The Historical Investigation

1. The Historical Investigation Part A-- Plan of Investigation Part B-- Summary of Evidence Part C-- Source Evaluation Part D-- Analysis Part E-- Conclusion Part F-- Works Cited

2. Forming your Question • I am interested in learning about the __________________ in order to better understand _____________________. • Ex: I am interested in learning about the Iranian Revolution in order to better understand the role students played in challenging the state.

3. Forming your Question • I am interested in learning about ________________ in order to better understand ________________ so that I can determine _______________________. • EX: I am interested in learning about the Iranian Revolution in order to better understand the role that students played in challenging the state so that I can determine whether student protests are an effective method of changing the government.

4. Forming your Question • Change your statement into a question to guide your research. What was the significance of student protests during the Iranian Revolution in leading an effective challenge to the state of Iran?

5. The Plan of Investigation • Purpose- • Now that you have your HI question finalized, you need to map out the path you will take in your research. This is what the Plan of Investigation (POI) is all about. • Structure- • You will need to include: • Significance of your topic (why did you choose your topic?) • HI question (must be stated in the POI) • Methods of Research (how will you go about researching your topic?) • Aim for 100-125 words

6. Significance of your Topic • Why did you choose this topic? • Personal connection? • Link to understanding today? • Myth buster? • Whatever your reason is, you need to work this in to your Plan of Investigation. This should start your paper. • Avoid using first person

7. Example: Rationale. • The recent 2009 presidential elections in Iran were met with protest from all sectors of society, including many young people. That same year marked the 30th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution (1978-79).

8. Incorporate your Question • The next step is to provide a transition to your HI question. • The transition will help your reader shift to the overall importance of your general topic to your specific question. • accordingly, as a result, consequently, for this reason, for this purpose, hence, otherwise, so then, one wonders, subsequently, therefore, thus,

9. Example: Transition to Question • One wonders, how important are young people to challenging the state? This historical investigation will address the question,“What was the significance of student protests during the Iranian Revolution in leading an effective challenge to the state of Iran?”

10. Method • How will you go about collecting the research needed to answer your question? • What background will you need? • What type of resources will get you that background? • What different perspectives should be heard?

11. Example-- Method In order to answer this question, an understanding of the causes of the Iranian Revolution will need to be included. It will then be important to investigate the specific role that students played in the Revolution. Finally, in order to examine the significance of their contribution, attention to multiple perspectives will be included.

12. The recent 2009 presidential elections in Iran were met with protest from all sectors of society, including many young people. That same year marked the anniversary of the thirty year anniversary of the Iranian Revolution (1978-79). One wonders, how important are young people to challenging the state? This historical investigation will address the question, “What was the significance of student protests during the Iranian Revolution in leading an effective challenge to the state of Iran?” In order to answer this question, an understanding of the causes of the Iranian Revolution will need to be included. It will then be important to investigate the specific role that students played in the Revolution. Finally, in order to examine the significance of their contribution, attention to multiple perspectives will be included.

13. Summary of Evidence • What is it? • It is, simply put-- a summary of all the evidence you’ve collected. You’re now writing the research part of your paper. • What should be included in it? • The relevant research that you’ve worked to uncover throughout the past month. • Just the facts-- you will not be using first person in this section of your paper. • How long should it be? • Aim for 500-600 words

14. Summary of Evidence • How should it be organized? • Organizing your research is KEY to a successful SOE. • Moving from notes to the outline of a paper is one of the harder, but VERY IMPORTANT steps in the writing process

15. STEP ONE: What did your POI Say? • Look back to your Plan of Investigation. If you were successful in the POI, you should already have a loose outline developed. • Use the parameters you set for your reader for your own writing.

16. STEP ONE, Part 2 • As you read through your POI, consider… • Have you found the information about each section? • Will it work to present this information in the order that you laid out in the POI? • If you answered yes to these questions, you are ready for Step Two. • If you answered no to these questions… consider: • Better research? (remember, work smarter-- not harder) • Are there resources that are available to me that I’m not using?

17. STEP TWO • Setting up your outline. • Look to the methods of research you laid out in your POI. • These will most likely be the headings for the sections of the SOE

18. Step Two-- Sample Outline I will be giving you a sample outline to fill out to help you in organizing your Summary of Evidence (SOE) Your outline will be a formative grade. I will give you feedback on your outline to use in creating a draft of your SOE Your outline is DUE.. B DAY- Thursday, March 04 A DAY- Friday, March 05

19. Source Evaluation-- Part C • What is it? • This is the section of your paper where you will EVALUATE ONE of the sources you read for this Historical Investigation. • V-- Value • L-- Limitation • O-- Origin • P-- Purpose

20. VLOPping… • What should it look like? • Part C of your paper should be written in paragraph form-- no exceptions! DO NOT • Chart it • Bullet it • Leave out any one of the four tools for evaluating your source • Remember! To earn full marks you need to “make explicit reference to the value, limitation, origin and purpose of selected source.”

21. VLOPping… • How long should it be? • This section of your paper should be between 100-125 words • YOU WILL NEED TO COME TO A CONCLUSION THROUGH THE VLOP METHOD ABOUT THE OVERALL USEFULLNESS OF THIS SOURCE FOR YOUR RESEARCH.

22. The Analysis • What is it? • Think of this paper as a “case” • In order to crack the case, you have to look at the facts (which you laid out in the SOE) • After you read the facts, you can begin to uncover the answers (to your HI question) • THE ANALYSIS IS THE SECTION OF YOUR PAPER WHERE YOU CRACK THE CASE.

23. The Analysis • What does it need to include? • An analysis that breaks down complex issues to bring out essential points • A critical examination of factual material presented in part B (Summary of Evidence) • An awareness of sources used • Consideration of different interpretations of evidence • CONTINUE TO CITE ALL SOURCES!

24. The Analysis • How to get started… • Go back to your Summary of Evidence • Read it • As you read it, underline key parts • Consider the sources you read to construct your Summary of Evidence • Think about what your evidence could be interpreted to mean

25. The Analysis • Practice! • Switch papers with a seat partner • Read each other’s Summary of Evidence • Follow the guidelines given on previous slide • Discuss how you would set up an outline for the Analysis if you were writing it (required) • Compare your results and see where your opinions differ • Discuss and revise

26. Conclusion • What is it? • This is where you get to answer your question • Work to include: • A thoughtful answer to your question • Consideration of where your evidence could be incomplete • Other questions that may arise as a result of your question (or) as a result of a lack of evidence.

27. Works Cited Page • What is it? • Bibliography of all sources cited in the Historical Investigation • What should it look like? • Alphabetical order • MLA formatting • Single spaced