Just Wars Project

In class we have been discussing how we as a society determine the “right” way to behave.  We have looked at the concepts of what is worth fighting for?  What does “just” mean?  And how do we have a civilized society when everyone has a different perception of the world and therefore what is right and wrong?  We have also talked about the philosophical camps regarding war and how it is waged.  We talked about Pacifism, Realism, and Just War Theory.  We have also discussed the criteria used by philosophers, scholars, statesmen and women to determine the answer to the question would engaging in this war be a just action and how can we justly waged this war.  It is now your turn to gather some information about the causes and effects of specific wars and apply the Just War criteria to the war.  You will, as a group, present your findings.

20^th and 21^st Century Wars

World War I

World War II

Vietnam

Korea

Vietnam

Desert Storm

Afghanistan

Iraq

Your project will consist of two parts:

1)    A group presentation (OSPI Classroom Based Assessment); presented and due on June 11th – June 13th.

30% is Group Members Assessment Form (24 pts.)

20% is the quality of the power point presentation (16pts.)

50% is the content of your presentation     (40 pts.) Total (80pts.)

2)   An individual reflection; Assigned June 13^th and due June 17^th

3)   Group discussion about whether these wars were just or not June 17th

The Group Project

Project Grade:

Ñ       30% - quality of Power Point and Presentation

Ñ       30% - Group Members Assessment Forms

Ñ       40% - Content of Presentation

Choosing your group:

Ñ       Your group must consist of four people.

Ñ       8^th Grade (2) Two groups can have three girls and one boy; the other two groups should have two boys and two girls.

Ñ       8^th Grade (1) two groups of five with two boys and three girls, one group of five with three boys and two girls, and one group of four with three girls and one boy.

Ñ       Make sure the group mates you choose are people that you can work with well, that will be dependable or you know a way to motivate them to be dependable, and will stay focused on the project. 

Ñ       You must submit your group names to Mrs. Daman the day we start the project.

Ñ       You will be asked to complete a “group members” assessment form at the end of your presentations and those scores will be averaged and that average will constitute 30% of your grade on the project.

Content Requirements:  First your group will do their project.  Your project must address the following about the war you choose:

1)   (Background)What was life like prior to the _________________ War in the United States and the other country?

2)   (Causes) Historical background of the war – What was going on at the time that the war started?  Who were the stakeholders in the conflict?  What was the conflict about?  (Explain two or more factors that helped cause the war.) When did the conflict erupt into war?  How long did the war take place?  How did the war end?

3)   (Effects)  What was life like for those fighting in the war?  What was life like for those at home?  What was life like for the citizens of the other country that the United States was in conflict with? How did the United States react once the war was over?  What were the results of the war?

4)   (Just War Criteria)  Now look at the Just War Theory Criteria.  Was this war just?  If yes, how was it just? If no, how was it NOT just?  If yes and no, how was it just and how was it unjust? (Note: We will discuss this as a class on June 17^th. This does not need to be included in your power point.)

Group Project Calendar of Deadlines:

The Project begins on May 27^th.

_______/10         May 27^th groups identify responsibilities for each group member and lay out the calendar for following the deadlines listed below.

________/10          May 30^th notes due on content

________/10          June 4^th rough draft due of Power Point due

_________/10        June 5^th rough draft #2 due of Group Power Point

__________/10       June 9^th Group Presentations are due in Mrs. Daman’s e-mail inbox (mdaman@lwsd.org)

___________/10     June 11^th Presentation Day 1

__________/10       June 12^th Presentation Day 2

___________/10     June 13^h Presentation Day 3

___________/60     POINT TOTAL FOR TIMELINESS

The Group Presentation must:

Ñ       Include everyone in the presentation.

Ñ       Cite all sources used in the research at the end of the power point presentation.

Ñ     Make explicit references within the presentation to three or more credible sources that provide relevant information AND cite sources within the presentation.

Ñ       Create a power point presentation of no more than _____ slides. 

Ñ       Create slides that include no more than 20 words on a slide.

Ñ       Create the power point presentation following the power point style guide sheet and instruction that Mrs. Daman provided.

The Group Work Ethic/Presentation Assessment:

Ñ       Complete the form that Mrs. Daman provides everyone.

Ñ       Make sure your assessment is accurate, honest, and fair.  Make sure to really take care to give very specific feedback.

Ñ       Group Work Ethic/Presentation Assessment form is Due June 9th. 

The Individual Reflection Assignment:

Ñ       In at least three paragraphs and no more than 8, please reflect on the following questions.

o   In a paragraph, explain what you found valuable from doing this project and why you saw it as valuable.

o   In a second paragraph, explain what new understanding you have about war and just wars.  Is there any constancy among causes of the wars you all studied?  Were any of the wars just?  If so, which one’s and for what reasons?  

o   In a third paragraph, evaluate your ethic over the course of this project.  (individually) How effective was your time management?  What were some strategies you used to ensure that you completed your work on time?  If you were not successful, what choices did you make that impeded your ability to be successful?  How can you improve on your work ethic for next year in your ninth grade year?

Ñ       This reflection assignment is due on June 17^th.

Resources

http://www.santacruzpl.org/readyref/files/t-z/wars.shtml Statistics on 20th Century Wars Involving the United States – for Korea and Vietnam

http://www.patana.ac.th/Students/History/IBVietnamWarLinks.htm This in a sense a directory for useful and credible websites on the Vietnam War.

http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu This is a great resource for primary sources on a variety of wars.

http://www.history.com/encyclopedia.do?articleId=226140  This is a great resource on History.com’s encyclopedia, but this should not be where you stop.

May – June Just War Project Calendar