Books about Germany since 1945:
Student Book Essay Index Page

essays written for UCSB Hist 133c:
Germany since 1945
Prof. Harold Marcuse

page created March 8, 2004, last modified: 6/20/07

This page links to over 50 book essays written by students in Professor Marcuse's
Germany since 1945 lecture course at UC Santa Barbara since 2004.

• What was the assignment? Basically, to summarize and examine a book on post-1945 German history, using concepts from the course. For details, see the 2007 Book Essay handout (2006 version), and 2007 Web Publication guidelines (shorter 2006 version).
• How did the students choose the books? In 2004 the students chose the books themselves; in 2006 I also supplied a few suggestions; in 2007 I had a more detailed page of book suggestions. I trying to offer both new books and important older books. I also suggest more arcane titles when students come to me with specific interests.
• Which student essays were selected for web publication?
  • In 2007, 27 of 45 qualified for (B+ or better on paper), and 23 ultimately chose this option.
  • In 2006, 19 of 32 qualified for (B+ or better on paper), and 17 ultimately chose this option.
  • In 2004, 12 of 33 students opted to meet the earlier deadline and do the additional editing and bibliographic work to have their papers published here, while 4 more students submitted their papers at my request (15 total).
• Can I cite these essays? Yes, just as you can cite anything you find on the internet. But don't quote from them or otherwise use the text without citing! See my plagiarism warning, below.
• How are the essays arranged on this page? I'm trying to think of a better way, but for now each course has its own table of links: 2004-16 essays, 2006-17 essays, 2007-23 essays. The headings on the left offer a general content guide, but the best way to find something (like your name) is to do a page find (ctrl-f in most browsers). Google will of course index them soon.

Jessica Wong on
Corey Ross,
East German Dictatorship
(Arnold, 2002)

Kevin Brady on
Gary Bruce, E. German Resistance, 1945-55
(Rowman & Littlefield, 2003)

Shannon Heliker on
Jeffrey Olick,
In the House of the Hangman
(Chicago, 2005)

Loni Russell on
Marc Fisher,
After the Wall
(Simon & Shuster, 1995)

Lyndsey Romero,
interview with Joseph Peus
(b. 1936),
compared with Jost Hermand,
Hitler Youth in Poland (1997)

Karina Alvarez on
Dirk Philipsen,
We Were the People
(Duke, 1993)

Katie Irwin on
Geoff Eley (ed.):
The Goldhagen Effect
(Michigan, 2000)

Any student tempted to use one of these papers for an assignment in another course or school should be aware of the serious consequences for plagiarism. Here is what I write in my syllabi:

Plagiarism—presenting someone else's work as your own, or deliberately failing to credit or attribute the work of others on whom you draw (including materials found on the web)—is a serious academic offense, punishable by dismissal from the university. It hurts the one who commits it most of all, by cheating them out of an education. I report offenses to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action.

• For more information, see:
  • Screenshot of Integrity Pledge on GOLD that all UCSB students must acknowledge.
  • UCSB Judicial Affairs has an FAQ for Parents and Students; pdf brochure for students
  • UCSB Office of Instructional Consultation: Promoting Academic Integrity
  • UCSB page on academic dishonesty (html version of brochure; see also updated pdf))
  • Princeton plagiarism page with 3 commented examples.