Template for Historical Research Practice

Eleven Steps and Several Loops

1. Defining a Topic

• Write a short statement of your research question here…..

• Then…..

Start your answers here….

4. PLACEMENT

5. Go Back and Revise

• 1. Reexamine the Topic• 2. Review:– KNOWN– PRESUMED– UNKNOWN

• 3. Reconfirm:– KNOWN– PRESUMED– UNKNOWN

6. What’s your STORY?

• Narrate your story here…..

7. Define a TIMELINE

• Start of your timeline….• …• …• …• …• …• …• End of your timeline….

8. Ask Journalist’s Questions

• WHO• WHAT• WHEN (TIMELINE)• WHERE• WHY• HOW

9. Go Back and Revise

• 1. Reexamine the Topic• 2. Review: KNOWN, PRESUMED, UNKNOWN• 3. Reconfirm: KNOWN, PRESUMED,

UNKNOWN• 4. Redo PLACEMENT of INDIVIDUALS,

INSTITUTIONS

10. BETS and ODDS

• What would you wager on what you know?

• Given your wager, do you have to go back through previous steps again?

11. THE BIG SURPRISE

• What would make you change your mind?

• What evidence would undermine your understanding?