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

National History Day

Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events,

Choose a topic that fits the theme

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

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?

Gather Information

and READ about it

Start with Secondary Sources

Used to get an overview of topic Encyclopedias Textbooks Biographies

Use Primary Sources to Support Your Thesis

First-hand accounts Letters Journals Photos Speeches Documents Court records Interviews

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

Avoid Doing a Biography or a Narrative of Events!!

Think Context, Analysis and Selectivity

Move beyond the who, what, where, when questions.

Ask why and how questions.

ANALYSIS

Context

Investigate events and people surrounding your topic.

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.

Do I work alone or with a group?

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.

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

GroupPros Cons

Support Share work Share costs Share fun

Someone is: Too busy Too bossy Too lazy Too playful Too disorganized

Most Groups Are Successful

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?

Types of Projects

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)

Display Board Most popular

Can be costly and bulky

500 of your own words

How to Make a Great HD Exhibit on HD website

Individual Research Paper

No partners 2500 words Includes an appendix See me for examples and handout

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

Performance Be prepared to perform in public

Need a script

Need costumes and props

10 minutes

How to Create Great Performances on HD website

Website

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

Annotated Bibliography

See HD website for instructions

Competitions

School - January

District – February

State – March/April

National - June

Research Collection

Note cards ( about 100) – Use key words and phrases only. Follow questions on worksheet.

Using Google docs and BibMe

Informational Packet Includes:(For Competition only)Title PageProcess Paper– 500 words (only

for students going on)Annotated Bibliography

Needed for all projects except Individual Research Paper

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

ADVICE TO STUDENTS

PLAN AHEAD START EARLY KEEP ORGANIZED! WORK AT LEAST 2-3 HOURS A

WEEK

ADVICE TO PARENTS

Check deadlinesDiscuss topic. Ask “why” questionsCheck their work and help editGive feedbackProvide transportation to libraries

and competitionsDon’t do the work for them.

Thank you for attending this evening.