Dropping the Atomic Bomb

You may have very strong feelings about whether this was a good or bad decision, but this assignment asks you to summarize and analyze the documents I have provided and to analyze the issues facing Truman.
Questions to Consider:

1. What was the genesis of the Manhattan Project?
2. How did our allies feel about the bomb?
3. Who opposed using the bomb? Why?
4. Who believed it was necessary? Why?
5. What principal factors persuaded Truman to use the bomb?
6. Did Truman take the correct course of action?
   Purpose:
   • Historians reconstruct a narrative of the past from primary sources. This assignment provides you with an opportunities to act like an historian; that is, you will read primary sources, analyze them, develop a thesis and write an original, well supported 3-page essay.
   Goals:
   Students will:
   • Analyze primary sources
   • Evaluate the sources
   • Originate a convincing, written argument/thesis
   • Identify and describe examples that support their thesis
   Task:
   • A 3-page thesis-governed paper analyzing raw data with 3 specific and detailed points/examples that support and are clearly linked to the thesis.
   Audience:
   • The audience consists of your classmates/peers. Explain things clearly and in detail so that they understand. Do not assume that they know anything. Provide some context and background.
   Format:
   • 3-page
   o The first paragraph states your thesis and refers to the subsequent points you will make (probably at least 3).
   o Each of the next 3-6 paragraphs deal with the points that support your thesis.
   o Concluding paragraph summarizes the thesis and points you made.

• Title (creative, not boring)
• Page numbers
• 1-inch margins all around, 12 point Times New Roman font, double-spaced
• Grammar and Style
o Avoid contractions.
o Use the past tense.
o Avoid slang terms (e.g., got).
o Avoid personal pronouns (e.g., I, me, my, we, our, you, your).
o You may quote from the primary sources, but direct quotations should only be used when the original is so well expressed that you cannot paraphrase it.
o Never start a sentence with a number written as a number: e.g., instead “Seventy-five members…..”
o Apostrophes show possession; EXCEPTION: it’s = it is, but since you should not be using contractions, there should be no problem; apostrophes are NOT used in plurals.
o Apostrophes are no longer used in dates; e.g., 1960s.
o Avoid the verb “to be” in all its forms if you can; English provides a rich repertoire of verbs.
o Suggestion: Read your paper out loud to find missing words, awkward phrases, poor grammar, etc.
 There is no such verb as “to have to.”
 Do not pile two prepositions together (e.g., “off of” = on).
• Footnotes:
o Footnotes are not necessary if you are quoting the sources I provided.
o However, if you use the textbook or outside sources cite them as found in The Chicago Manual of Style: single-line spacing, 10 point font
o You do not need a citation/bibliography page.
Due Dates:
• Papers should be submitted in hard copy on the due date. See the syllabus for the exact date. If emailed, they should be in Word format.
Late Paper Policy:
• I accept late papers.
Rewrites:
• You may rewrite a paper if I have written that comment on your essay.
Plagiarism:
• Any student who commits plagiarism will receive a 0 for the assignment.