Plan of Investigation

Three elements Research Question stated as a question Scope of investigation Method of investigation

IB Markscheme:

The research question is clearly stated. The method and scope of the investigation are fully developed and closely focused on the research question.

Research Question

Begins general, becomes specific

Involves a relationship between two things

Mao narrows to Mao and the Great Leap Forward Begin to define your terms

Mao: leadership, influence, responsibility for, effectiveness, decisions, programs, control, propaganda, ideology, etc.

GLF: agriculture, overreporting, famine, industrial plan, backyard furnaces, mobilization, peasant support, etc.

Research Question

Narrow each end of your question: Mao’s propaganda > mobilization Ideology> blind obedience Leadership structure > lack of questioning Purge of Peng Duhai > course of the GLF

The question will continually narrow as you move forward.

Sample Questions

How did the strengthening of Nazism in Germany impact the migration of Jewish people to other countries of the world?

Is the research question is clearly stated?

Is it specific and focused?

Research Questions

How did the Alliance System lead to the Outbreak of the First World War.

Is the research question is clearly stated?

Is it specific and focused?

Research Questions

With what justification can it be claimed that it was the leadership of Trotsky which promoted Red victory in the Russian Civil War.

Is the research question is clearly stated?

Is it specific and focused?

Plan of Investigation

“The method and scope of the investigation are fully developed and closely focused on the research question. “

Scope: What are you going to look at?

Method: What are you going to look for and how will you go about answering your question.

Sample Plan One

Moderators Comments

3/3

In this tightly focused plan of investigation the student has shown evidence of context and a clearly articulated research question that permits the student to work towards providing a balanced judgment after a consideration of factors. The way in which the task is then broken down and areas of investigation noted to allow for a judgment to be reached reveals a succinct and focused coverage of scope and method. While it only uses 105 words, the student has set the scene for what follows in terms of organization in the following section.

Sample Plan Two

Moderator Comments

2/3

The research question is stated but should be included in the body of the plan of investigation. The scope is stated but method is somewhat limited. Stating the two sources for OPVL and what will not be included in the investigation is not necessary and has limited value. It would be better to describe the type of sources needed to answer the question and incorporate those into the method. This narrowly falls into level 2.

Sample Plan Three

Moderator Comments

2/3

The question needs to be more focused. Phrases like “strengthening of Nazism” and “impact the migration” should be more specific. The question does not ask how Jewish people were treated in the new country yet this is addressed as part of the plan of investigation. The question itself is clearly stated (although not focused) while the scope and method are limited in their development. This narrowly achieves level 2.