1. Research and Planning Methods

2. Book by Book
Take notes from each book you use on separate sheets. You will only need to note the author/publication details once and can reference page numbers in your notes. + Faster at first and makes referencing easy. - You will at some stage need to collate it all and select parts by theme/event/factor/person to help you plan your final answer in a coherent way.

3. By Factor/Theme/Event/Person
You will need to have one sheet for each Factor/Theme/Event/Person. As you read through books you add relevant information to each sheet. You will need to be careful to note where each piece of information has come from. + Organises notes as you go. - Writing down references as you go is slower and more confusing.

4. Checking up
Your teacher will want to see your notes regularly!

5. Outline Plan – Getting towards an answer
Step 1 Write your one line answer to the question based on your overall research – this is your line or argument. Step 2 Choose 2 main historians views to use in relation to your question. Make sure one is more in line with your argument than the other. Step 3 Choose 3 primary sources that support or challenge your view, or one of the historians views, to use in your essay. Step 4 Brainstorm the Factors/Themes/Events/People you could cover in your essay – select 3-5 angles/foci to be the focus of your main paragraphs. Step 5 Start planning each section in detail!

6. Planning By Grid – Foci/Theme Approach
Line of Argument
Historian View 1
Historical Context
Historian View 2
Foci/Theme of paragraph
Alexander II
Alexander III
Nicholas II
Lenin
Stalin
Khrushchev

7. Planning By Grid – Event Theme Approach
Line of Argument
Historian View 1
Historical Context
Historian View 2
Person Theme
Key Points Key Detail Sources/Historians Views