[Jacqui D]

Hi

I have finnaly decided to post my extended essay idea so here it is. I thought I might look into how well De Valera had secured Irish Independence and what he actually contrebuted as there is some controversy about this. Espesially with what Micheal Collins did and how he agreed with Britain, about securing Independence but having to give Ulster to Britain which De Valera did not agree with causing a civil war. This is still just an idea about the focus ei independence I am still Intressted in other Ideas.

Jacqui

[Mr Jones-Nerzic]

Jacqui D, on May 12 2006, 03:55 PM, said:

I have finnaly decided to post my extended essay idea so here it is. I thought I might look into how well De Valera had secured Irish Independence and what he actually contrebuted as there is some controversy about this. Espesially with what Micheal Collins did and how he agreed with Britain, about securing Independence but having to give Ulster to Britain which De Valera did not agree with causing a civil war. This is still just an idea about the focus ei independence I am still Intressted in other Ideas.

The controversial nature of this subject matter makes it potentially an excellent one for an IA. You need to begin with some basic background reading of academic texts and biography. This will allow you to focus in on a potential research question.

[Jacqui D]

Hi, I have already started reading a biogaphy of him by Tim Pat Coogan who clamims to be neutral on the subject, but he mentions in his book an offocial biography of De Valera which could, or probable, be more biased. I also have a biography on Micheal Collins and a movie.

[Mr Jones-Nerzic]

This looks like an interesting website on de Valera: http://www.apostles.com/devalera.html Dedicated to celebrating his life and critical of his portayal in Michael Collins, it will probably be easier to identify the lack of objectivity on this site.

[Jacqui D]

Ok i will have a look at this, and I see what u mean about the objectivty, it is not vey subtle!

[Jacqui D]

Yes, and we will go further: De Valera was one of the great leaders of this century: a man who stuck to his faith, a man of principle, a man dedicated to peace and justice, a soldier who fought for freedom, a man who followed his conscious.
found of website: http://www.apostles.com/devalera.html

I found this totlally biased vision of Dev quite interesting espicially "a soldier who fought for freedom" since he did not participate in the war of independence as he was in America at the time (he was collecting funds for the effort though), although he did fight in the Easter uprising but he only held one bridge and accounts of his fellow soldiers called him cowardly and said he paniced alot.

[Mr Jones-Nerzic]

Jacqui D, on Jul 22 2006, 10:22 AM, said:

I found this totlally biased vision of Dev quite interesting espicially "a soldier who fought for freedom" since he did not participate in the war of independence as he was in America at the time (he was collecting funds for the effort though), although he did fight in the Easter uprising but he only held one bridge and accounts of his fellow soldiers called him cowardly and said he paniced alot.

Good stuff. How's it going generally?

[Jacqui D]

The research part is ok I have found quite a few interesing web sites on the subject some favour Dev other Micheal Collins which I have come to believe was the key person over Dev, however I am not sure about the civil war and who gained the most (obviously dev as he lived through it! but if achieved much more then the treaty signed in 1922 with Lloyd George and Micheal Collins negociating). I have started to watch a film about Micheal Collins which shows Dev in a very negative light.

I am trying to start the plan and have put some backgound for the introduction but I am having touble organising all the infomation into parragrahs. How to prove which one had the most succes.

[Mr Jones-Nerzic]

Jacqui D, on Jul 27 2006, 03:54 PM, said:

I am trying to start the plan and have put some backgound for the introduction but I am having touble organising all the infomation into parragrahs. How to prove which one had the most succes.

This is the challenge and a problem in all forms of history when measuring success. Who decides on the criteria of success?

[Jacqui D]

Forget what I said before, I have already sarted to write my essay and have pretty much figured out how to look at all the aspects which got Ireland its independence.

[Mr Jones-Nerzic]

Jacqui D, on Aug 5 2006, 11:08 AM, said:

Forget what I said before, I have already sarted to write my essay and have pretty much figured out how to look at all the aspects which got Ireland its independence.

I might be temptted to examine the significance of an individual in the process of Irish Independence. (Strong recommendation )

[Jacqui D]

This is what I have got for my EE so far

 Extended_Essay.doc (45K)
Number of downloads: 2

And this is the plan for the end of the essay

 Plan_for_Extended_Essay.doc (53K)
Number of downloads: 3

[Mr Jones-Nerzic]

A good start, well done.

Two immediate pieces of advice...

1. Footnoting and references. You simply do not have anywhere near enough at the moment.

2. Factors. Before you get too bogged down in narrative you need to decide on an answer to the question: why did Ireland gain independence? Just as with any other essay, you need to decide on 4-5 factors that explain why. De Valera will be one factor, what are the others? Other individuals? What external factors? Preseumably British politics and Irish public opinion etc. You have lots of potential factors in your plan but at the moment there are too many.