HIS 350 Research Paper- A political, social, military, and/or ethical issue in World War I

This assignment addresses the following outcomes:

• Write a research paper that integrates evidence from primary and secondary sources to explore a political, social, military, and/or ethical issue in World War I. (CO1, CO5, CO6)

Throughout this course, you have explored political, social, strategic, and ethical questions related to World War I through multiple methods: analysis of primary and secondary sources, as well as by playing educational game games. These games allowed you to explore the decision-making of key wartime leaders and practice the skill of historical empathy—learning to think and make judgments from the lens of the past rather than through our present day mindset. In this project, you will apply the lessons you learned to a research project which will integrate the evidence from these sources and tools into one cohesive argument.

You will submit this project in three stages throughout the course:

1. Module 3: Choose a topic
   In Module 3 you will review the guidelines for the assignment and choose from the list of topic choices below and report this information to your instructor in M3A1.
    
2. Module 5: Annotated Bibliography and Outline
   In Module 5 you will submit an annotated bibliography of the six sources (including at least 2 primary) you intend to use for your final research paper, along with a preliminary thesis statement and outline. See the M5A1: Annotated Bibliography and Outline assignment for more details about this submission.
    
3. Module 7: Project 2 Research Paper
   In Module 7 you will submit your completed research paper according to the directions listed below:

For your Project 2 Research Paper you are to select a topic related to the content explored in the games in Modules 1, 3, and 5. Please choose one of the following question prompts as a jumping-off point for an argumentative analysis:

• Which nation was most responsible for the outbreak of World War I and why?
• The Schlieffen Plan: why did it fail?
• The use and ethical ramifications of poison gas during World War I.
• The ethical ramifications of unlimited submarine warfare.
• The tactics of trench warfare on the Western Front: what military tactics proved most successful and unsuccessful in budging the stalemated lines on the Western Front?
• The use and effects of propaganda during World War I.
• Evaluate Woodrow Wilson as a wartime president. What were his strengths and weaknesses?
• Compare and contrast wartime preparations in the United States and Germany.
• Another topic of your choice in some way related to the historical concepts explored in one of the three games (make sure to clear this with your instructor)

Your Project 2 Paper should be between 6-7 pages (1500-1750 words) in length not including the title page and references. 
Your paper must include at least six sources. At least two of these sources must be primary sources. Two of the six sources may come from the assigned course materials like Neiberg and the assigned online primary resources, but at least four must be outside sources.