1. Mark Adams, Truman Library
National History Day 2017
Mark Adams, Truman Library

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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.”

5. 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.

6. 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?

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. 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)

13. 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

14. Student examples Exhibits Websites Performances Papers Documentaries

15. 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?

16. 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?

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

18. Local Topics – use the library!
Mid-Continent Library:
Kansas City Library:

19. 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

20. 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