tanks and armor are an especial focus of interest now.
7) Is there any way the Central Powers could have won? How?
8) Gallipoli is a very important campaign militarily and historically. There is considerable controversy over the conception and execution of the Allied plan. Was it a faulty plan, or was it the execution that failed? What lessons about amphibious landing, etc., were learned? It was also important in developing the national identity of three countries: Australia, New Zealand, and especially modern Turkey. You can analyze its importance for any of these countries.
9) How important was the Arab revolt to the overall Allied strategy? What were its long- term results for the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East?
10) The Paris Peace conferences were intended to establish a lasting international peace. Why did this hope fail? What was wrong with the treaty/-ies and its/their implementation? Could the League if Nations have been made workable?
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.