Your assignment is to write an analytical research paper on
the topic of J. Robert Oppenheimer, his role in the development of the first
nuclear bombs during World War Two, the impact on Oppenheimer of the post-war
“Red Scare” in the United States, and the impact of nuclear weapons during the
Cold War era. Your paper must investigate
ALL FIVE of the following questions and issues:
1) Consider
the significance of J. Robert Oppenheimer in the context of U.S. history; how
did his role in the Manhattan Project and the development of the atomic bomb
shape the course of American history, particularly during World War II and the
Cold War era?
2) Consider
the ethical implications of the Manhattan Project and Oppenheimer’s involvement
in the creation of the atomic bomb; how did the decision to develop and use
nuclear weapons reflect broader debates about morality, scientific
responsibility, and the pursuit of national security interests?
3) Consider Oppenheimer’s complex relationship
with government authorities and the scientific community; how did his
involvement in leftist political circles and his subsequent scrutiny during the
“Red Scare” (a.k.a “McCarthy”) era impact his career and legacy?
4) Consider the role nuclear weapons played in
America’s international politics in the Cold War era (ca. 1946-1991); how did
the threat of “mutually assured nuclear destruction” shape events and
superpower conflict?
5) Conclude with your personal analysis of J.
Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the history of the United States in the 20th
Century based upon all of the sources you consulted in your research, including
the movie.
1)
You are REQUIRED to view the 2023 film Oppenheimer (which can
be found on YouTube, AppleTV, Amazon Prime Video or Peacock Subscription, for
example), and at least THREE times in your paper to refer to specific scenes in
the film which contribute to the topics listed above.
NOTICE- This is NOT a
movie review! Your viewing of the film
is intended to show how it illustrates real historic events. Dramatic analysis is not relevant to this
assignment.
2) In addition, you are required to use and
cite from SIX secondary sources (more are acceptable, fewer are not) to
write your paper. You are responsible
for locating these sources yourself as part of your research. You also must use and cite from SIX
separate primary source readings, either those assigned for this class or
from other websites as you choose. Remember
that many now declassified government documents from World War Two, the
Manhattan Project and the Cold War era are considered primary sources. Use the jstor.org website or other sites of similar
academic quality to find primary and secondary source materials. You are welcome to use class notes and
information from class Power Point presentations (these would be Secondary
Sources), but you must cite them if you use them.
Format Details:
1) Your paper must have at least EIGHT FULL
pages of text (longer is fine, shorter is not) plus a separate bibliography
page, plus a separate cover page, plus separate pages containing images (if you
choose to use them, this is optional).
If you use images in your paper, place all of them after all the
pages of text. The cover page, image
pages (if any) and bibliography page(s) DO NOT count toward the 8 pages of
text.
2) The cover page must contain the title of your
paper, an image if you wish (this is optional), also your name and student ID
number, the class and section, and the date the paper is due.
3) On the first page of text, put only the title
of your paper (and page number). Do not
place your name, other identification or date on the first page of text.
4) In the text of your paper, use 12-point sized
Times New Roman type font.
5) Space lines is 1.5 distance, with just ONE
1.5 space between paragraphs (in other words, the same spacing between
paragraphs as between lines inside each paragraph of text).
6) Text margins are 1-inch on top, bottom and
both sides.
7) Number all pages of text, pages of images (if
any) and bibliography. Put the number in
the upper right corner of each page.
Page numbering begins with Page 1 on the first page of text, NOT the
cover sheet.
8) Footnotes are in 10 point type, spaced 1
distance, NOT 1.5. Do not place an empty
line between separate footnote entries.
9) Bibliography entries should be arranged in
alphabetical order by last name of author or name of issuing agency.
10) Staple the finished paper together in the
upper left corner. Do not place the
paper in a file folder.
11) Use the “Chicago” format, NOT MLA or APA
formats for your paper, including FOOTNOTES (not endnotes) for all
citations. Refer to the “Purdue Owl”
website for correct formatting styles in the Chicago format.
There is no single conclusion or perspective on this
topic. Your research is intended for you
to arrive at your own conclusions as long as those conclusions are of academic
quality, not fantasy. SIMPLY TELLING
WHAT HAPPENED IS NOT SUFFICIENT! You
must provide evidence (both from the movie and from other primary and secondary
sources) to answer the posed questions and justify your conclusion.
2) I will consider the following things when
grading your paper: Quality of Research (what was the academic quality
of the sources you used), Quality of Analysis (how logical and supported
by facts is your argument), and Quality of Format (following style
instructions).
