Start by treating the research questionâHow significant was British Prime Minister Anthony Eden's decision to authorize military intervention during the Suez Crisis (OctoberâNovember 1956) in precipitating his resignation in January 1957?âas the spine of your IA. Put that exact wording on the cover page and keep the session and final word count under 2,200 words. In your table of contents list the required sections (Identification and evaluation of sources, Investigation, Reflection, References) with page numbers. For the Identification and evaluation of sources section (max ~500 words) choose two high-quality sources that offer contrasting perspectives and clearly explain how each will help answer the research question: for example, a primary source such as cabinet minutes, Edenâs memoirs, or Foreign Office telegrams, and a secondary source like a scholarly article on Suez or a political biography. For each source evaluate strengths (direct insight, contemporaneity, archival value) and limitations (bias, limited perspective, retrospective justification), and be precise about author, date and provenance so examiners can judge reliability quickly.
When you investigate, begin with a concise background paragraph (what Suez was, Edenâs political position, OctoberâNovember 1956 timeline) to situate the reader, then move to an analytical structure driven by comparative weight of causes rather than a simple narrative. Identify and test competing explanations: the immediate military decision and its diplomatic fallout, domestic political pressures (Conservative backbenchers, press, public opinion), health and leadership wear, and international factors (US/UN reactions, Anglo-American relations). Use evidence selectively: quote key lines from minutes, newspapers, or diplomatic cables to show causation and contemporaneous reaction, and cite historians to show historiographical debate. Explicitly set out criteria for âsignificantâ (direct causal link, widely acknowledged precipitant, or necessary but not sufficient condition) and apply those criteria to each factor; make sure every paragraph links back to the research question and advances your judged weight of evidence. Close the Investigation with a concise answer that summarises how much the Suez decision contributed to resignation compared to other factors.
In the Reflection (~400 words) discuss methodological choices (why those sources, how you handled bias), obstacles (access to archives, translating political rhetoric into causal claims), and how historiansâ methods informed your approach. For writing, keep paragraphs focused: topic sentence, evidence, analysis linking evidence to the research question, and a brief mini-conclusion. Avoid long narrative digressions; use transitions to show why one factor matters more or less. Reference consistently in the Works Cited and ensure the whole IA stays within prescribed word limits for each section; reviewers look for clarity of argument, careful use of evidence, and explicit links back to the research question.