Historical Investigation
5/19/2012 2:37:00 PM
Student name:
Class:
11 Modern History
Wiki:
https://wiki.gosford.spcc.nsw.edu.au/groups/11modernhistory/wiki/dccad/Historical_Investigation.html
Year / term:
Term 2, 2012
File location:
Year 11 School Work /Modern History /Historical Investigation
Section 1
Contents
Section 2
Introduction & Possible Topics
Section 3
Assessment details
Section 4
Homework Summaries
Section 5
Blogging
Section 6
Preliminary Research Worksheet
Section 7
Presentation Options
Section 8
Drafting a Questions and a Hypothesis
Section 9
Drafting a Formal Proposal
Section 10
The Research Process
Section 11
Online Search Strategies
Section 12
Domain Names
Section 13
Web Rating Tool
Section 14
Search Engines
Section 15
Writing a Bibliography
Section 16
Formula to Structure of an Answer
Section 17
Developing an Argument
Section 18
Inserting Footnotes
Section 19
Final Checklist
2 Introduction
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3 Assessment Details
5/19/2012 2:37:00 PM
Historical Investigation – Independent Research Task 2011
In this task you will be assessed on how well you:
Plan your assignment and evaluate time usage and sources of information.
Select and organise information from a variety of sources.
Answer the question with clear, logical, informed and detailed arguments
supported by evidence.
Process Diary Blog (Historical Inquiry)
Sound
Effectively asks and explores questions about the period of time /
Achievement person / theme etc. chosen for research.
4-5
Shows evidence of effective planning and / or strategising on how to
go about analysing and synthesising relevant information from
different sources.
Thoughtfully, considers the potential problems of finding relevant
information on various topics.
Develops (with guidance) a well-written thesis and proposal suitable to
the topic and format chosen.
Satisfactory Asks and may explore questions about the period of time / person /
Achievement theme etc. chosen for research.
2-3
Shows evidence of some planning and / or strategising on how to go
about analysing and synthesising relevant information from different
sources.
Considers the potential problems of finding relevant information on
various topics.
Some attempt to develop (with guidance) a thesis and proposal
suitable to the topic and format chosen.
Inadequate
Limited attempt to ask or explore questions about the period of time /
Achievement person / theme etc. chosen for research.
0-1
Little evidence of any planning and / or strategising on how to go
about analysing and synthesising relevant information from different
sources.
Limited consideration of the potential problems of finding relevant
information on various topics.
Limited attempt to develop a thesis and proposal (may not have been
submitted to teacher by a suitable time as advised in class).
Resources & Bibliography (Historical Inquiry)
Sound
At least 4 authoritative & reliable modern and 3 ancient / primary
Achievement sources used.
4-5
Full bibliographical details correctly given for each resource.
May contain minor errors in providing bibliographical details
Appropriate comments on bias, validity & usefulness.
Relevant and appropriate footnoting throughout.
Satisfactory At least 3 authoritative & reliable modern and 2 ancient / primary
Achievement sources used.
2-3
Some attempt to provide full bibliographical details.
Some attempt to comment on bias, validity & usefulness.
Some attempt to provide footnoting.
Inadequate
0–1
Less than 3 authoritative & reliable modern and 2 ancient / primary
sources used.
Limited bibliographical detail.
Limited attempt to comment on bias, validity & usefulness OR
misunderstanding of these concepts.
Limited footnoting.
Answer (Historical Inquiry / Communication)
Outstanding Makes/provides accurate and detailed judgements/reasons of/for the
Achievement value/outcomes of the different roles played by individuals, groups,
9 - 10
events and ideas.
Presents a sustained, logical and well-structured response in answer to
the question.
Supports the response with detailed and accurate information from
relevant sources.
Uses a range of appropriate terms and concepts.
Sound
Makes/provides detailed judgements/reasons of/for the different roles
Achievement played by individuals, groups, events and ideas.
7-8
Presents a sustained, logical response in answer to the question.
Supports the response with information from relevant sources. Uses
appropriate terms and concepts.
Mostly
Achieved
6
Makes some judgements/provides some reasons of/for the different
roles played by individuals, groups, events and ideas.
Presents a response drawing on an identification of relevant features,
factors or issues.
Refers to relevant sources and uses appropriate terms and concepts in
their response.
Partly
Achieved
4-5
Makes statements about the different roles played by individuals,
groups, events and ideas.
Provides a descriptive narration which may include relevant features,
factors or issues.
Basic use of historical terms and concepts; may refer to sources
Inadequate
Presents a very limited narration/description of people and/or events
Achievement from the past
1-3
Limited use of historical terms/concepts
4 Homework Summaries
Due
Reading / Summaries
Term 2, Week 7 Retrospective pp.166-9
Week 8
Retrospective pp.170-2
Week 9
Retrospective pp.173-6
Term 3, Week 1 Work on your assessment task
Term 3, Week 1 Work on your assessment task
5/19/2012 2:37:00 PM
5 Blogging Rules
5/19/2012 2:37:00 PM
Links:

https://wiki.gosford.spcc.nsw.edu.au/

https://wiki.gosford.spcc.nsw.edu.au/groups/11modernhistory/wiki/dccad/Historical_Investigation.html
Ancient Historical Investigation - Blogging Rules
1. You must abide by the St. Philip’s Computer Usage Policy (extracts of which are
found in your Planner and on the Network User Form)
2. Respect your fellow students and their work
3. Act with honesty and report any problems with any blogs
4. You may only add constructive and helpful comments to the blogs of other
students
5. Your comments must be related to the assignment and must never be about
the student (or any other student)
6. Every time you add comments to another student’s blog, it must be to a different
blog than one you have commented on before
7. A maximum of two people may comment on any one blog in a week
8. You are not to attempt to change, delete or overwrite the work of another student
in their blog
9. You are not to attempt to impersonate another person or forge the date of entry
when adding an entry to a blog
10. You are not to use any offensive language
Blogging Tasks
Due
Blog Question
Term 2,
Week 6
How did you decide what topic to investigate and why? (consider
what interests you, what you already know, how much information is
available, what problems you might face trying to locate information)
Week 7
What is your hypothesis and what makes it worth researching?
(consider whether this makes your topic of research too broad or too
narrow, if there is enough evidence to support your hypothesis, if you
were able to find enough sources to represent a range of perspectives,
facts and opinions, if the hypothesis is realistic).
Week 8
In what format will you present your research in and why? (consider
the assessment criteria, the materials you will need, what would be
appropriate for your audience).
Week 9
How did you decide what sources to use and what information to
include? (consider whether your sources are reliable, useful, diverse,
balanced and represent a range of perspectives, facts and opinions)
Holidays
What feedback have I received on my task so far and what have or
will I change as a result? Who in the class is presenting on similar
topics or in similar formats? What ideas or resources could I share
with them?
Term 3,
Week 1
My evaluation of this task. (Discuss whether you think you achieved
your purpose, if you work satisfies the marking criteria, what your
strengths were, what you would do differently in your next research task
and what you learned from the task)
6 Preliminary Research Worksheet
5/19/2012 2:37:00 PM
 Handwriting Alternative: Answer the questions in your exercise book, under the
heading “Preliminary Research”
Name:
1. What 3 topics
did you decide to
investigate
further?
2. What kind and
amount of
information was
there available
on this topic?
3. What
interested you
most about this
topic?
4. What things
could be difficult
if you chose this
topic for your
research task?
5. What topic
have you
decided upon
and why?
Subject:
Ancient / Modern
Activity:
Reflection on the
choice of topic to
research
Date:
Topic 1:
Topic 2:
Topic 3:
7 Presentation Options
 Handwriting Alternative: Take notes on paper
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8 Drafting a question & hypothesis
5/19/2012 2:37:00 PM
 Handwriting Alternative: Answer the questions in your exercise book, under the
heading “Drafting a question & hypothesis”
 Alternative Activity: Refer to text ...
Name:
Subject:
Ancient /
Modern
Activity:
drafting a
thesis and
proposal
Date:
1. What is a
“thesis”?
A statement or theory put forward and supported by
arguments
2. How does a
“question” relate to
A hypothesis is the answer to a question that you
intend to argue and support with evidence.
a thesis?
Normally, one would consider a question before
composing a hypothesis.
3. What is a
“Wikipedia
question” and what
makes these bad?
4. What is a
“problematic/contro
versial question”
and what makes
these good?
5. “Wikipedia question” words from: 6. “problematic/controversial q’n”
www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syl words from:
labus_hsc/glossary_keywords.html
www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syl
labus_hsc/glossary_keywords.html












To what extent …
Analyse
Evaluate
Discuss








7. What is a
“proposal”?
A statement outlining the topic you intend to
research, the hypothesis you intend to argue and
the format you intend to present your information
in. It must be approved before you can submit the
task.
8. What topic would
you like to
research?
10. Draft a
question you would
like to answer.
11. List at least 3
specific sources of
information
relevant to this
question
12. Draft a thesis in
answer to this
question.
13. Draft a
proposal
14. Teacher
feedback
9. What
format do you
wish to
present your
information
9 Formal Research Proposal
5/19/2012 2:37:00 PM
 Handwriting Alternative: Handwrite your proposal
 Digital Alternatives: Place this proposal on your Blog
Name:
Subject:
Ancient / Modern
Activity:
Research
Proposal
Teacher: Approval:
Comment:
Proposal
Approval
Date:
Yes / No
Date:
10 The Research Process
5/19/2012 2:37:00 PM
 Alternative Activity: Refer to text Retrospective p.170
What is a scholarly article?
 Written by an expert in the field e.g. a Professor of Roman History
 Very specific on the topic i.e. not a general encyclopedia article on
Roman History but specifically on Roman sewer systems

Published by a university, an institution or a professional
organisation e.g. Journal of the International Egyptian Archaeological
Society

Written in formal language

References to other experts in the field in numerous footnotes
and detailed bibliography
Numerous quotes and references to a range of primary / ancient
sources


More likely to be printed than online
How to find scholarly sources?
 Visit a university library
 Search for “journals” e.g. Journal of the NSW History Teacher’s
Association




Look for books first
Search using the names of specific historians, archaeologists or
other experts (as listed in the bibliography of other scholarly
sources)
Use site:edu in a search engine to locate educational sites
Use an academic search engine e.g.
http://scholar.google.com.au
11 Online Search Strategies
5/19/2012 2:37:00 PM
 Extra Digital Resources: Google for “online search strategies”, Google itself may
have some good tips
Internet Search Tips
The following guide has been borrowed from the University of South
Carolina
It can be found at www.sc.edu/beaufort/library/lesson7.html
Links and text checked regularly. Latest update in May
2003.
This tutorial was first created in January 2000 by Ellen
Chamberlain, library webweaver.
Copyright © the Board of Trustees of the University of
South Carolina.
URL: http://www.sc.edu/beaufort/library/lesson7.html
LESSON 7:
BASIC SEARCH TIPS
QUICK TIPS
NOTE: These tips will work with most search engines in their basic search
option.
Use the plus (+) and minus (-) signs in front of words to force their
inclusion and/or exclusion in searches.
EXAMPLE: +meat -potatoes
(NO space between the sign and the keyword)
Use double quotation marks (" ") around phrases to ensure they are
searched exactly as is, with the words side by side in the same order.
EXAMPLE: "bye bye miss american pie"
(Do NOT put quotation marks around a single word.)
Put your most important keywords first in the string.
EXAMPLE: dog breed family pet choose
Type keywords and phrases in lower case to find both lower and upper
case versions. Typing capital letters will usually return only an exact
match.
EXAMPLE: president retrieves both president and President
Use truncation (or stemming) and wildcards (e.g., *) to look for variations
in spelling and word form.
EXAMPLE: librar* returns library, libraries, librarian, etc.
EXAMPLE: : colo*r returns color (American spelling) and colour
(British spelling)
Combine phrases with keywords, using the double quotes and the plus
(+) and/or minus (-) signs.
EXAMPLE: +cowboys +"wild west" -football -dallas
(In this case, if you use a keyword with a +sign, you must put the +sign
in front of the phrase as well. When searching for a phrase alone, the
+sign is not necessary.)
When searching within a document for the location of your keyword(s),
use the "find" command on that page.
Know the default (basic) settings your search engine uses (OR or AND).
This will have an effect on how you configure your search statement
because, if you don't use any signs (+, - " "), the engine will default to its
own settings.
Tips for using:
All the Web
T
In addition to the tips below this search engine has an
Advanced Search Screen which you may find more convenient.
In addition to the
Advanced Search Scre
+dolphins
Miami
Requires that DOLPHINS will be in each site found
but not Miami.
+dolphins
Miami
Searches fo
searches for a
phrase
Using quotation marks around the words entered
forces this search engine to search for an exact phrase
searches for
a phrase
Using quota
forces Goog
title:
title: mark twain searches for the phrase Mark
Twain in the title that portion of the screen in the
extreme upper left hand corner.
intitle:
intitle: mar
Twain in th
extreme upp
site:
Use in conju
site:
mark twain site:charleslivermore.com
Searches for mark twain on the named site.
Site: matches the end of the hostname
Can also be
ad
inurl:
Finds s specific word or word fragment in a url.
inurl: stjohns
edu
gov org
inurl:
Finds s spec
inur
link:
Let s you see other ages which link to specific pages.
link:
Let s you se
Combine feature: intitle: mark twain site:edu will find pages
from educational institutions that have been described as being about
Mark Twain
Combine feature: intitle:
from educational institutions
Mark Twain
Tips for using:
Google
In addition to the tips below this search engine has an
Advanced Search Screen which you may find more convenient.
ent.
site found
+dolphins
Miami
Searches for DOLPHINS but not the Miami Dolphins
ntered
xact phrase
searches for
a phrase
Using quotation marks around the words entered
forces Google to search for the exact phrase
Mark
en in the
intitle:
intitle: mark twain searches for the phrase Mark
Twain in the title that portion of the screen in the
extreme upper left hand corner.
site:
Use in conjunction with: edu gov net org com
ite.
Can also be used to limit a search to a specific address:
admissions site:www.stjohns.edu
a url.
inurl:
Finds s specific word or word fragment in a url.
inurl: stjohns
cific pages.
link:
Let s you see other ages which link to specific pages.
d pages
ng about
Combine feature: intitle: mark twain site:edu will find pages
from educational institutions that have been described as being about
Mark Twain
12 Domain Names
5/19/2012 2:37:00 PM
 Handwriting Alternative: Takes notes in your exercise book under the heading
“Domain Names”
 Digital Alternative: Google for lists of domain name abbreviations
13 Web Evaluation Tool
5/19/2012 2:37:00 PM
 Alternative Activity: Refer to text …
 Extra Digital Resources:
Rating
Relevancy (least
Credibility
Authority (most important)
important)
Does the site need to provide
Are the authors of the information
Does the site provide
truthful information (more than
referenced and are they experts on the
all the information
anything else)?
topic?
you need?

Provides lots of
Aims to make its audience
Are hosted by a university or other
5 star sites ...
detailed information
experts on the topic
organisation that is the highest
e.g. www.ted.com
Provides information
Would lose significant support
authority on the topic (usually an .edu
e.g.
on every area of the
and / money by not being truthful
or .asn site)
http://ocw.mit.edu
topic
Provides two sides of any
Has information provided only by
Provides enough
argument with information to
experts in the field who are named with
information for your
back both sides
their qualifications / credentials
purposes
Provides lots of highly specific
Provides specific book references,
facts rather than opinion
hyperlinks and photographs to back up
information

Provides detailed
Aims to educate and inform its
Are hosted by an educational or
4 star sites ...
information
audience
government organisation, library or
e.g.
Provides information
Would lose support and / money
gallery that would have experts on the
www.skwirk.com
on nearly every area
by not being truthful
topic (usually an .edu or .gov site)
e.g.
of the topic
Provides two sides of any
Has information checked by people
www.dictionary.com
Provides most of the
argument
who have studied the topic
e.g.
information you need
Provides neutral facts rather than
Provides references, hyperlinks,
www.sl.nsw.gov.au
for your purposes
opinion
statistics and photographs to back up
information

Provides information
Aims to provide general
Are hosted by a business or a large
3 star sites ...
with some detail
information
organisation (usually a .com site)
e.g.
Provides information
Would not be greatly affected if
Prevents the general public from
www.answers.com
on most areas of the
some information is incorrect
adding information
e.g.
topic
May refer to the existence of
Provides a small number of hyperlinks,
www.smh.com.au
Provides a lot of the
different view points
statistics and photographs to back up
information you need
A mixture of fact and opinion, but
information
for your purposes
more factual

Provides general
Aims to sell something or
Are hosted by a freely available
2 star sites ...
information
promote an idea or belief
website or a general website often for
e.g.
Many areas of the
Could gain support and / money
fans or enthusiasts (usually a .org
www.wikipedia.org
topic are covered
by not being truthful
or .com site)
Provides only one side of any
Anyone can add information but they
argument
must have an account on the site
Opinionated
A small number of hyperlinks used to
back up information

Provides very basic
Only concerned with selling
Are hosted by an anonymous or freely
1 star sites ...
information
something, promoting an idea,, a
available website often (usually
e.g.
Most areas of the
religion or a political party, getting
a .org, .net, .biz or .com site)
www.cpa.org.au
topic are not covered
supporters or expressing an
The persons who have provided the
opinion
information are not named
Could gain significant support
Does not giver refer to anything else to
and / money by not being truthful
back up information
Provides only one side of any
argument
Very opinionated
14 Search Engines
5/19/2012 2:37:00 PM
 Handwriting Alternative: Take notes in your exercise book, under the heading
“Search Engines”
 Alternative Activity: See text …
 Digital Activity: Google for “search engines”
Google
Scholar
For academic articles
http://scholar.google.com/
SearchEdu
For information by
educators
http://searchedu.com/
A cross between a
WolframAlpha
calculator and a search
engines, excellent for
statistical information
http://www.wolframalpha.com/
15 How to write a Bibliography
5/19/2012 2:37:00 PM
 Alternative Activity: Instructions from “HSC: All My Own Work” at:
http://amow.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/
 Digital Resources: See Bibliography tool in Word
All resources in a research task must be included in a bibliography at the
end of your work. This includes both print resources (books and
pamphlets) and electronic sources (the Internet and CD ROM).
What order are things listed in a bibliography?
List all resources used alphabetically by author. DO NOT list books,
journal articles or electronic resources separately – they should be listed
together. If no author is given the title is placed first.
BOOKS
Use this order:
1. Author (surname first). If there is an editor but not author, name the
editor and put (ed.) after their name.
2. Title (underlined or in italics)
3. Publisher / Publishing company (often found on title page or inside
cover)
4. Place of publication
5. Date of publication
eg. Wicken, Andrew, Journeys of Discovery, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 1998.
e.g. Banks, Robin, Getting Rich Quick, Long Bay Publishing, Sydney, 2004
INTERNET
A bit more complex, but simple if you follow these steps.
1. Author (not often given, may be an organisation e.g. NSW History
Teacher’s Association)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Date entered on web (in round brackets)
Title (underlined)
[Online]
Available (give the web address e.g. www.downlaod.eastysassignments.com)
* Date you accessed the site (in round brackets)
eg. Di Stefano, Vince, (no date), Guidelines for better writing, [Online], Available
http:llwww.Usa.net/vinced Ihome/better writing.html, (8 Feb. 2000)
Example of an Annotated Bibliography
Primary Sources
Primary Source = a source of information about the time being studied
produced (roughly) in the time being studied
Source
Perspective / Bias /
Reliability
Point of view
Usefulness
How much it helped
you answer the
question
Herodotus, The Father
of Lies, Oxford
University Press,
Sydney, 2007.
Ancient Greek historian
who likes to tell good
stories. Information
largely exaggerated.
Lots of examples of
unbelievable stories.
Pinocchio, It’s Just a
Cold, Big Brother
Publishing, Rome,
An Italian puppet who
doesn’t want to get in
trouble. Stories can be
2006.
believed but some
excuses are
questionable.
Some examples of
what happens when
lies are told.
Secondary Sources
Secondary Source = a source of information about the time being studied
but produced after the time
Source
Perspective /
Bias /Reliability
Point of view
Usefulness
How much it
helped you
answer the
question
Banks, Robyn, Getting Rich
Quick, Long Bay Publishing,
Australian male in
gaol. An expert
Outlines
strategies that
Sydney, 2004
with reliable
information. Facts
have been tested
in a legal court.
can be adopted.
East, M, (no date), The Truth is
out There, [online], Available
http://www.downlaodmoney.com, Teacher trained in
(8 Feb. 2000)
X-Files History
but the X-Files
are fictional.
Unreliable.
Limited, some
useful quotes and
statistics but
generally did not
make sense.
Good pictures and
links.
16 Formula for writing answers
5/19/2012 2:37:00 PM
 Alternative Activity: See text …
For Medium Length Responses
1. Statement in answer to the question
2. Evidence from an ancient source
3. Explanation of how question is answered
4. Evidence from a modern source
For Extended Responses
1.
2.
3.
4.
Introduction
Paragraphs
Statement
Ancient Evidence
5. Explanation
6. Modern Evidence
7. Conclusion
Example
“The ancient accounts we have of Lykourgos are unreliable, as Plutarch
admits “In general nothing can be said about Lykourgos that is not
disputed” (Plutarch, Life of Lykourgos 1.1). This supports the claim that
accounts of Lykourgos’ life was manipulated to justify Spartan laws.
Indeed, some modern scholars such as Hooker and Andrews suggest that
Lykourgos may not have even existed”.
History Essay Planning Page
Step 3
Step 1
Topic of 1st paragraph
Question:
Type of
question: e.g.
"Ex plain ...",
"Ev aluate...",
"Discuss...
Time frame of
question: e.g. "... in
the time of Cicero"
Topic of the
question: e.g.
"myths and legends"
Issue of the question:e.g.
"w hat relevant evidence reveals",
"achievements and impact", "main features
... and significance" , "military alliances
etc."
Relevant people
Relevant events
Relevant places
Relevant quotes
Relevant statistics
Relevant events
Relevant places
Relevant quotes
Relevant statistics
Topic of 2nd paragraph
This means in this
question you need
to.. .
How can this period of time be broken into
smaller periods of time? e.g. rule of different
emperors
How can you categorise the information related to
the topic? e.g. geographical factors, political
factors, military factors etc.
Relevant people
Topic of 3rd paragraph
Relevant people
Relevant events
Relevant places
Relevant quotes
Relevant statistics
Relevant events
Relevant places
Relevant quotes
Relevant statistics
Step 2
Topic of 4th paragraph
Brainstorm ideas for
paragraph topics
Relevant people
Topic of 5th paragraph
Relevant people
Relevant events
Relevant places
Relevant quotes
Relevant statistics
17 Developing an Argument
5/19/2012 2:37:00 PM
 Alternative Activity: See text ...
Now that you have had your proposal approved;
You need to start to think about how you are actually going to use the
research you have found. Always remember that you need to
continuously focus back on the research question. You also need subarguments, and supporting evidence. As you start sifting through your
work, you need to make notes under the following headings.
Remember to record where the information came from
Research Question -
ARGUMENT 1:
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE:
ARGUMENT 2:
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE:
ARGUMENT 3:
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE:
ARGUMENT 4:
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE:
18 Inserting Footnotes
5/19/2012 2:37:00 PM
 Alternative Activity: Instructions from “HSC: All My Own Work” at:
http://amow.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/
 Digital Resources: See Footnoting tool in Word
Easty’s Guide to writing footnotes
What are footnotes?
All universities require students to write bibliographies and all History
departments within them require footnoting. Footnoting is different from
bibliographies as you are not showing what resources you used but where
you found a very specific piece of information. There are different styles
of footnoting, below is the most common style used in Australian
Universities.
When do you need to write a footnote?
You will need to write a footnote in the following instances:
 where you directly quote someone else's words (you would give
bibliographical details);
 where you are using someone else’s idea (you would give



bibliographical details);
to point your readers to the source of information for facts which
they cannot reasonably be presumed to know already (you would
give bibliographical details);
to translate words or phrase in a foreign language which a
reader cannot reasonably be presumed to understand1; or
to make a brief explanation or to give a brief example .
For example, you do not need to give a source for a statement like World
War II ended in August 1945 because this is a well known fact. You do
need to give a source for a statement like at the end of World War II, 45
1
Monash University History Department, (no date), Essay Writing Guide, [Online],
Available http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/history/essaywri/essaywri.htm, (Accessed
16 June 2005).
per cent of Germany's roads had been destroyed because this is not a
well known fact or may be debatable2. It can be difficult to know when to
write a footnote, if in doubt ask your teacher.
Where do you write footnotes?
Footnotes are found in two locations. Firstly, a number is placed at the
What do you write in a footnote?
Unless you are writing a brief note of explanation, a footnote should give
bibliographical details of where the idea, quote or fact came from. This is
written in the same way as you would in a bibliography with two
important differences;
1. You start with the authors first name & not their surname
2. You give a page reference
Is there a shortcut if you refer to the same source more than
once?
Yes there are two shortcuts.
Firstly, if you refer to the same source in the very next footnote use the
word “Ibid.” rather than giving all the details3 e.g.
First footnote:
1. Joachim C. Fest, Hitler (New York: Harcourt
Brace Jovanovich, Inc., 1975), p. 435.
Second footnote: 2. Ibid., p. 412.
Secondly, if you refer to the same source more than once, use only the
author's last name and a shortened version of the title of the book or
article4 e.g.
2
Ibid.
The Department of History, The University of Melbourne, (3 June 2005), History
Department Style Guide, [Online], Available
http://www.history.unimelb.edu.au/style_guide/index.html, (16 June 2005).
3
4
Ibid.
First footnote:
1. Geoffrey G. Field, Evangelist of Race: The
Germanic Vision of Houston Stewart
Chamberlain (New York: Colombia University
Press, 1981), p. 234-6.
Another footnote
later on:
4. Field, Evangelist of Race, p. 123.
Can you use abbreviations in footnotes?
As a rule you should never use abbreviations in the text of an essay.
However, they can be used in footnotes. Below is a list of the most
common and useful abbreviations.
ch. = chapter
ed. = editor, edited by, edition
et. al. = and other authors that are too many to mention5
ff. = and the following pages (e.g. see p.7ff.)
ibid. = in the same source as above6
n.d. = no date
p., pp. = page (s)
trans. = translation, translated by7
Is there an easy way of doing this on a computer?
Yes, most word processing programs can automatically set up footnotes
for you. In MS Word, follow the steps below;
Open the <Insert> tab
Select <Reference>
Select <Footnote>
“Et. Al.” is short for the Latin phrase “et alii” meaning “and the rest”.
6 “Ibid.” is short for the Latin term “ibidem” meaning “as above”.
5
7
Documenting the Evidence: References and Bibliographies, The Learning Centre,
The University of Sydney, 2001, p.12.
Select <Insert> when you have chosen the settings
Write the footnote
19 Final Checklist
5/19/2012 2:37:00 PM
Historical Investigation Final Checklist
Before you hand in your task, go through the checklist below and  tick
the boxes of completed items.
I have posted on my blog ...
task)
(your blog is worth 25% of the
 a response to each week’s stimulus questions
 at least 100 words for each entry
In my bibliography, I have ... (your bibliography is worth 25% of the
task)
 included at least 4 modern sources
 included at least 3 ancient sources
 filled out the “Bibliography Table” that came with the assignment
 included author, title and date accessed for websites used
 not included questionable sources such as www.wikipedia.org,
www.crystalinks.com and www.boredofstudies.org
In my answer, I have ...
 not just retold information
 argued a thesis
 referred to evidence in ancient sources
 referred to the ideas of modern historians
 used footnotes where quotes, statistics, evidence and the views of
others are referred to