NATIONAL HISTORY DAY

Turning Points in History:People, Events, and Ideas

2013 NHD Theme – “Turning Points in History: People, Ideas Events”

Turning Point:

•a point at which a significant change occurs

• decisive change of direction

•departure from long held tradition or rule

•a point where history effectively turns a corner

ClimaxLandmarkMilestone

2013 NHD Theme – “Turning Points in History: People, Ideas Events”

U.S. Government & War Supreme Court Decisions

Transportation

Civil Rights Science & Technology Sports

2013 NHD Theme – “Turning Points in History: People, Ideas Events”

Turning Point:

An event or set of events that, had it not happened as it did, would have prompted a different course in history.

2013 NHD Theme – “Turning Points in History: People, Ideas Events”

Historical Context & Impact are crucial!

What was happening before that led to pivotal change?

What was the significance of the change?

How will the change alter various aspects of society?

Why did this change occur at this time and place?

The Bowtie – Cause & Effect

Bombing of Pearl Harbor

U.S. enters WWII

Submarine Warfare

Iwo Jima

Atomic Bomb

Second Sino-Japanese War

Tension between JapanAnd Western powers

World War II begins betweenAxis and Allied powers

2013 NHD Theme – “Turning Points in History: People, Ideas Events”

Ghandi and his implementation of peaceful protest to achieve Indian Independence

People

Ideas

James “Crash” Ryan’s idea of seatbeltsto improve car safety

Events1960 televised Presidential debate changes the role of media in the election process

*Should use at least 1tag word

Turning Points should be historically significant

Topics should be at least 20 years old

September 11, 2001

Hurricane Katrina

Requirements for all projects

Your entry must include the following written material in the order presented below:

1. a title page 2. a process paper 3. an annotated bibliography

Title Page A title page is required as the first page of written

material in every category. Your title page must include only the title of your entry, your name(s), and the contest division and category in which you are entered.

NOTE: The title page must not include any other information (pictures, graphics, borders, school name, or grade) except for that described in this rule.

Process Paper All categories except historical paper must include a

process paper with the entry. It must describe in 500 words or less how you conducted your research and created your entry. The process paper must include four sections that explain:

1. how you chose your topic; 2. how you conducted your research; 3. how you selected your presentation category and created your project; and 4. how your project relates to the NHD theme. You can view sample process papers at www.nhd.org

on the “Creating an Entry” page in the Contest section.

Annotated Bibliography An annotated bibliography is required for all categories. List the sources that contributed to the development of your

entry, sources that provided usable information or new perspectives in preparing your entry.

You likely will include fewer sources than you actually used. Sources of visual materials and oral interviews must be included.

The annotations for each source must explain how you used the source and how it helped you understand your topic.

For example:Bates, Daisy. The Long Shadow of Little Rock. New York: David

McKay Co. Inc., 1962. Daisy Bates was the president of the Arkansas NAACP and the one

who met and listened to the students each day. This firsthand account was very important to my paper because it made me more aware of the feelings of the people involved.

Project Categories There are five categories to choose from:

1. Documentary2. Exhibit3. Performance4. Website5. Paper

Historical Documentary

Make your own documentary. Things to think about:

Am I interested in using computers, cameras, and other technologies?

Can I conduct and record interviews (for the purpose of including film clips in the documentary)?

Can I find film clips to use in my documentary? Are there enough still photographs related to my topic

and that I can use in my documentary? Do I have access to equipment that will be needed to

make a documentary? Is creating a documentary the best way to show off

my topic?

Exhibit The exhibit category is three dimensional

and is displayed on a physical structure.  Exhibits use color, images, documents, objects, graphics, and design, as well as words, to tell your story.  Exhibits can be interactive experiences by asking viewers to play music, solve a puzzle, look at a video, or open a door or window to see more documents or photos.  

Performance The performance category is the only one

that is presented live. Developing a strong narrative that allows your subject to unfold in a dramatic and visually interesting way is important. Memorizing, rehearsing, and refining your script is essential, so you should schedule time for this in addition to research, writing, costuming and prop gathering.

Website Create your own website about your

topic. You must use the NHD web generator for

it to be a valid entry. You need access to the internet and a

computer.

Paper Write a research paper• A paper is a highly personal and individual effort,

and if you prefer to work alone this may be the category for you. Papers depend almost entirely on words to tell the story, and you can usually include more information in a paper than in some of the other categories.

Some Tips Do not work with friends Local issues and history are more likely to

move on. You cannot work with a student whom is

not in your period. Meet the bench mark deadlines. No groups over three people. You must have your topic selected by

Dec. 10th (It can not be changed.)