INTERNAL ASSESSMENT ADVICE Or…how to get a 7 on your Internal Assessment

Cover Page  You must include your name  Your candidate number (if you don’t know this, let me know)  Research Question or Title of paper  Word Count-for the entire paper (which does not include the bibliography)

Other Formatting Advice  Your second page must be an index with page numbers of the 5 sections.  Page numbers-you must have them on each page starting AFTER the index. Put your last name, candidate number and page number in the upper right hand corner. Not a candidate? Just your last name and page number will be fine.

Research Question  Even if it’s on your cover page, it must go on page 1 (the first official page of writing)  The question should be at the very top of your page and centered. The question should NOT be part of section A, but above it.

Rohweller, , page 1 To what extent did Fidel Castro play a significant role in the Cuban Missile Crisis? A. Plan of Investigation The investigation will assess the significance of Fidel Castro in the Missile Crisis of In order to evaluate…. Paragraph 1: Scope (what you will cover) Paragraph 2: Method (how you will go about answering the question with specific sources)

A: Plan of Investigation  3 Marks  This investigation will assess…..  No in my essay, I will, etc.  Never use “I” in any part of your essay!  Introduction/explanation of topic  Methodology of research  Specific sources used  Limitations of research (what will not be covered)

What Not to Do….  No giant paragraphs…if one paragraph is an entire page, that is WAY too long!! Break up your information!  One paragraph for the scope and one paragraph for the method.  Asses vs Assess; which one would you like to have in your paper that goes out to the entire world?  Don’t have a separate page for each section- continue with Part B on the same page as Part A

B: Summary of Evidence  6 Marks  These are just the FACTS. The story, the background of the topic.  Be sure the background is specific to your question!!!!  You must reference and cite multiple sources here.  No analysis, just the facts.  These facts should relate to your question, not everything ever written about your topic in general.  Keep this section around 500 words-you want to keep this as close to equal with your analysis section.  Any time you say something is good or bad (helpful, didn’t work, etc)-that is analysis, save it for Part D.

C: Evaluation of Sources  5 Marks  Two sources, no more-no less  O,P,V,L for each source, but in paragraph format  Also consider historical value-as a historian studying your topic (which you actually are).  Value and Limitations: to you in writing and trying to answer the question.  Be sure to state the overall usefulness of the sources to your investigation-either to the positive or negative in the 3rd paragraph.  Like a science lab report: How were the sources used? What was gained? What was missing?

D: Analysis  6 Marks  This is the interpretation section of the paper.  You should be analyzing the facts from section B.  You did the research, what does it mean? How does it relate to the question you asked?  Are there other points of view being offered? Different interpretations? Other historical perspectives?  So what? What is the importance/significance of your investigation in a historical context?  All the information here should mirror what was written in Part B.  Be sure to address the specific aspects of the question you are asking. If your question is about the role of women, that should be your focus. This isn’t just a continuation of facts from Part B!

E: Conclusion  2 Marks  This is a shorter section  You should bring the conclusion back to your original question-what did you find? Be sure to address the question one last time in this section. Be sure to use the actual language of your question. The extent to which….  Did you actually answer your question?  This must be clearly stated and consistent with the evidence presented.

F: List of Sources  3 Marks  Clean/separate page for this “part”  Be sure that your word count is between words. Under or over and you lose marks!  Your list should include books and Internet sources-no wikipedia!!!  Sources should be in alphabetical order!!!  Use Chicago style formatting for both the sources and footnotes.  General lack of footnotes and sources-4 sources is not enough!!!  AT LEAST 7-10 sources for a paper of this significance!!

The Final Paper  The final draft of your internal assessment is due Monday, March 11th.  As you work, write your question on a post-it note and hang it on your computer. Everything you write about should ultimately relate to that question.  You must turn in two copies-typed. I will not print these for you, so plan for your printing.  Remember that this paper will be worth 200 points and 25 marks!!!  The rubric given at the beginning of the assignment will be the one used to grade the final paper.  These scores are then submitted to IB, which will then ask for sample papers.

Questions???