leaving cert history research project booklet

• Intro and Notes
• German Economy 1919-1938
• Winston Churchill
• Leni Riefenstahl
• Charlie Chaplin
• Bing Crosby
• 1. The Nuremberg Rallies
• 2. The Moscow Show Trials
• 3. The Jarrow March
• Mohandas Gandhi
• Ho Chi Minh
• Achmad Sukarno
• David Ben-Gurion
• Gamal Abdul Nasser
• Charles de Gaulle
• Sese Seko Mobutu
• a development worker in Africa
• Nadine Gordimer
• Chinua Achebe
• 1. British withdrawal from India, 1945-1947
• 2. The secession of Katanga, 1960-1965
• 3. Race relations in France in the 1980s
• Terence O'Neill
• Ian Paisley
• Gerry Adams
• James Molyneaux
• Conn and Patricia McCluskey
• Brian Faulkner
• Margaret Thatcher
• Bernadette Devlin
• Seamus Heaney
• 1. The Apprentice Boys of Derry
• 2. The Coleraine University Controversy
• 3. The Failure of the Sunningdale Agreement
• Patrick Pearse
• Michael Collins
• Eamon de Valera
• Arthur Griffith
• Countess Markievicz
• W. T. Cosgrave
• James Craig
• James J. McElligott
• Richard Dawson Bates
• 1. The Treaty Negotiations
• 2. Belfast during World War II
• 3. The Eucharistic Congress
• Harry Truman
• Joe McCarthy
• Martin Luther King
• Lyndon Johnson
• the 'Organisation Man'
• Betty Friedan
• Norman Mailer
• Muhammad Ali
• Billy Graham
• Marilyn Monroe
• 1. The Montgomery bus boycott, 1956
• 2. Lyndon Johnson and Vietnam, 1963-1968
• 3. The Moon landing, 1969
• Study and Links
• HIST is a resource service for History teachers in Ireland. They have put together a general guide to the Research Project including tips from teachers and specific information on what is required of students. You can access the various guides they've produced here .
• The most relevant part is the Student Guide. This contains a selection of worksheets that will help your research methods and would be very useful to have beside you while reading through source material.
• Link to the blank booklet .
• There is a quick guide to the Outline Plan available here

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Ms Doorley's History Notes

The resources provided within these notes and other accompanying materials such as PowerPoint presentations have been created utilising information and material from the range of textbooks and revision books below. All original material belongs to the authors; I've simply presented the information in an alternative format to suit the needs of the students in my classroom.

• Artefact by Eimear Jenkinson and Gregg O'Neill (educate.ie)
• ACE History by Eimear Jenkinson and Gregg O'Neill (educate.ie)
• Making History by Stacy Stout and Dermot Lucey (Gill Education)
• Skills for Exam Success - History by Stacy Stout (Gill Education)
• Chronicles by Jennifer Brown and Christian O'Connor (Edco)
• Junior Cycle Success: History by Tim Kennedy and Stephen Fallon (4schools)
• Revise Wise Junior Cycle History by Neill Lenehen (Edco)

• Revise Wise LC History by ME Collins (Edco)
• Modern Ireland (4th Edition) by Gerard Brockie and Raymond Walsh (Gill Education)
• Modern Europe and the Wider World (4th Edition) by Demort Lucey (Gill Education)
• The Making of Ireland (3rd Edition) by Paul Twomey (educate.ie)
• The Making of Europe and the Wider World (2nd Edition) by Paul Twomey and Gregg O'Neill (educate.ie)
• Sovereignty & Partition by Brianán McGrane and Granú Dwyer (Edco)
• Politics & Society in Northern Ireland by ME Collins (Edco)
• USA & The World by Máire De Buitléir & Stephen Tonge (Edco)
• Dictatorship and Democracy by Stephen Tongue (Edco)
• Get the Points! Leaving Certificate History by Stephen Tonge (Edco)
• Exam Skills History Second Edition by Niall Boyle (Mentor Books)

While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, these resources should be used as a supplementary tool and not as a replacement for the aforementioned textbooks or other official educational material. Many of these authors also share their own resources independently of their textbooks on their relevant social media, which are also very helpful in the classroom.

Despite careful proofreading and the use of Grammarly to fix as many errors as possible, typos or grammatical errors may still be present.

Various tools have been utilised to create these resources, such as Microsoft 365 (Word, PowerPoint, and OneNote), and Canva (and Canva Magic). Additional educational tools like YouTube, Spotify, and Quizlet have also been employed to enhance the learning experience. These platforms have aided in the formatting, design elements, and supplementary content, making the resources engaging and user-friendly.

Leaving Cert History

Course overview.

Leaving Certificate History is designed to foster a deep understanding of human activities in the past, encouraging students to appreciate the complexities and nuances of historical events. The syllabus is divided into two inter-linking parts:

1. Working with Evidence

• History and the Historian: Provides a preliminary exploration of the nature of history, the role of evidence, and the methodologies historians use to interpret the past.
• Documents-Based Study: Involves a structured analysis of historical documents related to a prescribed topic to develop students' evidence-handling skills.
• Research Study: Encourages students to undertake a significant historical research project to further develop their investigative and analytical skills.

2. Topics for Study

Topics are arranged in two fields of study: Early Modern (1492-1815) and Later Modern (1815-1993). Students choose either the Early Modern or Later Modern field and study two topics from Irish history and two from the history of Europe and the wider world within their chosen field. Below students will find a collection of resources to support their studies.

Overview Notes

Later modern topics.

The Later Modern field of study (1815-1993) comprises 12 topics split evenly between Irish history and the history of Europe and the wider world. Students focus on key events, developments, and figures within these topics, studying from multiple perspectives: politics and administration, society and economy, and culture, religion, and science.

Later Modern Ireland (1815-1993)

The pursuit of sovereignty and the impact of partition (1912-1949).

This period covers the struggle for Irish independence, including the Home Rule crisis, the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence, and the subsequent partition of Ireland. It also deals with the establishment and consolidation of the Irish Free State, Northern Ireland's political landscape, and the impact of World War II.

• Key Elements: Home Rule Bill, 1916 Rising, War of Independence, Treaty and Civil War, state building in the Free State, Northern Ireland politics, and World War II.
• Case Studies: The Treaty negotiations, Belfast during World War II, the Eucharistic Congress.
• Key Personalities: Patrick Pearse, Éamon de Valera, Michael Collins, James Craig.
• Key Concepts: Sovereignty, partition, Ulster Unionism, dominion status, republic, neutrality.

Cornell Notes

Powerpoints, knowledge organisers, politics and society in northern ireland (1949-1993).

This period focuses on the socio-political developments in Northern Ireland, including the Civil Rights movement, the emergence of the Provisional IRA, and the various attempts at peace and power-sharing agreements. It also examines the impact of these events on the broader society.

• Key Elements: Civil Rights movement, emergence of the Provisional IRA, fall of Stormont, Direct Rule, terrorism, Sunningdale Agreement, Anglo-Irish Agreement.
• Case Studies: The Sunningdale Agreement, the Coleraine University controversy, the Apprentice Boys of Derry.
• Key Personalities: Terence O'Neill, Ian Paisley, John Hume, Gerry Adams.
• Key Concepts: Civil Rights, gerrymandering, terrorism, power-sharing, sectarianism.

Later Modern Europe and the Wider World (1815-1992)

Dictatorship and democracy (1920-1945).

This topic examines the rise of totalitarian regimes and the impact of World War II. It looks at the fascist states in Europe, the Nazi regime, Stalin's Soviet Union, and the global conflict that reshaped the world order.

• Key Elements: Fascist regimes, Nazi state, Stalinist state, World War II, the Holocaust.
• Case Studies: Stalin's show trials, the Jarrow March, the Nuremberg Rallies.
• Key Personalities: Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill.
• Key Concepts: Totalitarianism, propaganda, resistance, war crimes.

The United States and the World (1945-1989)

This period examines the role of the United States in global affairs during the Cold War, including its leadership in the Western bloc, the civil rights movement, involvement in the Vietnam War, and advancements in technology and space exploration.

• Key Elements: Cold War leadership, civil rights movement, Vietnam War, space race, end of the Cold War.
• Case Studies: The Cuban Missile Crisis, the Civil Rights Movement, the Moon Landing.
• Key Personalities: Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan.
• Key Concepts: Containment, civil rights, détente, space exploration.

The Research Study Report

The research study is a pivotal component of the syllabus aimed at cultivating a spirit of inquiry and self-directed learning in students. It involves selecting a subject of historical significance and conducting an in-depth investigation. Key elements include:

Choosing a Subject

The subject must be well-defined and narrow enough to allow for detailed investigation. It should be of historical significance and based on primary or specialist secondary sources.

Components of the Report:

• Outline Plan: Defines and justifies the proposed subject outlining the aims, approach, and sources.
• Evaluation of Sources: Assesses the relevance, strengths, and weaknesses of the sources used.
• Extended Essay: Presents the main findings and conclusions, reviewing the research process and its effectiveness.

Assessment for the research study constitutes 20% of the total marks with an emphasis on the outline plan, source evaluation, and extended essay.

Leaving Cert Papers, News, Notes, Tips and Resources

Finishing up the RSR

The Research Study Report. 20% of the marks for History. And a taste of what’s to come with writing college papers. Tomorrow, April 28th, is the official deadline to have it in, written into an official booklet under official supervision in an official school. Most of you have probably already done it and handed it in. Some of you probably did it in fifth year. To be honest, I did most of it over this weekend 😛 But If you’re in one of those schools who’re waiting until the last possible second to get it done, this post’s for you.

It pissed me off how little advice there was for writing this. It’s like trying to grocery shop without a shopping list. You end up with three different bottles of ketchup (although that was mainly because I wanted to do a taste-test). However, I found this guide fairly recently, which turned out to be very very helpful. (You’re wanting to download “b. Student Guide to Research Study Report “) Thanks to the good folks at scoilnet.ie! Ya’ll saved my ass. That file is basically a shopping list of everything you need to have done in your Research Study Report.

I’m going to assume here that, by now, you have it all written up in a handy .rtf document (Rich Text Format is what all the professionals use. Just sayin’) and now it’s time to sweat the details. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably written too much. At least in the Outline Plan and Evaluation of Sources sections.

You see, there are three sections. The above two, and the actual Extended Essay. The booklet has 16 pages. Excluding the front page, the title page and the two back pages, that leaves 12. One for the Outline, one for the Evaluation, ten for the essay. After printing out the booklet and writing into it, I’ve determined I can fit about 8 words per line, totalling about 240 words per page. (And my writing is pretty big. It has a certain whimsical flair to it that I just can’t seem to restrain. Also, I use long-ass words…) Bottomline, is that if you keep your Evaluation and Outline sections to less than 250 words you should be perfectly a’ight.

Also important: I’m told that adding two or three lines onto the end of the page (there’s a blank margin at the bottom) is acceptable, so it’s a good idea to bring a ruler and pencil (eracing the lines later). Also , if you have long-ass URLs, one trick is to use a site like http://tinyurl.com/  to reduce their size.

Another thing to look out for is verbosity. Being more concise is almost never a bad thing, especially in this kind of scenario. I reduced the Outline Plan from 400+ words to 235 (including the citation of a fourth source) just by changing phrases like “Second Lieutenant William Laws Calley was the leader of 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, the unit responsible for the brutal massacre at the My Lai hamlet of Son My village” to “Lt. Calley led C-Company into My Lai”

I think sometimes people can equate being wordy with being smart. Which as any decent writer will tell you is complete bullshizzle. Good writing is about conveying your message with as few words as possible. (Which is why I believe poetry should be considered a whole other artform, seeing as how most of it can be summed up by a couple words: “I’m sad”, “I think I’m gay”, “He doesn’t love me”, etc.)

Overall, the RSR seems like a fairly easy 20%. It’s basically just an extra-long essay that you have months to write (which is thousands of times longer than the essays on the exam, which are only a bit shorter). Although part of it might have been the fact that I picked a project that was interesting enough to research without it feeling much like work. (Note that although it’s an interesting insight into the dark depths of humanity, the My Lai Massacre is not for the faint of heart. You’ve been warned.)

(P.S. Heinz is still the best)

10 thoughts on “Finishing up the RSR”

Hah, as evidence to how little information on the RSR there is: This post is actually the FIRST Google hit for ‘leaving rsr’ (fifth if you make it ‘rsr leaving cert’)

Yeah true, when I did the RSR, I also bullshizled the whole thing “Leonardos theory of flight”. Got me a pretty damn good mark! I could get nothing on the RSR anywhere!! We were the second year doing it, you guys being the third of course.

Also loved you theory on poetry! nice.

When I read your tweet I was expecting faaar less history, and faaar more ketchup. Mildly disappointed. I can’t understand how anyone eats Chef. People tell me there’s no difference. They totally lie.

Chef is crappy, I agree (except the titular character looks like my friend so it’s worth it for slagging-value…)

I recently got obsessed with ketchup because somebody used this amazingly sweet, tangy ketchup on a sandwich I bought and I’ve been trying to figure out which brand it was… Thing is, it’s probably some cheap generic brand used only by delis. It’s a conspiracy!

In 4th year when it came to choosing subjects, I chose business over history simply cause of this project thing…

You happy with that choice? Personally, after 3 years of Business I jumped at the opportunity to leave it far, far behind. The you-would-never-believe-it-how-boring-this-guy-is teacher contributed to that a bit.

But history is one of the few subjects that actually is important to know/comes up in conversation.

I spent so long writing that project into my tiny little booklet, that I shall cry if it doesn’t get 100%. And you didn’t take history because of the project? Why ever not? Easy marks.. 😛

Yeah I’ve since realised that history would’ve have been beneficial apres the leaving cert, however business isn’t so bad. I loathed accounting at JC level, but for the LC parts of it are actually interesting. (Shock shock horror) It’s also possible to omit one seventh of the course, which is handy.

Our RSR was due on a Friday morning, so of course, in true me-style… I started writing it up at 8pm- that Thursday evening. So it went in uncorrected. My teacher has no idea what it’s even about at this stage. So yeah, nothing official about it really. She didnt even see my sources because they were blatantly made up. Only fooling myself really I suppose… yada yada yada

Emerald…That tangy ketchup you are looking for is ‘Candee’ ketchup. It’s the cheapest one on the market… and it seems pretty proud of the fact that it ‘Contains Additives and Sweeteners!’… which doesnt say alot…

For anyone doing the Leaving ’10 (woah… sounds mad) I highly suggest that you don’t put it off one more day… get started, even reading up on any bit of history that mildly tickles your fancy. There’s a good podcast on the RTE website about it (which I discovered at 4am on that faithful night in April, hours before our deadline)

Recycle, Stay in School and Fight the Power! Peace Out

My RSR is due this week. Almost have extended essay written in official document. Have evaluation of sources done, need to tidy up outline plan. What do I put in the review at end of essay? Any help?

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Leaving Cert Study Guide: The History Research Project

HISTORY in the Leaving Certificate is a daunting essay-writing challenge.

However, the examination itself is worth only 80pc of your grade — before you set pen to paper on June 15, 20pc of your History grade will have already been decided. This 20pc is the History Research Project, which is due to be submitted on April 15.

All History students, both Higher and Ordinary level, would be wise to focus their attention on the Research Topic over the next few weeks.

Many students score full marks on this section. Consequently, the Research Topic is vital to your overall grade.

What is the research topic?

This is an extended essay of 1,500 words for higher level and 800 words for ordinary level on a topic of your choice, so long as it takes place before 1992. You have to pick three sources for higher level and two for ordinary level, for their historical enquiry. Sources can be primary or secondary (or a combination of both).

Topics that I have examined contained a variety of sources — diaries, official documents, letters, recorded interviews, books, DVDs, radio broadcasts and archaeological reports — depending on the nature of the research topic.

Using Sources

Your choice of sources is important — some sources can be more time-consuming than others but the work using these sources will be more original and rewarding. For example, a visit to the National Archives or examining historical newspaper articles can be time-consuming, however, by doing this research you are developing your skills as an historian.

Finding appropriate sources can be difficult, also. The internet can be helpful here — the bibliographies provided by articles on sites such as Wikipedia can point you in the right direction. Also, I would suggest that you work closely with your History teacher — ask advice on the authenticity of your chosen sources and whether they are suitable to your topic.

Choosing your topic

Again I would suggest that you consult your teacher on this. Make sure that your topic is narrow and includes date parameters.

The History syllabus stipulates that you should pick a topic that is not covered on your course, so it is wise to avoid the Key Personalities and the Case Studies that you are studying this year.

Local history, family history and fringe topics are all acceptable as the History syllabus encourages the student to use the full range of historical skills. Here are some examples:

- The Persian Invasion of Greece 480-79BC

- The Lebensborn Programme in Nazi Germany

- The GAA in Co Cavan — the glory years of the 1940s

- The Diaries of an Irishman in the RAF

- Led Zeppelin's contribution to rock music

The research topic is made up of four parts:

1 The Outline Plan (15 marks)

2 Evaluation of Sources (25 marks)

3 Extended Essay (50 marks)

4 Review of Research Topic (10 marks)

1 Outline plan ( 15 marks )

The title should have:

- Narrow focus

- Knowledge of historical context

- The topic ends before 1992/1993

- At least three sources (two for ordinary level)

- A very clear title — include dates, scope for debate, a conclusion which allows you to assess your aims

Nine marks are for:

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History in Your Hands project guide 2024-2025

Submitting your research study report.

You will submit your completed research study report (RSR) to the project team by Friday 4th April 2024.

For the purposes of this project you will complete your History in Your Hands RSR using the 'History in your Hands submission template 2025' Word document provided on this page. As stated in the template, you'll complete the sections using Arial size 12 font, in black. Name the document using your name and the name of your school i.e. Eoin Murphy Trinity Comprehensive and email this to [email protected] by 5pm on Friday 4th April 2025.

Projects sent after this date and time will not be accepted. You are welcome to submit your RSR to the project team before this date.

Marking scheme

• The History in your Hands RSR marking scheme
• Outline plan marking scheme
• Evaluation of the sources marking scheme
• Extended essay marking scheme
• Review of the research process marking scheme

For the purposes of this project, all research study reports will follow the guidelines and requirements laid out for Higher Level Leaving Certificate History. The RSRs submitted to the History in your Hands project team will be marked according to the Higher Level marking scheme.

See an overview of the breakdown of marks below. Click on the relevant tab to view a detailed breakdown of the marks available for each section. We have included information about the marking scheme for Ordinary Level History also, for reference purposes.

These tables are sources from The Students' Guide to the RSR  and The Teachers' Guide to the History Research Study Report  by the Wicklow County Archives .

• << Previous: Meet the project team
• Next: RSR tips and checklists >>
• Meet the project team
• April 2025: Submitting your Research Study Report and Marking Scheme
• RSR tips and checklists

History in your Hands RSR submission template

Use this Word template to submit your History in your Hands RSR to the project team. Name the document using your name and the name of your school i.e. Eoin Murphy Trinity Comprehensive and email this to [email protected] by 5pm on Friday 4th April 2025. As indicated in the template use Arial font 12 text colour black and follow the word count guidelines laid out for each section.

• History in your Hands submission template 2025

Have a question?

If you're taking part in the project and you'd like to ask us a question, just click on the image below to submit a query to the team.

• Last Updated: Aug 29, 2024 3:35 PM
• URL: https://dcu.libguides.com/Historyinyourhands

The Pol-Soc Podcast

You're not apart from society, you're a part of society, leaving cert history rsr cpd materials.

I was delighted to be asked by the Cork HTA to deliver an online CPD session designed to help new and returning Leaving Cert History teachers approach the “Special Topic” or RSR (Research Study Report) with their students.

Below are some of the supporting documents and handouts that I use selectively with students. I include them as pdfs and MS Word Docs so that you can edit them easily for your own use – every class is different, after all, and I find myself tinkering with this material year-on-year.

Cork HTA – LC Hist RSR CPD PowerPoint Presentation

MS Word of Gridding your Extended Essay Blank

PDF of Gridding your Extended Essay Blank

MS Word Doc of RSR Research Skills and Footnotes

PDF of RSR Research Skills and Footnotes

Other useful links include the PDST documents that were provided in 2013 (I think, but possibly earlier). I wouldn’t use all of it, but the checklist on the final page is dead handy. You can find that page here (I suggest downloading those documents straight away, because sometimes those links go dead inexplicably). *The sample booklet on that page is in the old format, so don’t give that one to students!!!

Of course, Patrick Hickey’s YouTube videos are always accessible for students, though I’m not sure if the video on the Evaluation of Sources has been updated to take into account the expanded space (2-pages) that students now have for that process.

For new teachers, it’s probably also worth digging into the 2017 SEC Chief Examiner’s Report for History. It’s a little old now, but virtually all of what it says is still relevant.

And as I’m sure most teachers are aware, there are other useful RSR resources on the Cork HTA website …!

I hope that these bits and piece will be of use to some people, in what I think is one of the most important written tasks that any LC student completes.

JD – 10/10/2022

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HistoryVault.ie

Jc people in history.

• Archaeologist Working on a Dig
• Neolithic (Pre-Christian) farmer in Ireland
• Early Christian Ireland Monk
• A Knight in a Medieval Castle
• Martin Luther
• Christopher Columbus
• Leonardo da Vinci
• George Washington
• Maximilien Robespierre
• A factory worker during the Industrial Revolution
• Michael Collins
• John F. Kennedy (Cold War)
• Sean Lemass
• English Leaving Certificate (HL)
• English Leaving Certificate (OL)
• Junior Cert. English

Francais (JC)

• Junior Cert French
• Futur Proche
• Passé Composé
• Futur Simple
• Formulaire (LC Ordinary Level)
• English as a Foreign Language

*The Research Study Report (RSR) Guidelines

The RSR is made up of the following parts:

Outline Plan (15/100) – Definition & Justification – Specific Aims – Intended Approaches – Sources Sample Layout:

Evaluation of the Sources (25/100) – Relevance – Strengths – Weaknesses Sample Layout:

Extended Essay (50/100) Guidelines for Extended Essay:

Review of the Research Process (10/100) Guidelines for Review:

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Key personalities: ireland (lc).

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How to get a H1 in Leaving Cert History

Vicky got a H1 in her Leaving Cert History and in this guide, she shares her advice for succeeding in this subject. 

Introduction

To some, history can appear challenging with the amount of information you're expected to know by the end of 6th year. That's what I thought at the beginning of 5th year anyway but I quickly learned that once I broke down the subject into topics and each topic into a select number of essay titles, the information required is much more manageable than it seems.

The research study report (RSR)

This was perhaps my favourite aspect of the entire history course because, despite one or two restrictions, you can basically do your RSR project on anything in history that suits your specific interests. Below are some tips for achieving a good grade in your research project:

Do what you love

When picking your research topic, don't choose something just because it sounds impressive. Instead, choose something that you're passionate about or have always wanted to learn more about. The RSR project is all about independent research and trust me, you will not be motivated to research a topic you couldn't care less about.

Keep it niche

The more specific your chosen topic, the better. Even if you think your topic is entirely unprecedented, chances are the examiner has seen it before. Ask your teacher for advice as they might have corrected dozens of RSRs before and will be able to steer you clear of the most commonly seen topics. Otherwise, try to approach your subject with a unique stance. This way, the corrector will appreciate a fresh take and will probably be more generous with their marks.

Keep the criteria in mind

Keep in mind the restrictions to avoid losing valuable marks. The dates of your research study must be before 1993 if your subject relates to Irish history and before 1992 if your subject relates to the history of Europe and the wider world. 

The word count of your main essay will vary depending on your level but as a general rule of thumb, 600-800 words for ordinary level and 1200-1500 for higher. Also, make sure you keep track of the sources you use because you need to be able to cite them in your write-up.

Get it done early

Try to get the bulk of the project done asap, preferably in 5th year or throughout the summer break between 5th year and 6th year (when you still have some semblance of free time). The last thing you want is to leave it until the last minute. The project is usually due around the time of the mock exams and the orals and it will just be another source of stress if you procrastinate. You don't want to end up submitting a rushed project that won’t achieve the marks you deserve. 

The RSR is an opportunity to guarantee 20% of your overall marks before you even sit the final exam so take advantage of it.

The written exam

The document based question (dbq).

The document question is probably the second easiest way of gathering marks so long as you don't underestimate them. The DBQ case studies are worth 100 marks (20%) in total and will be examined in a question with the following format:

As you can see, they are not just a comprehension and require a lot of preparation.

If you think a certain topic won’t appear because it came up the previous year, there are no rules explicitly stating otherwise so be prepared for all three.

Approaching this section

Here is my advice for tackling the DBQs:

Practice makes perfect

Practice document-style comprehension questions regularly as it’s imperative that you become familiar with the questions they typically ask. For example, the questions in Section 1 typically require a one-line answer that you can take directly from the text. For Section 2, learning how to compare two different documents is very important and for Section 3 you need to know key terms such as ‘bias’ and ‘secondary source’ to answer many of the questions.

Make a quick plan

For Sections 2 and 3, you’ll need to write around 2 pages to get full marks and as always when it comes to writing, you should plan anything that's longer than a page. I suggest reading the passages carefully and planning your answer in points before writing. Be sure that you know what they are asking for and highlight the sections of the document that you're planning to reference in your answer beforehand so that you can easily locate them. 

Short essay question

Planning applies to the short essay in Section 4 too. I wrote a rough essay plan on the three topics with a clear bullet-point structure well in advance of the exam so that I would have something to follow on the day. The titles themselves are generally uncomplicated and do not require much time to grasp so you should be able to use your plan to fit any question.

Sections 2 and 3 of the history exam require you to write long (3.5-6 pages) essays in response to a prompt. Depending on the category of your DBQ, you will either have to write two Irish history essays and one European history essay or two European history essays and one Irish history essay. Either way, each of these essays is worth 100 marks so pay close attention. Here's some useful information and advice for preparing for your essays:

The cumulative mark

The essays are scored in a very particular way wherein you'll receive a cumulative mark (CM) out of 60 for historical content. This is usually the sum of the scores each paragraph receives. Your essay can have a minimum of five paragraphs in order to achieve the maximum of 60 but a student would rarely receive 12/12 per paragraph. The best thing to do with your essays then is to make sure you have 8-12 paragraphs (including a relevant introduction and a strong conclusion). That way, you can score as low as 5 or 6 per paragraph and still get a very high CM.

Overall evaluation

The other 40 marks go for overall evaluation (OE) which rates the quality of the answer out of 40. To get a high mark here, you have to give a detailed answer that shows the examiner that you have not only given great thought to your analysis but studied this topic in-depth. A simple way to show this is by showing off any extra research you did and including quotes in your answer (this really impresses examiners).

Know what to expect

History is a subject that you can be prepared for before you even sit the exam. I studied past exam papers to get a sense of the frequently asked topics so I knew what to focus my time on. The papers generally follow some sort of pattern so you can look out for any repeated essay questions. However, I would not over-rely on these patterns as they are not guaranteed to appear.

Study what you're interested in

After studying the past papers, I selected 4 essay titles per topic (12 in total) that interested me the most. Similar to the RSR project, there is no point in forcing yourself to learn off information that you have no interest in. I cannot remember the number of times I tried to force myself to learn the 'significant developments in US foreign policy from 1973-1989' only to forget it hours later. I eventually gave up and switched my attention to ‘race relations’, something I found more interesting and ended up learning 10 times faster. Similarly, I chose to learn anything and everything about the ‘cultural revival’ as it was the one aspect of the Irish history course that I enjoyed and found it showed up in some way or other every year without fail.

Textbook alternatives

To further prepare for the essays, I recommend doing outside reading and research. For Europe and the wider world, for example, I found there to be an abundance of documentaries and biographies that immersed me into the time period more effectively than merely studying facts from a textbook.

History may be one of the most demanding subjects out there in terms of time so stick to a plan and dedicate no more than 40 minutes to each question. 

Find a study technique to suit you

Everyone studies differently. Some people find that flashcards help them retain information easily, some prefer to learn from bullet point essay plans and some like to watch historical documentaries on Netflix or YouTube. Since I am a visual learner, I took an essay and illustrated it into a graphic novel or comic book style. I typically had three cartoon images per paragraph and I wrote the key dates or statistics in bold or bubble writing throughout the comic. It may have taken slightly longer to prepare than flashcards but once I had them drawn, I could easily recall them without any issues. Perhaps if you struggle with the more familiar study methods, you could give this one a try.

Get organised

Dedicate a separate study folder to history and split it into different topic questions. This folder will be specifically for your essays and essay plans or whatever you find easiest to study from. This way, there will be no issues when trying to locate a particular essay that you plan to revise.

Get the preparation done early

Have all your preparations complete before Christmas break so that afterwards, it is merely a matter of grabbing the essays and revising the content.

Practice your timing

This is vital. You could have everything else planned and prepared to perfection and still end up falling at the final hurdle if you do not consider timing. History may be one of the most demanding subjects out there about timing, having to write 3 long essays, 1 short essay and answer a comprehension all in the space of 2 hours and 50 minutes. You must know the exact length of time that it takes you to write out the content. 

Time yourself writing essays

If you find that you're going over the limit of 40 minutes, cut the essay down. Remember, this is not an English essay so there is no need for flowery prose and filler language. History essays are fact-based and you should easily be able to fit an essay into the given time.

Bring a watch

On the day of the exam, bring a watch with you. As previously mentioned, the exam is heavily time-dependent so you do not want to be wasting precious time craning your neck and squinting your eyes to the giant clock on the wall of the exam hall.

Keep calm and carry on

Next is to breathe and remain calm. The more stress you place upon yourself, the less you will be able to think and recall facts. Take the first 10 minutes of the exam to scan through the paper and highlight the essay titles that you're capable of doing. If there is more than one per topic, choose the question that you feel more confident in answering and which suits your particular range of knowledge.

Plan before you start writing

One of the most important tips I have for you is to plan all three essays by the question before you even start the exam. Remember, your OE will be based on how well you answered the question so you must be aware of what the question is asking of you. You could write 100 pages on the moon landing but end up getting 0 marks if you don't accurately answer the question. I wrote out bullet points describing what each paragraph is about, followed by the key dates and statistics. This way you can easily reference the plans later on in the exam when you will likely be exhausted and less focused. This way, you will not have to worry about wasting time trying to recall a certain date mid-way through writing the essay and thus lose your train of thought.

Do not leave early

If you do happen to write all the content very quickly and find that you have extra time at the end, do not leave early. Revise the essays that you have written. Fact check and date check that everything is accurate and that you did not omit any information. You can always improve your essays or DBQ responses in the extra time.

Some final tips

for the Leaving Cert History exam.

Hope these help - happy studying!

Best of luck with the exam! You'll be great.

Leaving Cert, Research Study Report (RSR) Topic Ideas

• history research project
• leaving cert 2010

Ditzie wrote: » If you could focus on something that's not too broad but theres lots of sources you'd be grand... I'd recommend: Kevin Barry (I did him for mine last year and got 97% in my project ) Lord haw haw something local, some incident, person, anything of relative interest if you're interested in football why not the life and times of some old famous footballer like jack lynch? once you can justify its historically relavent you'll be fine. As for sources just google the name of you're project and you'll find websites, book names etc. (wikipedia is a good one for links and source names but info can be dodgey)and look for them in your local library... even if you ask for info/books about your topic they should be happy to help! good luck

NotExactly wrote: » Just wondering what is the project? What does it go towards?

ConorChaney wrote: » Hi, thanks for the info and encouragement. Couple of questions, what exactly did you do on Kevin Barry. Details would be appreciated . I live out in Portmarnock, there is feck all famous people out here if any. I will have to wait till an bright idea strikes me or someone gives me a suggestion.

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Cydoniac wrote: » I think it has to do with History.

Piste wrote: » That's really not helpful. Vague and smartass comments are not allowed on this forum. If you've nothing of use to say, say nothing.

Kevin Barry (I did him for mine last year and got 97% in my project )

Leaving Cert History Essay Booklet

This 216 page booklet boasts 50 H1 essays from the Leaving Cert History course across Sovereignty and Partition, Government Economy and Society in Ireland, Dictatorship and Democracy (DBQ), United States and the Wider World and Politics and Society in Northern Ireland. This booklet is suitable for teachers and students.

CHRONICLES TEXTBOOK Research Study Report (RSR) The Pursuit of Sovereignty and the Impact of Partition, 1912-49 Government, Economy and Society in the Rep. of Ireland, 1949-89 Dictatorship and Democracy, 1920-45 The United States and the World, 1945-89 Leaving Cert History Exam Centre Leaving Cert History Exam Papers and Marking Schemes Junior Cycle History Teacher Mailing List Useful Links for History Teachers Archived: Junior Cert History Exam Papers Leaving Cert History Irish history ​. World and European History ​ Rsr and exams ​. 407 IMAGES History Higher & Ordinary Level Leaving Cert Exam Papers 2024 Exam Leaving Cert History Project For Sale in Ennis, Clare from rodge94 History Leaving Cert Book List RSR History Project: Nikola Tesla LEAVING CERT HISTORY RSR SUCCESS and How to Get There-Post Primary Leaving Cert History Dictatorship and Democracy Booklet (DBQ) VIDEO English Paper 1 Leaving Cert Reaction 2023: Computer Science (H) How to Research Like a Pro in 30 Minutes a Day Study Hub Leaving Cert Tips: History, Ordinary Level Maths, German Leaving Cert Reaction 2023: Business (H) Leaving Cert History Trivia for $100 COMMENTS Research Study Report (RSR) These resources are for practice purposes only. They are not to be used to submit RSRs to the State Examinations Commission (SEC). How to get a H1 in your Leaving Certificate History RSR Project The Research Study Report (or the 'RSR' if you're cool) is a project in which you carry out a piece of research on a topic of your choice. It is completed in a special booklet which is usually submitted in March/April, prior to the actual Leaving Certificate History exam. PDF Leaving Cert History Research Study Report Higher and Ordinary Level Leaving Cert History Research Study Report Higher and Ordinary Level Practice Booklet Only Name: Title of the Study . historymatters365.com 2 Outline Plan 15 marks . historymatters365.com 3 Evaluation of the sources 25 marks ... PDF History In-Service Team, Supporting Leaving Certificate History Supporting Leaving Certificate History. www.hist.ie A Student Guide to the Research Study This guide is intended to assist you in the preparation and presentation of your research study report. It offers advice and guidance on various aspects of the research study and also consists of a number of worksheets that you can use to help PDF Leaving Cert History Research Study Report Higher and Ordinary Level Leaving Cert History Research Study Report Higher and Ordinary Level Practice Booklet Only Name: Title of the Study . historymatters365.com 2 ... Explain how you developed your historical research skills. historymatters365.com 14 . Author: Christian O Connor Created Date: RSR tips and checklists The review of the research process is worth 10 marks out of the 100 marks available for your report. For this project, you will fill in this section separately on the Word template. For Leaving Certificate History, this section can be completed as part of the extended essay, or as a stand-alone section at the end of the essay. PDF History Developing students' research skills in Leaving Certificate History classes At Leaving Certificate level, the development of research skills is an important objective as the research study is an integral part of the syllabus and the Research Study Report (RSR) accounts for 20% of the total marks allocated to History i.e. 100 marks out of a PDF History History - The Research Topic. History in the Leaving Certificate is a daunting essay writing challenge. However, the examination itself is worth 80% of your grade - before you set pen to paper in June 20% of your History grade will have already been decided. This 20% is the History Research Project which is due to be submitted on April 27th. Tips for the Research Study Report (RSR)... Please click above to access the Chief Inspector's Report. It contains some useful advice on how to avoid the most common mistakes. Create a bibliography using word. This video demonstrates how to create a bibliography using the References feature in Microsoft Word. Keywords: Leaving Certificate History, RSR, Research Study Report. RSR RSR - Leaving Cert History. The Research Project is a COMPULSORY part of your Leaving Certificate course. You must, in consultation with your teacher, choose an appropriate topic, decide on the specific title, conduct your research (making sure to locate a primary source) and write an extended essay. You must also submit an outline plan and an ... Senior Cycle Circular S4620 Leaving Certificate History Coursework 2021 EN-1011-19682395.pdf. 143.92 KB. Gaeilge. 14 Joyce Way, Park West Business Park, Nangor Road, Dublin 12. Ms Doorley's History Notes Leaving Certificate History is designed to foster a deep understanding of human activities in the past, encouraging students to appreciate the complexities and nuances of historical events. ... Research Study: Encourages students to undertake a significant historical research project to further develop their investigative and analytical skills ... Finishing up the RSR Finishing up the RSR. The Research Study Report. 20% of the marks for History. And a taste of what's to come with writing college papers. Tomorrow, April 28th, is the official deadline to have it in, written into an official booklet under official supervision in an official school. Most of you have probably already done it and handed it in. Leaving Cert Study Guide: The History Research Project Wed 19 Jan 2011 at 07:00. HISTORY in the Leaving Certificate is a daunting essay-writing challenge. However, the examination itself is worth only 80pc of your grade — before you set pen to paper ... LibGuides: History in Your Hands project guide 2024-2025: April 2025 Review of the Research Process (10 Marks) For the History in Your Hands project, you'll fill this section in using the Word template under the section title 'Review of the Research Process.' As part of Leaving Certificate History, you will complete this section as part of the extended essay, or as a stand-alone section. Higher Level: Ordinary Level PDF How to get a H1 in Leaving Cert History (1) Section II and III of the Leaving Cert History Exam require you to write long (3.5-6 page) essays in response to a prompt. Depending on the category of your DBQ, you will either have to write two Irish History Essays and one European History Essay, or two European History Essays and one Irish History Essay. Either way, each of these essays are ... Leaving Cert History RSR CPD Materials October 10, 2022 / polsocpodcast. I was delighted to be asked by the Cork HTA to deliver an online CPD session designed to help new and returning Leaving Cert History teachers approach the "Special Topic" or RSR (Research Study Report) with their students. Below are some of the supporting documents and handouts that I use selectively with ... Category: Leaving Cert Resources Below is a resource for planning a leaving cert history essay using topic sentence. A topic sentence indicates the theme of a main body paragraph. The main themes of the essay should be signposted in the introduction. Usually, it is the first sentence of a paragraph, but not always. For example, it could be the last sentence of the previous ... *The Research Study Report (RSR) Guidelines John Robert Seeley. "The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you can see." Winston Churchill. *The Research Study Report (RSR) Guidelines. The RSR is made up of the following parts: Outline Plan (15/100) - Definition & Justification. - Specific Aims. - Intended Approaches. How to get a H1 in Leaving Cert History Sections 2 and 3 of the history exam require you to write long (3.5-6 pages) essays in response to a prompt. Depending on the category of your DBQ, you will either have to write two Irish history essays and one European history essay or two European history essays and one Irish history essay. Either way, each of these essays is worth 100 marks ... Leaving Cert, Research Study Report (RSR) Topic Ideas Hi, the RSR or research study report, that you are required to do for you leaving cert history exam. It goes towards you're over all mark. I'm doing Kevin Barry for my project too and I was just wondering, what was the title of your project? I don't want t leave mine as just 'Kevin Barry'. Leaving Cert History Essay Booklet This 216 page booklet boasts 50 H1 essays from the Leaving Cert History course across Sovereignty and Partition, Government Economy and Society in Ireland, Dictatorship and Democracy (DBQ), United States and the Wider World and Politics and Society in Northern Ireland. This booklet is suitable for teachers and students. This 216 page booklet ... Leaving Cert History Leaving Cert History > > Junior Cycle History Teacher Mailing List Useful Links for History Teachers Archived: Junior Cert History Exam Papers Contact Leaving Cert History. Irish History World and European History RSR and Exams ... essay homework paper phd review speech study thesis