Documentation: Difference between revisions

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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.

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]]:
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 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.
* 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/practise/performance/etc as possible, and to pass that information on to others.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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 good basic guide to obtaining documentation can be found at:
A good basic guide to obtaining documentation can be found at:
:[http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/beginners/research.html www.reconstructinghistory.com]
:[http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/beginners/research.html www.reconstructinghistory.com]

Other guides also at:
Other guides also at:
:[http://www.aeans.org/articles/remusdocumentation.shtml www.aeans.org]
:[http://www.aeans.org/articles/remusdocumentation.shtml www.aeans.org]
:[http://www.turmstadt.de/ans_documentation.htm www.turmstadt.de]
:[http://www.turmstadt.de/ans_documentation.htm www.turmstadt.de]

A guide to using libraries for SCA research (and what the limitations of using the web for research are) is at:
A guide to using [[library|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 www.lehigh.edu/~jahb/jadwiga]
:[http://www.lehigh.edu/~jahb/jadwiga/libraries.html www.lehigh.edu/~jahb/jadwiga]


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

Revision as of 16:35, 29 August 2006

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/practise/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.

A good basic guide to obtaining documentation can be found at:

www.reconstructinghistory.com

Other guides also at:

www.aeans.org
www.turmstadt.de

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