National History Day in Arizona!

What is National

History Day?

National History Day is:

• Student-centered history project. – You get to choose what you want to research,

not the teacher or the state of Az!

• Chance for students to “do history”

National History Day 2016 Theme:

Exploration, Encounter, Exchangein History

Choosing Your Topic

• Choose a topic you will enjoy.

• Make sure it is workable (access to sources). • Can you state your topic as a question?

• Don’t overlook local history!

• Choose a narrow topic, if it is too wide, you will not be able to explore it completely

• Relate it to the THEME!

Choosing Your Topic

• Explore historical significance: answer the “so what?” question

• Address questions about time, place, cause and effect, change over time, impact, and significance

• Don’t just describe what happened!

• Draw conclusions and provide historical context

Topic Ideas

• Brainstorm with your group possible topic ideas related to the following categories:• Science and Technology• Politics and Government• Individual Thinkers• Popular Culture• Women & Minorities

The Usual Suspects

• Avoid the obvious choices • See suggested NHD List – great place to

start!– www.nhd.org

Advanced Topic Tips

• Ask a different question of a well-studied topic– Analyze a common topic from a different perspective– Find a “sub-iconic” topic

• Example: After her arrest for not moving to the back of the bus, what role did Rosa Parks play in the Civil Rights movement?

• Avoid biography!

• Avoid “what if” history

• Avoid recent events (Topics at least 20 years old)

Writing Your Thesis

• Your thesis should be:

• Specific: Addresses a narrow topic and argument.

• Opinionated: Does it do more than just tell a story?

• Significant: Why is this important in history?

• Connect to the NHD Theme.

Researching Your Project

2/3 of your bibliography must be primary resources!

Places to find Primary Resources:•National Archives- www.archives.gov•Library of Congress- www.loc.gov•Chronicling America: American Newspapers since 1830 - http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/•Digital History - University of Houston - http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/•Arizona Historical Society: Library & Archives www.arizonahistoricalsociety.gov/library-and-archives/•Arizona Memory Project•Arizona Digital Newspaper Project•Local libraries/museums – MNA, NAU, Pioneer Museum

Researching Your Project

• http://www.nhdaz.org/

Choosing your Category

You may work with groups of up to 4 peoplePaper (individual projects only)

Exhibit DocumentaryPerformanceWebsite

Competitions• School Showcase

– You will first compete against other students with a school showcase/competition.

• Regional Competition– If you are chosen to move on, you will compete in your

age range and category at the regional level.

• State Competition– If you are chosen to move on, you will compete at the

state competition in early April in Phoenix.

• National Competition– Finalists then move on to the National History Day annual

competition in the nation’s capital in June.

National Competition Fun

• Travel to Washington D.C.• Sightseeing in our Nation’s Capitol• Have a chance to meet one of your state

legislators• Special museum tours• Special National History Day night at the

Smithsonian• Compete with other students from around the

world

Why Do National History Day?

NHD makes students better at:

• Writing• Critical Thinking• Researching• Working in a team• Talking to experts• Managing time• Standardized Tests (ACT, SAT, GRE, MAT,

LSAT, Etc.)

More Information

• Arizona History Day:http://www.nhdaz.org/

• National History Day:http://www.nhd.org