Gulag: A History | Short Essay Assignments

Short Essay Questions

The 60 short essay questions listed in this section require a one to two sentence answer. They ask students to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the text. Students must describe what they've read, rather than just recall it.

Short Essay Question - Introduction

1. What does the acronym GULAG stand for?

2. How many prisoners passed through the gates of Gulag labor camps during the time they were open, and what happened to the buildings after Stalin's death?

3. What reasons does Applebaum give as to why many Westerners have never heard of the Gulag labor camps?

4. How did life in a Gulag camp compare to life in a Nazi concentration camp?

Short Essay Question - Part 1, Chapter 1: Bolshevik Beginnings—Summary

5. What happened during the two major revolutions in Russia...
(read more)