These PowerPoint presentation slides were used during Class 4 of the DCU Library History in Your Hands project in December 2025 and January 2026

1. HISTORY IN YOUR
HANDS PROJECT
Class 4: December 2025/
January 2026

2. Welcome to Class 4
• One class left!
• Outline plan
• Extended essay
• Class 3 feedback

3. Seán Lester and his impact on the League of Nations, 1934 – 1946
• Examples from an RSR
• Information listed in checklists
• Idea of layout, content, sample sections
• References in APA/Harvard style

4. The Outline Plan
(15 marks)
1. Define and justify your
subject
2. Identifies the aims of the
Research Study
3. Indicate the intended
approach
4. Sources to be consulted
}9 marks
6 marks

5. Sample RSR title:
Seán Lester and his impact on the
League of Nations, 1934 – 1946

6. Define and justify your subject (3 marks)
● Clearly stated what you’re researching and why
○ ie. why you chose this topic and why it
interests you personally
● Explain the historical significance of your subject
○ i.e. why it is a worthwhile study

7. Seán Lester and his impact on the League of Nations, 1934 – 1946
In this research report I will examine Seán Lester’s career
in the League of Nations between 1934 and 1946. I will
focus on his roles as the High Commissioner for Danzig,
and as the Deputy Secretary and last Secretary General of
the League of Nations. This study of Lester’s diplomatic
career will examine his impact on the League of Nations. It
will also help readers understand the challenges of
international diplomacy during the rise of the Nazi party. I
was introduced to Seán Lester during a visit to DCU
Library and I found his stand against the Nazi party very
interesting. I wanted to learn more about this and about his
work for the League of Nations.
Define & Justify:

8. Identify the aims of the Research Study (3 marks)
● What do you want to find out about your topic?
● Ask yourself specific questions!
● Try to describe 4 aims:
○ 3 aims about information in your essay
○ 1 about improving your research skills
● Keep it simple: your word count isn’t huge, your aims shouldn’t be either
Tip: your aims will help you plan your paragraphs

9. Seán Lester and his impact on the League of Nations, 1934 – 1946
I would like to examine how Seán Lester resisted the growing
influence of the Nazis as High Commissioner in Danzig. I hope to
discover how he upheld the directives of the League of Nations as
Deputy Secretary in Geneva. I would like to consider his role as the
last Secretary General of the League and explore the impact of his
efforts to sustain and preserve the League during its final years. I
would like to develop the skills of a historian such as how to conduct
research and cross check information, how to identify potential bias
and how to structure, edit and condense the information I find.
Aims:

10. • State how you intend to research and complete
your research study
• How and where you’ll find sources
• What you’ll do with the info up to 1st draft
• How you’ll make improvements
• Mention the skills of a historian you aim to learn
Intended approach
(3 marks)

11. Seán Lester and his impact on the League of Nations, 1934 – 1946
I will access Seán Lester’s diaries on europeana.eu and find sources in
Ballymun Library using the catalogue and databases. I will evaluate the sources
with the CRAAP test and focusing on my aims, I will take notes from the sources
in a notebook and keep photocopies in a folder. I will cross-check the information
I find against other sources. I intend to organise my notes under headings which
will form the first draft of my report. These actions will help develop my skills as a
historian. Following feedback from my teacher, I will make changes to the report
and edit it to meet the word count.
Intended approach:

12. Sources to be consulted (6 marks) - Class 5
1. Keown, G. (2012) ‘Seán Lester: Journalist, Revolutionary, Diplomat, Statesman’,
Irish Studies in International Affairs, 23(2012), pp. 143-154. Available at
10.3318/ISIA.2012.23.143
2. Lester, S. (2024) Europeana: Seán Lester Diaries 1935-1942. Available at
https://www.europeana.eu/en/search?page=1&view=grid&query=Seán%20lester%20diary
(Accessed: 4 December 2024).
3. McNamara, P. (2009) Sean Lester, Poland and the Nazi Takeover of Danzig. Dublin: Irish
Academic Press.
Please note: These sources are laid out in Harvard referencing style

13. Let’s put it all
together:
Seán Lester and his impact on the League of Nations, 1934 – 1946
Outline plan
Define and Justify: In this research report I will examine Seán Lester’s career in the League of Nations between 1934 and 1946. I will focus
on his roles as the High Commissioner for Danzig, and as the Deputy Secretary and last Secretary General of the League of Nations. This
study of Lester’s diplomatic career will examine his impact on the League of Nations. It will also help readers understand the challenges of
international diplomacy during the rise of the Nazi party. I was introduced to Seán Lester during a visit to DCU Library and I found his stand
against the Nazi party very interesting. I wanted to learn more about this and about his work for the League of Nations.
Aims: I would like to examine how Seán Lester resisted the growing influence of the Nazis as High Commissioner in Danzig. I hope to
discover how he upheld the directives of the League of Nations as Deputy Secretary in Geneva. I would like to consider his role as
the last Secretary General of the League and explore the impact of his efforts to sustain and preserve the League during its final
years. I would like to develop the skills of a historian such as how to conduct research and cross check information, how to identify
potential bias and how to structure, edit and condense the information I find.
Intended approach: I will access Seán Lester’s diaries on europeana.eu and find sources in Ballymun Library using the catalogue and
databases. I will evaluate the sources with the CRAAP test and focusing on my aims, I will take notes from the sources in a notebook and keep
photocopies in a folder. I will cross-check the information I find against other sources. I intend to organise my notes under headings which will
form the first draft of my report. These actions will help develop my skills as a historian. Following feedback from my teacher, I will make
changes to the report and edit it to meet the word count.
Sources to be consulted
1. Keown, G. (2012) ‘Seán Lester: Journalist, Revolutionary, Diplomat, Statesman’, Irish Studies in International Affairs, 23(2012), pp. 143-154.
Available at 10.3318/ISIA.2012.23.143
2. Lester, S. (2024) Europeana: Seán Lester Diaries 1935-1942. Available at https://www.europeana.eu/en/search?page=1&view=grid&query
=Seán%20lester%20diary (Accessed: 4 December 2024).
3. McNamara, P. (2009) Sean Lester, Poland and the Nazi Takeover of Danzig. Kildare: Irish Academic Press.

14. Recap of the outline plan
The Outline Plan requires you to
perform a number of specified
tasks:
• Define the proposed subject of study.
• Justify the proposed subject of study.
• Identify the aims of the study.
• Identify the intended approach.
• Identify the sources to be consulted.
● Is the subject I have chosen historically significant?
● Is the focus of my proposed study a narrow one or is it too
broad to allow in-depth investigation?
● Is my proposed title clearly defined?
● Are the aims that I have outlined sufficiently focused on the
subject of my study?
● Are my proposed sources primary or specialist secondary (i.e.
not a standard school textbook)?
● Have I explained clearly how I intend carrying out my
research?
● Have I given enough information to establish the authenticity of
my sources and/or the evidence drawn from them?

15. Use the libguide to
guide you through
each section!

16. Research topic: Think pair share
• Discuss your RSR topic with a partner - worksheet for notes
• Refer to the ‘how to choose an RSR topic’ handout
• Note down the information about your partner’s topic
• Take turns discussing and noting down each point
• Answer all 6 questions - jot down ideas
• Point 6: The sources you think you’ll use
• Take your RSR notes home - first draft of outline plan!
• 15 minutes

17. Extended
Essay:
what now?
• Now that you’ve done your research,
how do you turn that into an essay?
• Re-organise your notes by topic/theme
• Write it out! Essay plans are your friend
• Don’t be afraid to chop change

19. Sample Essay Plan
Introduction:​
● The League of Nations was created in 1920 to maintain peace and promote
international cooperation after WWI.​
● Seán Lester, an Irish diplomat, worked in the League during a turbulent
period.​
● His roles in Danzig and as the League’s final Secretary-General illustrate
the challenges of diplomacy during the rise of Nazi Germany and WWII.​
​
​
1. Lester in Danzig (1934–1936):​
● Danzig was a city run by the League of Nations but with competing Polish
and German interests.​
● The Nazis wanted to control Danzig, creating political tension and conflict.​
● Lester tried to maintain peace but faced Nazi hostility, harassment, and
blame for their political failures.​
● In 1936, the situation became too dangerous, and Lester was forced to
leave Danzig.​
​
​
2. Lester’s Role During WWII (1936–1940):​
● After leaving Danzig, Lester became Deputy Secretary-General of the
League.​
● He was deeply concerned about Nazi aggression and the League’s
weakening power.​
● WWII began in 1939, making the League almost irrelevant as nations
focused on the war.​
● Despite this, Lester prevented the League from aligning with Germany and
became its Secretary-General in 1940.​
​
​
3. Lester as Secretary-General (1940–1946):​
● Lester led the League during its final years, despite its reduced
power and influence.​
● He worked to preserve its ideals of peace, diplomacy, and
international cooperation.​
● He ensured the League’s knowledge and resources were preserved
for the United Nations.​
● The League officially ended in 1946, with Lester helping to lay the
foundation for the UN.​
​
​
Conclusion:​
● Seán Lester showed bravery and dedication during a turbulent time
in history.​
● He resisted Nazi oppression in Danzig and upheld the League’s
principles during its decline.​
● His work ensured the League’s legacy influenced the creation of the
United Nations.​

20. Debate Task
Round One
1. Team One - 4 Minutes - Presentation of "Pro/positive" or "Arguments for"
2. Team Two - 4 Minutes - Presentation of "Con/negative" or "Arguments against"
Team Discussion Period
2 Minutes: This period is used for teams to prepare their responses
Round Two
3. Team One - 2 Minutes - Response or rebuttal of "Pro/positive" or "Arguments for"
4. Team Two - 2 Minutes - Response or rebuttal of "Con/negative" or "Arguments against"

21. Meeting a word count
• See RSR Word template - page & word limits
• Allocate a specific number of words per
paragraph - be strict on yourself!!
• Quality over quantity
• Use ellipsis (...) to cut down quotes
• The examiner knows you can’t cover everything,
it’s more important that you hit your aims
• Use an essay plan to keep yourself accountable!

22. For class 5:
● Complete a first draft of your outline plan
● Send to your dedicated project team member for feedback
● This means that:
○ you’ll have your topic finalised with your teacher by class 5
○ you’ll be reading through your 3 reliable sources
● Take notes as you read through your sources:
○ Note the strengths and weaknesses
○ start structuring main points under headings

23. Thank you!
● Feedback form
● Online guide
● Questions

24. Image credits:
Slide 2: Canva image: Male and Female Hands Holding a Smiley Face on Paper by Gajus
Slide 3: Writing Essay by Pressmaster via Canva
Slide 4: Canva image: 3D Copy Writing Icon by Slab Design Studio
Slide 5: Adolf Hitler addresses an audience in Danzig 03.jpg. (2025, May 23). Retrieved November 18, 2025,
from Wikimedia Commons
Slide 6: Keep it simple by marekuliasz from Getty Images via Canva
Slide 7: Picture of Seán Lester: United Nations Library, Geneva (via Sean Lester, Ireland and Latin America
in the League of Nations, 1929-1946 by Yannick Wehrli) via Wikipedia
Slide 8: Image generated using ChatGPT Dall-E 3 from the prompt reading book lightbulb
Slide 9: Picture of Seán Lester: United Nations Library, Geneva (via Sean Lester, Ireland and Latin America
in the League of Nations, 1929-1946 by Yannick Wehrli) via Wikipedia

25. Image credits:
Slide 10: Image generated using Microsoft PowerPoint designer
Slide 11: Image generated using ChatGPT Dall-E 3 from the prompt colourful pile of books
Slide 15: Screenshot from the DCU Library History in Your Hands Libguide
https://dcu.libguides.com/c.php?g=711684&p=5181926
Slide 16: Canva image: Thinking by in-future from Getty Images Signature
Slide 17: Image generated using ChatGPT Dall-E 3 from the prompt colourful office
Slide 21: Image generated using ChatGPT Dall-E 3 from the prompt colourful desk