What is National History Day?

What is NHD?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z91Ial4-D2A&list=UUbpcuQ7ZyA8zfnxNd8gUW-g&index=7

• BECOME an historian• Explore the history of

something that interests YOU

• Create a project to SHARE your ideas with others

• Enter a competitive cycle - ADVANCE to regional, state, and national contests

What Can You Do With NHD?

How does NHD work?Select a topic connected to annual theme

Complete your own research

Analyze the significance of topic in history

Present your ideas through a creative project

Compete in series of regional, state, and national competitions(optional)

Picking an NHD Topic

Needs to connect to the annual theme, but…

There are endless topic possibilities!

Everything has a history!

Tips for Picking TopicsAvoid history that is “too new.”

More than 20 years in the past as a rule of thumb.

Don’t choose a broad topic. Narrow topic by time period, people, event, or geographic area. Look at something specific related to the broad topic. Example:

American Revolution Stamp Act

Are there primary and secondary sources you can access?

Choose something you are interested in.

Topic Brainstorm

Annual Theme

Select a topic based on an annual theme.

• Topics must be connected to the to theme

• Annual theme is broad enough to cover a wide range of topics

2013 NHD Annual Theme

Turning Points in History:

People, Ideas, Events

The Annual Theme

A Turning Point is moment that great change.

Think of how things were before this point, and how things were different afterwards.

Examples:Area of History

Women’s History

Your Idea?

Topic 1 Susan B. Anthony and the Suffrage Movement

Topic 2 Title IX and Equality for Women in Sports`

Categories

Exhibit

Historical Paper

Website

Performance

Documentary

Exhibits

Exhibits• Similar to what

you might see in a museum

• Uses text, images, objects, etc. to make an argument

• Up to 6’ tall, 40” wide, 30” deep

• 500 student-composed words

• Most popular NHD category

Documentary

The Use of Propaganda and the Rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c98k2NQFJYU

Documentaries

• Similar to what you might see on PBS or the History Channel

• 10-minute media presentation

• Great category if you like technology and have a visual topic

Performance

http://www.youtube.com/embed/akNC-3kJg8o

Performances10-minute dramatic performance

Conveys your argument and evidence

Uses scripts, costumes, props, etc.

Great category for performers who love to be on stage: actors, singers, dancers

Historical Paper

http://www.nationalhistoryday.org/CategoryPaper.htm

Papers1,500 - 2,500 word essay about an historical topic

Includes citations: footnotes, endnotes, or internal documentation

Great category for aspiring writers

Website

Prohibition http://71658347.nhd.weebly.com/

The Suez Crisishttp://29871397.nhd.weebly.com/

Web Sites• 1,200 visible,

student-composed words, 100 MB size limit

• Incorporates text, images, media, and more to make an argument

• Created using the NHD Website Editor – provided free online

Selecting a Category

Pick a category YOU like:Do you like working with technology?Do you like performing on stage?Do you like writing?

Pick a category that works with your topic:Are there enough visuals for this topic to make a documentary? An exhibit? A website?Can you focus on a specific person or event for a performance?

The NHD Process

Research Analyze Present

The Three Hats of the Historian

ResearchResearch your topics using primary and secondary sources.

“NHD really helped me with

my research skills. During the research I learned to use the Archives

and microfilm.”

"During my research I was able to visit the archives at UW-GB. I found that often the primary sources had

better opinions and more meaningful information

than the compiled secondary sources."

Research

Start with Secondary Sources

A book about your topicA good website from a reliable source

Move to Primary Sources

Photographs, interviews, books written by participants, newspaper articles, etc.

Primary and Secondary SourcesPrimary Sources

Connected to an event by time or participationCreated at the time of the event or by someone who witnessed the event

Secondary Sources Created after the fact and analyzes primary sources to create an historical narrative

Need both types of research for a good NHD project

Where to find information?

•School Library•Public Library•University/College Library•Archives•Historical Societies•Museums•The Internet

Thesis and Analysis

History Day is more than just a book report

Analyze your research to figure out why your topic is significant in history

Develop a thesis statement about your topic

Guide to Creating a Top Notch NHD Entry

Analysis and Interpretation

Significance and Impact

Research

Historical Accuracy

Historical Context

Adherence to the Theme

Follow ALL NHD Rules

Judging Criteria

The same criteria are used at all levels of NHD competitions:

60% Historical Quality: Accuracy, analysis, interpretation, historical context, and the quality of research. 20% Connection to Theme: Have you connected the topic to the theme in the project itself?20% Clarity of Presentation: How clearly have you used the project to convey your argument and evidence? Includes spelling, organization, etc.Rules Compliance: Have you violated any major rules for the category or NHD?

Competition

DC-G CompetitionMarch 4, 2013

District CompetitionApril 6, 2013

State CompetitionApril 29, 2013

National CompetitionJune 9-13, 2013

IMPORTANT INFO

You can find most important documents on my website.

www.mrswager.wikispaces.com US History National History Day

Pay close attention to project due dates.

Ask questions!