Internal Assessment IB History

Section A: Plan of Investigation 100-150 words State the question in bold Offer a rationale for your choice of topic Define the scope of investigation – What facets of the topic will your essay investigate and which will it not? What time period will you focus on? What aspects/factors will you look at? “This investigation aims to discover/assess/examine, find out, show, explain, etc.” DO NOT use words like “describe” or “state” Explain your method – What types of sources will you use and why? Explain why the sources you are using are appropriate and relevant

Structuring Section A Begin with a statement that contextualizes the research and shows why the research is worth investigating State the research question but do so in the context of a sentence, not the question or title verbatim Explain the scope of the investigation: How far will your investigation go and why? Explain the methods you used to carry out the investigation with reference to the types of sources you relied upon. Explain why this particular methodology is appropriate to the question and is the best approach No need to reference your Section C sources, although this is acceptable.

Section B: Summary of Evidence 500-600 words Use ALL of your sources in this section Every single fact or statement that is not common knowledge should be cited Organized thematically or chronologically DO NOT include any interpretation or analysis of the evidence – just give the facts What is a useful fact? Helps you with your research Directly related to your question Fits the time frame you established for your investigation Is NOT selected in order to “prove your point”

Pointers for Section B All sources should be directly related to your topic Make 2 or more references to EVERY source you have used Show that you’re aware of the breadth of the material Show that you understand that facts sometimes contradict one another

Section C: Evaluation of Sources 250-400 words Select two of your sources which differ from or disagree with one another in a clear way Usually select the two most controversial sources Select a source that is important to your investigation Devote one paragraph to each of these two sources Make explicit reference to the origin, purpose, value and limitations of each source

Pointers for Section C It is highly recommended that you research and include background about the author (provenance) Use this information to elaborate on the purpose Do NOT confuse value and usefulness The source’s value should have to do with the unique nature or perspective of it’s content, not how much information it contained Do NOT claim that a source is biased Virtually every historical source lacks complete objectivity in some way – so explain exactly how it is biased

More Pointers for Section C When addressing value and limitations….. Do NOT discuss the author’s background Do NOT claim that a source is limited because it is a translation When identifying the value of a source consider what the source is “useful for” – what perspective does it give you that other’s don’t? Make sure to give a full bibliographic citation in a footnote

Section D: Analysis 500-650 words Analysis does the following….. Considers evidence, reflects upon it, understands its meaning and importance, and come to reasoned conclusions Puts the issue in its historical context Critically examines the factual evidence from Section B Critically evaluates the sources, especially those from Section C Considers different interpretations of the evidence

Pointers for Section D Almost every single sentence should have a citation in a footnote Do not introduce new factual evidence that was not already presented in Section B Divide the analysis into appropriate paragraphs or sub-sections based upon the nature of your investigation Where two sources directly contradict draw conclusions about which interpretation is more valid

Section E: Conclusion 150-200 words Clearly state your conclusion!!! Conclusion must be consistent with the evidence that has been presented Your conclusion should be nuanced – the answer to a complex historical question is rarely a straight up yes or no. Don’t be afraid to draw a complex conclusion. Do not include any new information in this section. It is very unlikely that you will need to cite anything in this section.

Section E Pointers Treat the Conclusion as if it were the last paragraph of the Analysis section (which it pretty much is) Restate your question in bold somewhere near the beginning of the Conclusion Identify unanswered questions related to your topic that future investigations may pursue Recognize the limitations of your conclusion Recognize the significance of your conclusion within the historical context of the question

Section F: Sources & Word Limit Bibliography must use one citation style consistently and accurately Any illustrations, documents, or other supporting evidence must be placed in an appendix that comes after the bibliography None of this counts toward the word count If the word count exceeds 2000 any additional words past 2000 will not be counted and the IA will receive no points for Section F

Section F Pointers Sources should be appropriate, relevant and high quality There should be a good balance of primary and secondary sources Everything in the investigation that needs to be cited has been cited and properly

Format Top line: Make a title out of your research question – something short and catchy Second line: state your research question verbatim Third line: state your name Fourth line: state your candidate number Fifth line: state the word count (including only Sections A through E) Make it look classy and professional Include a table of contents on the second page Throughout the paper use a header that includes your name, your candidate number, and the page number