Social Studies 20 Crimes Against Humanity Name: __________________

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The following are the primary issues we have been considering this semester:

- To what extent should we embrace nationalism?

- To what extent should national interests be pursued?
- To what extent can the pursuit of ultranationalism lead to crimes against humanity?

Crimes Against Humanity: Refers to widespread or systematic attacks against a civilian population –
murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation, imprisonment, torture, rape or sexual slavery,
enforced disappearance of persons and the crime of apartheid.

YOUR TASK

In a group of 3-4, choose one of the examples of a crime against humanity from the list below:

a. Turkey (Armenians): 1915 – 1918

b. Manchuria (‘Rape of Nanking’): 1937 – 1938
c. Cambodia: 1975 – 1979
d. Eugenics Projects (Vermont): 1890-1925
e. Former Yugoslavia (Bosnian War): 1992 – 1995
f. South Africa (Apartheid): 1948 – 1990
g. Sudan (Darfur region): 1993 – present
h. Canada (Indian Residential Schools): 1900 – 1980
i. Japan (Hiroshima & Nagasaki): 1945
j. Japan (Unit 731)
k. Zulu Genocide
l. Holodomor (Ukrainian Famine)
m. Trail of Tears

Your group will be responsible to research, in detail, the circumstances surrounding your chosen event
including:

- Motives behind the event

- Methods used to carry out the event
- Consequences of the event

You will then synthesize your research to answer the following primary inquiry question:
SHOULD INDIVIDUALS, GOVERNMENTS, OR BOTH BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY?

This assignment is divided into several components. Please see the attached descriptions for each
section.

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Social Studies 20 Crimes Against Humanity Name: __________________

PART A: PREPARING INQUIRY

Please complete the ‘K (What I Know’) and ‘W (What I Want to Know’) sections of the KWL chart below
in regards to your chosen crime against humanity.

K W L

What do I already KNOW or What do I WANT to know or

What have I LEARNED
think I know about this think I need to know about
about this topic?
topic? this topic?

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Social Studies 20 Crimes Against Humanity Name: __________________

Next, formulate at least 3 ‘Questions to Guide Inquiry’. You will synthesize answers to these questions
from your research notes at a later stage in your assignment. These questions should consider the
motives, methods, and consequences related to the crime against humanity you are investigating, and
should contribute to answering the primary inquiry question.

In creating your questions consider the following:

 Are relationships with the land, places, or environments important to any of the groups
involved?
 Who wields power? Where does their authority come from? How is it exercised?
 How are resources and wealth distributed or controlled?
 What values, beliefs, traditions, and social structures shape their communities?

You may also find it helpful to break your large ‘Questions to Guide Inquiry’ down into smaller subsidiary
questions to narrow your research focus to more specific information.

Questions to Guide Inquiry

Questions Subsidiary Questions
-

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Social Studies 20 Crimes Against Humanity Name: __________________

PART B: RESEARCH AND SYNTHESIS

At this stage, decide how the research work will be divided among your group members. You must
complete the following in this section:

1. Complete your research for all three guiding questions using the attached organizers
a. Data collected should include differing perspectives on the question / issue (if possible)
b. Data collected should be from reliable sources only (confirm with instructor if necessary)
c. Information collected for each question should be substantial (approximately 1/3 page)
d. You must use a minimum of three reliable sources. The same source may be used to answer
multiple guiding questions if appropriate.

2. Complete the conclusion / synthesis section for each of your three guiding questions using the
attached organizers
a. Synthesize your research notes into a conclusion for each guiding question
b. Synthesized conclusions should be comprehensive and detailed (approximately 1/3 page)
c. Synthesized conclusions should be focused on helping you answer the primary inquiry
question

3. Complete the ‘L (What I Have Learned)’ column of your KWL chart

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Social Studies 20 Crimes Against Humanity Name: __________________

Question 1:

Research Notes: Source:

Source:

Source:

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Social Studies 20 Crimes Against Humanity Name: __________________

Question 2:

Research Notes: Source:

Source:

Source:

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Social Studies 20 Crimes Against Humanity Name: __________________

Question 3:

Research Notes: Source:

Source:

Source:

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Social Studies 20 Crimes Against Humanity Name: __________________

CONCLUSIONS

Question One

Question Two

Question Three

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Social Studies 20 Crimes Against Humanity Name: __________________

PART C: ESSAY OR CREATIVE PROJECT

Having completed your research, and having synthesized that research into conclusions, it is time to use
your conclusions to answer the primary inquiry question:

Should individuals, governments, or both be held accountable for crimes against humanity?

To do so, please select one of the following two options:

OPTION 1: FORMAL ESSAY

As a group, review the conclusions to your three guiding questions. Write an essay that communicates
an overall conclusion to the primary inquiry question.
- The essay should be approximately 1-2 pages in length.
- The essay should clearly state an argument that responds to the primary inquiry question.
- The essay’s argument should be clearly supported by evidence drawn from the conclusions you
have synthesized as a group.

OPTION 2: CREATIVE PROJECT

As a group, review the conclusions to your three guiding questions. Design and craft a creative project
that communicates an overall conclusion to the primary inquiry question.
- The creative project should be more advanced / developed than a basic poster or PowerPoint
presentation.
- The creative project can take the form of a variety of media (sculpture, video, poetry,
illustration, painting, etc.). Please have your instructor approve the concept for your creative
project before you being working on it.
- The creative project may be accompanied by a short written component that communicates the
intended message of the piece if your group feels it is a necessary supplement.

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Social Studies 20 Crimes Against Humanity Name: __________________

PART D: FORMAL BIBLIOGRAPHY

On a separate page, please submit a full, formal bibliography of the sources you used to complete the
assignment.
- Use proper format for each citation (as dictated by your instructor).
- Attach the bibliography to your inquiry booklet upon submission.

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