Argumentative Essay: Bystander Effect, Obedience, Morality – Holocaust Response

1. Argumentative Essay: Bystander Effect, Obedience, Morality – Holocaust Response

2. Write an argumentative essay to give your position to the following question: • SHOULD THE GERMAN BYSTANDERS BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS?

3. What notes you need: • Kitty Genevese – Bystander Effect • Bibb Latane and John Darley – When Bystanders Join In; What makes people remain bystanders and others become actors in situations? • The German Bystanders – Guilt vs. Diffusion of Responsibility, Guilty Act vs. Guilty Mind • Stanley Milgram Obedience Experiment – Factors of Obedience • Lawrence Kohlberg’s Moral Development Theory

4. Class Discussion Questions: • How is the bystander effect and diffusion of responsibility related to the case of the Holocaust? (We looked at the bystanders at Belsen Camp - Holocaust video, or you can use your own examples and knowledge) • Use the findings from the Kitty Genovese and Bystander Effect case to support your arguments. • What were some of the main reasons the German people gave for their lack of action at the Belsen Concentration Camp or in the example you used? • Is this rationale just/fair in the fact that they allowed the Nazis to continue the assault on Jews and other groups of people? • How does Stanley Milgram’s experiment, and the factors of obedience help us to understand the actions of many German people during this time? • How can Kohlberg’s theory help us to understand the actions of the bystanders? • What stage(s) of Kohlberg’s Morality Theory applies to the case of the German bystanders?

5. Brainstorming – To be done in class. • What is the position your essay will take? • What is the first argument that will explain your position? • This argument must be connected to the issue of the Holocaust and the German Bystanders • How does your argument connect to some aspect of the Bystander Theory. • What is the second argument that will explain your position? • Discuss how Stanley Milgram’s Obedience Study helps you explain your position. • Make sure to use a different example and explanation of how this argument proves your position on the German Bystanders and the Holocaust. • What is the third argument that will explain your position? • Make sure to use a different example and explanation of how this argument proves your position on the German Bystanders and the Holocaust than you did in your first two arguments. • How can Kohlberg’s theory help us to understand the actions of the bystanders? What stage(s) of Kohlberg’s Morality Theory applies to the case of the German bystanders?

6. Format for your essay: • Introduction Paragraph: Introduce your topic. State your opinion, this is your thesis. List/briefly explain your 3 points that you will expand on in your body paragraphs. • Your 3 Arguments: You must have 3 separate arguments. For each argument, use evidence and examples from the course content, theories and case studies to explain your opinion. You must provide one strong example related to the Holocaust and a theory explanation per paragraph. Follow your brainstorming questions. • Conclusion: Summarize your main points. Explain how a topic within current society is still connected to the bystander effect and obedience theories.

7. Success Criteria • Make sure to specifically follow the success criteria. • Do not lose marks senselessly. • Hand in your work on time. • Due Date: _____________________________