Answer the following question in about six pages, double spaced. Please paginate in the upper right hand corner and put your name and the name of the course at the top of the first page.
You MUST have a citation for each paragraph – either a footnote or an endnote – giving the source and the page numbers from which you derived the information in that paragraph, and ALSO provide a citation for each sentence with quoted material.
Papers without proper citations will be graded down one full letter grade. Please remember that part of your grade will be based on correct use of English, so please proof read your paper (and please use the past tense when discussing the past!).
Since a major part of your grade will be based on your ability to explain ideas in your own words, please use your own words and avoid quoting. If you do use someone else’s words, you MUST use quotation marks to avoid plagiarism AND cite your source – plagiarism will result in your paper being given an F.
You may use your books and notes, but you should not discuss the question or your answer with anyone else; you are to fly solo on this project. Please be specific; if you are vague I will assume you don’t really understand the material.
The question: How was it possible for Hitler to become Chancellor of Germany in 1933? Include in your answer:
1) Was Hitler’s rise to power inevitable? If not, identify the aspects of Hitler’s life prior to 1925 that made it highly improbable that he would become the Chancellor;
2) In 1923 Hitler was in prison but ten years later he was the Chancellor. What steps did he take that contributed to his rise to power?
Discuss and explain each; 3) What developments that were not under Hitler’s control contributed to his emergence as the Chancellor in 1933? Discuss and explain each;
4) Was the Nazi Party voted into office by German voters? Begin by stating the percentage of the vote the NSDAP received in 1928, 1930, and the two 1932 Reichstag elections. Then identify what type of people were most likely to vote Nazi and why;
5) What is the author’s thesis regarding conservative elites and Hitler’s rise to power? Discuss and explain. Since this is an exam on your knowledge of Epstein’s book and the lecture notes your answer MUST be based on Epstein’s book and the lecture notes; the use of other sources will result in a reduction of your grade.
Example – In answer to a student’s question, please remember that you are being asked to answer the following question on the exam: ” How was it possible for Hitler to become Chancellor of Germany in 1933?”
How to begin your essay? Normally a good practice is to begin with a one sentence statement of the question you are answering and then in the rest of the first paragraph write a summary of the author’s thesis. Then in the following paragraphs respond to the subquestions I provided (but don’t repeat the questions). Some key points:
1) be specific – if you are vague I will assume you don’t understand the material and reduce your grade; 2) write in proper English – some of you have been careless about this in your discussion posts; and
3) write the essay in your own words – if you quote I will assume you don’t know how to explain it in your own words and reduce your grade.
