Debate and Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, and Consequences
Common Mistakes in Picking a Topic
¤ Too Broad: Topics must be narrow so that everything about the topic, including it’s historical context, can be covered in one product. Ex) World War II
¤ Too Recent: Students should pick a topic that is at least 25-30 years old. Topics newer than that do not have enough historical perspective. Ex) iPhone 7
¤ Too Complex: Students need to pick topics that aren’t too difficult to understand. Ex) Thermo Nuclear Dynamics
What is Debate?
Debates are often formal or informal meetings where people argue opposing views. Some debates have two sides, while others involve three (or more) perspectives.
What is Diplomacy?
Diplomacy usually means negotiating, compromising, and communicating with people or nations to find a nonviolent solution to a perceived problem. Debate and diplomacy can occur independently or be intertwined
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
¤ Too Broad: Topics must be narrow so that everything about the topic, including it’s historical context, can be covered in one product. Ex) World War II
¤ Too Recent: Students should pick a topic that is at least 25-30 years old. Topics newer than that do not have enough historical perspective. Ex) iPhone 7
¤ Too Complex: Students need to pick topics that aren’t too difficult to understand. Ex) Thermo Nuclear Dynamics
What is Debate?
Debates are often formal or informal meetings where people argue opposing views. Some debates have two sides, while others involve three (or more) perspectives.
What is Diplomacy?
Diplomacy usually means negotiating, compromising, and communicating with people or nations to find a nonviolent solution to a perceived problem. Debate and diplomacy can occur independently or be intertwined
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
- What debates took place?
- What were the topics of these debates? Did diplomatic exchanges occur? If so, between whom?
- Does your topic feature both debate and diplomacy? Or is only one present? Explain.
- How did people communicate their arguments or engage in diplomatic exchanges?
- Multiple Perspectives: Who were the people or groups involved in your story? How many different perspectives are involved? Did the people involved agree or disagree with each other? Did the people involved have different goals?
- Wide Research: What language(s), ideas, imagery, or arguments did people use to persuade?
- What was the outcome/result of the diplomatic exchange or debate? Did the outcome affect the relationships between people, groups, or nations?
- Historical Significance: What are the short-term consequences resulting from this event? What are the long-term consequences? Can an outcome be both a failure and a success? Why or why not? How does this topic impact the present day? What connections do you see between the past and present? Did the outcome change how different groups interact with each other? Did new challenges arise? When? Why?
- Do new problems or changes arise? What are the immediate impacts of these changes or problems?
- Historical Argument Question: How does the topic connect to the theme of Debate & Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, Consequences? Why is this story important to our understanding of history?
Theme General Interest Broad Interest Narrow Interest Thesis
Conflict & Diplomacy Israel and Palestine Partition of Israel Only peace agreement Compromise Religion Mid East Conflict Drafted by Ralph Bunche in Pal.-Is. History in History Civil Rights Fulfillment of prophecy Nobel Peace Prize
Conflict & Diplomacy & Civil Rights Holocaust conflicts 970 Jewish Refugees on Compromise reached Compromise St. Louis refused entry to allow them to in History in Cuba returning to emigrate to E-F-B-N Nazi Germany
Conflict & Diplomacy & Civil Rights Holocaust conflicts Nazi’s rounding up Kasztner’s Bargain Compromise Hungarian Jews saved the lives of over in History Kasztner bargains 3000 Jews but at what with Adolph Eichmann cost?
Conflict & Civil Rights & Religion Slavery and Lane Seminary Debates Conflict in the Abolition Compromise Abolition Movement Abolitionists options movement leading to Oberlin in History becoming a hot bed of the . abolition movement
Conflict & Diplomacy Israel and Palestine Partition of Israel Only peace agreement Compromise Religion Mid East Conflict Drafted by Ralph Bunche in Pal.-Is. History in History Civil Rights Fulfillment of prophecy Nobel Peace Prize
Conflict & Diplomacy & Civil Rights Holocaust conflicts 970 Jewish Refugees on Compromise reached Compromise St. Louis refused entry to allow them to in History in Cuba returning to emigrate to E-F-B-N Nazi Germany
Conflict & Diplomacy & Civil Rights Holocaust conflicts Nazi’s rounding up Kasztner’s Bargain Compromise Hungarian Jews saved the lives of over in History Kasztner bargains 3000 Jews but at what with Adolph Eichmann cost?
Conflict & Civil Rights & Religion Slavery and Lane Seminary Debates Conflict in the Abolition Compromise Abolition Movement Abolitionists options movement leading to Oberlin in History becoming a hot bed of the . abolition movement