History Extension Question Thread!

[Brittany168]

Hey guys!

I've been confused about how to develop a sophisticated thesis for my major work. I'm thinking of doing something along the lines of how varying interpretations of history emerge with the process of time? As well as why these views have been adopted. And then using the controversy surrounding Mao in the Cultural Revolution as a case study to support this? I feel like it should be more specific, but I'm not sure how haha. I'm so sorry this is really broad haha, but any advice would help a lot. Thanks! 

[theyam]

Hey guys!

I've been confused about how to develop a sophisticated thesis for my major work. I'm thinking of doing something along the lines of how varying interpretations of history emerge with the process of time? As well as why these views have been adopted. And then using the controversy surrounding Mao in the Cultural Revolution as a case study to support this? I feel like it should be more specific, but I'm not sure how haha. I'm so sorry this is really broad haha, but any advice would help a lot. Thanks! 

Hiii,

I won't be of much help since I'm also doing my History project this year as well but I had a friend who used time as a major aspect of her major work and I think she's analysing a range of texts that show the progression of changing opinions. Hope it minutely helps at least XD
From theyam

[Brittany168]

Hiii,

I won't be of much help since I'm also doing my History project this year as well but I had a friend who used time as a major aspect of her major work and I think she's analysing a range of texts that show the progression of changing opinions. Hope it minutely helps at least XD
From theyam

Ohh I see Thank you!

[Calley123]

Hey Susie,
I was wondering what is the difference between an approach and methodology?
Thanks

[sudodds]

Hey Susie,
I was wondering what is the difference between an approach and methodology?
Thanks

Hey! Hmmm I think at a base level yes there is (though this is purely through my own interpretation of what these words mean). IMO methodology is an aspect of approach, but approach encompasses more than just methodology. Methodology is structural - how you plan to research, compose, and reference your works. Approach includes this, but also is intrisically related to the historians perspective as well, e.g. "a marxist approach" or "a postmodernist approach" etc. etc.

Hope this makes sense! Though tbh, I don't know if this is 100% correct, just making assumptions.

Susie

[Calley123]

Hey! Hmmm I think at a base level yes there is (though this is purely through my own interpretation of what these words mean). IMO methodology is an aspect of approach, but approach encompasses more than just methodology. Methodology is structural - how you plan to research, compose, and reference your works. Approach includes this, but also is intrisically related to the historians perspective as well, e.g. "a marxist approach" or "a postmodernist approach" etc. etc.

Hope this makes sense! Though tbh, I don't know if this is 100% correct, just making assumptions.

Susie

Thanks! Its clearer now !

[Never.Give.Up]

Hey!!!
I am trying to develop my question for the Major Work and this is what I have come up with!  I am interested in any feedback...positive or negative... (including...if this is actually possible/workable )
“The historian without his facts is rootless and futile, the facts without their historian are dead and meaningless” Edward Hallett Carr, ‘What is History?’
Assess this statement through the lens of the Manhattan Project.
(assessing the value/ importance of both sources/facts/experiences and historians and their contribution to the documentation of history- through the lens of the Manhattan Project- i.e. how sources, etc. enhances/ limits the accuracy of an historians documentation)

Thanks heaps!!

[sudodds]

Hey!!!
I am trying to develop my question for the Major Work and this is what I have come up with!  I am interested in any feedback...positive or negative... (including...if this is actually possible/workable )
“The historian without his facts is rootless and futile, the facts without their historian are dead and meaningless” Edward Hallett Carr, ‘What is History?’
Assess this statement through the lens of the Manhattan Project.
(assessing the value/ importance of both sources/facts/experiences and historians and their contribution to the documentation of history- through the lens of the Manhattan Project- i.e. how sources, etc. enhances/ limits the accuracy of an historians documentation)

Thanks heaps!!

Hey! I'm pretty unfamiliar with the Manhattan Project so can't comment too much on that (though initial google search leads me to believe that there will definitely be some super interesting debates there). I think your question is good, so basically you're looking at this co-dependant relationship, which I think will make for a nice thesis. Very historiographically based as well, which is awesome Overall, I like it quite a lot!

Great work Keen to hear more about it!

Susie

[Calley123]

Hey,
I was wondering if you could give me some feedback on my question for the Major Research Project. My original question was ' How the interpretation of Trail of Tears ( Forced removal of Native Americans into new territory during 1830's)  changed over time' and wanted to incorporate the idea of whether it was a genocide or not. However, I realised it was very difficult to find specific historian who disagreed with the idea of genocide so I decided to take a more general approach by changing the question to the 'the changing interpretation of the Native American genocide' and then plan on using the Trail of Tears as a minor case study. There is more debate in this wider field. What do you think?

Thanks

[Mada438]

Hey,
I was wondering if you could give me some feedback on my question for the Major Research Project. My original question was ' How the interpretation of Trail of Tears ( Forced removal of Native Americans into new territory during 1830's)  changed over time' and wanted to incorporate the idea of whether it was a genocide or not. However, I realised it was very difficult to find specific historian who disagreed with the idea of genocide so I decided to take a more general approach by changing the question to the 'the changing interpretation of the Native American genocide' and then plan on using the Trail of Tears as a minor case study. There is more debate in this wider field. What do you think?

Thanks

I definitely do agree with you, that first idea is very hard tpo find historians who disagree.
But I do quite like your more general second idea. There is definitely more debate in that wider field that you can look at.
Good luck! 

[sudodds]

Hey,
I was wondering if you could give me some feedback on my question for the Major Research Project. My original question was ' How the interpretation of Trail of Tears ( Forced removal of Native Americans into new territory during 1830's)  changed over time' and wanted to incorporate the idea of whether it was a genocide or not. However, I realised it was very difficult to find specific historian who disagreed with the idea of genocide so I decided to take a more general approach by changing the question to the 'the changing interpretation of the Native American genocide' and then plan on using the Trail of Tears as a minor case study. There is more debate in this wider field. What do you think?

Thanks

I also think that your second question is better, I like how it uses an event as a case study rather than focus (which can often lead to a "history" essay), however I like your question more so as a starting point, as in I am expecting your question to evolve beyond this I think the topic that you have chosen is super interesting, and will have a lot of debate and discussion imbued within it, but as you research, try and find more of a conceptual angle that you can pin your essay on, beyond just "different interpretations" - that type of essay can lead to more of just an outline of differing views, rather than an analysis. You definitely CAN write a fantastic, band E4 essay on differing interpretations, but if you really want to ensure the top marks, you want to try and find something more unique and specific to just the obvious "interpretations are impacted by context".

Hope this helps!

Susie

[Calley123]

I also think that your second question is better, I like how it uses an event as a case study rather than focus (which can often lead to a "history" essay), however I like your question more so as a starting point, as in I am expecting your question to evolve beyond this I think the topic that you have chosen is super interesting, and will have a lot of debate and discussion imbued within it, but as you research, try and find more of a conceptual angle that you can pin your essay on, beyond just "different interpretations" - that type of essay can lead to more of just an outline of differing views, rather than an analysis. You definitely CAN write a fantastic, band E4 essay on differing interpretations, but if you really want to ensure the top marks, you want to try and find something more unique and specific to just the obvious "interpretations are impacted by context".

Hope this helps!

Susie

Yess! Thank you.

I definitely do agree with you, that first idea is very hard tpo find historians who disagree.
But I do quite like your more general second idea. There is definitely more debate in that wider field that you can look at.
Good luck! 

Thank you !

Mod Edit: Merged double posts 

[CBakes]

Heyyy,
so two questions from a very anxious nerd,
1 - This is my focus question so far and I'm wondering if it sounds complex enough or if it is even a good question at all,
Evaluate the way in which ‘left’ and ‘right’ wing politics/ideologies play integral roles in historiographical conflict or ‘history wars’.
WITH SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO
Discuss with specific reference to the construction of the contemporary ANZAC legacy. (Current centenary, 2014 – 2018)
2 - How do you start? I've done my proposal and want to use these holidays to start my essay but I have no clue when or where to start actually creating it, I have so many resources and a thesis but what to put to paper is alluding me.

[Mada438]

Heyyy,
so two questions from a very anxious nerd,
1 - This is my focus question so far and I'm wondering if it sounds complex enough or if it is even a good question at all,
Evaluate the way in which ‘left’ and ‘right’ wing politics/ideologies play integral roles in historiographical conflict or ‘history wars’.
WITH SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO
Discuss with specific reference to the construction of the contemporary ANZAC legacy. (Current centenary, 2014 – 2018)
2 - How do you start? I've done my proposal and want to use these holidays to start my essay but I have no clue when or where to start actually creating it, I have so many resources and a thesis but what to put to paper is alluding me.

I absolutely love this question (i do like arguing about left,right politics (feel ree to debate with me  )
I would have a look at the "how to develop your voice thread" in this section. Scroll towards the bottom and you'fll find a debate between susie and i (sorry susie, i still haven't replied!) where she actually makes some good arguements about the anzacs and some interesting articles about the anzacs as a historiographal debate. So check that out!
Building on that, i'd just do some general reading about the specific debates within the anzac legacy and build from there
Hope this helps!
Good luck! 

[Spendoggydog]

Hi
I need some help with my history extension project in particular the research. My essay topic which is based off your previous thread: The impact of historical narrative and fiction on the interpretation of the past. Im essentially using Richard iii as a case study to highlight this concept. But what are impacts of historical narrative and fiction and where does my own judgement come into this.


Kind Regards