Is there a version of IEEEtran.bst that works with the mcite package, which provides collapsed entries as is often done in physics journals?

Yes, but you have to use my mciteplus package rather than mcite.sty. The IEEEtran. Bst mciteplus variants are included in the mciteplus package files.

More.

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.