There are many reasons to study the Holocaust, which I understand to be the systematic, state-run mass murder of entire groups of people. In this course we will not only study what happened, but also investigate why those events happened. My courses also emphasize historical skills: assessing and interpreting historical sources, and presenting the results of research.

Your Contribution (Requirements) (back to top)

1. Attendance. I expect you to attend all classes and scheduled evening events. Why take a course if you don't make the effort to learn what it teaches? Lectures include images, videos, discussion and information not available elsewhere. I call roll until I learn your names. Participation counts for 5% of the course grade.
   • If you wish to have an excused absence, including undocumented medical absences, you must inform me by e-mail or phone message before the class in question begins.
2. Midterm journal--"8 questions." There will not be a formal midterm examination. Instead, you will be asked to write a short text (200-300 words) on questions about the assigned readings or films, roughly once each week. These eight questions will generally be announced in advance. They are worth 40% of the final grade.
   • This is a lot--and plays a large role in determining your final grade.)
   • Make-up questions are only possible for absences excused prior to the start of class.
3. Book essay, comprised of a proposal (1-2 pages), essay , and a revised version (1800 words, 5-6 pages). This paper is based primarily on one book, but requires some research. (See the blue Book Essay handout)
   The proposal is due Thursday, Jan. 31; the essay Thursday, Feb. 21; and the revised version Tuesday, March 4, always at the beginning of class.
   All together the proposal and essay draft and revision count for 5+20+5=30% of your final grade.
   • Note : This course fulfills the General Education writing requirement. If you do not submit the book essay, you will not receive creditfor this course (i.e., you will fail).
4. A take-home final examination will have 3 IDs chosen from 9, and one essay question. The final is worth 25% of your total grade. The exam will be available in the last week of classes.
   • No-exam option: Students receiving a B+ or better on their book essay may opt out of taking the final exam. If you choose this option, you must submit, on Feb. 28 March 4 or 6 (depending on when you got your corrected essay back), a 60-word project abstract and a 5-10 item annotated reference list.
   • By March 11, you will need to submit corrected and revised electronic versions for publication on the course web site.
   • Your annotated source list will comprise most of your exam grade. Details will be available on a separate web option handout.

Grading: (back to top)
is on a point system. You can accumulate up to 100 points, distributed as follows:
participation: 5; eight questions: 40; proposal+book essay+revision 5+20+5=30; final exam or web option: 25. Work submitted after 12:30pm on the due date will lose one point per day.

Required Books (they are also on reserve in the library)

1. Textbook: D. Dwork and R.J. van Pelt, Holocaust: A History (Norton, 2002)
   ($13 at amazon).
2. Biography: Art Spiegelman, Maus: A Survivor's Tale, vols. I & II (1986, 1991)
   ($18-20 combined)
3. Reflections: Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning (1946, 1959, 2006)
   ($6 at amazon)
4. Additional readings available at: eres.library.ucsb.edu/eres/coursepass.aspx?cid=2851, password: rhythm