1. National History Day
in Arizona!

2. What is National History Day?

3. National History Day is:
Student-centered history project.
You get to choose what you want to research, not the teacher or the state of Az!
Chance for students to “do history”

4. National History Day 2016 Theme: Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History
A right is a freedom that is protected,
Example: the right to free speech and religion.
A responsibility is a duty or something you should do,
Example: such as recycling or doing your homework.
Both: Voting is both a right and a responsibility! 4

5. Choosing Your Topic Choose a topic you will enjoy.
Make sure it is workable (access to sources).
Can you state your topic as a question?
Don’t overlook local history!
Choose a narrow topic, if it is too wide, you will not be able to explore it completely
Relate it to the THEME! 5

6. Choosing Your Topic
Explore historical significance: answer the “so what?” question
Address questions about time, place, cause and effect, change over time, impact, and significance
Don’t just describe what happened!
Draw conclusions and provide historical context 6

7. Topic Ideas
Brainstorm with your group possible topic ideas related to the following categories:
Science and Technology
Politics and Government
Individual Thinkers
Popular Culture
Women & Minorities 7

8. The Usual Suspects Avoid the obvious choices
See suggested NHD List – great place to start! 8

9. Advanced Topic Tips Ask a different question of a well-studied topic
Analyze a common topic from a different perspective
Find a “sub-iconic” topic
Example: After her arrest for not moving to the back of the bus, what role did Rosa Parks play in the Civil Rights movement?
Avoid biography!
Avoid “what if” history
Avoid recent events (Topics at least 20 years old) 9

10. Writing Your Thesis Your thesis should be:
Specific: Addresses a narrow topic and argument.
Opinionated: Does it do more than just tell a story?
Significant: Why is this important in history?
Connect to the NHD Theme. 10

11. Researching Your Project
2/3 of your bibliography must be primary resources!
Places to find Primary Resources:
National Archives-
Library of Congress-
Chronicling America: American Newspapers since
Digital History - University of Houston -
Arizona Historical Society: Library & Archives
Arizona Memory Project
Arizona Digital Newspaper Project
Local libraries/museums – MNA, NAU, Pioneer Museum 11

12. Researching Your Project
Important Dates on top
Only 2 boxes to look at = the left two
Theme 2014: Everything about this years theme
Teachers & Students: project category information, helpful items about researching your project, and information on workshops and competitions 12

13. Choosing your Category
You may work with groups of up to 4 people
Paper (individual projects only)
Exhibit
Documentary
Performance
Website
-Talk about each category
-Junior Level vs Senior Level
-Group vs Individual
-Paper only done as an individual

14. Competitions School Showcase Regional Competition State Competition
You will first compete against other students with a school showcase/competition.
Regional Competition
If you are chosen to move on, you will compete in your age range and category at the regional level.
State Competition
If you are chosen to move on, you will compete at the state competition in early April in Phoenix.
National Competition
Finalists then move on to the National History Day annual competition in the nation’s capital in June. 14

15. National Competition Fun
Travel to Washington D.C.
Sightseeing in our Nation’s Capitol
Have a chance to meet one of your state legislators
Special museum tours
Special National History Day night at the Smithsonian
Compete with other students from around the world 15

16. Why Do National History Day?16

17. NHD makes students better at:
Writing
Critical Thinking
Researching
Working in a team
Talking to experts
Managing time
Standardized Tests (ACT, SAT, GRE, MAT, LSAT, Etc.) 17

18. More Information Arizona History Day: http://www.nhdaz.org/
National History Day: 18