A level History NEA Coursework
Hi, I would like to know if anyone had any tips and advice when having to research the 3 historians work. I find reading their books lengthy and difficult so any tips on how to manage that would be helpful!
Reply 1
Original post
by MaeenHi, I would like to know if anyone had any tips and advice when having to research the 3 historians work. I find reading their books lengthy and difficult so any tips on how to manage that would be helpful!
It can help to read reviews of their work, or articles about any historical debate they were involved in.
Reply 2
Original post
by MaeenHi, I would like to know if anyone had any tips and advice when having to research the 3 historians work. I find reading their books lengthy and difficult so any tips on how to manage that would be helpful!
You can also focus on the introductions and conclusions and skim the intervening details.
Reply 3
Maeen
OP
7
Original post
by ageshallnotIt can help to read reviews of their work, or articles about any historical debate they were involved in.
Thank you although I'm not sure if I can do that as my teacher has stressed the importance of attaining research from the historian's book itself but nonetheless thank you for your help!
Reply 4
what topic are you writing it on?
Reply 5
Maeen
OP
7
Original post
by history tutorwhat topic are you writing it on?
The question is: "Historians have disagreed about the significance of German imperial ambitions in the origins of the First World War." With reference to three chosen works:
1.
Analyse the ways in which interpretations of the question, problem or issue differ
2.
Explain the differences you have identified
3.
Evaluate the arguments, indicating which you found most persuasive and explain your judgements.
Reply 6
Original post
by MaeenThe question is: "Historians have disagreed about the significance of German imperial ambitions in the origins of the First World War." With reference to three chosen works:
1.
Analyse the ways in which interpretations of the question, problem or issue differ
2.
Explain the differences you have identified
3.
Evaluate the arguments, indicating which you found most persuasive and explain your judgements.
Which historians are you using?
Reply 7
It's a great question so here is how I would answer it. Firstly you absolutely have to locate your essay around the arguments of a guy called Fritz Fischer - a German historian who in 1961, laid the blame firmly at the door of Germany saying in essence, there was always a grand plan to try to grab territory from its neighbours. It did cause uproar amongst his fellow German academics who firmly disagreed with it.
So the thing to do is then find another historian who takes a very different view point (there are several) and contrast his/her views with Fischer.
This article gives you a fantastic overview of the historiography that Fischer was rejecting so you could pick any historian from here who promoted the 'Germany was acting in self defense' line of argument or 'the great powers sort of stumbled into war by accident' thesis which Fischer was arguing against:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/492292?read-now=1&seq=4#page_scan_tab_contents
Finally you might want to take a very recent analysis like Chris Clarke's 'Sleepwalkers' and contrast where he lays the blame ....'mainly Serbia' ..........but his approach is an update on the 'stumbled into war' theory prevalent in the immediate post WW1 years (until Fischer).
In terms of how you go about researching it, here is a useful article:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historiography_of_the_causes_of_World_War_I
I would also buy yourself a copy of this book:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Origins-First-World-War-Controversies/dp/0582418720/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2VDGE6GQMU6UA&keywords=The+Origins+of+the+First+World+War%3A+Controversies+and+Consensus&qid=1700746112&sprefix=the+origins+of+the+first+world+war+controversies+and+consensus+%2Caps%2C82&sr=8-1
It is heavily focused on the historiography of the subject and basically answers the question for you. There is nothing wrong with emailing professional historians and writing a 60 word summary of your argument and then asking them.......'what do you think'?
Another great tip is to read the introductions on google books or amazon (they almost always show the introductions) of academic works relating to WW1 as introductions to academic works tend to give an overview of the historiography.
Happy to guide further if you want to suggest a 60 word summary of what your core argument.
A final top tip........when you are analysising your 3 historians, always try to place their work in the context of the time i.e. what was going on at that time that might have shaped their opinions as to who was to blame. That will nudge you into 'wow' territory. That needs quite a bit of reading though so those introductions to academic works will often explain the context.
So the thing to do is then find another historian who takes a very different view point (there are several) and contrast his/her views with Fischer.
This article gives you a fantastic overview of the historiography that Fischer was rejecting so you could pick any historian from here who promoted the 'Germany was acting in self defense' line of argument or 'the great powers sort of stumbled into war by accident' thesis which Fischer was arguing against:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/492292?read-now=1&seq=4#page_scan_tab_contents
Finally you might want to take a very recent analysis like Chris Clarke's 'Sleepwalkers' and contrast where he lays the blame ....'mainly Serbia' ..........but his approach is an update on the 'stumbled into war' theory prevalent in the immediate post WW1 years (until Fischer).
In terms of how you go about researching it, here is a useful article:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historiography_of_the_causes_of_World_War_I
I would also buy yourself a copy of this book:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Origins-First-World-War-Controversies/dp/0582418720/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2VDGE6GQMU6UA&keywords=The+Origins+of+the+First+World+War%3A+Controversies+and+Consensus&qid=1700746112&sprefix=the+origins+of+the+first+world+war+controversies+and+consensus+%2Caps%2C82&sr=8-1
It is heavily focused on the historiography of the subject and basically answers the question for you. There is nothing wrong with emailing professional historians and writing a 60 word summary of your argument and then asking them.......'what do you think'?
Another great tip is to read the introductions on google books or amazon (they almost always show the introductions) of academic works relating to WW1 as introductions to academic works tend to give an overview of the historiography.
Happy to guide further if you want to suggest a 60 word summary of what your core argument.
A final top tip........when you are analysising your 3 historians, always try to place their work in the context of the time i.e. what was going on at that time that might have shaped their opinions as to who was to blame. That will nudge you into 'wow' territory. That needs quite a bit of reading though so those introductions to academic works will often explain the context.
Reply 8
Just to add to the post above, you can get the Mombauer book for about a third of the Amazon price via bookfinder.com.
Reply 9
Maeen
OP
7
Sorry for the late reply, this all seems like very useful and relevant advice that I will certainly apply when working on my coursework. Thank you so much for taking up your time to help me! Very appreciative 
(edited 2 years ago)
Reply 10
Hi, does anyone know if you can use podcasts for your historian interpretations because a historian I'm using for my NEA appeared on a podcast and spoke about many things I could write about in my coursework?
Reply 11
Original post
by edsymingtonHi, does anyone know if you can use podcasts for your historian interpretations because a historian I'm using for my NEA appeared on a podcast and spoke about many things I could write about in my coursework?
Have they not also written books or articles on that topic?
Reply 12
Original post
by ageshallnotHave they not also written books or articles on that topic?
He might have but everything I need for what I want to write he talks about in the podcast so I’d rather avoid having to do extra reading. It’s 3 hours long so already has a lot of material to work with. He also discusses a particular source I’m using which as far as I know he hasn’t mentioned anywhere outside of that podcast.
Reply 13
Original post
by edsymingtonHe might have but everything I need for what I want to write he talks about in the podcast so I’d rather avoid having to do extra reading. It’s 3 hours long so already has a lot of material to work with. He also discusses a particular source I’m using which as far as I know he hasn’t mentioned anywhere outside of that podcast.
Pretty substantial then. However, I've got no idea what is allowed.
Reply 14
Hi all as far as I am aware you can use podcasts to do your historiography! It has been recommended as a resource by my teachers.
Depending on your exam board- mine is AQA- you will be able to find these on https://www.history.org.uk/podcasts . I am currently using it to answer my NEA on the French Revolution
Depending on your exam board- mine is AQA- you will be able to find these on https://www.history.org.uk/podcasts . I am currently using it to answer my NEA on the French Revolution
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