Assessing History

Ross Smith

• Analytical exercises• Annotated maps• Short reports• Essays• Oral presentations• Multimedia presentations• Film reviews• Biographical studies• Tests• Responses to literatureAssessments Study Design p.40

Choices

Analytical exercises

A key skill: analyse written and visual evidence

Ernst Vollbehr (1876-1960) Who?

Source: Hagen Schulze Germany: A New History (Harvard 1998)

Aufmarsch von der Nürnberger Fauenkirche 1933 Ernst Vollbehr

Questioning

• What is happening here?• Which features stand out in the painting? Which

colours stand out? • How are the figures painted? Why are they hard

to recognise? Why so many rows or blurred masses? Why has the artist done this?

• Why is the church the centre of the painting?• What is happening in Germany at this time?

More Questions

• What is the purpose of the artist? Is he approving or critical of what is happening?

• What can we learn today about what was actually happening in 1933 or what people felt about what was happening?

• Is the view of the artist borne out by later events?

• Is one piece of evidence enough to make a conclusion about what was happening? What do you, as an historian, need to make up your mind? Compare with another painting? A photograph? Newspaper account?

A model• ‘The artist Ernst Vollbehr has succeeded

in capturing the essential quality of these rituals: Individuals have been reduced to specks in an enormous and precise geometrical construction of military uniforms. Only one recognizable person stands out from this almost mechanical pattern: the Führer, with the blood-red swastika flag above him like an exclamation point.’ p.245

Reichsparteitag in Nürnberg NSDASP – und SA – Aufmarsch

Questioning – VCAA style

• Begin with recognising specific details

• Then try to place the graphic in the historical context

• Finally discussing its value as a piece of historical evidence

• (See Graphic Analysis)

Graphic Analysis

A poster for the July 1932 Reichstag election. The

caption says: “The workers have awakened!” The small

man in the middle with the red hat is holding a piece of paper

that reads: “Hitler barons! Emergency decrees. Lies and

slanders. The big-wigs are living high on the hog, the

people are wretched.”

The Workers Have Awakened!A. Who does the man in the middle with hat represent? (2)

B. Who is the tall figure and how is he drawn? (2)

C. How does this poster aim to achieve Nazi votes? (2)

D. Using your own knowledge, explain why this visual appeared in 1932. In doing so, make links from the visual the events in Germany at this time. (4)

E. Explain the strengths and limitations of this document in understanding the reasons for the Nazi success in the elections at this time. Give reasons for your answer. (5)

Numbers or Criteria?H M L

Detailed knowledge of the history of the period

Understanding of the graphic representation

Understanding of how the graphic representation is being used

Use of evidence in discussion of the representation Knowledge and use of Historical conventions when analysing the representation

A+ : 15-14 A: 13-12 B : 11 C+:10 C : 9 D : 8 E+ : 7 E: 6 UG:5-

Annotated maps

• Map of Western Front

• Gallipoli

• Munich crisis

Poland after Versailles

Poland

Short Reports

• Objects: stamps, coins, notes, postcards, posters.

• Oral history: interviewing people e.g. children during WW II.

Essays

• Write a short essay on the following topic supporting your view with evidence.

‘The appointment of Hitler as Chancellor came about entirely because of his own efforts to persuade the German people to support him.’

Do you agree?

Oral Presentations

• Historical re-enactments: Munich Crisis, Great Depression, Conscription Campaign.

Multimedia Presentations

• Historical mural, collage

• Annotated timeline

• Museum display

• Powerpoint

Hiroshima

TaskFind a poem or set of lyrics on the web based around the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.Cut and paste the poem into a PowerPoint presentation.

Hiroshima

• The PowerPoint presentation will have a title page (1), a page with the poem (2), select five important lines from the poem and place each line on a separate slide(5), create a last slide (1). Your presentation with be nine pages long.

• On each of the five slides with the important lines, you explain what the line means using a textbox and download a picture from the net to explain what the line is all about or your reaction to it.

• Save the presentation and send it to me.

Film Reviews

• Swastika Philippe Mora Umbrella 1973

• Hitler: the Rise of Evil Magna Pacific 2002

• Napola Parasol Peccadillo 2004

• Downfall Hopscotch Entertainment 2004

Biographical Studies

• Reading Historical fiction?

Responses to Literature

• The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne (David Fickling Books, GB, 2006) “If you do start to read this book, you will go on a journey with a nine-year-old boy called Bruno. (Though this isn’t a book for nine-year-olds.) And sooner or later you will arrive with Bruno at a fence. Fences like this exist all over the world. We hope you never have to encounter such a fence.” - publisher’s blurb

Responses to Literature

• Review of the novel

• Adding a chapter: start, middle or end?

• Tracing the historical features or context

• Discussing the accuracy of the novel

• Writing a play ( for radio?) based on a scene

• Preparing a report on an aspect of the holocaust or a modern case of genocide

Responding to Music

• Songs of WWI e.g. 'Oh it's a lovely war!‘ at http://www.firstworldwar.com/

• ‘Horst Wessel’

HORST WESSELFlag high, ranks closed,The S.A. marches with silent solid steps.Comrades shot by the red front and reactionmarch in spirit with us in our ranks. The street free for the brown battalions,The street free for the Storm Troopers.Millions, full of hope, look up at the swastika;The day breaks for freedom and for bread. For the last time the call will now be blown;For the struggle now we all stand ready.Soon will fly Hitler-flags over every street;Slavery will last only a short time longer. Flag high, ranks closed,The S.A. marches with silent solid steps.Comrades shot by the red front and reactionmarch in spirit with us in our ranks.

Horst Wessel• What is the S.A. referred to in the song?

• What is the ‘red front’ referred to in the song?

• Who was Horst Wessel?

• Using your own knowledge, explain why this song became the anthem of the Nazi Party. In doing so, make links from the song the events in Germany at this time.

• Explain the strengths and limitations of this document in understanding the reasons for the Nazi takeover in Germany at this time. Give reasons for your answer.

Tests

• Quizzes