Tips for a successful project
Mario Corrigan – Executive Librarian
Local Studies Dept. – Kildare County Library and Arts Services
• ALWAYS check out your idea with your TEACHER
• Make sure your idea is do-able
– There are books on the subject; websites that might help etc.
– There might be some primary resources available
– Think of the timescale – don’t make it too large
– See if there is help available – libraries, local history groups
–
THINK ABOUT and MAKE SURE YOUR PROJECT HAS A
EXAMPLE
Meeting of the First County Council 1899
The Minutes for the first meeting are on EHistory in two parts
START
• Research and Outline – HUGELY IMPORTANT
– booklet on the first Council published by Kildare County Council in 1999
– Books on the beginning of local Government and Irish history for the period
– Newspaper Reports
– Council Minutes
– Images – Councillors; Gentry; Council Offices
• Introduction
– Explaining your choice of topic and what resources were available
– introducing your topic – what is a county Council and where is it today – why it is of interest – what was there before it
– setting the scene for your essay – the first meeting was held at 11 a.m. in Naas Courthouse on 22 April 1899
– The first Council lasted from 1899 to 1902
MIDDLE
• Body of ESSAY
– The elections of April 1899?
– The candidates
– First Meeting
– Who was present?
– Who was elected?
– What was the outcome of the first meeting?
– What (if any) was the reaction in Co. Kildare – in Ireland?
– What kind of work was done by the Council?
– Were there any difficulties during the first meeting?
REMEMBER – YOUR IDEAS – YOUR OPINIONS
END
• Why was it important?
• How did it set the scene for modern Council and compare the type of work to today
• Is there any information on the success of the Councils in Ireland and on the changeover from the previous system?
• WHAT impression did it make on YOU?
• What do YOU THINK?
• ALWAYS – refer to the work you did
• ALWAYS – cite the references – where you got the information – make sure you do this with care
• ALWAYS – make the work personal – I did… I think…
• ALWAYS – imagine you are trying to teach somebody who has no knowledge whatsoever about the topic why the topic is interesting and what it is about
• NEVER – take it for granted that whoever may be reading this knows anything about the topic
• NEVER– take it for granted that it is obvious where you got the information or how you did the work
• NEVER – leave it to the last minute – give yourself time and choose something you are interested in but make sure there are sources and that the topic is manageable
• ALWAYS – check with your teacher
• START – writing as soon as you can – even if it is making some notes – or making a first draft (you don’t have to write it in one go) –
• CONTINUE – to ask questions as you go along – why did that happen? Who was this person? Imagine somebody who knows nothing about the subject reading your essay – would they understand? Would they know what you mean?
• SHOW
• That you can do research
• How you did the research
• Where you did the research
• What sources you used
• That you learned from the research
• That you can use the research and can put it all together
• That you enjoyed it
GOOD LUCK!
[Some helpful hints on how to create a good project.]
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