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BEFORE YOU WATCH: Southeast Asia and World War I

Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below.
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:
  1. What was Southeast Asia like in 1914?
  2. Why were people living in Southeast Asia interested in what was happening in the Middle East?
  3. Why was the Russo-Japanese War important?
  4. Why was Singapore a strategic city?
  5. Why was the German submarine crew able to convince the Indian soldiers to revolt against the British?

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:
  1. Dr. Streets-Salter points out that, when we think about the First World War, we mostly think about trench warfare in Europe. But for most of the world, that’s not what the war was like. Clearly, the war was important for Southeast Asia. But do you think what happened in Southeast Asia was important to the war in Europe? How might you use one of the three frames to make your argument?
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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