Learning History on the Web Assignment, Essay Example

Introduction

The internet has become a very important platform through which historians conduct their researches. Since anyone can create a website, one has to be careful which websites he searches for information. This paper assesses three websites with a view to rate each of them in order to determine their appropriateness as sources of information for certain aspects of historical research. Some websites contain helpful, scholarly-oriented information while others contain hearsay and rumors that are completely useless for a historical research.

Vimy Ridge Remembered: a CBN news article updated last on April 9, 2008

Learning History on the Web In the first website, the article has highlighted in great detail how Canadian troops managed to take back Vimy Ridge, France, from occupation by German troops during the World War I. the article assesses the Canadian legacy of pride that arose from a battle victory. In this case, the article explains in great detail how a hurriedly constituted Canadian army achieved what professional Canadian armies had previously failed to do.

The article describes in great detail how the plan was organized, how arrangements were put in place, challenges that had to be overcome, past mistakes that the military could not afford to repeat as well as the consequences of the battle.

On the issue of the experience of Canadian soldiers, this article has very enlightening details about how Canadian commanders evaluated the plan before declaring the plan a viable one. Details of how long it took the Canadian troops to plan the ground assault are also given. In addition to experience, a description is offered on the kind of weapons that were used during the war. A comparison is made on the awe and destruction of this war with that of modern wars such as the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

No information is given regarding the history of Canada except from the assertion that this battle contributed a great deal to country’s assertion of her position in the world.

Canada in the First World War and the Road to Vimy Ridge

The article contains very detailed information regarding the circumstances that made Canada engage herself with the battle in France. It explains very well how the war developed, and goes onto the details of the figures of the member of the Canadian military, volunteer servicemen and militia, both before and after this battle.

The military operations are described with the main aim being assessing their impact on the country’s new sense of nationhood, despite suffering heavy casualties. The contribution of Canada to the war is highlighted as the main cause of the change of the country’s status from a mere colony to a nation. The process of planning for the war, the tactics employed, casualties suffered, award and honors given, are all illustrated using precise figures.

The Canadian troops were able to hold onto the front after the existing allied forces were overpowered by introduction of poison in their positions (Fraser, 1985). Here, the Canadian troops were able to hold the front and prevent swift German breakthrough. The explanation is so detailed that one gets a feel of what it was like to be in the battlefield at Vimy Ridge.

In terms of historical significance, this website contains detailed information relating to Canadian relationship with Britain, the nationalistic convictions that motivated her entry into the war and the impact of this involvement on the country sense of nationhood and future relations with other countries of the world.

Highlights of the cost, motivation and purpose of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial are given. Details are given on the features of the memorial and their significance to the country history, dedication to nationalistic cause and core values. The memorial stands on the place where the battle of Vimy Ridge was fought, where most of the 66,000 Canadian troops died. Unlike the article entitled: Vimy Ridge Remembered, the number of those Canadian soldiers whose remains were never collected due to the dangers posed by unexploded shells in the battlefields is not given.

The memorial is described as the greatest symbol of the Canadian commitment to global peace; that although Canada engaged herself in war, the core mission was to ensure that lasting world peace was restored within the realm of a new world order (Schreiber, 2005). The monument harbors artefacts that describe the events that took place as superbly capable troops drawn largely from the civilian population, volunteered to do their duty to protect the country’s national conscience and leave an authentic mark of Canadian dedication to world peace.

In conclusion, this article contains most, if not all the relevant details of the progress of the war and the casualties suffered along the way, the challenges faced, the lessons learned and historical impact of Canada’s involvement in the war. However, independent verification of the information given is necessary since no in-text citations references, or publication details are given. This makes the article not very suitable for a scholarly investigation into history. Verifying the historiographic accuracy of the information given might take a long time. It would therefore be good to try and look for other sources of information where attribution is part of the historical account. In such sources, the task of verifying sources becomes easier. The information on the website was last updated on September, 16 1998. This is a very long time for an online source of historical information. Scholars with interest in the latest inputs added by contemporary scholars might find this online

Donald Fraser, The Battle of Vimy Ridge

This article is contained in the official Canadian government website. This article is a diary that Donald Fraser, a private during the British operation, wrote and it represents the experiences of ordinary soldiers during the four-day encounter that captured more prisoners and weapons than any other British operation.

The authenticity of the information contained in the article is the secret of the diary’s writer although the facts can easily be verified through comparing it with other accounts given by other people who experienced the war. The article highlights the circumstances under which Donald Fraser gathered content for his diary. The editor of the diary is also named; his name is Professor Reginald H. Roy, who lectures at the University of Victoria. The publisher is also named. The diary was published by Sono Nis Press in 1985. Anyone referring to this diary while writing a history paper will not have any problems with compiling a citation. Reference is also made to (Allen, 1961) for more detailed historical insights.

Chapter 8 of this diary is entitled The Capture of Vimy Ridge. Fraser, Donald says that the capture of the Vimy Ridge marked one of the most important engagements for the Canadian military. He further explains that Canadian troops, referred to the battle as ‘The Battle of Vimy’ while universally the name ‘Battle of Arras’ was used.

The diary explicitly explains the thunderous roar of gunfire on the Easter Monday one April morning. He explains that the Vimy Ridge region was assigned to Canadian troops who were to be assisted by 13^th British Brigade units. On and on, details unfold on how the front was constituted from north to south.

The format of the website purposes to further clarify the authenticity of the information contained in article. It is clear that nothing in the diary has been changed. In fact, a scan of the diary itself has been made such that it is if you are reading a copy of the book itself. This makes this website a reference point that is as accurate as the book itself. Additionally, a note has been given to the effect that publication on the website has been done with permission from Professor Reginald H. Roy, the book’s editor. As you click on the next page within the website, it is as if you are perusing a page on the actual book.

In terms of Canada’s history, the book offers an insight into the nationalistic pride and consciousness that motivated ordinary solders to brave artillery fire in order the Germans in France’s Vimy Ridge.

In terms of the description of the war, the tactical importance of the Vimy Ridge is highlighted. In other words, every aspect of military operations involving Britain, Canada and allied forces is explained at length. This reference perfectly suits the description of a diary. A historian with interest in the manner in which the war progressed every single day will find this diary a very important tool.

The only thing that this diary fails to do is to tie the events of the battle with the historic context of Canada. In order for a historian to get insights into such information, reference to other historic materials is necessary. This is not to say that the diary has failed to achieve its purpose. Through piecing together information from different sections, one can still come up with an accurate explanation of what motivated Canada to get involved in the First World War.  The historiographic content of the article cannot be doubted.

Conclusion

The article: Donald Fraser, The Battle of Vimy Ridge provides the most authentic information on the given topic. Its origin is explained in the website; the author was a soldier during the war. Additionally, it contains in-text citations and references. The article: Canada in the First World War and the Road to Vimy Ridge is not scholarly-oriented by virtue of lack of in-text citations, references and acknowledgements. It is therefore the least relevant for a history research. The article: Vimy Ridge Remembered is a news item that gives a highlight of an event. It is easy to cite and is therefore relevant for a history research.

References

Fraser, D. (1985). The Diary of Private Fraser, 1914-1918, Canadian Expeditionary Force. Victoria: Sono Nis Press.

Allen, R. (1961). Ordeal By Fire: Canada, 1910-1945 Toronto: Doubleday Canada Limited.

Schreiber, S. (2005). Shock Army of The British Empire: The Canadian Corps In The Last 100 Days Of The Great War. St. Catharines: Toronto: Vanwell Publishing.

Appendices

Site Identification #1
Title: Vimy Ridge Remembered
Subject: memorial for the Vimy Ridge Battle
URL: http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/vimy/
Author: Gany Graves of CBC News
Evaluation Checklist Score/10

1.The site author (person or organization) possesses the required qualifications or authority to cover the subject.
10
2.The information provided on the site is precise (proper names, dates, links, events).
10
3.The subject is treated in depth.
3
4.The author presents a balanced point of view on the subject (both agreement and disagreement or differing or divergent theses).
8
5.The site demonstrates knowledge of most recent historians’ views on the subject
9
6.The site presents an original point of view on the topic.
8
7.The use of visual and/or audio materials on, or linked to, the web page is effective and enriches the learning experience.
8
8.The links connected to sites that were relevant and useful (allowing you to approach the subject in more depth).
7
9.The sources used are referenced accurately and in proper citation format (author, title, editor, dates, etc.)
4
10.The information is presented in a style that is clear, and that respects the conventions of proper grammar and writing.
10
Total: 77

Module 2 Website Evaluation Form

Module 2 – Assignment 2.1

Please evaluate the website according to the criteria described below. Rate each criterion from 0 to 10 (0 being the lowest and 10 the highest), then total the scores. Complete a separate evaluation form for each of the three (3) websites.

Site Identification #2
Title: Canada in the First World War and the Road to Vimy Ridge
Subject: the role of Canada in Vimy Ridge Battle: A historical legacy
URL: http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=history/firstwar/vimy
Author: Vimy Ridge National Historic Site of Canada
Evaluation Checklist Score/10

1.The site author (person or organization) possesses the required qualifications or authority to cover the subject.
5
2.The information provided on the site is precise (proper names, dates, links, events).
8
3.The subject is treated in depth.
7
4.The author presents a balanced point of view on the subject (both agreement and disagreement or differing or divergent theses).
4
5.The site demonstrates knowledge of most recent historians’ views on the subject
1
6.The site presents an original point of view on the topic.
3
7.The use of visual and/or audio materials on, or linked to, the web page is effective and enriches the learning experience.
6
8. The links connected to sites that were relevant and useful (allowing you to approach the subject in more depth).
3
9. The sources used are referenced accurately and in proper citation format (author, title, editor, dates, etc.)
1
10. The information is presented in a style that is clear, and that respects the conventions of proper grammar and writing.
9
Total: 47

Module 2 Website Evaluation Form

Module 2 – Assignment 2.1

Please evaluate the website according to the criteria described below. Rate each criterion from 0 to 10 (0 being the lowest and 10 the highest), then total the scores. Complete a separate evaluation form for each of the three (3) websites.

Site Identification #3
Title: Donald Fraser, The Battle of Vimy Ridge
Subject: A diary explaining the battle of Vimy Ridge
URL: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/firstworldwar/025005-2400-e.htm
Author: Donald Fraser
Evaluation Checklist Score/10

1.The site author (person or organization) possesses the required qualifications or authority to cover the subject.
10
2.The information provided on the site is precise (proper names, dates, links, events).
10
3. The subject is treated in depth.
9
4. The author presents a balanced point of view on the subject (both agreement and disagreement or differing or divergent theses).
8
5. The site demonstrates knowledge of most recent historians’ views on the subject
3
6. The site presents an original point of view on the topic.
10
7. The use of visual and/or audio materials on, or linked to, the web page is effective and enriches the learning experience.
9
8. The links connected to sites that were relevant and useful (allowing you to approach the subject in more depth).
9
9. The sources used are referenced accurately and in proper citation format (author, title, editor, dates, etc.)
10
10. The information is presented in a style that is clear, and that respects the conventions of proper grammar and writing.
9

Total: 87