Historical Investigation

Historical Investigation IB Internal Assessment

An opportunity for you to investigate a historical topic of your choice. • It requires you to develop and apply the skills of a historian by selecting and analysing a range of sources and considering diverse perspectives. • You will be asked to search for, select, evaluate and use evidence to reach a relevant conclusion consistent with the arguments you put forward. What is the Historical Investigation?

The historical investigation is organized into 3 main sections: Weighting: 25% SL and 20% HL

The IB History guide lists a few possible topic ideas for the IA: • a historical topic or theme using written sources or a variety of sources • a historical topic based on fieldwork, for example, a museum, archeological site, battlefields, places of worship or historic buildings • a historical problem using documents (this could include newspapers) • a local history study • a historical study based on oral interviews • a historical investigation based on interpreting a novel, film or work of art • a historical investigation of cultural issues. Ideas to Investigate

While you have a free choice, a topic related to the syllabus is strongly recommended. • The topic must be historical, and therefore cannot be on an event that has happened in the last 10 years. • Topic and question must be approved. • Minimum of 8-10 academic sources including primary sources and secondary sources by historians. • Remember different perspectives and variety of evidence • Word limit is 2200 words -> assessed out of 25 marks Key Criteria

This section requires you to analyse in detail two of the sources used in your investigation. Please select sources integral to your investigation and that differ in viewpoint or type. In this section you must: • Clearly state the question you have chosen to investigate (this must be stated as a question) • Include a brief explanation of the nature of the two sources you have selected for detailed analysis, including an explanation of their relevance to the investigation • Analyse two sources in detail. With reference to the origins, purpose and content, you should analyse the value and limitations of the two sources in relation to the investigation. Section 1: Identification and Evaluation of Sources500 words 6 marks

The IA relies more than anything else on a well-defined, narrow question with some element of a debate.** The question...should allow for a point to be made, or a debate to be settled. It should not lead to a simple narrative. • Must be specific – narrow it down as much as you can. • To what extent . . . style is best. • Must be able to be answered within 2200 words • Must be focused on an event with a cut off date of 10 years before the submission date. • Is there a sufficient range of academic resources for the study of the topic? Formulating a Research Question

To what extent was Stalin responsible for Holodomor? • To what extent was Trotsky’s leadership responsible for the Red victory in the Russian Civil War? • To what extent was Lenin an orthodox Marxist? • To what extent was the Nanking Massacre the result of Japanese nationalism? • To what extent was the bombing of Dresden (Consider: Guernica “terror bombing”, Hiroshima - atomic bomb ) a necessary act of war? • To what extent did Mussolini’s Fascism capture the hearts and minds of the young? • To what extent was the Weimar Republic undermined by jazz, art, and dancing girls? • To what extent was martial law imposed in Poland on 13 December 1981 in order to pre-empt the military intervention of the USSR?” • To what extent was Hitler’s euthanasia policy distinctly Nazi? Examples of Questions

To what extent did World War II lead to women in the United States becoming permanent members of the labour force? • With what justification can it be claimed that the Chinese Great Famine (1959-1962) was man-made resulting from Mao’s policies? • To what extent was the Halifax Regional Municipality’s decision to relocate Africville justified? • To what extent does Oleg Penkovsky deserve the title of “the man who saved the world” for his role in the resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis? • To what extent do the first hand accounts of… justify or substantiate the view that … • How useful are the graveyards in Halifax in investigating the Titanic disaster in 1912? • How useful are declassified documents for an investigation of the treatment of the Jewish Population of Vichy France? More Questions

How accurate is the depiction of the 'White Rose' in the film 'Sophie Scholl - The Final Days'? **You may select another historical film or book here. • To what extent were the student riots of the 1980s in Korea the result of the policies of President Park? • To what extent were the 1936 Olympic Games a façade to shape international opinion about Nazism? • How successful was Mao’s attempt to reassert his authority over the party through the Great Proletariat Cultural Revolution? • To what extent do the works of Dimitri Shostakovich suggest that he was a critic rather than a supporter of the Stalinist regime? • How useful is the Soviet film, The Fall of Berlin for an investigation of Stalin’s cult of personality? • How effectively did Kim Jong Un use the kwanliso (or education, propaganda) to consolidate his power? Continued…

Criteria: "Clear statement of an appropriate question for the investigation” • You must ensure that the question you have generated is clear, concise and is debatable . • In the first paragraph of your Section 1, you need to provide the context of your investigation, and then directly state your research question, in its full form, and make it stand out. Understanding the Assessment Criteria for Section 1

Criteria: "Identification of sources, and explanation of the relevance of the sources to the investigation.” From the sources you are using for your investigation, you will need to select two to evaluate. When making this selection, ensure there is at least one point of difference between the selected sources. For example, you would not select two photos to evaluate, as their limitations and uses may be similar. Likewise, choosing to evaluate two Marxist historical perspectives would not be as effective as one Marxist and one Revisionist view. Selection of the appropriate sources is critical to scoring well against this criterion. You will also need to ensure that you are providing, in 1 or 2 sentences only, an explanation of the relevance of each chosen source to your investigation. For example, if you select a piece of propaganda as one of your sources, you MUST explain how that source plays a part in your investigation. What does it provide that adds to your argument?

Advice on Choosing Sources The keywords are 'the student has identified and selected appropriate and relevant sources’. One way to think about this is to consider which two sources you have used most in your investigation. However, you may have relied on these two sources just because they helped you understand the topic best. These two sources may be quite similar in what they offered and thus you may be wise to consider just one of these and search for a more appropriate contrasting source. Another way is to consider which two sources are central to the contention of your question, or that contribute most to the debate. This begins to target the appropriate part of the criterion. Primary and secondary source can be chosen to highlight differences in perspective on the topic. This can be helpful when you go to discuss the value and limitations of the sources for the investigation. Much of your choice will hinge on the question you have chosen...remember to aim for a relatively narrow scope to your question.

Criteria: "Analysis and evaluation of two sources with discussion of the value and limitations of them, with reference to the origins, purpose and content.” The expectation is that, for each source, you provide distinct, clearly identified paragraphs, that identifies the origin, purpose, value and limitations of that particular document, while making references to the content of the source. Each source will need to be addressed separately, and identifying it specifically as a subheading or italicising it is recommended.

This section consists of the actual investigation. • The investigation must be clearly and effectively organized in a well written analytical essay. • Focus clearly on the question being investigated, and include the conclusion you draw from your analysis. • In this section, you must use a range of evidence to support your arguments – primary and secondary sources. You must also include and evaluate different perspectives. • Minimum 8-10 sources to be used and cited as evidence throughout investigation. Section 2: Investigation1300 words 15 marks

Clearly state your question: This investigation will answer the question… • Briefly provide context andintroduce the reader to the content of the investigation. Clarify any key concepts and outline events/individuals and time period you will consider. What does the reader need to know before he/she is able to understand your thesis? • Thesis Statement: In one or two sentences clearly state your position and supporting arguments. • Present your arguments in the same order in which you will address them in your essay. Introductory Paragraph

Each argument presented in the thesis should be developed in a paragraph. • You should have three or four main body paragraphs • Each argument must be introduced through a topic sentence and explained using historical evidence. The more specific the detail the better. • Sophisticated responses will refer to and evaluate different perspectives. Another perspective suggests… Supporting Paragraphs

Approximate word count for a conclusion: There is no clear rule about this, but try to get between 50-150 words. • Answer your research question -> clearly state what you have proven and briefly summarise the arguments made in each body paragraph. • You need to ensure that you are using a ‘concluding tone’, consider words and phrases like: therefore there were many factors…, clearly…, Conclusion

This section requires you to reflect on what the investigation highlighted to you about the methods used by, and the challenges facing, the historian. Questions that may help to encourage reflection include: • What methods used by historians did you use in your investigation? • What did your investigation highlight to you about the limitations of those methods? • What are the challenges facing the historian? How do they differ from the challenges facing a scientist or a mathematician? • What challenges in particular does archive-based history present? Section 3: Reflection 400 words 4 marks

How can the reliability of sources be evaluated? What is the difference between bias and selection? What constitutes a historical event? Who decides which events are historically significant? Is it possible to describe historical events in an unbiased way? What is the role of the historian? Should terms such as “atrocity” be used when writing about history, or should value judgments be avoided? If it is difficult to establish proof in history, does that mean that all versions are equally acceptable?

Bibliography • A bibliography and clear referencing of all sources must be included, but it is not included in the word count. • Bibliography -> seperate page at end of investigation Word Limit • The word limit for the historical investigation is 2200 words (on title page). • Marks lost if you exceed the word count

Section 1: Identification and Evaluation of Sources

Section 2: Investigation

Section 3: Reflection

Start by identifying a general area of interest. • Narrow it down to a specific question or area of investigation. • Choose a working title that may be changed or refined at a later stage. • Make sure sufficient resources can be obtained for the planned investigation • Read widely about the topic and note down resources used. • Review the research question and refine it if necessary. • Take notes from resources, gathering evidence and diverse opinions. • Ensure accurate use of referencing. • Sort evidence thematically or chronologically. • Choose two suitable sources to evaluate in section 1. • Review your analysis. Check for differing viewpoints where appropriate. • Write the investigation, according to IB guidelines. Planning Your Investigation

Research **JSTOR: https://www.jstor.org/ EBSCO: http://search.ebscohost.com/ Modern World History: http://online.infobaselearning.com/Default.aspx Modern History Sourcebook: https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/modsbook.asp Alpha History (Documents section for each topic): https://alphahistory.com/ Spartacus Educational (excellent primary sources): https://spartacus-educational.com/ Avalon Project: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/

EuroDocs – European History: https://eudocs.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Main_Page National Archives (U.S.) : https://www.archives.gov/education/research/primary-sources German History in Documents: http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/ BBC History (good for ideas): https://www.bbc.co.uk/history Eyewitness to History: http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/ Library and Archives Canada: http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/about-us/about-collection/Pages/about.aspx Canadian History Primary Sources: http://guides.library.queensu.ca/history-canadian/primary-sources

Plagiarism: the representation, intentionally or unwittingly, of the ideas, words or work of another person without proper, clear and explicit acknowledgment. Accurate and thorough referencing is paramount to a successful History IA. Referencing is a system that allows you to acknowledge the contributions of others in your writing. Whenever you use the exact words of an author, paraphrase their words, or summarise their ideas, you must provide a reference. Referencing

To show respect for the work of others. • To give the reader the opportunity to follow up references. • To help a reader to distinguish between the work of the creator and the work of others. • To give the reader the opportunity to check the validity of creator’s interpretation. • To receive proper credit for the research process. • To establish credibility and authority of own knowledge and ideas. Why Cite?

Quotations When you quote a passage from a source you must quote it exactly as it appears and use it in such a way that it blends into your writing.You cannot misrepresent what the author is trying to say. The in-text citation includes the author’s last name and the page number. ( MLA style) Examples: Many Kamikaze pilots took pride in their future mission because it brought glory and honor to their name. Akio Otsuka, a Kamikaze pilot, met his death on 28 April 1945. In his last letter home, he wrote, “I shall set off for the mission with a smile on my face” (Reilly 22). The first official acknowledgement that Germans were at the gate of Leningrad, 1941, was a poster at a train station, signed by city chairman Popkov, that stated: "Let us rise as one man in defence of our city, our homes, our families, our honour and freedom. Let us perform our sacred duty as Soviet patriots” (Smith 92). MLA In-Text Citations

Paraphrasing: When paraphrasing, putting someone else’s ideas/research in your own words, you must also cite your sources. Remember to always cite data and statistics. Examples: The conditions of the Leningrad siege were undeniably brutal; a million people, or one in three of the city’s population, died from wounds, hunger, or the cold (Lynch 98). After coming to power, the Khmer Rouge, established the concept of “Year Zero” where they literally disregarded all history of the Cambodians before the regime’s takeover as irrelevant, thus establishing 1976 as the official beginning of their calendar (Sonneborn 37).

According to MLA style, you must have a Works Cited page at the end of your investigation. • All entries in the Works Cited page must correspond to the works cited in your main text. • Begin your Works Cited page on a separate page at the end of your investigation. • Label the page and center the words Works Cited at the top of the page (do not italicize nor put in quotation marks) • Only the title should be centered. The citation entries themselves should be aligned with the left margin. • Double space all citations, but do not skip spaces between entries. • Indent the second and subsequent lines of citations by 0.5 inches to create a hanging indent. MLA Works Cited Page

Works Cited Bytwerk, Randall. "A Goebbels Election Speech (31 July 1932)." A Goebbels Election Speech (31 July 1932). Calvin College, 2000. Web. 08 Dec. 2016. Kershaw, Ian. The "Hitler Myth": Image and Reality in the Third Reich. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1989. Print. Loomis, Charles P., and J. Allan Beegle. “The Spread of German Nazism in Rural Areas.” American Sociological Review, vol. 11, no. 6, 1946, pp. 724–734. www.jstor.org/stable/2087068.

Excellent Guide: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_style_introduction.html MLA Format PowerPoint: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_powerpoint_presentation.html Helpful Sites for MLA Referencing

1. Please type and double space -> Times, 12-point font. 2. Organize your investigation with subheadings (Section 1: Identification and Evaluation of Sources, Section 2:…) 3. Indent at the beginning of each paragraph. Please do not leave an extra line between paragraphs. 4. Spelling and grammar count. Be sure to vary your vocabulary. Edit carefully. 5. Remember to write in the past tense. 6. The investigation is a formal piece of writing in third person. Formal writing has a serious, factual, and impersonal tone. Please do not use first person “I”, contractions (shouldn’t must be should not, can’t must be cannot), slang or abbreviations. Important Guidelines

7. Write numbers under one hundred in full (four not 4). 8. Be sure to avoid using etc.… Instead of “huge” or “big”, include more precise words such as: “significant” or “notable” or “important”. 9. Remember correct historical terms to fully capture the details of the event, time period, and/or individual 10. Number all pages in the top right hand corner; begin on the page after the table of contents, with page 1. Type your last name next to the page number on every page (Ryan 1). 11. Include a title page – MLA format. Include: title (question to be investigated), your name, date, teacher, and word count. 12. Provide a table of contents after the title page. Guidelines Continued

Historical Investigation