2. NHD 2014 Theme

3. Theme is Everything! This year’s theme is Rights and Responsibilites
All project topics MUST relate to the theme
Topics need to focus on ONE aspect of the theme: rights OR responsibilities

4. Project Categories You can choose from the following categories:
Documentary – short film
Exhibit – informational poster
Paper – research paper
Performance – skit or play
Website

5. What is a documentary?
Documentaries present information about an event, person, place or idea
presentations must be ten minutes in length
Showcase documents, images, photographs, and actual footage of the topic
You must have access to technology to complete your project

6. What is an Exhibit
Exhibits present information about an event, person, place, or idea by physically displaying documents, images, or objects
Students explain research through historic photographs, maps, drawings and other interesting objects.
Similar to a museum exhibit
Exhibits are three dimensional and displayed on a physical structure

7. What does an exhibit look like?

8. What is a Paper? Most traditional form of research
Present information and analyze an event, person, place or idea from the past in writing
Must be completed INDIVIDUALLY (group work prohibited)
Papers must be 1,500 to 2,500 in length

9. What is a Performance?
A performance is a live, dramatic presentation of a student’s topic
scripts should be structured on the thesis statement, supporting statements, and a conclusion.
Scripts MUST be historically accurate

10. What is a Website?
A web sites consists of web pages, interconnected with hyperlinks, presenting primary and secondary sources, interactive multimedia, and historical analysis.
Web sites are interactive; Viewers can play music, solve a puzzle, or look at a video or click on different links

11. In addition to the project….
All projects need to have a process paper* and an annotated bibliography
The process paper describes the overall process of completing the project
The annotated bibliography lists and DESCRIBES each resource.
* Students writing a paper do not need to create a process paper

12. Should I work alone or in a group?
Weigh out the advantages/ disadvantages of each
(schedules, work ethic, cooperation abilities)
Are two heads always better than one?
Once you choose your group, you cannot change.
Choose a group who will work hard to complete the project

13. Choosing a Topic Topic MUST fit with the theme
Stay away from over done topic
Frivolous topic vs. serious topic
Focus project on thesis statement

14. Competition Levels State Level Includes schools from PA Regional Level
Includes schools from Lancaster, Berks and Lebanon Counties
Local Level
SDoL competition

15. Greatest Resources
The National History Day website will be your greatest resource!
The site includes information on…
Theme
Sample topics/ projects
Category rules/ regulations
Sample process papers and annotated bibliographies
Judging rubrics
any information you may need

16. Let’s Take a Look

17. Have fun with NHD!!!
I LOVE NATIONAL HISTORY DAY!

18. Ticket Out the Door
Provide two reasons why a National History Day project benefit you as an honors history student.