2. Guidelines: You must write a research paper of 1500-2500 word (about 8-11 pages double-spaced) Your paper must use the National History Day theme for 2015 which is Leadership and Legacy in History (a successful paper will discuss BOTH leadership and legacy) Your paper topic must be local (meaning the state of Illinois) and it must fall between 1820-1930. These are roughly the years we will cover over the course of preparing for the History Fair. Your paper must be footnoted using Chicago style citations Your paper must include an annotated bibliography separated by primary and secondary sources and arranged alphabetically.

3. Step 1: Find a topic Think about what interests you. Successful History Fair projects are often good because the author was really invested in the topic. Don’t pick something that sounds dull or “easy”. chicagohistoryfair.org provides a list of possible topics that would easily fit into this year’s theme. However, the topics do not include years. Find topics that sound interesting and do preliminary searches to see if the topic falls between 1820-1930. Find 2-3 possible topics and look for secondary sources (books and articles) that have information about your topic. Try to think outside the box. Unique or lesser known topics are often the most interesting.

4. Ex: Agnes Nester and The Women’s Trade Union League Margaret Haley and the Chicago Teachers Federation Jens Jensen and Chicago Parks Archibald Motley’s art Owen and Elijah Lovejoy Free Frank McWorter

5. TODAY: FIRST: Solidify your topic and enter it on the google doc for Ms. Thomas NEXT: Look for secondary sources on the Chicago Public Library site, The Encyclopedia of Chicago, or other CPL resource pages. You will need at least 3. NEXT: Make sure there are available primary sources about your topic. You will need several primary sources. NEXT: Write a historical question about your topic.

6. WRITING A HISTORICAL QUESTION

7. FOR YOUR HISTORY FAIR PROJECT YOU WILL HAVE TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THE PERSON YOU HAVE PICKED. STEP 1: Start with a very easy question. For example if your topic is Al Capone, you may ask “ Who was Al Capone? ” STEP 2: Go to the library and find information about your topic! After you find the answer to that first, simple question, your question will evolve. STEP 3: Ask another question using information from your research. For example: “ How did Prohibition support the Chicago Outfit and what part did Al Capone play in Prohibition? ” STEP 4: Go back to the library and find information that answers your second question. You may be coming close to your final question!

8. STEP 5: Based on your research, find a question that will allow you to write a thesis about your topic. For example: “ During the 1920 ’ s and 1930 ’ s, how did prohibition laws affect the influence and wealth of the Chicago Outfit under the leadership of Al Capone? ” Or “ What societal factors in Chicago in the 1920 ’ s and 1930 ’ s were important in strengthening the influence of Al Capone and the Chicago Outfit in the City government? ”

9. REMINDER 1: You are NOT writing a biography of your person. You ARE making a historical argument that is somehow based on a part of the life of your subject. You should not tell their life story. You should focus on an aspect of their life and prove your point. REMINDER 2: You MUST show change over time. For example, a project on Capone might focus on how the Chicago Outfit led by him became more influential and powerful during the Prohibition Era. An unsuccessful project would not show this change.

10. DO THE FOLLOWING IN YOUR NOTEBOOK 1.Write everything that you know so far about your topic 2.Write everything that you would like to find out about your topic. 3.Using your answers to the first two questions, write your initial question that you will research over the next week.