10th Grade Socratic Seminar: Modern German Military Topic: End of German Military Conscription
Goals of the Seminar:
1. To teach students about the different types of military recruitment around the world and how many outside forces impact them.
2. To provide an opportunity for students to think critically and form answers to key questions, such as those listed below.
3. To raise questions that students will research and report back to classmates. (During the seminar, students will record their questions. At the end of the seminar students will review/share questions, form groups to answer them, and spend a period in the library researching their questions.
Documents:
1. Newspaper article: “Germany Sees No Need for Obligatory Military Conscription.” Judy Dempsey. The New York Times. June 2, 2010.
2. Research Analysis: “To Draft of Not to Draft? Conscription Reform in the EU.” Aleksandra Dier. Center for Security Studies. 2010.
3. Uncle Sam Advertisement “I Want You.”
Pre-Seminar Activities:
On the day preceding the Socratic Seminar, for homework or an anchor activity, students will read the article and research analysis listed above. They will be asked to mark up the two texts and highlight four ideas that they would like to discuss or question during the Seminar. One Socratic Seminar day, students will also view on the SMARTBoard the Uncle Sam Advertisement, which will remain on the screen for the duration of the Seminar.
Socratic Seminar Questions: Opening Question:
Do you think Germany WILL end conscription? Why or why not? Core Questions:
1. Why is Germany talking about ending military conscription?
2. What reasons support keeping conscription?
3. What are the benefits of having an AVF?
4. How do you think having an AVF has affected the U.S. military?
5. How much of an affect do you think societal changes have on young men who are deciding whether to serve or participate in community service?
6. Why do you think the U.S. does not have peacetime conscription?
7. How does this affect you? Why should you care? Closing Question:
Do you think Germany SHOULD end conscription? Why or why not? Assessment: Students: self-assessment
10th Grade Socratic Seminar: Modern German Military
Topic: End of German Military Conscription
Goals of the Seminar:
1. To teach students about the different types of military recruitment around the world and how many outside forces impact them.
2. To provide an opportunity for students to think critically and form answers to key questions, such as those listed below.
3. To raise questions that students will research and report back to classmates. (During the seminar, students will record their questions. At the end of the seminar students will review/share questions, form groups to answer them, and spend a period in the library researching their questions.
Documents:
1. Newspaper article: “Germany Sees No Need for Obligatory Military Conscription.” Judy Dempsey. The New York Times. June 2, 2010.
2. Research Analysis: “To Draft of Not to Draft? Conscription Reform in the EU.” Aleksandra Dier. Center for Security Studies. 2010.
3. Uncle Sam Advertisement “I Want You.”
Pre-Seminar Activities:
On the day preceding the Socratic Seminar, for homework or an anchor activity, students will read the article and research analysis listed above. They will be asked to mark up the two texts and highlight four ideas that they would like to discuss or question during the Seminar. One Socratic Seminar day, students will also view on the SMARTBoard the Uncle Sam Advertisement, which will remain on the screen for the duration of the Seminar.
Socratic Seminar Questions:
Opening Question:
Do you think Germany WILL end conscription? Why or why not?
Core Questions:
1. Why is Germany talking about ending military conscription?
2. What reasons support keeping conscription?
3. What are the benefits of having an AVF?
4. How do you think having an AVF has affected the U.S. military?
5. How much of an affect do you think societal changes have on young men who are deciding whether to serve or participate in community service?
6. Why do you think the U.S. does not have peacetime conscription?
7. How does this affect you? Why should you care?
Closing Question:
Do you think Germany SHOULD end conscription? Why or why not?
Assessment: Students: self-assessment
Newspaper Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/world/europe/03iht-germany.html?ref=europe
Research Analysis: http://www.isn.ethz.ch/isn/Digital-Library/Publications/Detail/?lng=en&id=116823
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