Research
When doing research remember that all sources fall into one of three categories, primary, secondary, or tertiary. Primary sources are you the researcher looking at and photographing a period item or reading from a period manuscript of the item. Secondary sources are when someone else looked at the actual item and photographed it or wrote about it. Tertiary sources are a third person writing about the research others have done. Ultimately, you should try to find sources that are as close to primary as you possibly can. If you can�t find primary sources, use secondary, but don�t go any lower than that if you can help it.
Not all sources are going to fit easily, cut and dried, into a category. If you�re uncertain which category a source is, ask a Laurel from that field what they think of the source.
When it comes right down to it, never accept tertiary sources as the �written in stone� truth about periodness. However good their research is, they may have read a source different than you will, or they may not have gotten their paws on a book that you did. Also, when someone gives you their bibliography, read the books yourself. They may have missed something or had a different interest than you.
If you�re not certain where to start for sources on a subject, a good place to look is research other SCAdians have done. At best these sources will be secondary, but mostly tertiary. However, most SCAdians will have a bibliography or sources cited in back of their research that you could copy books from to look up yourself.
The Internet is a decent place to look for information, but be warned. Anyone can put anything on the net so count any net info as tertiary at best. You may not be able to tell if the person really knows what they�re talking about or not. Also remember to get the web address for the pages you used and any captions to pictures you copied. Consider web pages as a starting point with the anticipation of better sources replacing them later.
All together now...
I strongly suggest typing or word processing your �written� documentation. Not everyone can read everyone else�s handwriting. Also, slopply written documentation just looks bad. I also strongly recommend having your documentation in a ring binder with page protectors. There are no set rules for maximum number of pages in your written documentation. Just remember the longer your documentation, the more likely the people you want to impress the most won�t read it all. It�s usually best to have your written documentation divided into sections.
Section 1: This is the part where you explain the periodness of the item. You need to answer the following questions, not necessarily in this order.

1. Who: used the item, made the item.
2. What: was it made from, used as.
3. Where: country used in, country material came from.
4. When: year item made/used.
5. How: technique used to make item.
6. Why: catchall to explain anything not previously covered.

Non-written documentation Include any graphs or conception drawings you used to make the item. Also include pictures of the item as it was being made if you have any. Then put the pages you copied from the books in your folder. If you have pictures of period items that are similar to your item, but not exactly the same, make certain you label the picture on how it's different so the judges can understand. If it�s too confusing, just leave the picture out and try and find a better one.

DOCUMENTATION DOs:

• Buy a book on writing styles, choose a style, and stick with it.
• There are several books available such as MLA, Chicago, or Turabian. They're all equally good.
• Make certain it includes sections on electronic sources such as the Internet and CDs.
• Chicago does tend to be cost prohibitive and Turabian isn�t always the easiest to understand. MLA does include information on how to do research and take notes too.
• Always write a thorough explanation of how you made your entry.
• Even if the contest says "No documentation necessary" you should include this part.
• Explaining how you made your entry is the only way you can tell your readers how easy or difficult it was to make.
• This is also the only way to explain how "hand made" your entry is. If you don�t explain that you made a part of your entry it will probably be assumed you didn�t.
• Present the information in a direct manner.
• Someone reading your documentation shouldn't have to search for the answer to a question.
• If you don't come straight out and say something, there will be people who will always guess wrong.
• The more your documentation is geared toward presenting every thing the reader needs right up front; the more likely they are to notice it.
• The unfortunate truth is the more your reader has to flip back and forth to read your documentation, the less likely they are to thoroughly read your documentation.
• Make certain your documentation is current for your entry.
• Often parts of your documentation can be used for other entries. This is not a bad idea. However, the other parts need to be specific for that entry. If you do clip and paste parts of your old documentation for new documentation, make certain you don't take the rest.
• Compare your entry to the historical inspiration.
• This will include a lot of, �In period, Y would have been used for this technique. I used X instead of Y because��
• It's ok if your inspiration was a painting, sometimes that's all that's left.
• Include new research as you find it.
• There will be people who remember your last set of documentation and whither this set is different. If your documentation is the same as last time then you're not showing advancement in your research.
• Word-process your documentation.
• Word processing allows you to cut and paste both text and pictures when needed.
• It also has spelling and grammar checkers that will catch a lot of mistakes.
• It also makes your documentation much easier to read because let�s face it, some hand writing just can�t be read.
• Word procession programs have preset formats for things like inserting pictures or footnotes so you don�t have to format it.
• Arrange your documentation in page protectors and a binder.
• This will keep your documentation all together, clean, and neat.
• If your documentation looks neat and clean then you give the impression that you care about your entry and you have a higher sense of accomplishment about your entry and the documentation.
• Include "lessons learned, things I'll do different, interesting anecdote, etc." in an appendix.
• Sometimes people do want to read information like this, but don't include it in the main part of your documentation where someone needs to read through it.
• Get someone to proofread your documentation.
• Spell checkers don't catch all mistakes.
• You also need someone to check if the order of your documentation makes sense. What seems to be a logical flow of ideas to you may be completely alien to someone else.
• Include figures in your documentation.
• Figures, whither they're drawings you made, period pictures, or technical graphs help your reader visualize the idea you're trying to express.
• This is another way to show off the research you�ve done, buy including pictures from period sources included in the body of your research.
• This also makes your documentation more straightforward. If the picture you reference is in the body right next to the reference then the reader doesn�t have to hunt it down.
• Figures must always be labeled with the figure number (or letter) and a caption of what the figure is and what source the figure came from.
• ALWAYS note your sources.
• Whenever you gather a piece of information from a source other than yourself, you must give credit to that source.
• It doesn�t matter if the source is a book, magazine article, TV show, or a conversation you had with someone else.
• You give credit to your source by noting the information right after you use it.
• There is a word for when you don�t credit a source, it�s called�PLAGERISM
• Two ways you can note a source are parenthetical and numerical.
• In parenthetical notation you put the name of your source and the page number if appropriate in parenthesis at the end of the sentence that uses the information gathered from that source.
• Example: The English were the first to make widgets (Smith, 99).
• Parenthetical notation must include a �Sources Cited�.
• In numerical notation you put a superscript number at the end of the sentence that uses the information gathered from that source.
• Example: The English were the first to make widgets¹.
• Numerical notation uses either footnotes or endnotes. Footnotes have a higher chance of being read.
• Use parenthetical or numerical notation, not both. Either way, they both have to have a Bibliography.
• Always check in your writing book about how to note different sources, write a proper Sources Cited, footnote or endnote, and Bibliography.

• "Vomit" information to the reader.
  • Documentation is not about spewing tons of technical information on your reader; it's also about explaining the information.
• Assume the reader has the same education level or interests.
  • While you may be a physicist, your reader probably won't be. Write as if you were writing to a high school graduate.
• Assume the reader can read anything besides English.
  • If you need to use any word that's in another language or is part of the technical lingo for that skill, put it in a glossary.
• Include extraneous information.
  • While it may seem really interesting that you discovered English widget manufacturers used the same tools as Norwegian underwater basket weavers, it�s not pertinent to your entry.
  • If you feel you really, really, really want to include that piece of information then put it in an appendix under Lessons Learned.
• Lump documentation for different items in an entry together.
  • This is part of keeping your documentation as straightforward as possible. Your reader shouldn�t have to guess at what documentation goes to which item.
• Do not include pictures of past projects in with this documentation.

• Include documentation even if it�s for display only.
• Include a notebook with a pen for people to write commentary on. Neatly written notes on the inside cover asking for commentary should make the purpose of the book clear.
• Always copy the page from books or other sources you use. Don�t just leave the book there even if you do mark the page you used. It�s inconsiderate of other entries, and time consuming for people to have to sort through. You will also want to label each copy listing what source it came from.
• Use boxes and easels to create layers in a display. The item itself should be on the upper most layers.
• Put your documentation into a binder with page protectors. It keeps it from blowing around and protects from �oops�.
• If not included in your documentation, make a photo album of your item as it was being made.
• The only glitz or glitter should be the item itself.
• Include a photo album of past projects. If the contest isn't an anonymous contest then include a picture on the front of the album of yourself. This will allow people to connect a face to a name. Make certain the album is not physically attached to the written documentation. People should have the option to look through your pictures.
• Include a show card or title page. This needs to have on it: who you are (one line), where you're from (one line), what year and country/region your item is from (one line), and what is your item (one line).
• Look at magazines on fancy table settings for ideas on setting up a display.

• A finished item usually looks better than one in progress.
• Clothing items usually look better if placed on a holder in the shape of the body part it goes on.
• Don�t just lie something flat on the table especially scrolls, it makes it easier for people to look at them if they�re at an angle to the table.
• Cover up or don�t use non-period stands or holders.
• Draped fabric is always good.
• People touch, especially small ones. If the item is delicate put it in a glass case. Scrolls can go in plain wood and glass picture frames.
• Remember your heraldry rules. If your item is a color, display it on a metal colored background. Likewise if your item is a metal color, display it on a color background.