(based on past Paper 3 questions)

INTERNAL ASSESSMENT – REPORT ADVICE
In this booklet you will find:
1.
An overview of the structure of Internal Assessment
2.
Advice (Keys to Success)
3.
Some common questions answered
4.
Historical Investigation: Guidance and Checklist (including Criteria)
5.
Samples (questions and answers)
Steps in the process:
1.
Become familiar with the structure of Internal Assessment
2.
Become familiar with the criteria of Internal Assessment
3.
Read and note the Keys to Success (below)
4.
Read, annotate and apply the criteria to the samples
5.
Choose an area of interest
6.
Your first step is to fill in the topic proposal sheet and to begin to perform some research, reading and note taking. This sheet is to be submitted in the last week of term. Your holiday work is to undertake an ‘Internal Assessment’. This will be due in the first week back.
Keys to Success
The following advice should be noted:
 Care should be taken in the selection and focus of topics
 Topics should be worded as a question
 Topics should not be too wide/broad for any depth of analysis
 Do not go over the 2000 word limit
 Reference correctly and widely
Other points to note:
 Topic selection is the key. It is highly advisable to choose an area from the IB Syllabus. Some have chosen past Paper 3 questions. Your topic/question must have scope for historical debate/analysis
 Do not choose a topic that makes research difficult
 Some of the criteria are “gimme marks (A, E and F). You should get 6 out of 6 for these three criteria
 Criteria B, C and D are where the bulk of marks are awarded and need to be carefully completed
 There is NO SUBSTITUTE FOR HARD WORK
Common questions answered:
The IA is worth 25% for SL and 20% for HL students
Teachers can only look at ONE DRAFT
You should include around 8 resources (mostly books, not an over reliance on the internet!) in your bibliography
Your teacher marks your IA and then they are externally moderated

THE HISTORICAL INVESTIGATION: GUIDANCE & CHECKLIST
Planning:
1.
Start by identifying a general area of interest
2.
Narrow it down to a specific question/area of investigation
3.
Choose a working title that may be changed/refined at a later stage
4.
Make sure you can obtain sufficient resources for your planned investigation
5.
Read widely around the area of study and note down resources used
6.
Review your thesis question and refine it if necessary
7.
Take notes from your chosen resources, including exact references
8.
Complete the preliminary questionnaire and show it to your teacher
9.
Re-read your notes and decide where they would fit into the sections of the investigation
10.
Complete your investigation, according to the IBO guidelines!
HANDY CHECKLIST
To do
Does the front cover have your name, candidate number, word count and thesis question/statement
Are all the pages numbered?
Have you completed all the sections of the historical investigation?
A: Plan of the investigation
B: Summary of evidence
C: Evaluation of sources
D: Analysis
E: Conclusion
F: List of sources
Does your bibliography contain all the sources used?
Is your bibliography set out in alphabetical order?
Is your investigation within the word limit of 1,500-2,000?
Completed

INTERNAL ASSESSMENT: THE WRITTEN ACCOUNT
This section is taken from the IB Diploma Programme guide: History, February 2001
A Plan of the investigation
The plan of the investigation should include:
 the subject of the investigation, which may be formulated as a question
 the methods to be used in the investigation
B Summary of evidence
The summary of evidence should indicate what the student has found out from the sources he or she has used. It can be in the form of either a list or continuous prose. Any illustrations, documents, of other relevant evidence should be included in an appendix and will not be included in the word count.
C Evaluation of sources
This section of the written account should be a critical evaluation of two important sources appropriate to the investigation and should refer to their origin, purpose, value and limitation. More than two sources may be evaluated but the emphasis should be on the thorough evaluation of two sources rather than a superficial evaluation of a greater number.

D Analysis
The analysis should include:
 the importance of the investigation in its historical context
 analysis of the evidence
 if appropriate, different interpretations
E Conclusion
The conclusion must be clearly stated and consistent with the evidence presented.
F List of sources
A bibliography or list of sources must be included although this will not form part of the word count.
Total: 1,500 – 2,000 words, 25 marks

INTERNAL ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
2-3
4-5
B
Markband
0
1-2
3-4
5-6
0
1
C
Markband
A
0
1
Markband
2
3
Plan of the Investigation
There is no plan of the investigation or it is inappropriate
The research question, method and scope of the investigation are not clearly stated.
The research question is clearly stated. The method and scope of the investigation are outlined and related to the research question.
The research question is clearly stated. The method and scope of the investigation are fully developed and closely focused on the research question.
Summary of Evidence
There is no relevant factual material
There is some relevant factual material but it has not been referenced.
There is relevant factual material that shows evidence of research, organization and referencing.
The factual material is all relevant to the investigation and it has been well researched, organized and correctly referenced.
Evaluation of Sources
There is no description of evaluation of sources
The sources are described but there is no reference to their origin, purpose, value and limitation.
There is some evaluation of the sources but reference to their origin, purpose, value and limitation may be limited.
There is evaluation of the sources and explicit reference to their origin, purpose, value and limitation.

2
3
0
1
E
Markband
2
F
Markband
0
1
D
Markband
0
1-2
3-4
Analysis
There is no analysis
There is some attempt at analysing the evidence presented in section B.
There is analysis of the evidence presented in section B and references are included. There may be some awareness of the significance to the investigation of the sources evaluated in section C. Where appropriate, different interpretations are considered.
5-6 There is critical analysis of the evidence presented in section B, accurate referencing, and an awareness of the significance to the investigation of the sources evaluated in section C. Where appropriate, different interpretations are analysed.
Conclusion
There is no conclusion, or the conclusion is not relevant.
The conclusion is stated but is not entirely consistent with the evidence presented
The conclusion is clearly stated and consistent with the evidence presented
Sources and Word Limit
A list of sources is not included or the investigation is not within the word limit
A list of sources is included but these are limited or one standard method is not used consistently or the word count is not clearly and accurately stated on the title page.
A list of sources using one standard method is included and the investigation is within the word limit.
An appropriate list of sources, using one standard method, is included. The investigation is within the word limit.

POSSIBLE TOPICS
In what ways, and for what reasons, was the period 1815 to 1866 one of change for Austria?
Analyse the reasons for, and the nature of, opposition to Tsardom in Russia between 1855 and 1894.
Evaluate the successes and failures of Bismarck’s foreign policy between 1871 and 1890.
Analyse the development and importance of the trade union movement in
one European country in the nineteenth century.
Assess the impact of either Marxism or nationalism in Europe, in the second half of the nineteenth century.
Assess the successes and failures of the domestic policies of Napoleon III.
Why did Nicholas II survive the 1905 revolution, but lose his throne in the
February/March 1917 revolution?
In what ways, and to what extent, were German and Austrian policies responsible for the outbreak of the First World War?
Compare and contrast the part played by Lenin and Trotsky in the development of the USSR between 1918 and 1924.
Analyse the main factors, which contributed to Hitler’s rise to power in
January 1933.
Evaluate the domestic policies of Mussolini between 1922 and 1939.
Account for the successes of Nazi Germany in Europe between 1938 and
1942.
For what reasons, and with what results, was there a civil war in China between 1946 and 1949?
In what ways, and for what reasons, did Mao develop his own form of communism?
The 100 Flowers Campaign
The Great Leap Forward

INTERNAL ASSESSMENT – PRELIMINARY QUESTIONNARIE
Name: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Area of research/topic: ……………………………………………………………………………
Specific question: ……………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Outline of work completed thus far: ………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
How ‘set’ are you on this topic? …………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
ANNOTATED list of possible resources (try to include three different ‘types’ of resource):

INTERNAL ASSESSMENT – CHECKLIST
Please ensure the following have been checked before handing in your final copy of your Internal Assessment:
1.
Word Count
Is the report under 2000 words?
Have you included a word count on the cover page?
2.
Bibliography and Footnotes
Is the bibliography correct (ie; in alphabetical order)?
Are your footnotes cited/listed correctly?
3.
Section sub-headings
Have you included all the section sub-headings?
4.
IB cover pages (Year 12 only)
Have you filled these out properly?
5.
Criteria
SECTION A: Plan of the Investigation
Is the scope and plan of the investigation APPROPRIATE and CLEARLY FOCUSED?
SECTION B: Summary of Evidence
Has the investigation been WELL RESEARCHED with GOOD supporting evidence that has been CORRECTLY referenced?
SECTION C: Evaluation of Sources
Is the evaluation of sources THOROUGH with APPROPRIATE reference to origin, purpose, value and limitation?
SECTION D: Analysis
Is there CRITICAL analysis of the evidence and of the importance of the investigation in its historical context?
SECTION E: Conclusion
Is the conclusion CLEARLY STATED and CONSISTENT with the evidence presented?
SECTION F: List of sources
Is the investigation within the word limit? Have you provided a comprehensive list of sources, using a standard method of referencing consistently?
6.
Proof Reading
Has someone else read your final report to pick up on any simple grammar errors and typos?
7.
Printing (Year 12 only)
Have you printed off TWO COPIES to be handed in and have you kept one for yourself?

INTERNAL ASSESSMENT – DEALING WITH SECTION C
In the past it has been noted that many candidates can struggle with Section C (Evaluation of Sources). Please find here some advice that may assist.
NOTE: With any advice given it is advised that you FOLLOW IT!
CRITERIA
1 Sources are described but there is no reference to their origin, purpose, value and limitation
2-3 There is some evaluation of sources but reference to their origin, purpose, value and limitation is limited
4-5 There is evaluation of the sources and explicit reference to their origin, purpose, value and limitation.
TIPS
 Be specific with your values and limitations
 Do not go for the generic “throwaways” like date of publishing, nationality of author and generic comments about the contents of the source and/or sources
(primary/secondary) used. If these are to be used, make them specific and thorough and appropriate
 Choose your sources to evaluate to allow for specificity of values and limitations
 FOLLOW THIS ADVICE 

TOTAL
MARKS
A 3
6
D
E
C
B
2
6
5
F
3
25
MARKS
ACHIEVED
COMMENTS