EDIT: asserts should be used to detect coding errors rather than input errors.
It generally means that since assertions are purely a development tool while you develop you can run your VM with the -enableassertions or -ea switches which will execute your asserts during runtime, this is the "assertions let you test your assumptions during development" part of the statement.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.