Describes how to approach a Hiistory RSR from the initial stages - criteria for a good research question, sources of information and reading for argument. Talk given at the HTAI Seminar on the History RSR at TCD Dublin 17th Oct 2016.

1. The RSR – From The Idea To Sources
How do I start my RSR?!!!

2. Some General Observations*
* Based on helping my LC and IB students
You feel swamped – you don’t know where to start. The RSR is put
on ‘The Long Finger’. Its competing for time with other subjects
You take a long time to settle on a general area eg European history
or Medieval history and you may need to be ‘shoved’ to get this far.
You find it difficult to narrow your focus to a more specific topic area
and to develop a research question
You are reluctant to discuss your ideas with teachers and the
school librarian. You struggle on alone when you don’t have to
You don’t know how/where to find the information you need
You find extracting ideas/themes/arguments from your reading difficult

3. The Research Process
There is a methodology you can follow
1. Find topic area
2. Do background (initial) reading
3. Develop Research Question (RQ) and thesis statement with History Teacher
4. Decide which sources are needed
5. Research
6. Read
7. Evaluate
8. Write first draft
9. Recognise what is wrong/missing/should be emphasised/deleted from 1st
draft. Have you answered your RQ?
10. Revise draft(s)
This could be covered in a TY Module
Why don’t you suggest it to the TY Co-Ordinator at your school????

4. Topic Choice & Research Question

5. Your Topic Choice and RQ is Important
Choose something that interests you
Is worthy of research ie don’t choose a frivolous topic – 4 criteria will be
discussed. Surprisingly Kim Kardashian doesn’t count as ‘worthy’!!!
Your RQ will determine the resources you will need for your essay
Do your background reading in general reference sources (eg encyclopedia)
to confirm your interest in the topic. Britannica is on SCOILNET.IE
Become familiar with the historical context surrounding your topic
(social, political, cultural, economic etc.)
Take on the role of the investigator - what is the significance of the
topic you are researching? If you cannot answer this then why are
you working on it??
Once settled on your general topic area narrow it into your RQ

6. Characteristics Of A Good Research Question

7. 1st criteria for a good RQ
DEBATABLE – a good RQ is debatable rather than factual.
It is not a simple “yes or no” question but one that can be answered in
more than one way
Too Factual
Who was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence?
Debatable
What factors might explain the historical inaccuracies in John Trumball’s
painting ‘The Declaration of Independence’?

8. 2nd criteria for a good RQ
NARROW – a good RQ is narrow rather than broad (‘delightfully vague’).
Too broad
Why did the Roman Empire collapse?
Narrow
What aspects of the political system of the Roman Republic
survived the rise of dictatorship and empire?

9. 3rd criteria for a good RQ
SIGNIFICANT – The RQ should be one that historians would take seriously
Unimportant
Why are ping pong tables green?
Significant
What was the importance of ‘ping-pong diplomacy’ to relations
between China and the USA?

10. 4th criteria for a good RQ
RESEARCHABLE – a good RQ is researchable rather than vague.
Vague RQs will lead to aimless, narrative style essays
Vague
Why did Mexico have so many revolutions?
Researchable
How was the Porfirio Diaz dictatorship undermined in the decade
prior to the Mexican Revolution of 1910?
A poorly chosen RQ is likely to lead to a long, rambling answer
Narrative rather than analytical - perhaps resulting in lower
marks???

11. IB Example - Formulating a Good RQ
The Library, St. Andrew's College
Move from the GENERAL (Broad) to the SPECIFIC (Focused)
Topic – English Topic A Comments
Religion in Literature Waaay too broad!!!
Religion in 19th Century Literature Still too broad
Religion in the works of the Brontes Better. Moving in the right direction
Religion in the works of
Charlotte Bronte
She wrote a lot!
Charlotte Bronte’s views on
Religion in Villette and Jane
Eyre
Almost there
In what way does CB reveal her
attitudes to religion in Villette and Jane
Eyre?
Source: IBO
USE LIMITORS!!!
- Dates
- Personalities
- Themes

12. Sources

13. Caveat
Assuming
- you don’t have a school library
- you know how to search the internet
- you are a member of your local public library and
know how to use a library catalogue
So, …

14. Sources - Types
You only have to evaluate 3 sources of information in your RSR
Here’s a range of sources you can use in your RSR:
1. Almanacs/Statistical Sources
2. Atlases (Historical)
3. Books & Ebooks
4. Databases
5. Dictionaries
6. Encyclopedia
7. Internet – Irish Sites and Linked Sites
8. Magazines
9. Newspapers
10. People – Interviews, Associations, Museums and Archives
11. Radio and TV

15. Warning!!!
• This is NOT a
comprehensive
listing of
sources. It gives
a flavour of
what is available

16. Sources used at the start
Useful at the beginning of your RSR
Dictionaries
Encyclopedia
Atlases (Historical)

17. Dictionaries
Useful to define an historical term – used to briefly describe the origin and
general historical context of the term you intend to use eg neo-liberalism
They do not contain detailed analysis/interpretation of historical subjects.
Macmillan Concise Dictionary of World History
Dictionary of Irish History Since 1800 – Hickey and Doherty (eds)
Dictionary of Ancient History (OUP)
Dictionary of American History
Dictionary of the History of Ideas
According to The Dictionary of the History of Ideas “neo-liberalism is ……
Work those sources!!!
Quote from them!!

18. Encyclopedias
Researching a subject about which you have very little background information???
READ AN ENCYCLOPEDIA ARTICLE ON YOUR TOPIC
as you are not yet in a position to corroborate what
you will be reading with other sources
Encyclopedia Britannica – free on www.scoilnet.ie
Women’s Studies Encyclopedia: History, Philosophy and Religion (1999)
New Encyclopedia of Islam (2001)
International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences – useful for politics
Encyclopedia of Medical History
Encyclopedia of Military History: From 3500BC to the Present (Harper & Row)

19. Atlases (Historical)
Illustrate important changes over time – battles, migrations etc.
A picture is worth a thousand words
Historical Atlases
Times Atlas of World History
Muir’s Atlas of Ancient and Classical History
Atlas of the Greek World
Atlas of the Roman World
Don’t forget to state your source!!!
Source: Atlas of the Roman World

20. Sources Used Later In The RSR

21. Almanacs/Statistics
An almanac is a book of facts/statistics usually in a tabulated format. Statistics in
an almanac refer to the previous years figures or even earlier!
Use statistics to strengthen your argument –QUOTE!!!
CSO – Central Statistics Office
ESRI- Economic and Social Research Institute
Irish Census data – 1911 Census
World Almanac and Book of Facts
UN - Statistical Yearbook, United Nations Statistical Office
European Political Facts, 1918-1990
Historical Tables, 58BC-AD1900
International Historical Statistics: Europe, 1750-2005, 6th ed.

22. Books
Very useful to the novice researcher for their broad and deep coverage of a
topic.
Peer reviewed
Use TOC and index – you may not have to read the entire book
Bibliography - use it to find other resources on your topic area
Too many to list or comment upon individually – use the ‘classic’ author in the
subject eg Laurence Rees on Nazis or Frank Dikotter on Chinese history.
Quality not quantity is important.
Use your Local public library – search their catalogue online, if the item not in
stock ask for an Inter Library Loan – small cost???
Book Reviews – useful for analysis/criticism
Help for students on how to evaluate print sources of information on my Blog

23. Databases
Useful for full text articles and book reviews
EBSCO – History Reference Centre
JSTOR – collection of journals from a wide range of disciplines.
Fee based and require a password
Are they available at a local library/university???
Save time – read the abstract – summarises what the work is about

24. Internet – A Few Caveats
Beware of Wikipedia – open architecture - use cautiously
Every class will have its ‘Wiki Wallies’
Bibliography at end of article may be useful for resources
Use Google Scholar!!! – guidance from Cardiff University on my Blog
Do you know about suffixes eg .edu (educational)
.com (commercial organisation)
Invisible or Deep Web – Do you know how to search it???
Date accessed – essential to quote this in your bibliography
Go to my Blog for help on how to evaluate a website
http://librarysac.wordpress.com

25. Internet – The Deep Web
Are you aware that searching Google is not searching the entire web??
Do you know how to search the deep or invisible web?
Deep web sites include:
Intute Infomine DeepPeep IncyWyncy
WWW Virtual Library Complete Planet InfoPlease

26. Internet – Irish History
You should be aware of these if doing an Irish History RSR
Bibliography of Irish History – www.rhs.ac.uk/bibl/ireland.asp
CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts – www.ucc.ie/celt/links.html
Documents on Irish Foreign Policy – www.difp.ie
Great Hunger Collection Online – www.quinnipiac.edu/x912.xml
Irish Resources in the Humanities – www.irith.org/index.jsp
Defence Forces Military Archive – Military Pensions file

27. Internet – Linked Sites
These focus on history and have a large number of links to specialised history sites
Gateway to world history – www.hartford-hwp.com/gateway
Internet History Sourcebooks Project – www.fordham.edu/halsall/index
Library of Congress – http://lcwebloc.gov
World History Compass – www.worldhistorycompass.com
WWW-Virtual Library: History – www.ukans.edu/history/VL
British Academy Portal – www.britac.ac.uk/portal
Institute of Historical Research – www.history.ac.uk
Best of History Web Sites – www.besthistorysites.net/index.shtml

28. Internet – Linked Sites 2
Directory of Historical Resources – www.history.la.ca.us/hddirect.htm
The History Guide – www.historyguide.org/resources.html
Internet Public Library – www.ipl.org/div/subject/browse.hum30.00.00
World History Matters – www.worldhistorymatters.org
Intute Arts and Humanities – www.intute.ac.uk CLOSED JULY 2011
Librarians’ Internet Index – www.lii.org/pub/topic/reference

29. Internet – Document Archives
On these sites, specific historical texts (books, articles, primary docs) are
available. Online access to them is free, but you may have to pay to download
information
Eurodocs (primary historical documents) – http://library.byu.edu/~rdh/eurodocs
World War One Document Archive – www.lib.byu.edu/~rdh/wwi

30. Interviews
Primary source which may lead to interesting essay – they stand out as being original
Before the interview you should:-
Explain the scope of your research
Prepare a list of questions for your subject – make them open ended
Get your history teacher to REVIEW it!
Write and make an appointment and allow sufficient time for the subject to give a
considered reply
Probe further if you get an answer that leads in the direction of important material
Later on let your subject know how your research progressed and thank them
NB – you MUST get your subject’s consent to record your interview

31. Local History Societies
Archives/Associations/Museums
Great resource staffed with knowledgeable and enthusiastic historians
who are more than willing to help you
What is the name of your local History Society? eg Maynooth Local History;
Cork Historical & Archaeological Society; County Tipperary Historical Society
The National Archive is at Bishop St., Dublin; The Military Archive, is at
Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin; Linen Hall Library is in Belfast; National
Photographic Archive; archives held at universities – are you aware of any
archive near you?
Local Museum eg Famine Museum in Roscommon ; Museum of Country
Life in Mayo; Irish Jewish Museum in Dublin

32. Magazines/Journals/Periodicals*
‘The Shove ‘ for an idea I mentioned earlier – use front cover and title page to find your
topic area
History Ireland – fantastic resource!!! great quality articles
BBC History Magazine
History Today
Modern History Review
Irish Historical Studies
Also - Open Access Journals – DOAJ and PLOS ONE
• See ‘Databases’ – EBSCO and JSTOR

33. Newspapers
Newspaper databases contain full text but only for certain newspapers
and for certain years. May be fee based.
Great source to use in your RSR – if applicable
Irish Newspaper Archives – fee based
Irish Times Archive – www.irishtimes.com/archive
Official Index to the Times (London) and Palmer’s Index to the Times –
subscription service
Early American Newspapers – 100s of newspapers from 1690-1922 –
subscription service
What is the title of your local newspaper?

34. Radio & TV
Talking History on Newstalk 106 Sunday 7-8 pm
One featured item can spark many RSR ideas
Plantation Economics
Slavery
Toussaint L’Ouverture
Haitian Rebellion

35. Remember ….
The sources previously listed are just a snapshot of
what is available to you
No one source is ‘better’ than the other
Sources selected should be appropriate to the RQ
you wish to answer

36. How To Read For Argument
Observation – students read passively
Read purposefully - what answers are you seeking from your
reading/research?
Make efficient use of your time – skim/scan. Where’s the main idea?
What’s really relevant to your research? Use the index. Be ruthless!!
Evaluate and be critical of the arguments presented in the texts you read
– what are they? List them in bullet point format
- are they consistent or contradictory?
- are they relevant (even if you don’t agree with them)?
- is there bias (political, religious, ideological, etc.)?
- are the underlying assumptions valid?
- are conclusions supported by evidence eg statistics
Again, look at my blog http://librarysac.wordpress.com

37. Use Your Evidence (Sources)
“Remember your purpose is to convince the reader (Examiner)
that the conclusions you draw regarding the research question
are well founded and are supported by the evidence you have
gathered and presented. So clearly, research question, data,
evidence and/or information must be linked in a convincing way
to the conclusion”.
You must do the “linking” and not leave it up to the examiner to
“see” the connections or relevance of what you have written”
Source: O’Farrell, Finbar. Extended Essay p59

38. Work Your RQ and Sources Into Your RSR
The role of one of the most important documents in the Affair,
namely Zola’s open letter to the President of the Republic,
“J’Accuse” was examined. This document exemplifies the power
and persuasiveness of the press and its ability to turn the tide of
public opinion.
Hence, the research question emerges: What
role did “J’Accuse” play in the Dreyfus Affair
and more specifically in Dreyfus’ acquittal?

39. SAC Library Blog
http://librarysac.wordpress.com
How To Research page
Evaluation of Sources Reading Should Have A Purpose
Research help

40. kryan@st-andrews.ie