AP European History Reading and Writing Workshop

AP European History Workshop: 20th-century European conflicts and transformations.
This plan utilizes public domain works, providing an insightful blend of primary sources, and incorporates Short Answer Questions (SAQs), Long Essay Questions (LEQs), and Document-Based Questions (DBQs).

Workshop Overview:

• Theme: 20th-Century European Conflicts and Transformations
• Time Period: 1900–2000
• Focus Areas: World War I, World War II, the Cold War, the fall of the Soviet Union, European integration, and societal changes.
• Primary Source Focus: Excerpts from public domain works, speeches, political writings, and newspapers.
• Skills: Analyzing primary sources, constructing coherent essays, synthesizing historical narratives, and developing critical thinking.

Workshop Structure:
1. Introduction to 20th-Century European Conflicts and Transformations

• Objective: Students will develop a broad understanding of the major conflicts and political, economic, and social changes in 20th-century Europe.
• Materials:
  • Primary Sources:
    • Excerpt from Wilfred Owen’s "Dulce et Decorum Est" (WWI poetry)
    • Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain Speech" (1946)
    • Excerpts from The Communist Manifesto (Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels)
    • Hitler’s "Mein Kampf" (on the origins of WWII)
    • Churchill’s "Never Give In" Speech (1941, WWII)
    • The Treaty of Versailles (1919)
    • Soviet Propaganda and Documents (Soviet victory in WWII and Cold War era)

2. Short Answer Questions (SAQs)

• Goal: To assess students' ability to answer focused questions on specific historical topics.
• Example SAQs:
  • Question 1: Analyze the impact of World War I on the political and social structures in European countries. Refer to Wilfred Owen's poem "Dulce et Decorum Est" to support your answer.
  • Question 2: Discuss the role of Winston Churchill's speech (1946) in shaping Cold War tensions. Use specific references from the speech.
  • Question 3: How did the Treaty of Versailles contribute to the rise of extremism in Europe after WWI?

3. Long Essay Questions (LEQs)

• Goal: To assess students' ability to write comprehensive, structured essays that engage deeply with historical arguments.
• Example LEQs:
  • Question 1: Analyze the causes and consequences of World War I. Consider political, economic, and social factors in Europe. Use the Treaty of Versailles and Wilfred Owen's poetry as key sources.
  • Question 2: To what extent did World War II and the subsequent Cold War transform European society and politics? Consider Churchill's speeches, as well as the impact of Nazi ideology.
  • Question 3: Evaluate the Soviet Union's role in Europe post-WWII. Was the Soviet response to the West more driven by ideology or geopolitics? Reference the Iron Curtain Speech and Soviet documents.

4. Document-Based Questions (DBQs)

• Goal: To help students formulate historical arguments based on the analysis of multiple sources.
• Example DBQs:
  • Question 1: Evaluate the extent to which World War I reshaped European society in the aftermath. In your response, use the following documents:
    • Wilfred Owen's "Dulce et Decorum Est"
    • The Treaty of Versailles
    • Excerpts from soldiers' letters and newspaper accounts of the time
  • Question 2: Assess the causes of World War II using the following documents:
    • Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler
    • Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech
    • Soviet responses to Nazi aggression in Eastern Europe (pre-1941)
  • Question 3: Analyze the role of ideologies (e.g., Fascism, Communism, Liberal Democracy) in the creation of the Cold War. In your response, use:
    • The Iron Curtain Speech
    • The Communist Manifesto
    • Nazi propaganda materials
    • Soviet post-WWII documents

5. Workshop Activities:

• Activity 1: Small Group Analysis of Primary Sources
  • Students will break into small groups to analyze one of the provided primary sources. Each group will present an analysis of the source, its historical context, and its relevance to the broader theme of European conflicts and transformations.
• Activity 2: Comparative Essay Practice
  • Students will write a comparative essay between two conflicting ideologies in 20th-century Europe, such as Fascism and Communism, using Mein Kampf, The Communist Manifesto, and Churchill’s speeches as the foundation.
• Activity 3: Debate
  • Students will engage in a structured debate about the causes of World War II, using primary sources like Mein Kampf and Winston Churchill's speeches to argue for or against specific causes.

6. Assessment:

• Final Exam:
  • A combination of SAQs, LEQs, and DBQs, similar to the questions outlined above, will serve as a final assessment.

Conclusion:
​This workshop offers students an in-depth exploration of the transformative conflicts in 20th-century Europe through primary source analysis. It challenges students to synthesize historical narratives and develop critical thinking, while preparing them for AP European History exams with a focus on writing and historical interpretation.