A SHORT STORY ABOUT A HOLOCAUST
SURVIVOR WRITTEN WITH THE AIM OF
EVOKING AN EMPATHETIC RESPONSE FROM
16-19 YEARS OLD GIRLS.
1
(name and surname), 2032
, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I want to thank my art teacher in Cherkasy for sharing this story with me so that I could
share it with you. We should never forget the victims of the Holocaust. Never again.
I thank … for her guidance, support and infectious enthusiasm.
I thank … for her advice with my research on how to ensure that it was ethical.
I am most thankful to my friends. …, I hope you found yourself in the story. …, thank you for
your advice on how to analyse my data.
2
(name and surname), 2032
, CONTENTS PAGE
Acknowledgements....................................................................................................................................................... 2
Acknowledgements....................................................................................................................................................... 2
‘Gun. Train. Pit. Choice?’: a short story........................................................................................................................... 5
‘Gun. Train. Pit. Choice?’: a short story........................................................................................................................... 5
Introduction and inspiration.............................................................................................................................................. 6
Introduction and inspiration.............................................................................................................................................. 6
Addressing ethical issues and social implications..................................................................................................... 6
Addressing ethical issues and social implications..................................................................................................... 6
Methodology............................................................................................................................................................................. 7
Methodology............................................................................................................................................................................. 7
Researching the Holocaust in Cherkasy......................................................................................................................... 9
Researching the Holocaust in Cherkasy......................................................................................................................... 9
Literature review.................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Literature review.................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Writing a short story........................................................................................................................................................... 11
Writing a short story........................................................................................................................................................... 11
Choosing a genre.............................................................................................................................................................. 11
Choosing a genre.............................................................................................................................................................. 11
Choosing a form................................................................................................................................................................ 11
Choosing a form................................................................................................................................................................ 11
Choosing the audience................................................................................................................................................... 11
Choosing the audience................................................................................................................................................... 11
Choosing the settings..................................................................................................................................................... 11
Choosing the settings..................................................................................................................................................... 11
Creating the main character........................................................................................................................................ 12
Creating the main character........................................................................................................................................ 12
Constructing the plot...................................................................................................................................................... 13
Constructing the plot...................................................................................................................................................... 13
Employing narrative techniques............................................................................................................................... 13
Employing narrative techniques............................................................................................................................... 13
Conducting primary research.......................................................................................................................................... 14
Conducting primary research.......................................................................................................................................... 14
Evaluation................................................................................................................................................................................ 16
Evaluation................................................................................................................................................................................ 16
Conclusion............................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Conclusion............................................................................................................................................................................... 16
3
(name and surname), 2032
,Bibliography........................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Bibliography........................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Appendices.............................................................................................................................................................................. 19
Appendices.............................................................................................................................................................................. 19
Appendix 1: Email.................................................................................................................................................. 19
Appendix 1: Email.................................................................................................................................................. 19
Appendix 2: Participant Information Sheet................................................................................................. 19
Appendix 2: Participant Information Sheet................................................................................................. 19
Appendix 3: Consent form.................................................................................................................................. 20
Appendix 3: Consent form.................................................................................................................................. 20
Appendix 4: Debrief.............................................................................................................................................. 21
Appendix 4: Debrief.............................................................................................................................................. 21
Appendix 5: Survey Questions.......................................................................................................................... 21
Appendix 5: Survey Questions.......................................................................................................................... 21
Appendix 6: Bar Charts........................................................................................................................................ 22
Appendix 6: Bar Charts........................................................................................................................................ 22
Appendix 7: Presentation notes....................................................................................................................... 23
Appendix 7: Presentation notes....................................................................................................................... 23
Appendix 8: notes on Keen’s book.................................................................................................................. 24
Appendix 8: notes on Keen’s book.................................................................................................................. 24
Appendix 9: MOOC ‘Writing for the Young Readers. Opening the Treasure Chest’.....................26
Appendix 9: MOOC ‘Writing for the Young Readers. Opening the Treasure Chest’.....................26
Appendix 10: ideas for the primary research............................................................................................. 30
Appendix 10: ideas for the primary research............................................................................................. 30
4
(name and surname), 2032
, ‘GUN. TRAIN. PIT. CHOICE?’: A SHORT STORY
No story here due to copyright reasons
(short story word count: 3,197)
5
(name and surname), 2032
, INTRODUCTION AND INSPIRATION
I have always been passionate about Creative Writing and how fiction affects
readers. Therefore, when my art teacher (her details will remain confidential, as I was
unable to contact her and ask her permission to mention them due to her illness) told me
how her grandmother, who had Jewish roots, managed to escape from being deported to
Germany for the labour purposes, I was sure that this story is worth being written down
and shared with a wider audience.
However, I also wanted to investigate the psychological side of Creative Writing -
how the authors evoke different emotions in the readers and try applying these methods
myself. I decided to concentrate on empathy, as this is the emotion I associate with the
Holocaust – either the lack of it for the people who participated in the mass killings or the
abundance of it for people who helped the Jews to escape prosecution.
Furthermore, I strongly believe that in order not to repeat the suppression of
minorities in the future, people should put themselves into the shoes of others and be
presented with the perspective of a suppressed minority, so I hope that my short story
could contribute to the development of an empathetic response to national minorities and
help to make the world a better place.
ADDRESSING ETHICAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS
I was aware that writing about the Holocaust could have ethical issues and social
implications for those who are connected with this tragedy or could cause severe distress
to someone. Therefore, I chose young adults – 16-19 years old girls as my target audience,
as they can voluntarily and independently assess the risks themselves and decide whether
to read the short story with such a sensitive topic or not.
When conducting a study to assess the success of evoking empathy in a Holocaust
survivor (see ‘Conducting primary research’), I received informed consent from all
participants who took part in it, told them that this is voluntary and they can withdraw at
any moment, while also informing them of any risks involved (see Appendix 1, Appendix 2
and Appendix 3). This way, I ensured that my study was ethical. Furthermore, I debriefed
all participants afterwards, reminding them of their right to withdraw and the
confidentiality of their information (see Appendix 4). In the debrief, I also explained why it
is important to study empathy and the Holocaust.
6
(name and surname), 2032
, METHODOLOGY
To ensure that I allocate sufficient time for EPQ and successfully manage it
alongside my studies and homework, I created this schedule and put it near my working
desk, as a reminder.
Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun
Morning EPQ EPQ = 2
(free hours
periods)
=1
hour 10
minutes
Lunch
Evening EPQ (free
periods)
= 1 hour 10
minutes
Overall: 4 hours 20 minutes per week
In order to keep track of tasks which I need to do to accomplish my EPQ, I created this
chart and was checking it every time I was working on my EPQ to ensure that I was following
the plan. The green colour means that I was able to stick to my deadlines, while the red colour
means that there had been a shift in my deadlines.
7
(name and surname), 2032
, 8
(name and surname), 2032
SURVIVOR WRITTEN WITH THE AIM OF
EVOKING AN EMPATHETIC RESPONSE FROM
16-19 YEARS OLD GIRLS.
1
(name and surname), 2032
, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I want to thank my art teacher in Cherkasy for sharing this story with me so that I could
share it with you. We should never forget the victims of the Holocaust. Never again.
I thank … for her guidance, support and infectious enthusiasm.
I thank … for her advice with my research on how to ensure that it was ethical.
I am most thankful to my friends. …, I hope you found yourself in the story. …, thank you for
your advice on how to analyse my data.
2
(name and surname), 2032
, CONTENTS PAGE
Acknowledgements....................................................................................................................................................... 2
Acknowledgements....................................................................................................................................................... 2
‘Gun. Train. Pit. Choice?’: a short story........................................................................................................................... 5
‘Gun. Train. Pit. Choice?’: a short story........................................................................................................................... 5
Introduction and inspiration.............................................................................................................................................. 6
Introduction and inspiration.............................................................................................................................................. 6
Addressing ethical issues and social implications..................................................................................................... 6
Addressing ethical issues and social implications..................................................................................................... 6
Methodology............................................................................................................................................................................. 7
Methodology............................................................................................................................................................................. 7
Researching the Holocaust in Cherkasy......................................................................................................................... 9
Researching the Holocaust in Cherkasy......................................................................................................................... 9
Literature review.................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Literature review.................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Writing a short story........................................................................................................................................................... 11
Writing a short story........................................................................................................................................................... 11
Choosing a genre.............................................................................................................................................................. 11
Choosing a genre.............................................................................................................................................................. 11
Choosing a form................................................................................................................................................................ 11
Choosing a form................................................................................................................................................................ 11
Choosing the audience................................................................................................................................................... 11
Choosing the audience................................................................................................................................................... 11
Choosing the settings..................................................................................................................................................... 11
Choosing the settings..................................................................................................................................................... 11
Creating the main character........................................................................................................................................ 12
Creating the main character........................................................................................................................................ 12
Constructing the plot...................................................................................................................................................... 13
Constructing the plot...................................................................................................................................................... 13
Employing narrative techniques............................................................................................................................... 13
Employing narrative techniques............................................................................................................................... 13
Conducting primary research.......................................................................................................................................... 14
Conducting primary research.......................................................................................................................................... 14
Evaluation................................................................................................................................................................................ 16
Evaluation................................................................................................................................................................................ 16
Conclusion............................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Conclusion............................................................................................................................................................................... 16
3
(name and surname), 2032
,Bibliography........................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Bibliography........................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Appendices.............................................................................................................................................................................. 19
Appendices.............................................................................................................................................................................. 19
Appendix 1: Email.................................................................................................................................................. 19
Appendix 1: Email.................................................................................................................................................. 19
Appendix 2: Participant Information Sheet................................................................................................. 19
Appendix 2: Participant Information Sheet................................................................................................. 19
Appendix 3: Consent form.................................................................................................................................. 20
Appendix 3: Consent form.................................................................................................................................. 20
Appendix 4: Debrief.............................................................................................................................................. 21
Appendix 4: Debrief.............................................................................................................................................. 21
Appendix 5: Survey Questions.......................................................................................................................... 21
Appendix 5: Survey Questions.......................................................................................................................... 21
Appendix 6: Bar Charts........................................................................................................................................ 22
Appendix 6: Bar Charts........................................................................................................................................ 22
Appendix 7: Presentation notes....................................................................................................................... 23
Appendix 7: Presentation notes....................................................................................................................... 23
Appendix 8: notes on Keen’s book.................................................................................................................. 24
Appendix 8: notes on Keen’s book.................................................................................................................. 24
Appendix 9: MOOC ‘Writing for the Young Readers. Opening the Treasure Chest’.....................26
Appendix 9: MOOC ‘Writing for the Young Readers. Opening the Treasure Chest’.....................26
Appendix 10: ideas for the primary research............................................................................................. 30
Appendix 10: ideas for the primary research............................................................................................. 30
4
(name and surname), 2032
, ‘GUN. TRAIN. PIT. CHOICE?’: A SHORT STORY
No story here due to copyright reasons
(short story word count: 3,197)
5
(name and surname), 2032
, INTRODUCTION AND INSPIRATION
I have always been passionate about Creative Writing and how fiction affects
readers. Therefore, when my art teacher (her details will remain confidential, as I was
unable to contact her and ask her permission to mention them due to her illness) told me
how her grandmother, who had Jewish roots, managed to escape from being deported to
Germany for the labour purposes, I was sure that this story is worth being written down
and shared with a wider audience.
However, I also wanted to investigate the psychological side of Creative Writing -
how the authors evoke different emotions in the readers and try applying these methods
myself. I decided to concentrate on empathy, as this is the emotion I associate with the
Holocaust – either the lack of it for the people who participated in the mass killings or the
abundance of it for people who helped the Jews to escape prosecution.
Furthermore, I strongly believe that in order not to repeat the suppression of
minorities in the future, people should put themselves into the shoes of others and be
presented with the perspective of a suppressed minority, so I hope that my short story
could contribute to the development of an empathetic response to national minorities and
help to make the world a better place.
ADDRESSING ETHICAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS
I was aware that writing about the Holocaust could have ethical issues and social
implications for those who are connected with this tragedy or could cause severe distress
to someone. Therefore, I chose young adults – 16-19 years old girls as my target audience,
as they can voluntarily and independently assess the risks themselves and decide whether
to read the short story with such a sensitive topic or not.
When conducting a study to assess the success of evoking empathy in a Holocaust
survivor (see ‘Conducting primary research’), I received informed consent from all
participants who took part in it, told them that this is voluntary and they can withdraw at
any moment, while also informing them of any risks involved (see Appendix 1, Appendix 2
and Appendix 3). This way, I ensured that my study was ethical. Furthermore, I debriefed
all participants afterwards, reminding them of their right to withdraw and the
confidentiality of their information (see Appendix 4). In the debrief, I also explained why it
is important to study empathy and the Holocaust.
6
(name and surname), 2032
, METHODOLOGY
To ensure that I allocate sufficient time for EPQ and successfully manage it
alongside my studies and homework, I created this schedule and put it near my working
desk, as a reminder.
Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun
Morning EPQ EPQ = 2
(free hours
periods)
=1
hour 10
minutes
Lunch
Evening EPQ (free
periods)
= 1 hour 10
minutes
Overall: 4 hours 20 minutes per week
In order to keep track of tasks which I need to do to accomplish my EPQ, I created this
chart and was checking it every time I was working on my EPQ to ensure that I was following
the plan. The green colour means that I was able to stick to my deadlines, while the red colour
means that there had been a shift in my deadlines.
7
(name and surname), 2032
, 8
(name and surname), 2032
