ATTENTION IB HISTORY STUDENTS

Okay, I just got through reading your Plans of Investigation. Mr. McCarty will give them back to you on Monday. The main concern I have with some of them is, SOME OF YOU ARE BEING TOO VAGUE in your Plan of Investigation!!!!! GIVE ME SPECIFICS!! If you're discussing whether or not the New Deal was effective in ending the Great Depression, tell me some specific policies/programs from the New Deal that you are going to examine. It was obvious that a few of you did not conduct much research at all before you wrote you Plan of Investigation. I need to see some specific topics discussed in Part A or your IA will not be good.

If you PROCRASTINATE, don't ask the questions that need asking, or try to complete this assignment the night before you will do incredibly poorly on this assignment. I cannot be any more direct with you. Please review the IA of my former student as a reminder of what can happen you don't take this assignment seriously. I really don't want to spend my Christmas break grading 65 IAs where a significant number of them are poorly written. I also saw several Plans of Investigation that were excellent. To those people, keep up the good work.

I gave everyone who turned in their assignment direct feedback. If you have any questions or concerns, email me. If you did not turn in this assignment feel free to email your Plan of Investigation so I can give you some direct feedback. I WANT TO HELP EVERYONE DO WELL ON THIS 200 POINT ASSIGNMENT.

Boys and girls, the clock is ticking for this assignment. You will have had two and a half months to complete a 1500-2000 word research paper. You will not get that long to conduct such a small assignment at the college level. Yes, this research paper is SMALL. Trust me.

I expect EXCELLENCE on this assignment. That means you need to EDIT your papers and pay close attention to detail. I saw several sloppy grammatical mistakes made on your rough drafts. Make sure you know when to use effect vs. affect. Some of you are going to "asses" something in your IA. That should make for some really interesting reading.

Unfortunately for some of you, this assignment could make or break your grade for the entire semester. This holiday break is an excellent time to get some research/work done on your IA. Please take advantage of the time off.

Bring any and all questions about the IA when I return to school on Nov. 30. I will do my best to help all of you. Remember, you can also email me. Will we hit the ground running on my return. Come back to school ready to work until Christmas break.

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving. Take care.