The extension of World War II to the Pacific Theatre in 1942 signalled a new era in the technology of war and profoundly shaped the modern history of the Asia Pacific region. This course is the first in the world to combine Allied, Japanese and Pacific Islander understandings of the Pacific War with particular attention to the South West Pacific. It complements the existing emphasis on the perspective from the United States and is distinctive in making ‘space’ for Islander experiences. Attention is divided equally between a narrative history of the events of conflict, and a multi-thematic consideration of the consequences and implications of World War II in the Islands. These legacies are addressed through issues as diverse as military technology and strategy, health and environment, Pacific Island lives and post-war political developments in the region. The course offers a fresh approach to a watershed in regional history, and should appeal to students in History, Peace and Conflict Studies, Pacific Studies, Asian Studies, Development Studies and International Relations.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of key actors, events, locations, and interests in the Island theatre of the Pacific War and in its aftermath
2. Identify and describe distinct interpretations and representations of the Pacific War from Allied, Japanese and Pacific Islander standpoints
3. Critically examine a range of primary and secondary historical sources
4. Develop written and oral communication skills to clearly and confidently articulate historical arguments supported by research

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

Remote participation is possible as lectures will be delivered in hybrid form via Zoom and one tutorial per week will be taught fully online via Zoom.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	War in the Islands L1: Introductions L2: Approaches to Studying the War and the Pacific Tutorials Start in Week Two
2	A Global War L3: The Global and Regional Contexts L4: Pearl Harbor and Japan's Advance through the Pacific T1: Perspectives	Assessment of class participation begins
3	Islanders at War L5: Homefront or Battlefront? L6: National Heroes T2: Solomon Islands Coast Watching	Tutorial Presentations begin
4	Theatres of War L7: How the War was Fought L8: The New Guinea Campaign T3: The Pacific War on Screen
5	Behind the Lines L9: Pacific Intelligence L10: The Interned and Displaced T4: Prisoners of War	Primary Source Analysis (Monday 22 August)
6	The Realities of War L11: Combatting Disease L12: Ending the War T5: Debating Hiroshima and Nagasaki
7	Environmental Considerations L13: How Pacific Environments Shaped the Course of War L14: Food Supply and Phosphate Islands T6: The Toll of War on Landscapes and Lived Environments	Biographical Exercise (Monday 26 September)
8	Parlez-vous Français? L15: Vichy France and New Caledonia L16: Vichy France and French Polynesia T7: War and the Non-Anglophone Pacific
9	A Gendered War L17: Comfort Women L18: Screening: Born of Conflict: Children of the Pacific War (2014) T8: Gender and the American Impact
10	The Japanese Perspective L19: Japanese War Trials L20: The Japanese Occupation T9: Coming to Terms with the War in Japan
11	An Australian War? L21: Remembering Australia's Pacific War L22: Screening: A Kokoda Track Story T10: Kokoda and Australian Public Memory
12	Legacies and Lessons L23: The Post-War Pacific Part 1 (Cargo Cults and Decolonisation) L24: The Post-War Pacific Part 2 (Nuclearism and Militarism) T11: Conclusions	Research Essay (Monday 31 October)

Tutorial Registration

Through MyTimetable from 11 July 2022

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Contribution to Discussion	10 %	*	*	2,3,4
Tutorial Presentation	10 %	*	*	2,3,4
Primary Source Analysis	15 %	22/08/2022	26/08/2022	1,2,3
Biographical Exercise	20 %	26/09/2022	10/10/2022	1,3,4
Research Essay	45 %	31/10/2022	14/11/2022	1,2,3,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Integrity . In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

A participation note of 10% applies to this course.

Examination(s)

There will be no formal examination for this course.

Assessment Task 1

Contribution to Discussion

You are expected to actively participate during in-class discussions. Your grade for this assessment will be based on the quantity and quality of your contributions to the in-class discussions and your understanding of the course readings throughout the semester (LO 2,3,4).

Assessment Task 2

Tutorial Presentation

Each student is expected to choose one tutorial over the semester where they will take responsibility for introducing the tutorial topic and initiating class discussion. The purpose of the assessment task is to develop the ability to pinpoint and summarize key historical themes from a range of given texts and communicate ideas to others in an effective and logical way (LO 2, 3, 4).

Assessment Task 3

Primary Source Analysis

The Primary Source Exercise is due by 11.59 pm on Monday 22 August and should be submitted online through Turnitin. This assessment requires the student to produce a 800-word reflective analysis of a primary source of their choice related to the course content. The purpose of the assessment task is to develop each student’s ability to find and deploy relevant primary material (text, films, objects, photographs, speeches, interviews etc.) from an online or archival repository, to critically engage with the subject matter by identifying broadly distinctive interpretations and representations of events or historical themes from different standpoints, and to place primary sources in their historical and interpretive contexts over the course of a well-supported and cogent personal response (LO 1,2,3). Please include your ANU ID number (uXXXXXXX) in the header of your document, but do not include your name. Both Word and PDF formats are acceptable. 

Assessment Task 4

Biographical Exercise

The Biographical Exercise is due by 11:59 pm on Monday 26 September and should be submitted online through Turnitin. This assessment item requires the student to identify a key historical figure from the Pacific War and prepare a short historical biography of 1,000 words about their life, imagining that the biography is destined for publication in a national dictionary of biography or other museum or war memorial setting. The biography should foreground their subject's contribution to or activities undertaken during the War and must be well-researched using a variety of sources, and accurately and consistently referenced (LO 1,3,4). You are strongly advised to consult with the course convener about your chosen historical figure before commencing the assignment. Please include your ANU ID number (uXXXXXXX) in the header of your document, but do not include your name. Both Word and PDF formats are acceptable. 

Assessment Task 5

Research Essay

The Research Essay is due by 11.59 pm on Monday 31 October and should be submitted online through Turnitin. This assessment item requires the student to deploy knowledge gained over the course of the semester in a well-supported and cogent essay of 3,000 words (LO 1,2,3,4). The student will choose a question from a given list or consult with the course convener to devise a viable essay question of their own choosing. The essay should draw from a wide range of primary and secondary texts which will be used to inform a coherent argument. Essays will be assessed on the quality and depth of research, understanding of historical arguments, and ability to communicate findings in a persuasive and well-argued response. Please include your ANU ID number (uXXXXXXX) in the header of your document, but do not include your name. Both Word and PDF formats are acceptable.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.

The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Assignments will be returned within two weeks of the submission date with feedback attached.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students