Source List: Atomic Bomb Socratic Seminar Source Title and Information

Description

1

She defines a single story as a stereotype– a story that gets repeated so many times, it becomes “the only story.”

“The Danger of a Single Story” Speech, Tedtalk By: Chimamanda Adichie Ngozi http://tinyurl.com/dangerous-single-story

2

“WW2 Propaganda” Published by: University of Missouri

An essay about antiJapanese WW2 propaganda

http://tinyurl.com/WW2-propaganda-racism 3

“The Decision to Drop the Bomb” Informational article Published by: ushistory.org http://tinyurl.com/abss-source-3

4

“The Nuking of Japan was Tactically and Morally Justified” Researched opinion essay Published by: Forbes

“A Petition to the President of the United States” Persuasive letter *Taken from the ninth grade PARCC practice test

Unit 3: Atomic Bomb

Socratic Seminar The play The Diary of Anne Frank brings up the themes of bias, discrimination and literature being a vehicle for social change. It is at the close of world war 2 that the United States made the controversial decision to drop two atomic bombs on Japanese civilians in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Tells about the events leading up to the decision to drop the atomic bomb. Also used on the 9th grade practice PARCC test Opinion paper that is well researched Represents sentiments from people at the time

http://tinyurl.com/abss-source-4 5

Name: _______________________

To explore this further you will close read several sources, prepare and participate in a discussion focused on two core questions: 

Was the US justified in dropping the atomic bomb?



Is national safety an excuse for killing innocent civilians?

Letter written by 30 scientists- urging President Truman to not drop the atomic bomb

http://tinyurl.com/abss-source-5 6

“Hiroshima and Nagasaki Remembered” Published by: The National Science Digital Library

Eyewitness Accounts of when the atomic bomb exploded over Hiroshima

http://tinyurl.com/abss-source-6 7

“41 men targeted but 1,147 people killed: US drone strikes– the facts on the ground” Published by: The Guardian Newspaper

Discusses potential consequences of using drone warfare in the middle east

http://tinyurl.com/abss-source-7 8

Video: Obama Apology Published by: The Guardian Newspaper http://tinyurl.com/abss-source-8

Obama apologizes for a drone strike that killed 1 American citizen and 1 Italian citizen

Objective: Through the strategy of a Socratic Seminar, we will practice making claims statements and citing textual evidence to effectively engage in a collaborative discussion based on multiple text sources. SL 8.1, RI.8.1

***CORE QUESTION: Was the US justified in dropping the atomic bomb?

Additional Questions and Notes

1. Prove OR refute this claim using evidence.

Additional Notes/Questions:

The United States’ decision to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was justified.

2. How did the US justify its actions to drop the bomb? What are other reasons for the US being “justified” in dropping the bombs? Support your response with textual evidence from multiple sources.

3. What is the single story we, in the US, tell about WW2? Why do you think that is the “single story”? Support your response with textual evidence from multiple sources.

Additional Questions and Notes

In the boxes below, please list your own questions, wonderings or thoughts as you read the sources and prepare for the Socratic seminar.

***CORE QUESTION: Was the US justified in dropping the atomic bomb? 4. What were the consequences of dropping the atomic bomb? Support your response with textual evidence from multiple sources.

Remember the traits of strong, open-ended discussion questions:  They do not ask for fact-based answers.  The require participants to answer by using the text as a basis for their inferences or answers.  They require the participants to think and reflect.  They are not easy to answer. Open Ended Questions usually start with words like: why, how, what did you all think about...

Additional Question 1 and your thoughts/notes on this question:

Additional Question 2 and your thoughts/notes on this question:

Additional Question 3 and your thoughts/notes on this question:

5. Consider “global indirect characterization,” what judgments do you think other countries made about the United States after we dropped the atomic bombs? Support your response with textual evidence from multiple sources.

***CORE QUESTION: Is national security (safety) an excuse for killing innocent civilians?

***CORE QUESTION: Is national security (safety) an excuse for killing innocent civilians?

6. Why is national security important to building a strong country?

9. How have we used national security as a way of justifying US violence abroad? Support your response with textual evidence from multiple sources.

7. If you were German (not Jewish) living in Germany during WW2, and you were constantly exposed to Hitler’s anti-Jewish propaganda, how would you feel about your identity as a German? How would you feel about Jewish people? What evidence leads you to believe this is true?

10. What are the consequences of drone warfare? What evidence or examples support your response?

8. Over 30 million copy of Anne Frank’s diary The Diary of a Young Girl have been sold since its publication in 1947 and thousands of people have seen the dramatic version on stage. What do you think is the most important message people can learn from literature and Anne Frank’s experience? Why?

10. Is drone warfare an ethical or fair practice for us as a country? Why or why not? Support your response with textual evidence from multiple sources.