IB History HL
Internal Assessment
Historical
Investigation
Summary of Sections
Marks / Points (2,000 words)
•
•
•
•
•
•
A: Plan of the Investigation: 100-150 words
B: Summary of the Evidence: 500-600 words
C: Evaluation of Sources: 250-400 words
D: Analysis: 500-650 words
E: Conclusion: 150-200 words
F: List of Sources: unlimited words (not counted)
Total
3 marks
6 marks
5 marks
6 marks
2 marks
3 marks
25 marks
• Typed with Font 12, Times New Roman, Double Spaced, onesided, 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%
IB History HL, 2011
Internal Assessment / Historical Investigation
John Smith, 001246-032
1,995 Words
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
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
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
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
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)
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
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
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
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
Summary of Sections Marks /
Points
•
•
•
•
•
•
A: Plan of the Investigation: 100-150 words
B: Summary of the Evidence: 500-600 words
C: Evaluation of Sources: 250-400 words
D: Analysis: 500-650 words
E: Conclusion: 150-200 words
F: List of Sources: unlimited words
Total
3
6
5
6
2
3
25
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
• Can’t have same topic / research question for
EE and IA
• Can have same topic as someone else but not
the same research question