Use the below expectations for your daily research updates. I will do random check-ins, as well, to see how we are progressing with our research. There are 3 grades associated with IA research - 2 that will go into the 60% category of tests, projects, etc. and 1 that will go in the 30% participation category.
10/4-10/15 - reflects 4-5 days of research (PSAT day excluded from count)- Posted 10/18
10/18-10/29 - reflects 5 days of research - Posted 11/1
10/4-10/29 - Participation grade - uploaded daily to Managebac, no late submissions - Posted 10/29
As you update me on your daily research for your IA be sure you are including something a bit more specific and detailed than a mere paragraph. For each source, consider addressing each of the following:
- A detailed summary with specifics of what was said - For Example: "this article discussed factors leading to the collapse of the Russian Empire" - this is vague. "This article discussed economic factors leading to the collapse of the Russian Empire" - this is less vague, but still vague. "This article discussed widespread shortages of goods and foodstuffs, which contributed to the collapse of the Russian Empire" - this is specific and could provide the basis for further questions.
- Questions that may arise during your readings - For Example: Which other economic factors could have contributed to the collapse of the Russian Empire? Was one of these factors more important than others? How was the Russian Empire attempting to address these factors, if at all? Were their attempts partially successful?
- How the source contributes to the overall direction of the IA - contextualizing, providing evidence, providing alternative perspectives, etc.
Research strategies and solid IA writing:
- Begin with background reading to contextualize, to develop initial questions and thoughts, and to generate ideas to research further. These can be broader historical studies and encyclopedias/general websites. This step is the broadest in the research process.
- Hone your research once you've got initial ideas by exploring the current scholarly research in the area using scholarly articles, books, etc. What is the current research saying about the topic? Which arguments constitute the bulk of the discussion currently? Is this different from previous understandings and interpretations? What is the basis of the argument - archival work, interviews, new sources, etc.? This step should narrow your focus, should provide you with a basis of current research trends and arguments, and give you a base from which to establish your own analysis.
- Search for primary source materials on the topic once you have narrowed it significantly. Use digital collections + your topic to perform initial explorations into available primary source materials that have been digitized in a university or library collection. Refine your search parameters within these collections by looking for certain types of primary source material based upon your specific topic, e.g. ask yourself what types of sources would serve me best as evidence for my claim? Letters? Journals/Diaries? Correspondences between leaders of countries? Posters? Newspapers articles or OpEd pieces? Interviews? Congressional/Legislative records?
If you need a foundation for performing advanced scholarly research in history, try using the SCIM-C method as you do research. This method was developed by the history department at the University of Virginia Tech. Answering the questions embedded in each section will also provide you a solid foundation for performing OPCVL.
scim-c_strategy.docx |