Complete and submit for assessment project initiated in Form Five

Completing and Submitting Your History Project for Assessment

Overview

This activity requires you to complete the History project you began in Form Five, prepare a well-written report, and submit it for assessment. The project demonstrates your ability to conduct independent research, analyze historical evidence, and present findings in an organized manner.

Purpose of the History Project

The project tests your competence in applying historical research methods to investigate specific topics. It prepares you for tertiary education and develops analytical skills valuable in many careers, including journalism, law, education, and public service.

Key Components of a Well-Written History Project

A complete History project report should contain the following sections:

1. Title Page — Project title, your name, admission number, school, and date
2. Table of Contents — List of all sections with page numbers
3. Introduction — Background to the topic, significance of the study, and research objectives
4. Literature Review — Summary of sources and existing knowledge on your topic
5. Methodology — Explain how you collected data (interviews, documents, archives, fieldwork)
6. Findings and Analysis — Present your research results with evidence
7. Conclusion — Summarize your main findings and their significance
8. Recommendations — Suggestions for further study or action
9. Bibliography — List of all sources consulted (books, journals, interviews, websites)
10. Appendices — Supporting materials such as interview transcripts, photographs, or maps

Steps to Complete Your Project

• Review your Form Five work — Check the topic you selected, preliminary research, and any data collected
• Fill gaps in research — Conduct additional interviews, visit archives, or consult new sources if needed
• Organize your findings — Arrange evidence chronologically or thematically to support your arguments
• Draft the report — Write clearly in coherent paragraphs, citing sources properly
• Proofread — Check for spelling, grammar, and factual errors
• Format correctly — Use font size 12 (Times New Roman), double spacing, and numbered pages
• Submit on time — Hand in the bound or stapled copy to your History teacher before the deadline

What Assessors Look For

Your project will be evaluated on:

• Relevance — Does the topic address a meaningful historical question?
• Research quality — Did you use credible and varied sources?
• Analysis — Do you interpret evidence and show understanding of causation, change, or continuity?
• Presentation — Is the report organized, clear, and professionally formatted?
• Originality — Does the work reflect your own effort and thinking?

Worked Example: Project Structure

Suppose your project investigates the role of railways in Tanzania's economic development during the colonial period. Your report structure would look like this:

• Introduction explains why transport history matters to understanding Tanzania's economy
• Methodology describes interviewing former railway workers and consulting the National Archives in Dar es Salaam
• Findings present evidence that the Central Railway Line facilitated agricultural market access in regions like Iringa and Tabora
• Analysis discusses how colonial infrastructure served economic extraction while also creating modern trade networks
• Conclusion summarizes that railways transformed Tanzania's internal commerce despite mixed social impacts

Submission Requirements

Ensure you submit:

• One or two typed copies of the complete report
• Any supporting appendices
• A signed declaration that the work is your own

Late submissions may receive penalties or be rejected. Contact your teacher immediately if you face challenges completing the project.

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Real-life application

The research, writing, and analytical skills you develop through completing a History project are directly applicable in Tanzanian workplaces. For example, if you later work as a community researcher for a non-governmental organization in Mwanza or Dodoma, you will need to interview local residents, consult historical records, and produce well-structured reports — exactly the skills practiced in this project. These abilities also support careers in journalism, teaching, museum curation, and local government planning where understanding historical context informs decision-making.