University of Southern California Berlin Olympics and Nazi Games Discussion

1. The 1936 Berlin Olympics are often described as “the Games that changed the Olympic Games.” That is,they are described as being totally different from the Olympic Games that preceded them.Did the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games mark a significant break from the modern Olympic Games that preceded them(1896-1932), or do you think they were actually more similar to (that is, a continuation of) these earlier Olympic Games?Explain your reasoning. Please note: A compelling essay will not just explore the 1936 Berlin Games; it will explicitlycompare and contrast the Berlin Games with the Games that came before them. Also, though you are welcome todiscuss sporting events, themselves, the essay should concentrate on the main themes of our course thus far. For areminder of those themes, see the section “Course Themes” on pp. 1-2 of the syllabus.2. In the title of our textbook, Jules Boykoff calls the Olympics, “Power Games.” To what extent were the earlyOlympic Games (1896-1936) a reflection of the global power dynamics of the era? To what extent were those powerdynamics challenged at these Games? Which was more significant, the way the Games reflected or challenged thesedynamics? Please note: By “power dynamics” we mean, for example, the class, racial, and gender hierarchies of the eraas well as the dynamics of imperialism/ colonialism/international relations, more generally.An outstanding essay (1) will have a clearly stated argument that explicitly answers one of the above questions;(2) will support that argument with evidence drawn from class meetings and readings (textbook, secondary sourceessays, and primary-source documents) (note: any essay that attempts to answer question #1 without using the BarbaraKeys essays will be lacking; likewise, any essay that attempts to answer question #2 without using the Chatziefstathiouessay, will be equally problematic); and (3) it will consider counter-evidence—that is, it will include at least oneparagraph in which you explore why one might answer the question counter to the way you are, but then explain whyyour interpretation is more compelling.Formatting Guidelines: Your essay should be 4-6 pages in length. Your essay must be typed, double-spaced, use12-point font (we suggest Times New Roman), and have one-inch margins. Give your essay a title—though no titlepages please.In the upper-left corner of your essay, include three single-spaced lines with: (1) your name; (2) the class number; and(3) the date you are turning in the essay.14Make sure your essay has page numbers. At the end of your essay, please type the words “Honor Code” and thentype your name.Please use Chicago/Turabian style footnotes in your essay. I have posted a Footnote Guide on Sakai to helpyou with the formatting. If you have questions beyond that, please come and see me or your Teaching Assistant (pleasenote that you do not need to footnote information that comes from lecture).I have also posted on Sakai a two-page writing guide, “How to Write a Compelling History Essay.” I HIGHLYRECOMMEND that you review this guide no matter how many history essays you have written.Neither your TA nor I will read drafts. Instead, we will gladly have a conversation with you about what you want towrite, the evidence you plan to use, etc. We are here to talk about persuasive writing and global history.