Before beginning this assignment, be sure to read the sections in the textbook (Second Edition Traditions and Encounters/ Bentley, Ziegler, and Streets-Salter) on the World War I.
Step 1: Read the provided selections from the diary of Private Donald Fraser, a Canadian soldier fighting in World War I (Moodle).
Step 2: Write a 2-3 page essay on his experiences. Be sure to consider the following questions:
-
How does Fraser describe the conditions of life in the trenches? What hardships and difficulties does he endure?
-
How did the soldiers feel about what they were doing? What was their level of morale and enthusiasm? How did this change over time?
-
How do you think these experiences would have transformed a soldier’s life and beliefs? (Fraser hints at this in several places, but never comes out and says it. You need to read between the lines and make your best guesses.)
