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In the world of historical [[recreation]], it is often helpful to have '''documentation''' or printed evidence that supports any claim you are making about something. This way, if you want to prove that you are recreating something accurately, then it is best to provide documentation (proof) that such a thing was [[clothing|worn]]/used/made/made from [[wood]]/etc.
Supporting printed evidence of a claim about something.


There are three main reasons people like to document things in the [[SCA]]:
If you want to prove that you are recreating something accurately, then it is best to provide documentation (proof) that such a thing was worn/used/made/made from wood/etc.
* To enter [[Arts and Sciences]] competitions. Normally documentation is one of the categories of the competition and to provide no attempt at documentation that your item is plausibly [[period]] will result in a lower mark than other entries that make the effort. Often even documenting that some parts of the entry are [[period]], and admitting which parts you can't prove, or had to compromise upon for time, safety or cost reasons is considered a good effort, and you may even get tips from the judges on how to find info you missed, or how to get cheaper materials.
* A sense of personal satisfaction at knowing that they are wearing/using/making as close to a period item/practice/performance/etc as possible, and to pass that information on to others.
* To stick up your fingers at the snobby person who "always knows better". What better way of proving that they are wrong when they say "[[woad]] body [[paint]] isn't period", or similar, than providing proof that it is.


Other guides also at:
There are three main reasons people like to document things in the SCA:
:[http://www.aeans.org/articles/remusdocumentation.shtml www.aeans.org]
* To enter [[Arts and Sciences]] competitions. Normally documentation is one of the categories of the competition and to provide no attempt at doccumentation that your item is plausibly period will result in a lower mark than other entries that make the effort. Often even documenting that some parts of the entry are [[period]], and admitting which parts you can't prove, or had to compromise upon for time, safety or cost reasons is considered a good effort, and you may even get tips from the judges on how to find info you missed, or how to get cheaper materials.
:[http://www.turmstadt.de/ans_documentation.htm www.turmstadt.de]
* A sense of personal satisfaction at knowing that they are wearing/using/making as close to a period item/practise/performance/etc as possible, and to pass that information on to others.
:[http://moas.atlantia.sca.org/wsnlinks/index.php?action=displaycat&catid=334 Atlantian A&S Links: Research and Documentation Writing]
* To stick up your fingers at the snobby person who "always knows better". What better way of proving that they are wrong when they say "[[woad]] body paint isn't period", or similar, than providing proof that it is.


A guide to using [[library|libraries]] for SCA [[research]] (and what the limitations of using the web for research are) is at:
A good basic guide to obtaining documentation can be found at: [[http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/beginners/research.html]]
:[http://www.lehigh.edu/~jahb/jadwiga/libraries.html www.lehigh.edu/~jahb/jadwiga]
other guides also at: [[http://www.aeans.org/articles/remusdocumentation.shtml]]
[[http://www.turmstadt.de/ans_documentation.htm]]
A guide to using libraries for SCA research (and what the limitations of using the web for research are) is at: [[http://www.lehigh.edu/~jahb/jadwiga/libraries.html]]


There is also an excellent article explaining (using pictures and diagrams) the differences between primary, secondary and tertiary sources, that I highly recommend at: [[http://www.virtue.to/articles/sources.html]]
There is also an excellent article explaining (using pictures and diagrams) the differences between [[primary source|primary]], [[secondary source|secondary]] and [[tertiary source]]s at:
:[http://www.virtue.to/articles/sources.html www.virtue.to]
[[category:research]]

Latest revision as of 02:40, 9 September 2007

In the world of historical recreation, it is often helpful to have documentation or printed evidence that supports any claim you are making about something. This way, if you want to prove that you are recreating something accurately, then it is best to provide documentation (proof) that such a thing was worn/used/made/made from wood/etc.

There are three main reasons people like to document things in the SCA:

  • To enter Arts and Sciences competitions. Normally documentation is one of the categories of the competition and to provide no attempt at documentation that your item is plausibly period will result in a lower mark than other entries that make the effort. Often even documenting that some parts of the entry are period, and admitting which parts you can't prove, or had to compromise upon for time, safety or cost reasons is considered a good effort, and you may even get tips from the judges on how to find info you missed, or how to get cheaper materials.
  • A sense of personal satisfaction at knowing that they are wearing/using/making as close to a period item/practice/performance/etc as possible, and to pass that information on to others.
  • To stick up your fingers at the snobby person who "always knows better". What better way of proving that they are wrong when they say "woad body paint isn't period", or similar, than providing proof that it is.

Other guides also at:

www.aeans.org
www.turmstadt.de
Atlantian A&S Links: Research and Documentation Writing

A guide to using libraries for SCA research (and what the limitations of using the web for research are) is at:

www.lehigh.edu/~jahb/jadwiga

There is also an excellent article explaining (using pictures and diagrams) the differences between primary, secondary and tertiary sources at:

www.virtue.to