National History Day National website

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National History DayNational website
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History Day Formats(Competition only)

• Display board (1-3 people)
• Media Documentary (1-3 people)
• Performance (1-3 people)
• Individual Research Paper
• Website (1-3 people)

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Revolution, Reaction, Revolt in History

• Choose a topic that fits the theme

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Topics Choose something you are interested in

• American history
• Hawaiian history
• World history
• European history
• Sports history
• Music history
• Science history

• Military history
• Asian history
• African American history
• Womens history
• Labor history
• Art history

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Topics must fit the theme Consider

• Is the topic historically important?
• Did the person change or influence attitudes?
• Did he or she change society?
• Does the issue have both a positive and negative
  side?
• How was it perceived by others?

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Resources

• Gathering Information

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Start with Secondary Sources

• Used to get an overview of topic
• Encyclopedias
• Textbooks
• Biographies

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Use Primary Sources to Support Your Thesis

• First-hand accounts
• Letters
• Journals
• Photos
• Speeches
• Documents
• Court records
• Interviews

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How to Use the Sources

• After you select a topic or to find one,read
  through lots of secondary sources
• Check bibliographies
• Find lots of primary sources
• Use Internet sparingly

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Avoid Doing a Biography or a Narrative of
Events!!Think Context, Analysis and Selectivity
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ANALYSIS
Move beyond the who, what, where, when
questions. Ask why and how questions.
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Context

• Investigate events and people surrounding your
  topic.

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Create a Thesis Statement

• A thesis is similar to a hypothesis. It is the
  foundation of your entire project.
• The thesis needs to explain how the topic
  relates to this years theme - time and place,
  cause and effect, change over time, and impact
  and significance.
• A .thesis draws conclusions about how the topic
  affected individuals, communities, nations or the
  world.

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Do I work alone or with a group?
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Choosing Groups and Formats in November

• OK for a student to change topic if working in a
  group.
• Look at research and decide on a format that fits.

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Alone Pros
Cons

• Make your own decisions
• Make your own schedule
• Saves time
• Fewer distractions

• You are responsible for every part of the
  project.
• No group support
• No one to bounce ideas off of

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GroupPros
Cons

• Support
• Share work
• Share costs
• Share fun

• Someone is
• Too busy
• Too bossy
• Too lazy
• Too playful
• Too disorganized

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Most Groups Are Successful
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When choosing a group consider

• Is someone going on vacation you need to know
  about? Moving?
• Can you get together on weekends or breaks?
• Does your partner turn in quality work in other
  classes?

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Types of Projects
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Exhibits

• Most popular
• Can be costly and bulky
• 500 of your own words
• NHD Photos 2006
• How to Make a Great HD Exhibit

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Individual Research Paper

• No partners
• 2500 words
• Includes an appendix
• See me for examples and handout

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Media Documentary

• Need equipment video camera, sound, video
  editing software, tripod
• Need to create a storyboard
• No performances
• 10 minutes
• How to Make Great Media Documentaries

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Performance

• Be prepared to perform in public
• Need a script
• Need costumes and props
• 10 minutes
• How to Create Great Performances

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Website

• An electronic research paper
• 2500 of your own words
• Images and video clips
• No outside links
• No advertisements on pages
• Must put on a CD ROM, not live on the web

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Annotated Bibliography

• SEE WEBSITE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

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Competitions

• School - January
• District February
• State April
• National - June

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Research Collection

• Bibliography cards for each source
• (minimum 20 sources)
• Notecards ( about 100) Use key words and
  phrases only. Follow questions on worksheet.

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Informational Packet Includes(For Competition
only)

• Title Page
• Process Paper 500 words (only for students going
  on)
• Annotated Bibliography
• Needed for all projects except Individual
  Research Paper

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Timeline

• August Overview of project
• September and October Topic selection,
  research, essays
• November continue research collection, form
  groups, select format of project, submit
  bibliography
• December assemble project
• January school History Day event

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ADVICE TO STUDENTS

• PLAN AHEAD
• START EARLY
• KEEP ORGANIZED!
• WORK AT LEAST 3 HOURS A WEEK

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ADVICE TO PARENTS

• Check deadlines
• Discuss topic ask why questions
• Check their work,edit
• Give feedback
• Provide transportation to libraries and
  competitions

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Thank you for attending this evening.