Grade 11 History Research Topic

HISTORY
GRADE 11
SBA RESEARCH 2025

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Grade 11 History Research Topic
KEY QUESTION: FOCUSES ON FACTORS AND IMPACTS OF DISPLACEMENT
AND MARGINALIZATION OF ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIANS DURING THE 19 TH
AND 20TH CENTURIES.

QUESTION 1
‘The Australians believed the Aborigines were biologically inferior and
therefore did not need to be treated as human beings.’

In the context of the above statement, investigate and explain key factors and its
impacts that contributed to the displacement and marginalization of Aboriginal
Australians during the 19th and 20th centuries. (50)

Focus of the Research task should be on the following, among others:

 What were the primary factors that contributed to the displacement and
marginalization of Aboriginal Australians.
 How did Government policies, such as forced removal, suppression of
Aboriginal cultures, affect their human rights.
 What are the ongoing impacts of historical trauma and dispossession on the
lives of Aboriginal Australians today?
 How did policy makers work to address the historical injustices faced by
Aboriginal Australians?

TEACHERS AND LEARNERS HAVE TO ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING

GUIDELINES.

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Grade 11 History Research Topic
 Identify a variety of relevant source material to help answer the key question.
 Select relevant examples from the source material from which can be used to
substantiate the line of argument.
 Organise relevant information in order to write a coherent and logical answer to
the key question.
 Write an original piece of work, using their own words.
 Correctly contextualise all sources, including illustrations and maps, which have
been included.
 Reflect upon the process of research and consider what has been learnt.
 In text-referencing is very crucial when doing research so as to avoid
plagiarism. Any material that has been used has to be acknowledged.
 Include all references (bibliography) of all the resources which have been
consulted in the course of researching and writing the assignments. No
reference should appear in the bibliography if it was not consulted during the
researching and the writing stages.

Before you submit your research project, check if you have complied with the
following requirements:
 Cover Page
o Learner details
o Research Topic
o Key Question
o Date
 Table of Contents
 Abstract
 Activity Plan / Project Plan
 Introduction
 Background
 Literature Review
 Objectives
 Methodology
 Essay Writing
 Reflections
 References
 Annexures
 Questionnaires
 Pictures with captions

EDUCATORS MUST NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

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 Grade 11 History Research Topic
1. Educators must give a clear summary of the key question to learners during
individual discussions.
2. Educators must give a clear worded task for learners. The task must include
timeframe for each stage of the assignment.
 Timeframes includes date for research planning to be completed.
 Dates for rough work to be completed.
 Dates for final products. Educators must check learners work at each
stage.
 Evidence of 1st rough work must be kept in place.

3. Learners do research in the school library, local library or on the internet, if

available, on the topic chosen, or the Educator must provide learners with the
relevant sources. Learners must select from the sources that are appropriate for
their topic.

4. Learners need to make notes during their research, and they must record
information in their own words. Educators must be particularly vigilant that
learners do not simply download and use information from the internet without
reworking it. Their assignments must include a list of references consulted.

5. The Educators must give and explain the marking guidelines or rubric to the
learners, so they know what is expected of them. Educators must use and file the
attached rubric and annexures.

GUIDELINES ON HOW TO WRITE A BIBLIOGRAPHY

Research should include the list of sources to which reference has been made in the
report. The purpose of the list is to enable the reader to consult these sources. Only
sources that have been consulted and have been referred to directly in the report
should appear on the list. These must be arranged alphabetically according to the
author’s surname.

A BOOK
o Author (last name and Initials). Year of Publication. Title of the book, Publishers and Place of
publication
Example
o Welman C et al (2005). Research Methodology, Third Edition. Oxford University Publishers : Cape
Town.
(If there is more than one author, there is no need to write ball of them but instead write the first
author and write “et al”.

INTERNET SOURCE
o Website, Title of the article, Access Date
o Example: www.sahistory.org.za.Xenophic violence in South Africa. Accessed 16 January 2019.

INTERVIEWS
o Full name (last name first). Occupation, date of interview
o Example: Mrs Mpahlwa L. ANC Veteran. 25 July 2018

TABLE SHOWING HOW TO STRUCTURE AND CARRY OUT RESEARCH

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Grade 11 History Research Topic
KEY QUESTION:
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

STRUCTURE OF A
SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO CARRY OUT
RESEARCH
RESEARCH
ASSIGNMENT

Hint 1:  Analyse the key question and make sure that

you fully understand what is being asked.
Before you start your
research  You need to take a stance or stand/ line of
argument on the research question

Cover Page ü Use the 'Cover Page for a Research

Assignment' and 'Monitoring Log'. [Annexure A
and Annexure B
ü Write the table of contents to present your
argument in a structured manner

Introduction  Explain the approach that will be taken in your

research assignment.
(Write approximately 1
paragraph)  Indicate the line of argument that will be taken
to answer the key question.

Background
 Explain the historical context of the question.
(Write approximately 1
paragraph)  Give some background information about the
question

Hint 2:  Ensure that you have a plan so that your time is

used effectively to meet deadlines.
During the research
process  Refer to the list of resources that may be
consulted.
 At all times keep the key question in mind. Keep
asking yourself whether the information you are
gathering is relevant to the question.
 Use the template to help structure your
notetaking. [Annexure D]

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 Grade 11 History Research Topic

Body of Essay  In this section, you present and substantiate your

argument.
(Write approximately 2–3
pages)  Select evidence from your readings which could be
used to substantiate your line of argument in
answering the key question.

Conclusion  In this paragraph, you should sum up the argument

that was sustained and developed in the body of your
(Write approximately 1
research assignment.
paragraph)

Reflection  In this section, you should discuss what you have

learnt from the research assignment.
(Write approximately ½ page)
 Explain what insights, skills and knowledge you have
acquired while undertaking the research.

Bibliography  List ALL the resources that you used during the
preparation of your research assignment.
 An example of how to correctly format a bibliography
is included [Annexure E].

Hint 3:  Check that you have complied with the following

requirements:
Before you submit your
research assignment 1. Front Cover
2. Introduction
3. Background
4. Body of evidence
5. Conclusion
6. Reflection
7. Bibliography
 Proofread your work thoroughly to check for
coherence, spelling and grammatical errors.

ANNEXURE A: COVER PAGE FOR A RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT:

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 Grade 11 History Research Topic

GRADE 11 RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT: HISTORY

NAME OF SCHOOL

NAME OF
LEARNER

SUBJECT

RESEARCH TOPIC

KEY QUESTION

STATEMENT OF AUTHENTICITY:
I hereby declare that ALL pieces of writing contained in this research
assignment, are my own original work and that if I made use of any source, I
have duly acknowledged it.
LEARNER’S SURNAME AND NAME: ________________________________

LEARNER’S SIGNATURE: _________________________________________

EDUCATOR’S NAME: _____________________________________________

FINAL DATE OF SUBMISSION: _________________

SCHOOL STAMP

ANNEXURE B: MONITORING LOG

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 Grade 11 History Research Topic
STRUCTURE THE RESEARCH PROJECT

Due Dates STRUCTURE OF A RESEARCH TICK

PROJECT
Due Date 1 Step1 I have developed a key question
Analyse and demonstrate (focus, context and time frame)
understanding of the key question.
Step 2 Listing identified relevant
Identify a variety of relevant source sources
materials covering different
perspectives.

Step 3 Research plan showing activities

Develop a research plan which would and due dates
include the following:
-collect a variety of sources like
books, academic articles, interviews,
diaries, letters and internet sources

Due Date 2 Step 4 Consolidation and submission of

Consolidation of findings (Write an first draft
original piece of work, using your
own words). I Have expressed information in
Correctly contextualise all sources, my own words and
including citations, illustrations and acknowledged all the sources
maps, which have been included. used in this project (avoided
plagiarism)
Due Date 3 Step 5 I have highlighted lessons learnt
 Reflections and and challenges encountered
recommendations (challenges on
the research process and
lessons learnt)

Step 6 All references have been

 Include a bibliography of all the acknowledged
resources which have been
consulted while researching and
writing the project.

Due Date 4 Step 7 Submitted the final research

 Submission of the final research project with the following:
project -cover page, table of content
and all aspects listed as steps of
the project.

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Grade 11 History Research Topic

MARKING GUIDELINE

 People from Britain and Ireland as well as those from northern Europe were
encouraged to migrate during the 1920s.
 Aboriginal population was estimated to be at its lowest at 60,000 – 70,000.
Most Australians have no contact with Aboriginal people due to segregation
and social conventions.
 1922 Empire Land Settlement scheme begins under which British
Government assists immigrants to come to Australia, particularly to go onto
the land.
 1925 Immigration Act is amended to allow government to exclude or restrict
non-British immigrants for economic, industrial or racial reasons.
Big Brother movement is launched to assist British adolescents to come to
Australia as farm workers.
Australian Aborigines’ Progressive Association is formed to oppose New
South Wales Aborigines Protection Board.
 Aboriginal people killed following the killing of a European in Dala, Western
Australia, 11 Aboriginal people are murdered in police custody; no
prosecutions follow in 1926.
 Discrimination against Aboriginal people
 Federal law for family endowment excludes Aboriginal people and instead
payments go to Aborigines Protection Board in 1927. Aboriginal people are
denied maternity allowance and old age pension.
 1928 Coniston massacre, Northern Territory. Settlers and police admit to
shooting over 30 Aboriginal people after a white dingo trapper is killed.
Following the massacre, an inquiry is held into the conditions of Aboriginal
people in the Northern Territory.
Commonwealth Government introduces a quota system for the number of
immigrants from southern and eastern Europe.
 Due to the 1929 Great Depression, assisted migration scheme is terminated
by Commonwealth government, leading to a sharp decline in immigration.
First Russian Orthodox Church is built in Brisbane.
 During the Depression, there is increased hostility towards southern European
workers. Some Queensland unions succeed in restricting employment for
non-British workers in cane fields.
Entry of non-British Europeans is banned unless they are wealthy or have
relatives living in Australia.
 Under the 1934 Aborigines Act, Aboriginal people can apply to ‘cease being
Aboriginal’ and have access to the same rights as ‘whites’.
‘Battle of Dingbat Flat’ – Italians, Greeks and other non-British immigrants are
attacked over increasing numbers of southern Europeans moving into
Western Australia.
Dictation Test is used to prevent Czech-Jewish writer Egon Kisch from
landing in Australia.
In the gold-mining city of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, an incident in a hotel
sparks resentment against Italians living in Kalgoorlie. Anti-Italian sentiment

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Grade 11 History Research Topic
culminates in a two day riot in which migrants homes and shops are burnt.
Hundreds of Italian migrants are forced to shelter in the surrounding
countryside.
 Commonwealth Government agrees to permit entry to Jewish refugees who
are guaranteed by relatives or friends not to cost the state.
Western Australia 1936 Aborigines Act is amended to permit Aboriginal
people to be taken into custody without trial or appeal and to prevent them
from entering prescribed towns without a permission.
 Aborigines’ Progressive Association holds Australian Aborigines Conference
in Sydney, on January 26, 1938, the 150th anniversary of European
occupation. Aboriginal people mark this date as ‘Day of Mourning and
Protest’.
Monthly newspaper, Australian Abo Call is published in Sydney, advocating
equality of treatment and opportunity for Aboriginal people. After the Evian
Conference, Commonwealth Government decides to accept 15,000 Jewish
refugees over 3 years; only 7,500 arrive before war breaks out. Australian
Jewish Welfare Society is established to assist immigrants.
 World War 2 begins. Although Aboriginal people are not recognised as
citizens, two Aboriginal military units are established, and some Aboriginal
people serve in other sections of armed forces. Aboriginal people serve in
Europe, the Middle East, the Pacific and New Guinea.
Social policy legislation to support families during war years applies to
Aboriginal people who can meet strict eligibility criteria. As a result, many
Aboriginal people leave reserves to seek employment and improved living
conditions.
Thousands of nationals of enemy countries, particularly Italians, are interned
across the country as ‘enemy aliens’ during the war.

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