This page is all about getting to grips with your Personal Study
Additional support can be found via the resources below.The purpose of the Historical Enquiry is to test your ability to undertake the investigation of a specific historical question, by drawing on knowledge, understanding and skills acquired during the course. You will need to acquire, select, organise and deploy and analyse this information in reaching appropriate judgements and conclusions.  

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Step 1

Dr Christopher Prior explains the best way to get started on researching for a personal study HERE. Use this video to help you begin collating your list of resources. Bear in mind that your personal study will need to focus on SIGNIFICANCE, not causation as with other studies. Here he talks about:

a) Using literature reviews to collect lists of books about your topic which bridge the popular/academic divide. Try the Telegraph or History Today to get you started

b) Setting research questions to help you read your books/chapters for meaning. He talks about trying to identify the questions you hope the books will answer. NB. For your particular study one of these at least should relate to significance.

c) He finally discusses note taking strategies. 

Step Two

Dr Christopher Prior continues his advice on tackling your personal study. Watch his video HERE and use this to help you in your next step with your study - identifying different viewpoints. TAKE NOTES ON THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS!

Please note again, that the studies being discussed here are based more on causation than significance, however the basic process is still the same. In the video he discusses:

a) Different types of historiographical schools. Listen carefully to how he classifies different types of historian (Marxist, Annales, Economic, Social, Political etc.). Note how understanding the approach of the historian depends on interpreting their view of causation of events. You can read more in John Warren's book which you can obtain here.

b) How you can identify different historical schools and approaches. Note the importance of understanding the sources used and their methodologies.

c) The nature of using primary source evidence. Bear in mind here that you are not trying to establish causation so much as interpretations of significance. The emphasis here will be quite different.