ncea 3.1 guide

NCEA 3.1 Plan and carry out independent
historical research
STUDENT GUIDE
2011
HISTORY AND
HOLLYWOOD

MGC HISTORY DEPARTMENT
2
Task One: Identify and define an area for
historical research
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Not Achieved Minimum standards not met this time
Achieved (See excellence)
Merit (See excellence)
Excellence Identify and define an area for historical research
(e.g. This investigation will examine Operation Barbarossa 1941.. It will aim to discover the strategic objectives of this campaign, and its impact on the respective war efforts of Germany and Russia.) Exemplar 3/1- C Version 2
Identify = give title to the chapter in the childrens book to
Define = explain the aims/focus of the inquiry.
EXPLANATION
The first step in any research is to identify an individual/group, problem, topic,
issue, situation, or event from the past that needs to be investigated (for example
Hitler, Gallipoli, Apartheid). In this case the WWII film you choose will direct your
research
Defining an area of inquiry could involve stating the overall aim of the inquiry
CHOOSING A FOCUS - IDENTIFY AN ISSUE OR PROBLEM
Choose a film and topic that is manageable and interesting enough to hold your
enthusiasm long enough to complete the project and the 3.2.
Consider something you have watched and enjoy, especially from Level Two. For
example, many of you would have watched Schindlers List last year. This might be a
good choice if you enjoyed it and remembered much of what you learnt about the
Holocaust. Familiarity with the topic will make formulating focussing questions and
gathering information much easier.
Watch the film closely. Take notes on what the main issue is. You must be able to
analyse the film's historical accuracy for 3.2 so make sure you plan a topic that
closely relates to the film.
Do some background reading in an area you are interested in to see if your topic is
feasible.
It is a good idea to start with general sources (e.g. text, encyclopaedia).

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Note down the main themes, differing interpretations or controversial issues you
find. This may help you design your question(s) and realise if your study is adding
anything new to the history on your topic. If the focus of your topic has been
extensively researched in the past you may wish to change the focus, or approach it
from a new angle, or test your own theory.
Usually you start with an idea, then narrow it down.
example: Theme : origins of WW2
Issue : cause
Then you narrow this down further
example: Hitler as a cause of WW2
YOU MIGHT DECIDE TO FORM A HYPOTHESIS (as a title for your chapter)
i.e. something you wish to test / answer / solve
example: Hypothesis: That Hitler was the main cause of WW2
TASK
See if you can identify the topic for the following Historical movies. Then use two to
three sentences to define a relevant area of research
Platoon
Michael Collins
Elizabeth
Heavenly Creatures

4
Formulating Focus Questions
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Not Achieved Minimum standards not met this time
Achieved Relevant focus questions
Two relevant focussing questions (more may be provided) (e.g. What did Hitler want to achieve by invading Russia in 1941? How did this campaign affect Germany and Russia?) Exemplar 3/1- C Version 2 (i.e. questions tend to be of the descriptive type - what)
Merit Relevant and significant focus questions
Two relevant and significant focussing questions (more may be provided) (e.g. What were Hitlers strategic objectives in invading Russia in
1941? How did the failure of this campaign affect Germanys war effort?) [ibid] (i.e. questions tend to be of the analytical type why/how etc. and
more focussed on information required)
Excellence Significant and perceptive focus questions
Two significant and perceptive focussing questions (more may be provided) (e.g. How would invading Russia advance Hitlers desire for European
hegemony? To what extent did the failure of this campaign change the strategic balance of the war?) [ibid] (i.e. questions tend to be more of the evaluative type To what
extent / how significant / etc. and require higher level of argument to
answer.)
NOTES:
(i) Significant questions would scope the topic i.e. allow you to gather enough information for a balanced coverage of the different parts of topic. The questions as
a group should allow for depth (details) and cover the historical settings (time and
place).
(ii) Perceptive questions would demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the nature of the inquiry you are undertaking, permitting research in greater breadth and/or depth than most questions would allow. Such questions would show you understand the critical underpinnings the ability to establish the primary focus (main aim) of your
inquiry and its related issues/factors/questions/problems.
(i.e. in general these are more likely to be analytical and/or evaluative style questions)

5
You should aim for 4 or 5 questions that include a variety of questions from these levels: (i)
describe, (ii) analyse, and (iii) evaluate; with at least one evaluative question something to
do with the significance of your topic to history.
EXPLANATION
To write good focus questions you need to have some idea about the topic you are
going to do. It is important therefore to DO AT LEAST SOME LIGHT
BACKGROUND READING
Questions are formed to give focus to your investigation (called focus questions).
These should be 'open' questions (i.e. requiring more than a yes/no answer for
instance).
For example:
- How did Hitler come to power in Germany?
- Why did the Anzacs attack Gallipoli?
- In what ways did South Africa's policy of Apartheid effect relations with
New Zealand?
A good focus question will contain relevant name(s), date(s), event(s) and/or place(s)
as well as the focus (aim) of your enquiry.
The questions should dictate your approach not the resources you find.
Double and triple barrelled questions are NOT appropriate. i.e. do not use questions like:
How and why did Hitler come to power? should be separated into two questions: How did
Hitler come to power? and Why did Hitler come to power? Questions must be open in
order to direct you to sufficient (enough) information.
At Level One you were given between one and four focus questions to investigate and
research.
If the assignment was about an event/issue/crisis then the focus questions may have
been:
- What caused the crisis (or event) to develop?
- What happened during the crisis (or event)?
- What were differing perspectives/responses to the crisis (or event)?
i.e. CAUSES, EVENTS, RESULTS very commonly used as the basis for focus questions
(NB!!!)
OR if the assignment is about a person:
- What actions did [INSERT] take which made him/her famous/infamous? - Why did [INSERT] take these actions? - What different views were, or are, held about [INSERT]s actions?

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In general questions are likely to be one of the following types:
(i) Describe/List/What/Outline - want you to provide factual details based on
evidence e.g. How something is supposed to work (e.g. means of finance)
(ii) Analyse /Discuss/How/Account for/ Explain why - want you to give reasons based
on evidence e.g. Explain problems OR Explain solutions attempted
(iii) Evaluate /To what extent/Why/How far/How significant - want you to make a
decision based on evidence. e.g. The significance of the problem OR The success in
dealing with the problems
NOTE: You may wish to MODIFY THE FOCUSSING QUESTIONS in the light of
subsequent research. This will be permitted, though by the given date, and the modified
questions must be discussed and confirmed with your teacher. Judgement of selection of
evidence should be based on the modified questions.
The following are some guidelines on how to construct focus questions.
Keep in mind the purpose of your Special Study. What do you (or the question) want to show?
Good Focus Questions
1. Will be about people, places, perspectives, events, issues
2. May use What/Why/How in the question (Contain levels of difficulty: Describe =>
analyse => evaluate)
3. Might consider views/reasons, actions/reasons, results of actions/impact
4. Might cover: causes, events/actions, results
5. Are able to be answered (i.e. not too hard)
6. Sources must be available for you to gather information from
7. Must generate historical ideas (for AS3.2)
8. Set parameters (country/era)
9. Use simple wording
10. Scope/cover the topic and the aims of the research (what do you want to know)
Some starter questions to help you could be:
What happened?
How did it happen?
Why did it happen?
What would happen if ... ?
What guess can we make about?
What are we likely to see when ...?
How can we explain ... ?
What is the main cause/reason/issue

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