yr13_ia_2007_durrant_a

= = =Plan of the Investigation (100-150 Words)=

This investigation focuses upon the alleged Vietnamese attack upon American destroyers on the 4th of August 1964, and the response to these attacks by the American Government. This investigation aims to determine whether the Gulf of Tonkin incident was the true impetus pushing America to war in Vietnam, or whether it was used as a pretext for a war that was driven by different influences. To establish to what extent the Gulf of Tonkin incident was influential in causing the Vietnam War[|[1]] a variety of sources have been used, including the Pentagon Papers, and an extract from  book, [**?**]. The events of the Gulf of Tonkin incident need to be established [i**n section B - ie the narrative**], and then compared with [**"analysed in terms of" would read better**] the significance placed upon them by the American Government. Other influences behind the Vietnam War will be looked at [**be specific - I guess you will expand this sentence once the study is complete**], to ascertain whether the war was inevitable before the Gulf of Tonkin incident took place.

[|[1]] For our purposes, the start of the Vietnam War will be considered as the deployment of American combat troops in Vietnam. (Maybe not! Need to differentiate between different levels of war – air, land defensive, combat troops offensive, etc. Different levels come with different aims.) = **that's really your call. Just make sure you clarify this before submitting the final draft.**