Year 10 - Australians At War
Historical Inquiry (Research Assignment)
Overview
Kokoda
Kokoda is one of the most significant battles fought by Australians in WWII. The campaign helped to define
the national character. From July to November 1942, this rugged jungle trail saw some of the most fiercely
contested battles for territory between the Australians and the Japanese. More than 600 Australians were
killed and some 1680 wounded during the battle. Kokoda has since become an important event in the
creation of the ‘Anzac legend.’
Historical Knowledge and Understanding
 The experiences of Australians during World War II
 Explaining the significance of Kokoda as the battle that halted the Japanese advance on
Port Moresby and helped foster the Anzac legend
Historical Skills
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Identify and select different kinds of questions about the past to inform historical inquiry
Evaluate and enhance these questions
Identify and locate relevant sources, using ICT and other methods
Use historical terms and concepts
Develop texts, particularly descriptions and discussions that use evidence from a range of
sources that are referenced
Your Task
You are to develop inquiry questions and conduct research to gather evidence to answer them. You are to
present your findings as a research assignment
Research question areas
Your research questions should focus on the following areas:
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The causes of the campaign
The key events, people and nature of the campaign
The impact Kokoda had on the course of WWII: for Australia and the War
The significance of the Kokoda campaign at the time and today
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Due dates
This assignment is needs to be submitted in class Thursday March 19
Task 1: Report Focus Statement
Your report focus statement is one or two sentences explaining what your report is about. It should
explain what main topic you are going to cover and why you think this is significant.
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Task 2: Research Questions
Research questions help you decide exactly what you need to know about your chosen topic and what you
will write in your report. You should make sure your research questions cover the main areas outlined on
page 1. At least 1 question should address each one of these areas. If you want to extend yourself, expand
your questions into more areas of the Kokoda Campaign by writing more research questions.
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Task 3(a): Research Grid
Insert your major research questions into a grid – you may want to combine a few together to get to the major issues you’ll be researching into 4 main
areas. Fill the grid out by writing detailed notes that answer the research questions. This should be in your own words. You can make your own template,
or use this one. There will be an electronic copy online if you want to use that one, or you can record this info in a word document.
Research question
Information
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Task 3(b): Bibliography Grid
It is time to get in the habit of recording the resources you use in History projects properly. Use the below grid to help you record your sources. For each resource you
use, fill out the grid. There are separate grids for books and for websites. You should include at least two book sources in your research.
You will need to turn this information into an annotated bibliography and include it with your assignment. Your teacher will tell you more about annotated
bibliographies while you work on the assignment.
Internet resources
Author/Editor (Surname, initials)
Last updated
(if available)
Title of Article (in italics or
underlined)
Date you
used it
URL
Year of
publication
Title of Book (in italics or
underlined)
Edition (if
relevant)
Publisher
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Hard-copy (book) resources
Author/Editor (Surname, initials)
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