1. Five steps to History day
Guidelines for making your presentation a success
A Presentation by Conner Museum & Texas A&M University - Kingsville, sponsors of Coastal Bend Regional History Day in conjunction with Texas State Historical Association and the National History Day Programs

2. Step 1: Know the Theme Choose a topic at least 25 years old
so that the impact of the actions can
be included in the presentation.

3. Step 2: CHOOSE A Possible Topic
Review National Sample List of Topics
Review Texas Sample List of Topics
Generate List from
Classroom Discussions
Find Sample Topics at:

4. Step 3: IDENTIFY SOURCES OF goOD RESEARCH MATERIAL
College libraries
School libraries
Public libraries
People who experienced the event, took part in creating the change or were affected by the event
People in your community
Professors & other professionals knowledgeable about your topic
Internet
Museums & Archives

5. Types of Research Materials
Books
Encyclopedias
Newspapers & Magazines – print or online
Internet Databases
Photographs & Visual Images
Newscasts, PBS, etc.
Oral Interviews
Exchanges

6. Questions Your Research & Product Need to Include
“To understand the historical importance of their topics, students must ask questions of time and place, cause and effect, change over time, and impact and significance. They must not only when did events happened, but why they happen? What factors contributed to their development? What was the lasting influence in history? How did this topic change the course of events? What effect did the event have on the community, society, nation and world?” NHD 2008 Theme Sheet
“While working with a theme, students must move beyond the biographies and descriptions of specific people or events and demonstrate how that person’s actions had an impact on history…… capture the specific moment ….which change occurred and the role played by the individual…..the key to good historical study is an examination of cause & effect and change over time.” NHD 2009 Theme Sheet

7. STEP 4: AFTER RESEARCHING YOUR SOURCE materials & forming conclusions, develop your product
Choose the Medium that Works Best for Your Topic:
Research Paper
Documentary
Website
Public Performance

8. Step 5: Take steps to ensure excellence in your presentation
Review rules & guidelines for your category
Review rules for grammar and punctuation
Remember- you DON’T have to use the exact phrasing of the theme in your title
BUT you DO have to relate your entire presentation to the theme
Tell the entire story—the before (background), the during, and the after (results, effects, consequences)
Draw your own unique conclusion

9. We hope this presentation has been helpful
We hope this presentation has been helpful. For more information on Coastal Bend Regional History Day, contact the Conner Museum at or