Student Introduction to National History DayCreating Student Historians

Presented by Your Name from the Your Organization

Why History? Why NHD?History is the original reality series.     With NHD, you can research real people, living real lives, having real experiences.  

What if you could research what YOU wanted to?

National History Day allows you to explore endless topic possibilities!!

Everything has a history.Politics, Fashion, Science, Media, Sports, Music... Social Movements, Technology, War/Peace, Art...

Why do National History Day?

“NHD is not about memorizing dates but more about doing

research and expressing what you have learned.  These skills are more important after school

in the real world.” 

“[History Day] ROCKS! Not only do I actually pay attention

in history class... I actually want to learn more!"

How does NHD work?• Work alone or in a group • 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)

2011 Theme:Debate & Diplomacy in History:

Success, Consequences, Failures

What is debate? A discussion involving opposing points; an argument.

Deliberation; consideration  

What is diplomacy? The art or practice of conducting international relations, as in negotiating alliances, treaties, and agreements.

Tact and skill in dealing with people.

Topic Brainstorm

What topics can you think of related to Debate and Diplomacy?

• Actual debates?• Debates over issues or ideas?• Social movements?

• Foreign relations?• Military history?• Politics or government?

Is your topic too new?

Avoid current event topics...

Contemporary debates over immigration to the United States.

...but delve into a part of the history.

1924 Immigration Quota and the American Debate of Who is American

Is your topic too broad?  Narrow in by time period, people affected, event, or geographic area...

The entire history of the United Nations

....and look at something specific related to the broad topic.

A New Path to Diplomacy: The Forming of the United Nations

Find a topic that's just right!

The Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the Debate over Slavery

The best NHD topics will fit the theme, be narrow in scope, have available research, and be INTERESTING for you to

study.

The NHD Process

Research Analyze Present

The Three Hats of the Historian

Getting Started

• Once you pick a topic, you need to find information • The research process can be:

o Excitingo Confusingo Mysteriouso Frusteratingo All of the above!

• Where do you look? • What can you find? • How do you find it?

Imagine: You are the Topic!It is 2010, a historian is going to write a biography about your life.  Write down anything the historian could use to find information about you!  What sources could the historian use? 

Imagine: You are the Topic!It is 2010, a historian is going to write a biography about your life.  Write down anything the historian could use to find information about you!  What sources could the historian use?

• Yearbooks• Newspaper

articles• Birth Certificate• Interviews• Report Cards

• Diary• Journal• Photographs• Videos• Sound recordings• Letters/e-mails

Imagine: You are the Historian!Imagine you're researching Susan B. Anthony. What types of information might you find about her?

Imagine: You are the Historian!

All these sources fall into two big categories of information: primary or secondary sources.

Imagine you're researching Susan B. Anthony. What types of information might you find about her?

• Letters• Books• Web pages• Diary• Newspaper

Articles• Magazine

• Photographs • Biographies• Auto-biography• TV documentary• Oral histories• Journal

Primary vs. Secondary Sources

Secondary SourcesCreated after the fact and analyzes

primary sources to create a historical narrative.

Primary SourcesCreated at the time of the event or by someone who witnessed the event.

Where can you find information?

• Visit a library: School, public, university or college 

• Look in an archives (online or in real life)• Conduct an interview with an expert or

participant• Look on the Internet (and evaluate each

source you find)• Visit a historical society or museum

Search Smarter

Create a web of search terms

What do you do with all this information?

• Read it• Analyze and think

about it• Make an argument

(your thesis)

Primary source to analyze with students.  Use different sources for different grade levels or different audiences

Research Questions

Begin by thinking of research questions:• A question to guide your research and define your

topic.Sample Questions• How did the television debate between Nixon and

Kennedy change political campaigns in the United State?

• What are were the long term consequences of the 3/5 compromise at the 1787 Constitutional Convention?

  

What is a thesis statement?

 A Thesis Statement is one sentence that:  

oStates the writer’s main idea;oForms the backbone of the project; oTies all your project information

together 

The Thesis Statement

  Key Facts          Theme Relation          Importance in history

Evaluating Your Thesis

Thesis 1: The debate over slavery during the 1787 Constitutional Convention was a failure. 

Thesis 1: The debate over slavery during the 1787 Constitutional Convention was a failure.

Thesis 2: During the 1787 Constitutional Convention, the debate over slavery had consequences that led to years of further debate in the new nation.

Evaluating Your Thesis

Thesis 1: The debate over slavery during the 1787 Constitutional Convention was a failure.

Thesis 2: During the 1787 Constitutional Convention, the debate over slavery had consequences that led to years of further debate in the new nation. 

Thesis 3: The slavery debate during the 1787 Constitutional Convention ended in a compromise that had significant consequences in politics and policies from that time through the Civil War.

Evaluating Your Thesis

How do you tell the world?

• Paper (Individual Only)• Performance• Documentary• Exhibit• Web Site

Paper  • 1500-2500 word essay about historical topic • Includes cover page, annotated bibliography,

sometimes illustrations or images • Include YOUR conclusion• Great category for

aspiring writers• Individuals only -

no group entries

Performance

•  Up to 10-minute original performance

• Uses sets, props, music, costumes, blocking….

• Includes process paper and annotated bibliography 

• Great category for any type of performer: Singers, dancers, actors...  

Documentary• Up to 10-minute media

presentation • Similar to something you’d

see on the History Channel • Includes process paper and

annotated bibliography • Best for topics with available

media, images or interviews

Exhibit

• Similar to a Science Fair project

• Up to 6-feet tall • Uses text, images,

interactives, objects, and graphics to make an argument

• 500 student-composed words maximum

Exhibit: A Closer Look

Web Site

• Web-based project • Uses images, text, graphics,

video, sound • 1200 visible student

composed words • 100MB of file space • Created ONLY with

NHD Web Editor• Available free online

NHD Competitions

• At a competition you will:o Share your projecto Be interviewed by judgeso Get feedback on your work

• You can advance between levels: o School Evento Regional/District Competition o State Event o National Contest 

Judging and EvaluationThe 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?

School History Day

Pictures and information about school level events

Beyond School

• Regional/District• State• National

Due Dates

• Major milestones for your state/school program.

Sample Projects

• Example Paper (Internet required) • Example Performance 1 (Internet, flash required)• Example Documentary 1 (Internet, flash required)

Example Documentary 2 (Internet, YouTube)• Example Website (Internet required) 

Questions?

Find NHD on the web:• www.nhd.org• statewebsiteTalk to:• Your teacher• Your librarian• Me!

oEmailoPhone Number