the essay will be based on the experiences of soldiers in combat in World War II. Two books have been assigned: E. B. Sledge’s With the Old Breed and Charles B. MacDonald’s Company Commander. The former is the account of a marine enlisted man who fought in the Pacific, the latter an account of an army officer who led troops in Europe. The paper should compare and contrast the experiences of these two men as examples of the nature of combat during World War II. Students are encouraged to do additional reading to add additional perspectives from other books or documentaries (such as the Ken Burns 2007 World War II documentary). If you know World War II veterans you can interview, or have relevant materials (letters and other papers) from family members, such material may also be brought into your essay.
The objective of the assignment is to encourage critical thinking and effective writing about the impact of the war on the lives of those who fought in it. The papers will be graded on the depth of analysis, organization, quality of writing, and proper use of notes and bibliography.
The final paper should be at least 12 pages of text (double-spaced in not larger than 12-point type) with proper footnotes or endnotes and a bibliography.
