hist 101

General Instructions for Film Questionnaire

  • Assignment Overview
      - You will be addressing specific questions in essay format regarding the film Victory in the Pacific.
      - Your responses must be original, providing detailed explanations supporting your assessments for each question.
      - Simple yes or no answers will not be accepted; the use of cut-and-paste is considered plagiarism and is strictly prohibited.

Essay Formatting Requirements

  • Quotation Usage
      - If you quote specific lines from the film, include quotation marks and reference the page number from the film transcript.
      - You may use outside resources but must cite them properly using the Chicago style.

  • Citations
      - A short tutorial for citing sources in Chicago style will be provided, but not immediately.

  • Voice in Responses
      - Your answers must reflect your personal viewpoint, supported by factual information.
      - It is important to articulate what you think rather than simply stating facts.
      - Arguments do not need to align with the instructor's viewpoint. Grading will reward reasonable and sound arguments regardless of agreement.

Assignment Guidelines

  • Time Management
      - There is no fixed timeframe for completion, aside from the due date.
      - Students are encouraged to revisit their answers multiple times before submission.

  • Length of Film
      - The total run time of Victory in the Pacific is approximately 1 hour and 24 minutes, although a condensed version runs about 56 minutes.

  • Transcript Access
      - An entire film transcript will be available for quoting.
      - Be cautious of inaccuracies in closed captioning that may misrepresent the dialogue.

  • Length and Depth of Answers
      - Brevity is discouraged; responses should be comprehensive, addressing all aspects of each question fully.
      - Some questions include multiple components, requiring thorough exploration of each.

Grading Criteria

  • Penalties for Late Submissions
      - Late questionnaires will incur a penalty of one full letter grade for each day they are late, potentially reducing the score to zero.
      - Completing this assignment is crucial, as it accounts for 25% of the final grade.

  • Opportunities for Improvement
      - This assignment provides an opportunity to improve grades if prior tests have not gone well.
      - Students are encouraged to take it seriously due to its significant weight in the overall assessment.

Research Expectations

  • Understanding Japanese Culture
      - Engage in research regarding the Ketsuko policy to provide context in your answers.
      - Expand beyond surface-level analysis to include insights into the cultural and historical significance relating to the policy's implementation in Japan.

Specific Film Content

  • Ketsuko Policy
      - By 1945, Japanese leaders recognized that winning the war against the United States was impossible. Consequently, they developed a war policy named Ketsuko.
      - You are expected to describe the Ketsuko policy in detail, including its objectives and implications.
      - Paraphrasing outside sources is acceptable as long as proper citations are provided.

  • Assessment Weighting
      - Each question has specific point values; for example, a fully addressed question may be worth up to 15 points, with potential for additional points for exemplary responses.
      - All point values must cumulatively reach 100 for the final grade.

  • Graphic Content Advisory
      - The film contains graphic scenes that may be disturbing; students are warned about potentially unsettling imagery in the historical depiction of events.
      - Significant themes related to Ketsuko, unconditional surrender, and Operation Meeting House will be featured in the film.