Job #1 when you have a problem with code that is generating HTML, is look at the output source and compare it with what you expect. I've had problems like this before and they usually vanished when I stopped thinking about the PHP code, and looked at the actual output.
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.