HISTORY FAIR 101HISTORY FAIR 101Tips for Students about Tips for Students about

History Fair ProjectsHistory Fair Projects

Criteria for a Quality History ProjectCriteria for a Quality History Project

Historical Quality (60%)Historical Quality (60%)

Historically AccurateHistorically Accurate Shows analysis and interpretationShows analysis and interpretation Places the topic in its historical contextPlaces the topic in its historical context Shows wide researchShows wide research Uses available primary sourcesUses available primary sources Research is balanced in relation to various points of viewResearch is balanced in relation to various points of view

Relation to the Theme (20%)Relation to the Theme (20%)

Clearly relates topic to the History Day themeClearly relates topic to the History Day theme Demonstrates significance of the topic in history and draws conclusionsDemonstrates significance of the topic in history and draws conclusions

Debate and DiplomacyDebate and DiplomacyClarity of Presentation (20%)Clarity of Presentation (20%) Project written material is original, clear, Project written material is original, clear,

appropriate, articulateappropriate, articulate Project is organized, has visual impact, correctly Project is organized, has visual impact, correctly

uses visuals, props, etc.uses visuals, props, etc.

Rules ComplianceRules Compliance:: Meets size or performance length requirements Meets size or performance length requirements

and word limitsand word limits Includes an annotated bibliographyIncludes an annotated bibliography

1. Selecting a Topic1. Selecting a Topic• Pay attention to the theme:Pay attention to the theme:• Pick something/someone that interests youPick something/someone that interests you• Pick something Pick something significantsignificant• Pick something about which you can locate Pick something about which you can locate

primary and secondary sourcesprimary and secondary sources• Be able to answer this question…Be able to answer this question… “ “This topic relates to the theme because….”This topic relates to the theme because….” “ “This is important because….”This is important because….”

2. Research2. ResearchUse both primary Use both primary and secondary and secondary sources and sources and ANALYZEANALYZE the the information.information.

Research Research cont.cont.What

does it mean to analyze?…to tie it

to the theme?

2. Research continued2. Research continuedMake sure that your research is Make sure that your research is

reflected in the final project on the reflected in the final project on the exhibit, in the performance, in the exhibit, in the performance, in the documentary, or in the website.documentary, or in the website.

Gather lots of information – use only Gather lots of information – use only that which helps prove your that which helps prove your conclusion.conclusion.

Relate everything to your topic.Relate everything to your topic.Keep track of all sources.Keep track of all sources.

USING SOURCESUSING SOURCESBegin with theBegin with the secondary sources-secondary sources- Get an overview of Get an overview of the circumstancesthe circumstances

USING SOURCES USING SOURCES cont.cont.Explore the Explore the Primary SourcesPrimary Sources for Depth andfor Depth and AnalysisAnalysis

PRIMARY SOURCESPRIMARY SOURCESPrimary Sources – Information created by Primary Sources – Information created by

the event or the process of an eventthe event or the process of an event- Archival documentsArchival documents- Manuscripts and/or diariesManuscripts and/or diaries- PhotographsPhotographs- Newspapers, magazines, journals Newspapers, magazines, journals ifif they are they are

written at the time of an eventwritten at the time of an event- Personal interviews Personal interviews ifif the person participated the person participated

or was an eyewitness or was an eyewitness

SECONDARY SECONDARY SOURCESSOURCES

Secondary Source – A source that Secondary Source – A source that seeks to explain or interpret an eventseeks to explain or interpret an event

- BooksBooks- ArticlesArticles- Interviews that explain or interpret – the Interviews that explain or interpret – the

person is talking about an event and wasperson is talking about an event and was NOT NOT a participanta participant

- Media productionsMedia productions

Be careful…Be careful…Secondary Sources may have primary Secondary Sources may have primary

sources imbedded.sources imbedded. a a completecomplete copy of the Declaration copy of the Declaration

of Independence contained within your of Independence contained within your textbook is a primary source.textbook is a primary source.

an an excerptexcerpt taken from a letter by taken from a letter by Thomas Jefferson and contained within Thomas Jefferson and contained within a history textbook is NOT a primary a history textbook is NOT a primary source.source.

Showing Results of Showing Results of ResearchResearch

Your project should…Your project should…

• Use Use primary research primary research and and show show that that these sources have been used these sources have been used

- Use quotes, pictures, and headlines- Use quotes, pictures, and headlines• Make sure materials used are part of the Make sure materials used are part of the

“story” and help prove the conclusion“story” and help prove the conclusion• Create a Create a strong, interesting, strong, interesting, and and

persuasive persuasive statementstatement

3. Notes and Bibliography3. Notes and Bibliography Begin to gather research into some main Begin to gather research into some main

ideas for the visual part of the projectideas for the visual part of the project

Keep an active bibliography Keep an active bibliography - bibliography cards- bibliography cards - note cards with your source - note cards with your source

• Begin to plan the visual part of the projectBegin to plan the visual part of the project

BIBLIOGRAPHYBIBLIOGRAPHYProvide Provide annotations annotations for each source by for each source by

describing the source and what was describing the source and what was learned from it – be learned from it – be specificspecific about the about the quality of the help and where it was usedquality of the help and where it was used

Chose one type or style for citing sources Chose one type or style for citing sources that your teacher provides for youthat your teacher provides for you

Learn how to write “note cards”Learn how to write “note cards”

Types of ProjectsTypes of ProjectsExhibit – Exhibit – Individual or GroupIndividual or GroupHistorical Paper Historical Paper - Individual only - Individual onlyPerformancePerformance - Individual or Group - Individual or GroupDocumentary Documentary – Individual or Group– Individual or GroupWebsite Website – Individual or Group– Individual or Group

4. Plan the Visual 4. Plan the Visual Appearance of Your ProjectAppearance of Your ProjectExhibitExhibit – Draw sketches and plan – Draw sketches and plan

the finished productthe finished productPerformance Performance – Write a script and – Write a script and

plan costumes, props, etc.plan costumes, props, etc.Documentary/WebsiteDocumentary/Website – Use a – Use a

storyboard to plan what you will say storyboard to plan what you will say and match your pictures with itand match your pictures with it

Historical Paper Historical Paper – Using pictures, – Using pictures, graphs or charts is optional.graphs or charts is optional.

5. Finish Your Project5. Finish Your ProjectComplete the exhibit, performance, or Complete the exhibit, performance, or

documentarydocumentary

Write and proof the process paper – use Write and proof the process paper – use the outline provided by your teacher.the outline provided by your teacher.

Include an annotated bibliography Include an annotated bibliography using your “bib cards” as a referenceusing your “bib cards” as a reference

WHAT HELP CANWHAT HELP CAN I EXPECT FROM I EXPECT FROM

MYMYLIBRARIAN?LIBRARIAN?

1. Training in library resources and access 1. Training in library resources and access to the library at the beginning of my to the library at the beginning of my project.project.2. Access to the library before and after 2. Access to the library before and after school throughout the competition year.school throughout the competition year.3. Direction in how to create an annotated 3. Direction in how to create an annotated

bibliography.bibliography.4. Direction in identifying primary and 4. Direction in identifying primary and secondary sources.secondary sources.

WHAT HELP CANWHAT HELP CAN I EXPECT FROM I EXPECT FROM

MYMYTEACHER?TEACHER?

1. The same help my librarian provides 1. The same help my librarian provides except for access before and after except for access before and after school.school.

2. Direction in understanding the 2. Direction in understanding the requirements of the theme.requirements of the theme.

3. Direction in understanding the 3. Direction in understanding the requirements of the various requirements of the various

categories.categories.

4. Help in finding/selecting a topic.4. Help in finding/selecting a topic.

5. Explaining the process of “analysis” 5. Explaining the process of “analysis” for for

photographs, documents, cartoons, photographs, documents, cartoons, text.text.

6. An outline for writing my process 6. An outline for writing my process paper.paper.

Completing the ProjectCompleting the Project AllAll teachers will give students some kind of teachers will give students some kind of

“evaluation checklist” as a rubric for grading “evaluation checklist” as a rubric for grading the project. You should work toward those the project. You should work toward those goals.goals.

SomeSome teachers will require periodic deadlines teachers will require periodic deadlines and “progress” reports.and “progress” reports.

SomeSome teachers will have the project due in teachers will have the project due in stages:stages:

- - Sources and notesSources and notes - Rough draft of paper with thesis statement and conclusion- Rough draft of paper with thesis statement and conclusion - Visual presentation of the project if desired- Visual presentation of the project if desired

In Conclusion…In Conclusion…The skills you learn through historical research The skills you learn through historical research

are part of our Social Studies are part of our Social Studies TEKSTEKS..

The skills you learn through historical research The skills you learn through historical research align perfectly with College and Career align perfectly with College and Career Readiness Standards.Readiness Standards.

Students who reach the finals at Texas History Students who reach the finals at Texas History Day have completed one of the steps needed Day have completed one of the steps needed to complete the Distinguished Achievement to complete the Distinguished Achievement Program upon graduation Program upon graduation

Break-out RoomsBreak-out RoomsRm 118 – Historical PapersRm 118 – Historical PapersRm 119 – ExhibitRm 119 – ExhibitRm 120 – WebsiteRm 120 – WebsiteRm 121 – DocumentaryRm 121 – DocumentaryRm 122 – PerformanceRm 122 – PerformanceRm 123 – Research Tips for Students Rm 123 – Research Tips for Students

and and TeachersTeachers