1. What to Expect: National History Day in Wisconsin Competitions
Updated: Summer 2015

2. Why Participate in a Competition?
SHARE your hard work
DISCUSS your project with judges
LEARN from other students
Have FUN

3. History Day Competitions
School Events Optional
Regional Events February and March
WI State Event April 23, 2016
National Contest June 12 – 16, 2016

4. School Events Some students have school NHD events:
Share your work with community members
Get feedback from judges
Compete for chance to attend regional contest

5. Regional Events
Wisconsin is divided by county into regions

6. Wisconsin State Event Saturday, April 23, 2016 UW-Madison
More than 550 students, plus parents, friends, teachers and judges

7. National Contest
The top 2 projects in each category/division from the state event.
About 60 Wisconsin students.
June 12-16
Near Washington, D.C.

8. How Do Competitions Work?
You will compete against other projects in the same division/category.
You will have an assigned time and location to present your project.
You will be interviewed by judges
The best projects will advance to the next level of competition.

9. Competition Categories
JUNIOR DIVISION
(Grades 6-8)
Individual Documentary
Group Documentary
Individual Exhibit
Group Exhibit
Individual Paper
Individual Performance
Group Performance
Individual Website
Group Website
SENIOR DIVISION
(Grades 9-12)
Individual Documentary
Group Documentary
Individual Exhibit
Group Exhibit
Individual Paper
Individual Performance
Group Performance
Individual Website
Group Website

10. Judging All students will have an interview with judges.
Judges want to learn more about your project and process, not quiz you on facts.
Interviews usually last approx. 10 minutes.

11. Who are the judges? Judges are people who love history! Teachers
Librarians or Archivists
Historians
Professors
College Students
Don’t forget, the judges are really interested in your work. They volunteered to be there!

12. What will the judges ask me?
Sample Questions:
How did you choose this topic? Why?
Where did you begin your research?
Which source in your bibliography was most useful to you?
How does your topic connect to the annual theme?
How was your topic significant in history?
What was your favorite part of this project?
Judges will often ask other questions related to your project or research.

13. What are the judges looking for?
NHD Evaluation:
60% Historical Quality
20% Connection to Theme
20% Clarity of Presentation
Rules Compliance

14. What should I wear? Students usually dress up a bit for judging:
Guys: Khaki or dress pants, polo or button up shirts
Girls: Skirts or dress pants with nice tops, or dresses
ONLY performance students can wear costumes.

15. Before the Competition
Get ready! Continue to use feedback from previous competitions to improve your project.
Register. Turn in all required materials by the deadline.
Paper and website students must have their projects completed and submitted in advance of the competition.

16. The Day of the Event Check-in and set-up Presentation and interview
Watch other projects
Awards Ceremony

17. What will the room look like?
Each room will vary slightly by what is available at the event.
The following slides are pictures from state and regional events in Wisconsin.

18. Exhibit Room You will have an assigned space to set up your exhibit
Leave four copies of your process paper and bibliography
Only students and judges are allowed in the exhibit area during judging

19. Documentary Room
Technology in documentary rooms will vary from event to event. Check with your coordinator to see what will be available.
Friends and family are welcome to watch as you present

20. Paper or Website Room
Judges will review your project before the competition. You will be interviewed at the event.
Only students and judges are allowed in the room

21. Performance Room
Performance rooms can look like a lecture hall, an auditorium, or even a classroom
You will likely have a chair and small table, but will have to bring all other props
Friends and family are welcome to watch

22. Project Improvement
Judges will fill out comment sheets telling you their thoughts on:
The strengths of your project
Ideas on how to improve your work
Between each event you are encouraged to improve your project.
NHD projects are a work in progress and improve throughout the year.

23. Most Importantly… Have fun and be proud!
Don’t worry about the final results.
Have fun meeting new people, showing off your project, and discussing your ideas with the judges.

24. Collecting, Preserving and Sharing Stories Since 1846
Good Luck and Have Fun!
Collecting, Preserving and Sharing Stories Since 1846