Section 3: Reflection

This History IA requires you to think and work like a historian. In this section, you reflect on the methods used by, and the challenges faced by, the historian. You must relate this reflection specifically to your particular investigation and your experiences as a historian. 

Suggested word count: 400.

The following are questions from the IB Guide and are examples of discussion questions that may help your reflection:

• What methods used by historians did you use in your investigation?
• What did your investigation highlight to you about the limitations of those methods?
• What are the challenges facing the historian? How do they differ from the challenges facing a scientist or a mathematician?
• What challenges in particular does archive-based history present?
• How can the reliability of sources be evaluated?
• What is the difference between bias and selection?
• What constitutes a historical event?
• Who decides which events are historically significant?
• Is it possible to describe historical events in an unbiased way?
• What is the role of the historian?
• Should terms such as “atrocity” be used when writing about history, or should value judgments be avoided?
• If it is difficult to establish proof in history, does that mean that all versions are equally acceptable?

Assessment Criteria for Section 30 The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
1–2

• The reflection contains some discussion of what the investigation highlighted to the student about the methods used by the historian.
• The reflection demonstrates little awareness of the challenges facing the historian and/or the limitations of the methods used by the historian.
• The connection between the reflection and the rest of the investigation is implied, but is not explicit.

3–4

• The reflection is clearly focused on what the investigation highlighted to the student about the methods used by the historian
• The reflection demonstrates clear awareness of challenges facing the historian and/or limitations of the methods used by the historian.
• There is a clear and explicit connection between the reflection and the rest of the investigation.