As part of the third installment of our ‘Author in Focus’ blog, Kathy discusses the inspiration behind her article.
How did you come to the topic for your History in the Making article?
As someone who is not Australian, I had never heard of the Cronulla riots until I studied in Sydney in 2019. As I researched the riots, I was shocked by the images and videos of unrestrained violence, captured a mere decade and a half ago. Perhaps naively, I couldn’t believe something like the Cronulla riots could happen with such sharp proximity, in both time and distance, to my present as a student at Usyd. This paper is my way of making sense of the heavy constellation of historical themes represented by Cronulla—the thorny and oft-violent spacial politics of the beach, local articulations of anti-Muslim and anti-Arab sentiments circulating within and beyond Australia, intersections of whiteness, masculinity, and xenophobia—in conjunction with the visceral nature of Cronulla’s imagery.
What’s your writing process?
My writing process is very much a work in progress! For now, my process consists of filling in a large document with research notes; attempting to distill my notes into a coherent, structured argument; spending far too much time fixating on how to phrase particular sentences and words; and finally, reading, re-reading, and re-reading. Some other tactics I use include changing up the font and reading out loud as I proofread, as well as finding different work spaces to write in (something that was much easier pre-COVID!).
Biography
Kathy Mae Min recently graduated from Yale University, where she majored in history with an emphasis in empires and colonialism. In 2019, she studied abroad at the University of Sydney, where she focused her coursework on Asian Australian history, Indigenous Studies, and migration to Australia. Kathy is passionate about the study of history as means of informing activism and social justice movements. In her free time, she enjoys trying new recipes, singing, and watching copious amounts of Netflix.
As part of the second instalment of our ‘author in focus’ blog series for 2021, Beans provides some great advice about how to construct an argument.
How did you come to the topic for your History in the Making article?
This was originally one of the essay topics in the Master of History by coursework that I completed through the University of New England. It’s gone through considerable refining and restructuring since then, but certainly still strongly resembles that original piece of work.
What’s your writing process?
It’s become a very structured recipe over the last few years of Master’s study. I start with reading and notetaking, until I can identify some key themes – which then become the basis of my work. I re-read and take further notes with particular focus on these themes. By this time, I have a reasonably clear idea of what my argument is going to be. I use a pretty detailed, colour-coded scaffolding, and copy and paste relevant sections from articles into relevant sections in my work, often adding my own rough notes and ideas. Then I work on drafting each section. I always have too much material, and I save the cut sections in another file in case I need them in future.
At this stage, I’m ready to refine my argument, and make sure it is plotted visibly through the research at strategic points. I also like to add signposts for the reader! Next comes my introduction, and finally my conclusion. I use a scaffolding for both of these as well, and if I’ve done the previous job well, they are pretty straight-forward tasks.
What advice would you give to someone considering submitting an article to History in the Making?
Getting published is all a part of the path to becoming an academic. A student journal like HITM is potentially a much less daunting way to begin this journey. Having said that, be ready for some constructive criticism, check your ego at the door, and get the job done. It will only make the next time easier. BTW – in real life, when asked for advice, I love to quote Roxie Hart (from Kander & Ebb’s Chicago): “Look, I don’t give no advice and I don’t take no advice. You’re a perfect stranger to me and let’s keep it that way.”
Do you have any advice for history students trying to study and conduct research during 2021?
If you don’t already have it, moving forward, work on your ability to self-direct and self-motivate. The infrastructure of our universities is changing quickly. We need to be able to adapt, roll with the punches, and drive our own work. Failing that, see my previous note from Roxie Hart….
Where would you like to take your research next?
I have secured scholarship funding to commence my PhD in July 2021. I haven’t quite settled on which institution that will be at, but my subject area is around ideas of gay and queer men’s identities, and how we were represented on Australian television in the later part of the twentieth century.
As part of our first instalment of our ‘author in focus’ blog series for 2021, Zoe discusses the ins and outs of writing history in 2021 and offers some great advice for future historians.
How did you come to the topic for your History in the Making article?
My History in the Making article actually started as a short essay for a capstone history course here at ANU called ‘Approaches to History’ which focuses on historiographical practise and developments, and was convened by Dr Alexander Cook, when I took it last year. We had a lot of flexibility for both the essays in the course, meaning we could essentially write about any text or theory that we’d covered. Since utilising them in literature back in high school, the intersection between Marxist theory and feminist/gender theory has always interested me, and when we read The Communist Manifesto, Marx’s criticism of ‘patriarchal relations’ jumped out. Thus, the idea of researching the intersection between Marxist history and gender history became my focus, and when further research into the secondary literature established that the majority of the discussion of the intersection between class and gender in the context of Marxist theory focused on femininity, a focus on conceptions of proletarian masculinity was something Alex and I agreed would be a great topic. I’ve also always enjoyed working with theories of masculinities, so utilising hegemonic masculinity as a conceptual framework was something I was really keen to do, and thus the topic developed from there! All of Marx’s writings were also easily accessible online, which was a necessity considering how the majority of last year was spent at home!
What’s your writing process?
I think after four years of university I’ve finally perfected my writing process, but it certainly took a while! My approach has always been to do all my research first, and organise my research into sections, and then write when I’ve got everything available to me whilst constantly referring back to the primary text/sources. Then I just sit down and write, section by section, from start to finish.
Anyone who knows me will know that this first draft is always over the word limit – I always tend to be too ambitious in how much I want to talk about and how much detail I can go into – so the next step in the process is then going through the draft with a fine-tooth comb and a harsh critical eye to cut, consolidate and refine. I also always get at least one other person to look over the draft to help me cut and refine – I find having a fresh set of eyes helps pick out things that I might miss or feel too sentimental to get rid of! From there, it’s then printing out and going over the final draft with a red pen to catch any last errors or bits to rework, and then about seven final read throughs before finally submitting.
I’ve learnt along the way to reference in chunks as you go – leaving 80+ footnotes to do in one segment at the end is an event you quickly learn to not repeat!
What advice would you give to someone considering submitting an article to History in the Making?
Just do it! If you, or your tutor, or your mentor, thinks that it’s a strong article and it’s something you’re proud of, you have absolutely nothing to lose by submitting it. However, I’d make sure to be prepared for peer review if you get to that process – particularly if you struggle with criticism or haven’t gone through that process before. It’s not something to be scared of, but it can knock you back a bit if you’re not used to having a lot of criticism around your work, and it’s completely understandable if it is something you struggle with, I know I found it hard the first time I went through the peer review process with another journal! My advice in that regard is try and not take the critiques to heart too much – not everyone is going to agree with what you write, or your approach, and that’s nothing against you as a person. At the end of the day, the process, whilst challenging, is part of making your article better, and making you a better researcher, writer and historian, with the outcome being publication, which is such an honour because it tells you people are interested in your original ideas and perspectives!
Do you have any advice for history students trying to study and conduct research during 2021?
Be flexible, in both your research ideas, and your actual plans, and take advantage of what’s available to you, both locally and nationally. Flexibility is generally a key piece of advice regardless if there’s a global pandemic or not, and if there’s one thing I’ve learnt over the last two years is to be prepared for things to change. If you were planning to research the lives of nuns in France in the seventeenth century, you’ll have to think if that’s still an achievable research topic without the ability to go over to France to look at the physical sources. This isn’t to say that you solely should focus on Australian history whilst international travel isn’t available, but you do need to mindful of how much you can fruitfully research an international topic entirely online and whilst on a different continent, and so you may need to shift your topic/approach slightly.
This leads into my second piece of advice – take advantage of what’s available to you locally and nationally. Your local state archives might have a special collection on something you’ve never even considered looking at before, or some valuable sources just ripe for mining. Additionally, in my experience, most local historical societies and state archives here in Australia are very willing to help out in providing copies of sources, or information, to those interested but interstate. You may have to pay a small fee for microfilm copies or copies of physical sources, but when travel is not necessarily a guaranteed option, it’s a small price to pay. And depending on how things are at times, interstate travel to other archives/libraries/repositories is a lot more likely and possible than overseas – although you do need to be prepared for a last-minute cancellation/rescheduling if things change last minute (as they are prone to at the moment!).
We’re also lucky to have some amazing online databases at our fingertips, making research from home still very achievable. Trove, a collaboration with the NLA, is a personal favourite of mine and has been invaluable for my honours research, it’s a free database with digitised newspapers, maps, Government gazettes, as well as books, interviews, music, diaries and letters. It’s definitely something to take advantage of, and also means that you may stumble across different types of sources you might not have even considered using before!
Where would you like to take your research next?
Well, I’m actually writing the answer to this question whilst on a plane coming back from Brisbane where I’ve spent five days deep in their Heritage Collections and archives! The trip (generously funded by the ANU School of History) was primarily to acquire manuscript material for my honours thesis, which is utilising the 1857 Hornet Bank massacre as a case study for investigating gendered attitudes to interracial rape on the Queensland frontier, however, some of the material I discovered up there I’d love to come back and dive into further. I’m intending to commence a PhD next year, using the writings of white female colonial writers such as Barbara Baynton, Louisa Lawson and Rosa Campbell-Praed (whose manuscripts I mined extensively whilst in Queensland) to investigate cultural understandings of intimate violence in the Australian eastern colonies in the mid-late nineteenth century. So, I certainly hope to continue my research in gender history, and combine my love of literature with my current interests in intimate and sexual violence, as well as understandings of masculinity and femininity, in the mid-late nineteenth century.
Biography
Zoe Smith is currently an honours student at the Australian National University, finalising a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) with a double major in History and English. Her research interests include social conceptions of gender throughout British and Australian history – particularly in the nineteenth century, and in the context of the Australian frontier, and utilising gender and feminist theoretical lenses to interrogate both Australian and British literature. She has previously been published discussing sexual violence and colonial anxieties in Australian literature in the ANU Undergraduate Research Journal in March 2020, and on the University of Sheffield History Matters blog in February 2020. Her honours thesis is focusing on interracial rape on the Queensland frontier in the nineteenth century and its gendered implications, and she intends to do a PhD also in Australian gender history.
We are excited to announce that the latest volume of History in the Making has now been published! This process has been difficult, but incredibly rewarding and we are excited to share the product of this hard work with you. We would like to extend our thanks to the authors of these articles, for sharing their fantastic work with us, and to our peer-reviewers and editors for their care and diligence in developing this issue.
This issue of History in the Making is a celebration of history in all its forms, and a pertinent reminder of all the important historical work happening in Australia’s Universities. Despite – or perhaps in spite – of the pandemic, and the continued antipathy towards social sciences and humanities among certain sections of society, Australian history undergraduates have continued to produce excellence. This issue showcases an exciting slice of that excellence.
It has been brought to our attention that there has been an issue with our email address. While this is getting fixed we request that all submissions and queries be directed to contact.historyinthemaking@gmail.com.
Please note: if you have submitted an article for our latest call for papers we may have not received it. We encourage you to resubmit using our temporary email.
Thank you for your patience while we sort out this issue.
Have you written a great essay and want to get it published?
Do you want to gain experience of the peer review process?
History in the Making is a student-run journal that aims to showcase the best historical research being undertaken by history students across Australia. Students at all levels can get involved in this project by submitting their work or volunteering to review and edit articles.
The journal is open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students currently enrolled at an Australian University. We are currently inviting all students to submit articles for publication. These can be on any topic in the wide gambit of historical study.
If you would like to be considered for the next edition, please submit your article, a short biography, and a 200 word abstract to contact@historyitm.org by Friday 15th August 2020.
To find out more, please join us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/historyitm) or email us at contact@historyitm.org.
As part of our fourth instalment of our ‘author in focus’ blog series for 2020, Matthew discusses his research and writing practices and has some excellent advice for other history students interested in submitting their writing for peer review.
How did you come to the topic for your History in the Making article?
I originally began my project as an assignment for a 3rd year history course at the University of Sydney, also called ‘History in the Making’. We were given a large degree of creative control as to the scope of the essay, the only requirement being that it must focus on a primary source. During the first half of the course, we spent time discussing cultural histories, and some particular historians with very engaging writing styles; Robert Darnton, Natalie Zemon-Davis, Clifford Geertz. I have always had an interest in human rights and international law in history, and a project like this allowed me to write from the perspective of an individual caught in an uncertain time for the enforcement of human rights. My goal was to right something as thought-provoking as Darnton’s The Great Cat Massacre. While I don’t think my piece is nearly as impressive, writing about a man who had his rights violated by a human rights organisation seemed as compelling to me as 18th century Parisians massacring cats!
What’s your writing process?
Personally, I like to begin writing almost straight away. One of my biggest problems when I first began studying history was perfectionism – pouring hours into every sentence so to ensure my first draft was ‘perfect’. Now, I like to read and write at the same time. During my research process, if I find an interesting idea I could incorporate, I try to write four or five sentences of an argument, rather than dot points. I then arrange all of these short paragraphs into a structure, creating a road map for my essay. This process also helps inform the overall argument. It is very difficult to come up with a highly nuanced thesis without having written anything first, nor is it likely to remain the same throughout the writing process. You should always be prepared for the scope of the argument to shift, and reading widely will only get you so far. My advice: write as much as you can, and certainly more than you need. It will certainly reflect in not only how concise your arguments end up, but how expansive your ideas appear in short spaces.
What did you learn from the peer review process?
Do not be surprised if a reviewer does not see your argument the same way as you do. This does not necessarily mean you need to make every change that is suggested; it is important that your writing maintains a strong sense of authorial integrity. However, be honest and open with yourself when reading and considering critique. Weigh up the positives and negatives of changes – will they fundamentally reshape my arguments, do they synchronise well with my writing style? Personally, I did not need to make many major fixes, but it was suggested in some paragraphs I change my argument emphasis. It is important to keep in mind that the peer review process exists to make your essay better. But never blindly make changes because someone has told you too – consider them carefully and apply any critique to the extent you believe it to be appropriate.
What advice would you give to someone considering submitting an article to History in the Making?
Submit! You have nothing to lose from trying and everything to gain if your article is accepted. Publication, in my mind, is the highest honour a writer can receive because it tells you that there are interested readers who really enjoy your work. The whole point of original research is to show the world something fresh, expressing a viewpoint on a particular topic that no one has before. Do not be afraid to tell the world – the worst that can happen is that someone disagrees, debate ensues, and everyone comes out the other side having learnt a little more. From my perspective, that is the joy of learning summarised as concisely as possible!
Do you have any advice for history students trying to study and conduct research during the COVID19 pandemic?
Learn how to use digital databases such as interactive museums and libraries, and if you have access, text and data mining tools. Nothing excites a historian more than being able to access original documents that are virtually priceless and centuries old. However, as all types of sources are becoming increasingly and exclusively digitised, it is important, particularly if you are a modern historian, to familiarise yourself with online research skills. It will save you time and travel in the future, and may open new avenues of thought not attainable via conventional research methods.
Where would you like to take your research next?
I am still deciding whether to begin Honours in History next year or move on to the next stage of my law degree. My interests in human rights history and international law mean I have some flexibility in this regard, however the focus would be markedly different depending which route I decide to follow. Nevertheless, I still, and always will, love writing. That will never change, and I hope to continue to write and publish articles for many years to come.
Alvine Mulligan is the author of Martin Sharp, Heritage Activist, recently published in Volume 7, Number 1 of History in the Making.
As part of our third instalment of our ‘author in focus’ blog series for 2020, Alvine discusses her research processes and practices and has some excellent advice for history students who are trying to conduct research during the Covid-19 pandemic!
How did you come to the topic for your History in the Making article?
The topic for my HiTM article came out of having to generate a project idea for one of my undergraduate units at the University of New England, ‘Researching and Applying History’. My very sage lecturer suggested that I take inspiration from the immediate world around me. The inspiration was a poster outside my office -a Martin Sharp poster for a Tiny Tim concert. It’s a long story, but in the early 2000’s Martin generously donated a signed poster to my son’s special needs school, and he also sent one home for me. Since Sharp’s death in 2013 his body of creative works have been celebrated alongside his faith and never-ending support of the Luna Park ghost train fire victims. I wanted to look at Sharp’s relationship with Luna Park in a new light – I wanted to see if I could define his work at Luna Park not just as a mere quirky obsession, or as a piece of commissioned work, but as a true and successful form of advocacy for an important popular culture site in Sydney.
What’s your writing process?
Bringing together your research into a cohesive and engaging piece of writing is the fulfilling, andsometimes difficult (for me), part of studying history. I work best when making plans before writing – although the plans always get revised and reworked as the research and writing progresses! I tend to document my research vigorously through short annotations onthe value of how eachsource can be used to support my thesis. When I was an undergraduate, I always completed the research before writing, but as I progress through honours, I am quickly learning that ‘writing as you go’ is probably a more effective process. I have a set time and place for writing each day – I throw on the headphones (Mozart’s Requiem is high on rotation), try to let go of my perfectionism and produce some form of writing each day.
What did you learn from the peer review process?
The peer review process was not as daunting as it seemed. Each reviewer gave valid and directional remarks on how I could improve my paper to ensure it reached the publishable standards of the journal. The process was a rewarding learning experience which improved my writing and academic skills.
What advice would you give to someone considering submitting an article to History in the Making?
Sharing your research and writing is what history is all about so if you’ve written a great piece of original historical research – go for it!There are threeimportant tips that I can give to potential HiTM authors.Firstly, edit your research paper into an articlethat meetsthe journal guidelines. Secondly, transform your paper from a great university essay into an outstanding journal article. And lastly for your own sanity, view peer review feedback as invaluable advice – not negative criticism. Once my article had been reviewed, the HiTM editorial team were extremely supportive and encouraging – which, considering our new life during Covid, shows the exceptional dedication the team have in creating a space for history students to share their work.
Do you have any advice for history students trying to study and conduct research during the COVID19 pandemic?
I am currently mid-way through Honours part-time at the University of New England. Admittedly I have found transitioning to researching and writing in the Covid-epoch difficult. I am fortunate that a large proportion of my primary sources have been digitised, however that small amount sitting in the archives may have to wait for another project. Maintaining communication with both my supervisor and university community have been invaluable support mechanisms. These, together with setting achievable daily writing goals are keeping me on the path to getting that thesis written!
Where would you like to take your research next?
This year I will be completing my honours. My researchcontinues to focus on how we value our shared spaces – but I’m taking it back to the late-nineteenth century and exploring the experiences and responses of Sydneysiders who spent leisuretime in the parks and bush land of the city’s southern fringes.
As part of our ‘author in focus’ blog series for 2020, Liz reflects on her research and writing practices and has lots of helpful advice for other history students interested in participating in the peer-review process.
How did you come to the topic for your History in the Making article?
My article was originally written as part of an Honours history seminar on war and trauma at the University of Sydney in 2019. The parameters for the essay were broad but I decided to focus on World War I history, as that was also my area of study for my thesis. I wanted an approach different to that of my thesis, however, which focused on Australian soldiers and the environments of the First World War. Studying British civilian women in the war was certainly a refreshing difference!
As a long-time lover of literature, approaching the history from that angle was also an exciting new method of analysis that I thoroughly enjoyed. Historical research is never a hardship, but the novels I had to read to write this article were a nice change from the academic texts I’m used to.
What’s your writing process?
I like to finish as much research as I can before diving into the writing as it gives me a much more solid footing when it’s time to construct my argument. I usually map out my main ideas and paragraphs in handwritten dot points first, then write the essay from start to finish on my laptop. The introduction I begin with isn’t usually the one I end with, but I prefer having something there in the beginning than nothing at all.
After the first draft has been written, I print the essay to annotate it by hand and read it to myself aloud – the best ways I have found to pick up continuity errors or odd turns of phrase. I then make my edits on my laptop, sometimes just rewriting out entire paragraphs until I’m happy with them and have read them aloud so many times I could recite them off by heart! I usually try to find at least one other pair of eyes to look over the finished product to pick up anything I might have missed – I find it’s best to use someone with very little experience in your field of research, as they are able to make sure the argument is as clear as possible.
I also tend to fully reference my footnotes throughout the drafting process, as I have learned from past (painful) experience that going back to tidy everything up at the end can take a lot longer when you can’t remember which source your reference comes from!
What did you learn from the peer review process?
It’s a cliché, but be prepared to kill your darlings. Not everything you write will agree with everyone who reads it, and it’s important to realise that nothing is immune from the firm hand of the editor. The peer review process exists for a reason! And my essay, as I’m sure is true of all essays submitted to this issue, is the better for it.
What advice would you give to someone considering submitting an article to History in the Making?
Don’t be afraid to submit! You’ll lose nothing from the experience and will probably gain quite a bit. Be proud of what you’ve written but be prepared to make some changes if your article is accepted. Don’t take the critiques too much to heart – the peer review process is there to help you, not to harm.
Do you have any advice for history students trying to study and conduct research during the COVID19 pandemic?
Try to accept that some things – access to archives, meetings with supervisors – will be completely out of your control for the time being. Do the best that you can with the resources you can access but remember that this is an extraordinary event and you can’t be expected to not be impacted by it. Don’t be too harsh on yourself if you don’t accomplish as much as you would have liked on any given day – these times are stressful and unpredictable, and taking care of yourself if the most important thing. And enjoy your study and research as much as you can! History is a vibrant, exciting discipline, especially now.
Where would you like to take your research next?
Though I finished my Bachelor of Arts (Honours) last year I have not ruled out a possible PhD in the future! In the meantime, I write blog articles for the Royal Australian Historical Society and have been applying for jobs in the public history sector. I would love to explore yet another aspect of WWI history – or any kind of history! – in any manner I can.
To kick-off the beginning of our 2020 ‘author in focus’ series, Mark reflects on his research, his creative processes, his experiences of the peer review process and provides some timely advice for history students conducting research during the COVID19 pandemic.
How did you come to the topic for your History in the Making article?
Ever since primary school I have been interested in Australian colonial history influenced by a trip to Old Sydney Town and after watching Against The Wind. I was aware of the 1804 Castle Hill rebellion but did not understand the full magnitude of the event until further reading revealed that this was the first example of an organised armed rebellion in the colony; the first example of martial law being instigated and many other firsts. What surprised me was the lack of commemoration of such a monumental event in Australian culture.
I have always been drawn to the subaltern view of history, the “history from below” view, and sought to explain the silence linked with this event. It was my wife that mentioned the Irish folk tradition of memory in song which resulted in me diving down the rabbit hole of silences in folk tradition – thanks Kate.
What’s your writing process?
Structure is extremely important with a clear indication of submission dates. I utilise a whiteboard as a visual aid to keep me on track with the fundamental question I am attempting to answer. Research is critical and it is important to leave myself sufficient time to find and read all necessary sources. I only commence a rough structure after reading all available source material before I commence writing. Once I start writing I force myself to write every night (I was working full-time during my postgraduate studies so discipline was essential).
What did you learn from the peer review process?
It is always an apprehensive feeling opening your work to potential criticism by academics rather than simply submitting a paper for grading but it was an interesting experience to receive the feedback from others that did not know you or your work prior to the review process. Fresh eyes can surely only be a positive process as the researcher is sometimes too close to the work they have completed. The peer review feedback was supportive of my overall thesis and it was encouraging to receive some fantastic guidance to improve the quality of my paper. I wish I had this level of feedback before submitting this paper for grading.
What advice would you give to someone considering submitting an article to History in the Making?
As a budding historian you need to be passionate about your work. History is about challenging the established views in order to expand our thinking and this best way to open your work up to academia is to seek publication of your paper. Do not take any peer review comments personally and treat the process as a means of professional development on your course to becoming an historian in your chosen field. The team at HITM have been great throughout the process so overall it has been an enjoyable experience.
Do you have any advice for history students trying to study and conduct research during the COVID-19 pandemic?
I graduated from my Master of History in June 2019 prior to the madness that is COVID-19 but I studied via the University of New England as an external student. As such, my mode of study was predominantly online. The online mode of study required discipline and the ability to prioritise with often conflicting assessment dates. My research did require a few days at the Mitchell Library, Sydney enjoying delving into primary sources. This would be difficult in the present circumstances but thankfully the majority of libraries have now digitised a large portion of their primary source material making it possible to conduct your research online. I think resilience and persistence are the key to conducting research at the moment.
Where would you like to take your research next?
I have been asked this question a lot since I have graduated. My goal when I enrolled in my Master’s was to write a research paper that added to the historiography of Australian colonial studies and to have that research paper published. After working full-time and taking 3.5 years to complete my award it’s time for a well-deserved break before I determine whether there is a PhD in me. I think my wife would kill me as it is her turn to study next.
Image supplied by Matthew Kelleher 
HISTORY IN THE MAKING 