Internal AssessmentHistorical Investigation

How Many Marks Is It Worth?• The score is out of 25 possible marks• It is weighted at 20% of the final assessment for Higher

Level History• Other parts of the final assessment are the May papers

(exams)– Paper 1 (one hour) DBQ with five sources (20%)• Choice of one Section of three each with four questions

– Paper 2 (one and a half hours) two essays (25%)• Choice of five topics and you pick one question from 2 different

ones– Paper 3 (two and a half hours) three essays (35%)• Choice of any three from 25

CriteriaCriteria Marks Description Suggested

Word Length

Pre-Body Title pageOutlineTable of Contents

A. Plan of Investigation

3 Gives a focused questionClearly structured plan

100-150

B. Summary of Evidence

6 Organization of sourcesSub-topics of question

500-600

C. Evaluation of Sources

5 TWO sources assessed, compared, contrasted for Origin, Purpose, Value and Limitations in investigation

250-400

D. Analysis 6 Breakdown of assumptions, elements, evidence, significance, interpretations,

500-600

E. Conclusion 2 Answers the question based on B-D 150-200

F. Sources and Word Limit

3 Selected bibliography of all sources, written or not, used in one format

(not counted as part of the 1500-2000)

Pre-Body

•Cover page–Full name–Candidate number–Word count of A-E (not including

titles or headers)–Thesis question

To What Extent are Investigations Appropriate to the

Study of Historical Research?

Last, First MI.Candidate Number: 0124-567

Word Count: 1999

FRONT COVER

• Outline–Use Section A-F titles –Under each show organization sub-sections–Roughly, each 100 words is a sub-section–One-page in length–Use proper outlining indentations– Line up CAPITAL CASE, Arabic numerals,

lower case, and Roman lower case items–Rule-of-Thumb—if there’s an A, there must

be a B; if there’s a 1, there must be a 2

Last, First, MICandidate: 0124-567

To What Extent are Investigations Appropriate to the Study of Historical Research?

A. Plan of Investigation1. Statement of question

a. Provide a rationale for your choice of topicb. Define the scope of your investigation

2. Identify themes or areasB. Summary of Evidence

1. Theme one: Causation/Motivation2. Theme two: Patterns in Reporting3. Theme three: Effect/affects

a. Short termb. Long termc. Globally

C. Evaluation of Sources1. Source One

a. Origin (who, what, where, when)b. Purpose (why and to whom)c. Value (positives in answering the thesis

question)d. Limitations (problems as a source—

specifically and generally)2. Source Two

a. Origin (who, what, where, when)b. Purpose (why and to whom)c. Value (positives in answering the thesis

question)d. Limitations (problems as a source—

specifically and generally)

i

Last, First, MICandidate: 0124-567

To What Extent are Investigations Appropriate to the Study of Historical Research?

D. Analysis1. Issues within topic in historical contexta. Why is this an important topicb. Why was it important then and now?c. What were the consequences?2. Sources from Section Ba. How do the facts lead to an answer?b. Do the facts presented in B seem taintedc. Has time changed how facts are reported?3. Sources from Section Ca. What is the significance of the TWO sourcesb. How do they influence interpretation?

E. Conclusion1. Answer is clearly stated2. Answer is drawn logically from the evidence3. Answer is relevant to the question

F. Sources and Word Limit1. Word limit is on the cover page and here2. All sources are in a bibliography using one formata. Best format: Chicago-styleb. Should be at least 20c. No more than five from websites

ii

Outline

• Table of Contents–Each Section is named–Give the page where each Section

starts–Line up names of Sections and the

page numbers–Section names and page numbers

are separated with an evenly distributed series of periods….

Last, First, MICandidate: 0124-567

To What Extent are Investigations Appropriate to the Study of Historical Research?

Table of Contents

Section A: Plan of Investigation……………………………………….1

Section B: Summary of Evidence……..………………………………2

Section C: Evaluation of Sources…………………………………..….5

Section D: Analysis…………………………………………………………..8

Section E: Conclusion……………………………………………………….11

Section F: Word Count and Selected Bibliography……………12

iii

Table of Contents

Planning: Stage 1• Start by identifying a general area of European

history after 1350• Narrow it down to a specific question• Choose a working title that can be refined later• Make sure there are sufficient sources (20 or

more reliable, primary and 10 secondary)• Complete Section A: Plan of Investigation• Read widely around the area of study, noting

resources used

Jumping Off Places• Textbooks—check their bibliographies

and supplemental materials, i.e., Viewpoint or Historical Voices sections• Use Wikipedia only for its bibliography

at the end of an article• Once you get one source, check out its

sources and so on…

Short-cut ≠ Shoddy-work• Photocopy where possible– Be sure to get the page number– Print the title page with the author(s), edition, volume,

translator, date, publisher, place– Staple the sheets together and into the spiral notebook

attached to a sheet for additional notes– Highlight the passage or information that may be useful

• Print out any internet sources and staple in spiral notebook to a page attached– You’re going to need the date accessed– Be sure the entire site info is on the page(s)

Note-taking from Sources• Use a spiral notebook for this work only• Name of author(s)• Title of work, volume, issue number,

edition• Publisher or printer, place, and date

published/printed• Write information exactly as it is in the

source• Page where information was found

Things to Note in Your Spiral• Besides the note-taking information, write

down where you got it—name of library, college, floor, section, shelf…

• The IB stuff– Origin– Purpose– Value (to your investigation)– Limitations (as a source)

Any Rules about Formatting?LOTS…Double-space all prose, between bibliography

entries, and foot-notes (duh, what’s a footnote?)One-inch margins all around, 12 point fontNo long quotes, maps, charts, illustrations, or

other junk in the text of the investigation—goes in the appendices (plural for appendix)

Page numbers sequentially from Section A through the end of Section F at bottom right-corner

Section A: Plan of InvestigationMark-band

Descriptor

0 There is no plan of investigation or it is inappropriate

1 The research question, method, scope and rationale of the investigation is not clearly stated

2 The research question is clearly stated, The method, scope and rationale of the investigation are outlined and related to the question

3 The research question is clearly stated. The method, scope and rationale of the investigation are clearly developed and closely focused on the question

This is a relatively brief, 100-150 words, but

important section. A sharply focused question and a

clearly structured plan will be more likely to produce a

successful investigation.

List of Possible Topics• To what extent did Austria decline in power

and prestige in the period from 1815 to 1866?• Why was Italy united under Sardinia-Piedmont

and not under Rome?• In 1862, Bismarck said, “The great questions

of the day will not be settled by speeches and majority decisions.” What were the “great questions of the day” for Bismarck, and how did he settle them up to 1871?

• Compare and contrast the policies of Alexander II (1855-1881) and Alexander III (1881-1894) of Russia.

• Analyze the long and short term causes of the 1917 February/March Russian Revolution.

• In what ways and for what reasons did the French Revolution benefit and harm France?

• “The overall effect of napoleon I’s foreign policy was to bring glory to France.” To what extent is this statement correct?

• In what ways and to what extent did the aims and policies of the Great Powers in the Vienna settlement shape Europe until 1852?

• Compare and contrast the reasons for the fall from power in France of Charles X in 1830 and Louis Philippe in 1848.

• Assess the main features of foreign and imperial policy (excluding Ireland) in Victorian Britain in the second half of the nineteenth century.

• For what reasons, and with what results, was social legislation an important feature of (one European government) during the nineteenth century?

• Evaluate the nature and importance of cultural developments in (one European country) during the nineteenth century.

• Analyze the effects of Napoleon III’s domestic policies.

• Why and with what results did Spain fail to modernize in the second half of the nineteenth century?

• Examine the main economic and political developments in (one Scandinavian country or Finland) in (either the nineteenth or twentieth) century.

• Assess the effects between 1914 and 1921 of the First World War on the civilian population of (one European country).

• For what reasons, and in what ways, was a Marxist/Communist state set up in Russia between 1918 and 1928?

• Account for the foundation of the League of nations, and assess its success between 1920 and 1935.

• Compare and contrast the foreign policies of Hitler and Mussolini up to the outbreak of the Second World War.

• Analyze the reasons for the Nationalist victory in the Spanish Civil War.

• Assess the political consequences of the Second World War in (two European countries) between 1939 and 1950.

• In what ways, and with what success, did Brezhnev direct domestic and foreign policies in the Soviet Union between 1964 and 1982?

• “The Cold War both helped and hindered the recovery of post Second World War western Europe.” To what extent is this a valid assertion?

• Examine the successes and failures of Tito in Yugoslavia.

• In what ways, and with what results, have twentieth century transportation developments changed European work and leisure patterns?

• Assess the impact on politics of relations between church and state in (one European country) during the Protestant Reformation.

• Compare and contrast the efforts of two ethnic/religious minorities in (one European country) to obtain equality and self determination between 1872 and 1914.

• Analyze the importance of détente in ending the Cold War.

• Examine the part played by economic issues in the development of the Cold War.

• Assess the importance of ideology for (one ruler of a twentieth century single-party state in Europe).

• In what ways, and with what results, was propaganda used by (one ruler of a twentieth century single-party state in Europe).

• Compare and contrast the domestic policies of (two rulers of a twentieth century single-party state in Europe).

• To what extent was the rise of power of (one ruler of a twentieth century single-party state in Europe) die to personal appeal and ability?

• Compare and contrast the results of the First World War and the Second World War.

• Analyze the results of (one war) on (one European country).

• What role did technological developments ensure victory in (one twentieth century war)?

Why These Questions???• You can find enough good sources on them.• You can get varying interpretations on the

answers.• They should hold your interest enough to

finish.• Each has appeared on the May IB papers

(exams) over the last few years in some form.

Footnotes???• Any use of information from any source,

including interviews, must be documented with a footnote, each time it is used in your paper or son of citation engine site

• Word processors will guide you on the information needed and help do the bibliography

• In history, we do not use MLA or APA (parentheses are for less academic sorts)

• Give credit where credit is do, i.e., don’t plagiarize!!!

Section B: Summary of EvidenceMark-band

Descriptor

0 There is no relevant factual material

1-2 There is some relevant factual material or the factual material has not been referenced (footnoted)

3-4 There is relevant factual material which shows evidence of research, organization, and referencing

5-6 The factual material is all relevant to the investigation and it has been well researched, organized, and correctly referenced

This section should be organized, referenced

(footnoted), and provide evidence of thorough

research. Sources should be sufficient to

provide an in-depth understanding of the topic and organized chronologically or

thematically.ORIGIN, PURPOSE, VALUE,

LIMITATION

Section C: Evaluation of SourcesMark-band

Descriptor

0 There is no description or evaluation of the two sources

1 The two sources are described but there is no reference to their origin, purpose, value and limitations

2-3 There is some evaluation of the sources but reference to their origin, purpose, value and limitation, may be limited

4-5 There is evaluation of the sources and explicit reference to their origin, purpose, value and limitation

The TWO sources chosen for this section could be written, oral, or visual or archeological. The

purpose of this section is to assess the

usefulness of the sources but not to

describe their content or nature. It can be

separate paragraphs for each or continuous

comparison.

Section D: AnalysisMark-band

Descriptors

0 There is no analysis

1-2 There is some attempt at analyzing the evidence

3-4 There is analysis of the factual material presented in B and referenced (footnoted). Some awareness of significance of the investigation is evaluated. Various appropriate interpretations are considered

5-6 There is critical analysis of the factual material from B, accurate referencing, and an awareness of the significance of sources in C. Different interpretations are analyzed.

This section should break down complex issues to bring out the essential elements, underlying

assumptions, and relationships involved.

The issue is put in historical context, using

factual material from Section B and an

awareness of the sources from Section C.

Interpretations are considered and

information is referenced in footnotes.

Section E: ConclusionMark-band

Descriptors

0 There is no conclusion

1 The conclusion is stated but is not entirely consistent with the evidence presented

2 The conclusion is clearly stated and consistent with the evidence presented

This section requires an answer or

conclusion to the research question,

based on the evidence presented. The conclusion must be clearly stated and relevant to the thesis

question.

Section F: Sources and Word LimitMark-band

Descriptors

0 A list of sources is not included

1 A list of sources is included but there are limited or one standard method is not used consistently or the investigation is not within the word limit

2 A list of sources using one standard method is included and the investigation is within the word limit

3 An appropriate list of sources using one standard method is included. The investigation is within the word limit.

There should be accurate and consistent

referencing throughout the investigation (footnoting). All sources, whether

written or otherwise should be listed. Any

illustrations, documents, or other supporting

evidence should be in an appendix.

The word count is found on the cover page.

ChecklistDid you double-check for… YES

Full name, candidate number, word count, and thesis question on the cover page?

Number all pages beginning with Section A sequentially?

Complete Section A, 100-150 words, with a mark-band of 3?

Complete Section B, 500-600 words ,with a mark-band of 6?

Complete Section C with TWO sources, 250 -400 words, with a mark-band of 5

Complete Section D, 500-500 words, with a mark-band of 6?

Complete Section E, with 150-200 words, with a mark-band of 2

Complete Section F, one style format, alphabetized, with a mark-band of 3?

Are all six sections completed thoroughly?

Does your bibliography contain all sources used and consulted?

Is your investigation (A-E) within the world limit of 1,500-2,000 words?

Have you signed the relevant forms?