1. IB History HL Internal Assessment
Historical Investigation

2. Summary of Sections Marks / Points (2,000 words)
A: Plan of the Investigation: words 3 marks
B: Summary of the Evidence: words 6 marks
C: Evaluation of Sources: words 5 marks
D: Analysis: words 6 marks
E: Conclusion: words 2 marks
F: List of Sources: unlimited words (not counted) 3 marks
Total marks

3. Typed with Font 12, Times New Roman, Double Spaced, one-sided, 2,000 words, with page numbers throughout
Attach a Cover Page / Title Page, with student name, school code / candidate number (next slide), word-count
Next page has topic, research question, and table of contents (see slide)
Then the Six Sections of the IA or HI (A-F); Use letter, and correct and full title of each section as heading – two / three lines separating sections (don’t need each one on a separate page – close gaps)….number the pages
The IA / HI comprises 20% of your Grade;
Three Exams = 80%
Exam Paper I 20%
Exam Paper 2 25%
Exam Paper 3 35%

4. Internal Assessment / Historical Investigation
IB History HL, 2011
Internal Assessment / Historical Investigation
John Smith,
1,995 Words

5. Topic: Stalin’s Industrial Policies
Investigation: What motivated Stalin’s Economic policies of rapid industrialization and modernization, and could he have achieved his goals through different means?
Table of Contents
A: Plan of the Investigation pg. 1
B: Summary of the Evidence pg. 3
C: Evaluation of Sources pg. 5
D: Analysis pg. 7
E: Conclusion pg. 8
F: List of Sources pg. 9

6. A. Plan of the Investigation
State the Topic for research, and the specific Research Question (Stalin’s Industrial Policies), usually in the form of a question, or a statement like this - “the purpose of this investigation is to determine what motivated Stalin to engage in such a rapid, intense period of industrialization….”..define the Scope (years, time frame, context) of the investigation, identifying Themes or areas of investigation to be undertaken…state the ways in which themes or areas will be Analyzed……basically elaborate / develop on what you are going to be investigating
State the Methods / Sources you will use: what material you used primary, secondary…be specific with authors, books… – where you found them - mention some key sources, how you will use these sources…how you will you organize it / plan, and proceed with the writing (what’s in b,c,d,e,f)
Write in past tense in the final draft
Heading…. A. Plan of the Investigation……no other headings
Double Spaced….don’t write in word count….add page numbers
Marks / Points: 3

7. Basically…. State your RESEARCH QUESTION
Explain your focus….themes, issues, topics: SCOPE
State the key sources you will analyze, primary and secondary (how? and why?).. METHOD
RESEARCH QUESTION
SCOPE
METHOD

8. B. Summary of the Evidence
What have you found out from your sources: Summarize your notes: relevant material from Appropriate readings
Evidence of thorough Research of many of the main aspects, including background and context
Should be mostly Narrative / Factual; save Analysis for Section D
Best to Sub-divide, have topics with headings, organized thematically or chronologically…don’t summarize book by book, do it topic by topic
Could list the information with bullet points, at first, then write paragraphs later
You must use all the sources listed in section F at least once: Cite / Reference your sources using Parenthetical Citation (Smith 6)…. no footnotes….. Insert page number on each page
When taking notes, be careful to note the exact book and page number…….makes it easier to reference
Marks / Points = 6

9. C. Evaluation of Sources (OPVL)
Critical Evaluation, of 2 of your most important sources
For each source you have to comment on the Origin, Purpose, Value and Limitation…use headings for each (OPVL)
Do each source separately…don’t merge them
Do Origin and Purpose first, then Value and Limitation based on Origin and Purpose (and based on other factors / features….content, style, readability….)
Origin and Purpose usually found in author’s biography, preface, or introduction
At least two comments on each of Value and Limitation
Don’t summarize content in this section
Reference / cite this section also (author’s last name, page number)

10. C. Evaluation of Sources…suggestions
(OPVL)
Origin: author? Nationality? Year written? City of publication? Author’s bias? areas of expertise? School of History he fits with? Primary or Secondary source? Read author’s biography at beginning of book.
Purpose: may be found in preface, introduction, blurb on cover: to explain, to refute, to reveal, defend, expose, condemn, evaluate, appraise…..could be neutral, objective, or very subjective, harsh, supportive….bias
Value: (value to you) things about the source’s Origin and Purpose that helped you: benefits, usefulness; eye witness account, reliable, hindsight, recent study with updated information, expert historian, new material included, informative / relevant to your specific research question, perspective, depth, style of writing is helpful, readable, supports your views, gives you an opposite view to yours, balances another view you read, corroborates another view you read…
Limitation: (limitations for you) what was not so useful about this source’s Origin and Purpose: biased (author, nationality), too close to the event (date), too removed from the event (date), too subjective, little information on your specific research question, difficult to read, too condensed, biased (don’t speculate – “may be” biased – be clear on where you see the bias)
Marks / Points = 5

11. D. Analysis
Background material…the importance of the investigation in its historical context (in world, national context)… in introduction….then thesis statement
Analysis of the evidence presented in B: avoid narrative….yet use factual evidence to support your arguments / your opinion is important
Explain different opinions / interpretations of Historians, if possible; must extensively use the two sources evaluated in C……..and all the other sources listed in F
Reference liberally… try to use every source listed in F at least once here….(inc page numbers)
Basically, write it as you would your usual essay for IB History HL: Introduction with background and thesis statement, Four Body with analysis, evaluation, historiography, your opinion, supporting information…answer the research question you posed at the start… (save conclusion for E)………….Marks / Points = 6

12. E. Conclusion
Cleary stated Summary of your thesis, your main arguments to prove it…reach a Conclusion, consistent with the evidence: your final answer to the question you posed at the beginning…be “clear and consistent”
Maybe some foreshadowing….depending on word count
Marks / Points = 2

13. F. List of Sources Alphabetized Bibliography…by author’s last name
Consistent method of listing: author’s last name, full first name, middle initial, underline or italicize name of book or article, year of publication, city of publication, publishing company
At least five books as sources (they like to see 8 for HL): internet is in addition: at least one original source / document if possible…specialist books, relevant, useful books……..not general text books (maybe just one)
Check that all the sources are used in the HI and are referenced in Section B and D – don’t pad..
Word count is also included after bibliography (as well as cover page), but does not include bibliography (Section F is not included in word count)
Marks / Points = 3

14. Summary of Sections Marks / Points
A: Plan of the Investigation: words 3
B: Summary of the Evidence: words 6
C: Evaluation of Sources: words 5
D: Analysis: words 6
E: Conclusion: words 2
F: List of Sources: unlimited words 3
Total

15. What to do to get started?
Choose a Topic (Stalin)
Choose a specific research question for investigation – write it out in the form of a question (Could Stalin have modernized the USSR through less brutal methods?)
Find relevant books, sources (5-8) – from libraries, from me, on-line, Amazon.com, Alibris.com, etc…borrow or buy…
E mail me your topic, research question, list of books and other sources by ______
Then start your research, make detailed notes, note the book, pages for accurate reference ..decide on the best two books for section C……….
First draft due on return from Winter Break

16. Can’t have same topic / research question for EE and IA
Can have same topic as someone else but not the same research question