Mark Adams, Truman Library National History Day 2017 Mark Adams, Truman Library mark.adams@nara.gov

Categories Enter contest either as an individual or as a group (2-3 students) Exhibits Documentaries Websites Performances Papers 20% Development of Theme 20% Quality of Presentation 60% Historical Research

Four Steps to create a History Day project 1 Four Steps to create a History Day project 1. The Idea: A great research project begins with a great topic idea. Take your first step in the right direction by finding a topic that fits the theme, has plenty of sources, and is interesting to you.

Four Steps to create a History Day project 2. Research: Research is the most important part of creating a project. Historians depend on research the same way that detectives need clues. This is the evidence you’ll need to prove your “case.”  

Four Steps to create a History Day project 3 Four Steps to create a History Day project 3. Analysis: Once you’ve found information about your topic, you need to read it carefully and figure out what it’s trying to tell you. Develop your own ideas and thesis about the significance of your topic.

Four Steps to create a History Day project 4. Presentation: You’ve done all this hard work, now it’s time to share it with others. What is the best way to share your argument and research? What techniques should you use to communicate it well?

The Annual Theme Topics must connect to the annual theme Think about it: How does the theme connect to the argument that you are making about your topic? Taking a Stand in History

What does Taking a Stand mean? Defend your point of view To assert your opinion Take action to support or resist an issue on purpose Challenge or support situation

Taking a Stand: Who is taking a stand Taking a Stand: Who is taking a stand? How did their actions leave a lasting mark on history? What did they change by taking a stand? Could be a local or regional topic, or represent an organization

In History You need to look at the significance of your topic over time Short term and long term legacy Topics should NOT be current events. Choose an event that took place at least 20 years ago

Narrowing Topics Choose an event – find the protest and the people involved Choose a leader – then a specific event and research their actions

Taking a Stand can be found in all areas and time periods of history Think about the relationship between the topic and the events that came before and after it: Why did it happen? (Before) What happened? (During) What impact did it have? (After)

Narrowing Topics Theme Area of History Broad Topic Narrow Topic Thesis Take a big idea and narrow it to a manageable size for National History Day

Student examples Exhibits Websites Performances Papers Documentaries

10 Questions to Answer 1. Who is taking a stand. 2 10 Questions to Answer 1. Who is taking a stand? 2. What specific event are you focusing on? 3. What was the reason for taking a stand? 4. Did the leader have followers or supporters? Who? 5. Were there people who disagreed with them? Who? Why?

10 Questions to Answer 6. What was going on at the time to influence events? 7. What were the actions taken? 8. Describe what happened 9. What changed – short/long term? 10. What was the most important impact?

Truman Topics – trumanlibrary.org Korean War Recognition of Israel Nuremberg Trials Civil Rights Berlin Airlift Truman Doctrine

Local Topics – use the library! Mid-Continent Library: http://www.mymcpl.org/ Kansas City Library: http://www.kchistory.org/

The State Historical Society of Missouri has branches in Kansas City, St Louis, Columbia, etc. You can have materials at any site loaned to the Kansas City research center on UMKC campus

Where can I find more ideas? Sample topic lists from NHD Talk to your parents, teachers, friends Pick an area of history that interests you and explore the library Email: mark.adams@nara.gov