BEFORE YOU WATCH: World War II

Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below (next in the lineup!). If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.

First read: preview and skimming for gist

Before you watch, you should skim the transcript first. The skim should be very quick and give you the gist (general idea) of what the video is about. You should be looking at the title, thumbnails, pictures, and first few seconds of the video for the gist.

Second read: key ideas and understanding content

Now that you’ve skimmed the video transcript and taken a quick peek at the video, you should preview the questions you will be answering. These questions will help you get a better understanding of the concepts and arguments that are presented in the video. Keep in mind that when you watch the video, it is a good idea to write down any vocab you read or hear that is unfamiliar to you.

By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:

When does John Green say that World War II started?
Why did Germany conquer Europe so quickly?
Why were places like Argentina important to the war effort?
How does John Green explain Germany’s decision to invade Russia and Japan’s choice to bomb Pearl Harbor?
Why were so many civilians killed in this war?

Third read: evaluating and corroborating

Finally, here are some questions that will help you focus on why this video matters and how it connects to other content you’ve studied.

At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to these questions:

How did the advances in human technology and organization during the long nineteenth century enable the slaughter of millions of soldiers and civilians during the Second World War?

Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to watch! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished watching.

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