1. National History Day

2. Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events,
Choose a topic that fits the theme

3. Topics – Choose something you are interested in:
American history
Hawaiian history
World history
European history
Sports history
Music history
Science history
Military history
Asian history
African American history
Women’s history
Labor history
Art history

4. Topics must fit the theme Consider:
Is the topic historically important?
Did the person or event change or influence attitudes or change society?
Does the issue have both a positive and negative side?
How was it perceived by others?

5. Gather Information and READ about it

6. Start with Secondary Sources
Used to get an overview of topic
Encyclopedias
Textbooks
Biographies

7. Use Primary Sources to Support Your Thesis
First-hand accounts
Letters
Journals
Photos
Speeches
Documents
Court records
Interviews

8. How to Use the Sources
After you select a topic or to find one,read through lots of secondary sources
Check bibliographies
Find lots of primary sources

9. Avoid Doing a Biography or a Narrative of Events
Avoid Doing a Biography or a Narrative of Events!! Think Context, Analysis and Selectivity

10. ANALYSIS Move beyond the who, what, where, when questions.
Ask why and how questions.

11. Context
Investigate events and people surrounding your topic.

12. Create a Thesis Statement
The thesis explains how the topic relates to this year’s theme - time and place, cause and effect, change over time, and impact and significance - by drawing conclusions about how the topic affected individuals, communities, nations or the world.

13. Do I work alone or with a group?

14. Choosing Groups and Formats in October
OK for a student to change topic if working in a group.
Look at research and decide on a format that fits.

15. Alone Pros Cons Make your own decisions
Make your own schedule
Saves time
Fewer distractions
You are responsible for every part of the project.
No group support
No one to bounce ideas off of

16. Group Pros Cons Support Share work Share costs Share fun Someone is:
Too busy
Too bossy
Too lazy
Too playful
Too disorganized

17. Most Groups Are Successful

18. When choosing a group consider:
Is someone going on vacation you need to know about? Moving?
Can you get together on weekends or breaks?
Does your partner turn in quality work on time in other classes?

19. Types of Projects

20. History Day Formats: (Competition only)
Display board (1-3 people)
Media Documentary (1-3 people)
Performance (1-3 people)
Individual Research Paper
Website (1-3 people)

21. Display Board Most popular Can be costly and bulky
500 of your own words
How to Make a Great HD Exhibit on HD website

22. Individual Research Paper
No partners
2500 words
Includes an appendix
See me for examples and handout

23. Media Documentary
Need equipment: video camera, sound, video editing software, tripod
Need to create a storyboard
No performances
10 minutes
How to Make Great Media Documentaries on HD website

24. Performance Be prepared to perform in public Need a script
Need costumes and props
10 minutes
How to Create Great Performances on HD website

25. Website An electronic research paper 2500 of your own words
Images and video clips
No outside links
No advertisements on pages
Must use Weebly

26. Annotated Bibliography
See HD website for instructions

27. Competitions School - January District – February State – March/April
National - June

28. Research Collection
Note cards ( about 100) – Use key words and phrases only. Follow questions on worksheet.
Using Google docs and BibMe

29. Informational Packet Includes: (For Competition only)
Title Page
Process Paper– 500 words (only for students going on)
Annotated Bibliography
Needed for all projects except Individual Research Paper

30. Timeline August – Overview of project
September and October – Topic selection, research, form groups
November – continue research collection, thesis statement, select format of project,
December– assemble project, submit bibliography
January – Project due to teacher, school History Day event

31. ADVICE TO STUDENTS PLAN AHEAD START EARLY KEEP ORGANIZED!
WORK AT LEAST 2-3 HOURS A WEEK

32. ADVICE TO PARENTS Check deadlines Discuss topic. Ask “why” questions
Check their work and help edit
Give feedback
Provide transportation to libraries and competitions
Don’t do the work for them.

33. Thank you for attending
this evening.