Executive Summary

Guide

 

An Executive Summary is a brief restatement of the main ideas and most important details in a coherent and organized way.  In the business world, an Executive Summary is written to efficiently get across the major points of a presentation.

 

Rationale:  Research demonstrates that extracting main ideas from notes, practicing language to convey meaning and reviewing and organizing information increases understanding and retention.

 

Instructions:  Make bullets regarding the main ideas within the unit, particularly around crucial terms identified in bold.  Write a paragraph paraphrasing main ideas at the top of the page, putting terms in bold. 

General Guidelines

·         Use the first paragraph as an overall summary; write it after the bullets

·         Bullet the remaining paragraphs

·         Use the first sentence of each bullet as a paraphrase of the paragraph; italicize it.

·         Write efficiently

·         Command vocabulary and details

Executive Summary Rubric

possible points

#

specifics

#

expectations

Op1

Op2

Op3

Avg

4

1

Organization

a

First paragraph is itself a summary

 

 

 

 

b

First paragraphs outlines remaining paragraphs

4

2

Clarity

c

Uses effective bulleted paragraphs

 

 

 

 

d

Uses italics and emboldens vocabulary

E

Maintains good sentences

4

3

Credibility

F

Employs appropriate terms correctly

 

 

 

 

G

Uses sufficient correct details

H

Uses authoritative voice, writes in third person

N/A

4

Thoroughness

I

Writing has excellent but discerning detail

 

 

 

 

N/a

5

Completeness

j

Covers all information to the end of unit

 

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Summary Example

 

WWI would ultimately prove to be the most obscene in world history, yet no one could really point out why the war was fought.  Conditions in Europe meant that any conflict would escalate into a large-scale war, and indeed ultimately over thirty nations to participate in WWI.  Despite drastic efforts on both sides to end the war quickly, new technology had caused a change in warfare and the war quickly grew into a stalemate.  After a period of US Neutrality, the United States experienced a series of provocations while taking preparations for war.  After the US entered the war, the US quickly reorganized the economy to assure an Allied Victory.  The resulting economic vigor would ultimately lead a new civic activism and increased opportunities for women and minorities.   The US Government ensured support for the war despite some criticism.  Russia withdrew from the war towards the end and the US led Peace of Paris would prove to have lasting, global consequences.

 

 

 

  • Conditions in Europe meant a large-scale war was eminent.  WWI broke out in Europe due to growing nationalism and militarism as people believed in the superiority of their country and supported very large militaries.  The area of the Balkans was called the “powder keg of Europe” because ethnic rivalries were certain to erupt into war.  A system of alliances meant that any conflict would most likely escalate into a war with many participants.  When Gavrilo Princip assassinated the heir to the Austrian throne – Archduke Franz Ferdinand – Austria declared war on Serbia and from there it escalated into the Great War. 

 

  • New technology changed warfare for the worse.  The war soon came to a stalemate.  Trench warfare developed because the machine gun forced troops to dig trenches to avoid the rapidly firing bullets.  Mustard Gas was used to try to kill soldiers in trenches and gas masks were thus spread among the troops.  Tanks were later introduced to pierce machine gun lines, and planes were first used in hopes to shoot soldiers in the trenches.

 

  • The American people did not want to go to war and American policy reflected this.  Baffled by the war, the US vowed to maintain the popular policy of neutrality.  Woodrow Wilson even won reelection based on the campaign slogan “he kept us out of war.”  The US would remain out of the four year war for the first three years despite British and French requests for help.

 

  • After a series of provocations, the support for the war was enough for policy changes and ultimately a declaration of War.   Various provocations created public support for US entry into the war.  U-Boats, were torpedoing passenger lines from the US to Britain claiming they were carrying military supplies, the most famous of which was named the Lusitania. The Zimmerman Note was a request asking Mexico to attack the US.  The National Defense Act built up US forces as diplomatic relations intensified.  Following the Zimmerman note, Congress passed a declaration of war claiming that the US must make the world “safe for democracy.” The Selective Service Act was passed to institute a draft. 

 

  • The economy reorganized to provide for war and conserve vital resources, giving opportunities to women and minorities.  This process was directed by the War Industries Board.  It was a patriotic duty to buy Liberty and Victory Bonds to finance the war.  The war sufficiently stimulated the economy and the men abroad meant jobs opened up opportunities for women and minorities.  Blacks and Mexicans moved northwards for job opportunities.  Blacks often left to flee the rampant discrimination in the south but found that Northern states were often filled with similar prejudice and violence towards Blacks.  This period is referred to as the Great Migration.  There were race riots all over the nation.  Blacks were also discriminated against in the military where they were generally kept in kitchen positions.  Labor Unions were particularly active during this time, so much so that Wilson had to create a National War Labor Board to arbitrate conflicts between labor and business. 

 

  • Volunteerism was popular, as illustrated by Juliette Gordon Lowe starting the Girl Scouts.  The Food Administration, headed by future president Herbert Hoover, was particularly influential in daily life and asked people to tend to Victory Gardens in their yards, parks and schools.    

 

  • The American government commenced a propaganda campaignThe popularity of foreign wars is often dependent on the government’s ability to create propaganda; the Committee on Public Information was created and quickly realized that images of cruel and monstrous Germans helped sway public opinion.  The fledgling movie industry produced movies consistent with the image the government was looking to promote.  Public criticism of the war was outlawed by the Espionage and Sedition Acts and thousands of people were arrested including Eugene Debs, the former head of the IWW and the socialist candidate for president.  The acts, which are often noted for their inconsistency with the first amendment, were upheld by the Supreme Court in Schenk v. the United States.

 

  • American troops proved decisive at the end of the War.  As the Bolsheviks took power in Russia after the revolution against the Czar, they withdrew from the war allowing Germany to focus on the Western front in France.  Over a million German soldiers poured into France, and allied forces counterattacked and soon saw the German army collapse.  American troops proved to be the decisive element of the final battles.  General John J. Pershing led American troops into Paris.  American troops would make a difference at the second Battle of the Marne and the Battle of the Argonne Forest. 

 

  • American leadership fell short in the peace process, but Wilson proposed a new order based on self-determination and an international organization.  Woodrow Wilson outlined his plan for world peace in his Fourteen Points presented to Congress, including enforcing the principle of self-determination and creating a League of Nations.  The Peace of Paris was conducted mostly by the Big Four – France, Britain, Italy, and the US.  The terms of the Treaty of Versailles; Britain and France forced German citizens to pay for the war and provisions prevented German power from ever returning.  The Senate, under the leadership of Henry Cabot Lodge, rejected the Treaty of Versailles over the terms of membership in the League of Nations, which suggested active US military participation in global affairs. 

 

  • The War left Europe devastated and set the stage for a global depression and World War II.   Over 8.5 million casualties in battle and 28 million wounded meant an entire generation of young men would be missing from the population.  To boot, Influenza spread in 1918-1919 and killed more people than the war had.  The world would soon enter a global depression and Germany would particularly suffer from the harsh terms of the Peace of Paris.  The stage would be set for WWII.