TZU CHI SCHOOL Term 3 Argumentative Essay Assessment 2024-25 : Historical Accuracy of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pajamas’, Singapore

Guiding Prompt

While Boyne’s novel ‘The Boy in the Striped Pajamas’ touches on the fictional friendship of Bruno and Shmuel, it has also become a widespread tool for Holocaust education. Boyne has publicly stated that one of his goals in writing the novel as a “fable” from a child’s point of view was to give younger readers a gentler introduction to the gruesome realities of the Holocaust and the German Nazi Party.

Questions: (Choose one from the list below.)

● Does John Boyne accurately depict the treatment of the Jewish prisoners at
Auschwitz?
● Does the novel ‘The Boy in the Striped Pajamas’ mirror the experience of children during the Holocaust accurately?
● Is ‘The Boy in the Striped Pajamas’ historically accurate in its portrayal of life in Nazi Germany and the concentration camps during World War II?
Requirements:
You are to write a research-based argumentative essay about the chosen question. The essay should have six paragraphs, adhering to the structure and guidelines discussed in class. Use MLA 9 referencing style accordingly.
Approved Sources:
● The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
● United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM): https://www.ushmm.org/
● Public Broadcasting Service (PBS):
https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/us-and-the-holocaust/interactives
● BBC: The Holocaust: https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/c34vxewp0ykt
● History: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/the-holocaust
● BBC Bitesize The Holocaust
● Britannica Kids Holocaust
● BBC News round ‘What was the Holocaust?’
● History for kids The Holocaust
Note:
● Make a copy of this document. Submit the final copy in PDF format with the file name:
Name_ELL8_SA_ABCD (Example: Elaine_ELL8_SA_ABCD)
● The final document should contain the following:
a. Outline
b. Essay
c. List of Works Cited
● The entire document must be formatted in accordance with MLA 9 referencing style/guidelines.