The Young Historian’s Guide to the Mock Historical Investigation

Task: To complete Criteria A, B and C

Due: By end of Term 3 Week 7

Process:

1. Read the IA booklet for details on the assessment criteria.

2. Work out your plan of investigation (A)
a. This should include:
i. Your approach
ii. Your methodology
iii. Two of the sources you plan to evaluate
b. This is an important step. Getting it wrong usually means compromising the whole investigation.

3. Identify a topic
a. The topic should be something you are interested in.
b. Topics that are based on or derived from the syllabus are fine.
c. The topic should be tightly focused and defined.

d. Good topics:i. To what extent was the fear of communist expansion on the part of the USA responsible for the outbreak of the Korean War?
ii. A Study of the Portrayal of the PAP in the Straits Times in the run-up to the 1959 General Elections
iii. Why was the Singapore Government’s Graduate Mother’s Scheme of 1983 unsuccessful?

4. Identify relevant sources
a. Identify a general history or reading pertaining to the topic/area. This will give you a broad overview and a sense of chronology
b. Identify other readings that provide:
i. Specialist insight e.g. historical monographs written by professional historians
ii. Alternative viewpoints e.g. revisionist accounts
iii. First hand information e.g. archival sources, oral histories, newspapers
iv. Representations of the topic e.g. historical fiction, movies, music

5. Work out your summary of evidence (B)

6. Evaluate your sources (C)

Submissions:

1. Sometime before Term 3 Week 6, I will leave you to decide how close you want to call it, submit a historical investigation outline as per Pages 7 to 10 of your IA Booklet.
2. The final submission would be the end of Term 3 Week 7.
3. Criteria D, E and F will be due in Term 4 Week 3.

Formatting:

1. Font: Arial Size 10
2. Spacing: 1 ½ Justified
3. All headings should be in bold, set to the left, and underlined.
4. There should be a line between each paragraph.
5. All pages must be numbered.
6. On the cover page, you must include your name, class and the title of your investigation.
7. Files and folders are not necessary.

Prayer

I was going to give you a verse or a Psalm but I could not decide on one. Except perhaps to pray for God’s benediction over all of you as you begin these few weeks of trial and examination. And so, as they always say, “Let us pray,

Our Father in Heaven
I commit these young students of mine into your hands.
As they step into the examination halls,
I pray that You grant them;
Calmness in the spirit,
Clarity of mind,
Precision in expression,
Wisdom in making choices,
Speed in thought.
Father,
I ask that Your peace be with each and everyone of them
As You watch over them.
Keep them in good health and good spirits,
And may all that they do and achieve
Serve only to glorify Your name.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.