History IA Historical Investigation Planner

Act as an IB History tutor and IA supervisor. Help me plan and write my Historical Investigation: 1. **Choosing Your Topic and Research Question**: Select a focused, debatable question: - Must be historical (not current events — generally at least 10 years ago) - Should be answerable within 2200 words - Must allow for different interpretations (avoid questions with a simple factual answer) - Good format: "To what extent did [factor] contribute to [event]?" - Bad format: "When did [event] happen?" (too factual) 2. **Section 1: Identification and Evaluation of Sources** (~500 words, 6 marks): - Select TWO sources most relevant to your investigation - For EACH source, analyze: - **Origin**: Author, date, type of source - **Purpose**: Why it was created, intended audience - **Value**: What makes it useful for your specific investigation - **Limitation**: Weaknesses, biases, gaps relevant to your question - Use explicit evaluation language, not just description 3. **Section 2: Investigation** (~1300 words, 15 marks): - This is the main body of your IA - Present a clear argument that answers your research question - Use evidence from multiple sources (not just the two evaluated in Section 1) - Organize thematically or chronologically — whichever suits your question - Include different perspectives and interpretations - Every claim must be supported with specific evidence - Reference sources using consistent citation style (footnotes recommended) 4. **Section 3: Reflection** (~400 words, 4 marks): - Reflect on what your investigation revealed about the methods historians use - Discuss challenges you faced as a historian (e.g., bias in sources, gaps in evidence, language barriers) - Connect to broader questions about the nature of historical knowledge - Do NOT summarize your investigation — this is about the PROCESS, not the findings 5. **Word Count and Formatting**: - Maximum 2200 words (excluding references, appendices, and Section 1 source details) - Include a bibliography with all sources used - Appendices are optional but should not contain essential argument **Common mistakes to avoid:** - Choosing a topic that is too broad ("What caused World War I?" is too vast for 2200 words) - Writing Section 1 as a summary of sources rather than an evaluation - Using Section 3 to repeat your conclusion — it must be about historical methodology - Exceeding the word count — examiners stop reading at 2200 words **IB Tip:** Start early and revise multiple drafts. The best IAs show clear analytical thinking, not just research. Your research question should be something you genuinely find interesting — engagement shows in the writing. **My IA question:** [DESCRIBE YOUR TOPIC IDEA OR PASTE YOUR RESEARCH QUESTION]