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, 000745 854, 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 1962. 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. No new information should be added or

included

F: List of Sources

3 Marks Clean/separate page for this “part” Be sure that your word count is between

1500-2000 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 10th.

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???