History Research Project

manyoung

Okay, so I told myself I would start this project during the summer to ease the workload, however some problems have emerged.

I am not clear what I am meant to be writing about. Am I (a) researching an event and writing about it in a lot of detail or (b) discussing my research skills and how I researched the event?

Secondly, I got three books out of the library. The event I am researching is the Assassination of Archduke Franz Fernland. Two of the books focus on origins of WW1 and only have a page on the event. However, I have obtained another book form the library which is dedicated to the event. However, the book is a children's history book, but it does give great detail on the event.

Are these sources adequate and can anyone give me some advice. Thanks.

Jolly Red Giant

As an initial comment - talk to your teacher about what you need to do and how to go about doing it. That is what the teacher is there for - to give advice and direction and help you learn the skills you need.

manyoung wrote: »

I am not clear what I am meant to be writing about. Am I (a) researching an event and writing about it in a lot of detail

At Higher Level you have approx. 1200 to write. This is not a lot so the level of detail will be based on the word limit rather than trying to include all the information you have. The skill of editing your essay and deciding what to include and exclude is part of the learning process in completing the research project.

manyoung wrote: »

or (b) discussing my research skills and how I researched the event?

You include this as well as part of the 'Review of Process' at the end of the extended essay (about 200-300 words so the total makes up about 1500).

manyoung wrote: »

Secondly, I got three books out of the library. The event I am researching is the Assassination of Archduke Franz Fernland. Two of the books focus on origins of WW1 and only have a page on the event. However, I have obtained another book form the library which is dedicated to the event. However, the book is a children's history book, but it does give great detail on the event.

Are these sources adequate and can anyone give me some advice. Thanks.

You don't necessarily need sources that are all about your topic - but they should contain some useful information. A single page is unlikely to provide you with much new information that will be useful - furthermore it will be difficult to evaluation sources with such limited information. In order to assess the children's book you would have to provide more details - who wrote it? - who published it? - etc.

There is a large number of online sources you can use to find information - for example you can use google books and search for books that provide a preview so that you can read parts of the book online.

Examples -

http://books.google.ie/books?id=TXpegHWR3nkC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Archduke+Franz+Ferdinand+of+Austria,+Assassinated&hl=en&sa=X&ei=OAwNUvPzM8O47Ab5x4CICg&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Archduke%20Franz%20Ferdinand%20of%20Austria%2C%20Assassinated&f=false

http://books.google.ie/books?id=7DR_fheHdCAC&pg=PA71&dq=Archduke+Franz+Ferdinand+of+Austria,+Assassinated&hl=en&sa=X&ei=OAwNUvPzM8O47Ab5x4CICg&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Archduke%20Franz%20Ferdinand%20of%20Austria%2C%20Assassinated&f=false

http://books.google.ie/books?id=8JR_4_qSMsEC&pg=PA12&dq=Archduke+Franz+Ferdinand+of+Austria,+Assassinated&hl=en&sa=X&ei=OAwNUvPzM8O47Ab5x4CICg&ved=0CFgQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=Archduke%20Franz%20Ferdinand%20of%20Austria%2C%20Assassinated&f=false

You can also run searches inside the books for sepcific information.

You can find information ifrom other online resources -

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/nov/08/first-world-war-franz-ferdinand-sarajevo

This article gives quotes from newspapers of the period

This one is from the Spartacus website and includes primary sources -
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWassassination.htm

You might find the information here helpful in working on and completing the project -
http://leavingcerthistory.net/research-projects/

Hope this helps