National History Day National History Day (NHD) Orientation(NHD) Orientation

J Obert SMS GT Facilitator jobert@nsd131.org

                                                                               

                                 

                     

Began as a small, local contest in 1974 in Ohio

Created by educators to help spur students’ interest in history

Gained support from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Grown to over 2 million people involved nationwide

Has regional, state, and national competitions

Has become a program that truly makes history come alive National History - www.nhd.org

NHD (National History Day)

http://www.nhd.orgNational History Day (NHD) wants your student to

become the historian! They decide on a topic. They find the sources. They determine the consequences based on the evidence. After they finish their research, they have a choice on how to tell the story. They may choose to create …

a historical performance, a paper, a web site, a documentary an exhibit.

NHD puts them in control of their learning.

http://www.nhd.orgREAD THE RULE BOOK!!!!http://www.nhd.org/images/uploads/2010rulebook.pdf

What’s the Theme? NHD has a different theme every year. Students need to explain exactly how their topic relates

to the parts of the theme. This years theme includes three main points. Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events

The division among people, ideas, or events may be blurred. People with ideas can inspire events to occur/happen. They may also

lead to others coming up with ideas. Whether fast or gradual, such “Turning Points” often inspire opposition,

as some people seek to slow or even reverse them. As a result, some topics will focus on People, Ideas, & Events, while

other topics may allow you to focus on just one or two parts of the theme.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO ALL THREE—YOU YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO ALL THREE—YOU CAN FOCUS ON JUST ONE OR TWO PARTS CAN FOCUS ON JUST ONE OR TWO PARTS OF THE THEME.OF THE THEME.

My topic can be a local, state, national, or world history topic.

Where should I start? Begin with the theme: Turning Points in History: People,

Ideas, Events. The best way to understand the theme is to define each word.

Turning point- The point at which a very significant change occurs

People- Human beings in general or considered collectively.

The citizens of a country

Ideas- A thought or suggestion as to a possible course of action

A concept or mental impression Event-

Something that takes place; an occurrence A significant occurrence or happening

A social gathering or activity

Remember… Not all people, ideas, or events are political—

they can be… Economic Social Cultural Scientific Medical Agricultural Industrial

Can you identify the type of People, Ideas, Events

What do you see?

Topic SelectionTopic Selection

Interests themRelates to the themeFits their desired final productIs narrow and manageable—specific

Students will benefit most from the NHD project if they

are encouraged to choose a topic that:

NHD is NOT A REPORT!!!!NHD is NOT A REPORT!!!!Students must do more than describe what

happened!

They must draw conclusions, basing their opinion on evidence, about how the topic affected individuals, communities, nations and the world.

Studies should include …an investigation into available primary and

secondary sources, an analysis of the evidence, and …a clear explanation of the relationship of the

topic to the theme.

Help your student determine whether they want to do an individual or group project.

Once they are on the journey—they are on the journey for the whole trip!

Creating a ProjectCreating a Project

Will your research answer these Will your research answer these three big topic questions?three big topic questions?

5Ws and How5Ws and How Reporter questions - who, what, when, where, why

and how

Historical Context and Historical PerspectiveHistorical Context and Historical Perspective How and why did the events and atmosphere—social,

economic, political, and cultural—of my topic’s time influence my topic in history?

How did my topic develop over time?

Will your research answer these Will your research answer these three big topic questions?three big topic questions?

So WhatSo What How is my topic important? How was my topic significant in history in relation to

the NHD theme? How did my topic develop over time? What were the

successes, failures, and consequences of my topic? How did my topic influence history over time?

Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation: Idea of Reforming Religion

Television: A Cultural Event

ResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResearchResear

Research Folders

We will make these in class

What are Sources?What are Sources?A source is any provider of information A source is any provider of information

used to interpret a topicused to interpret a topicWritten documents – diaries, letters, books,

articles, certificates, journalsArtifacts – physical remains, maps,

photographs, art, tools, furniture (objects from everyday life that have historical significance

Recordings – Video, film, audio recordingsPersonal Interviews – In-person discussions,

discussions over the phone, or via e-mail

A piece of information about a historical event or period in which the creator of the source was an actual participant in or a contemporary of a historical moment. A primary source can be written document created by someone in the past.

A primary source can be an object, place, song, or other cultural artifact created during the historical period you are studying

Primary SourcePrimary Source

Secondary Secondary SourceSource

A source that was not created first-hand by someone who participated in the historical era. Secondary sources are usually created by historians, but based on the historian’s reading of primary sources. Secondary sources are usually written decades, if not centuries, after the event occurred by people who did not live through or participate in the event or issue.

Per NHD – no Wikipedia as a cited sourcePer NHD – no Wikipedia as a cited source

• Review Focus Questions to create thesis

• Take a close look at historical significance and impact

• Must be arguable and provable

• Must connect to the theme

THESISTHESIS

NHD projects should do more than just tell a story. Every exhibit, performance, documentary, paper and web site should make a point about its topic. To do this, students must develop their own argument of the historical impact of the person, event, pattern or idea they are studying. The point they make is called a thesis statement. A thesis statement is not the same as a topic. A thesis statement explains what they believe to be the impact and significance of their topic in history.

Topic: Battle of Gettysburg Thesis Statement: The battle of Gettysburg was a

major turning point of the Civil War. It turned the tide of the war from the South to the North, pushing back Lee's army that would never fight again on Northern soil and

bringing confidence to the Union army.

Sometimes we get confused on what we write. The difference between a topic sentence and a thesis.

Topic: Harry Truman and the atomic bomb Topic sentences: This project will discuss Harry Truman’s decision to drop the bomb

on Hiroshima. The purpose of this project is to delve into the mindset behind

Truman’s decision to drop the bomb on Hiroshima. This project will explore how Harry Truman came to the decision to

drop the bomb on Hiroshima.

Thesis Statement: Harry Truman’s decision to drop the bomb on Hiroshima was

motivated by racism. The US confrontation with the Soviets was the key factor in

Truman’s decision to drop the bomb on Hiroshima. This project will demonstrate that in his decision to drop the bomb

on Hiroshima, Truman was unduly influenced by hawks in his cabinet.

What about Plagiarism?What about Plagiarism?

Plagiarism: Presenting the work or ideas ofothers in ways that give the impression that theyare your own (e.g., copying information word for-word without using both quotations andfootnotes; paraphrasing an author’s ideas withoutproper attribution; using visuals or music withoutgiving proper credit).

Presenting the InformationPresenting the Information DocumentaryDocumentary

DVD-not Power Point DVD-not Power Point

Exhibit Exhibit Paper Paper (early deadline)(early deadline)

PerformancePerformance Web Site Web Site (early deadline)(early deadline)

Presenting the InformationPresenting the Information Documentary Example

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7Px39IXGwE Website example

http://98755569.nhd.weebly.com/ Performance Example

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axW5Kyd_Stc http://www.nhd.org/CategoryPerformance.htm

Paper Example http://www.nhd.org/images/uploads/paperexample.pdf

Exhibit Example http://www.nhd.org/images/uploads/exhibitexample.jpg

Projects Must Also IncludeProjects Must Also IncludeTitle PageTitle PageProcess PaperProcess Paper

http://nhd.org/images/uploads/ProcessPaper1.pdf

(historical papers do not need this)(historical papers do not need this)

Annotated BibliographyAnnotated Bibliography http://www.marrowbones.com/commons/http://www.marrowbones.com/commons/

technosocial/Maine%20Indian%20Land%20Claimstechnosocial/Maine%20Indian%20Land%20Claims%20Video%20-%20%20Bibliography.pdf%20Video%20-%20%20Bibliography.pdf

George Washington: A Leader of IntelligenceAnnotated Bibliography

Jane Doe

Primary Sources:

Duer, William. "William Duer to George Washington." The Papers of George

Washington Documents. 28 Jan 1777. 6 Feb 2009

<http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/documents/revolution/duer/duer1.html>.

Washington relied on William Duer of New York to gather intelligence.

He wrote to Washington about setting up a spy network after the

Continental army set up headquarters at Morristown, New Jersey, in

early 1777. I used this to support my thesis that Washington was a master spy

and that this helped us win the Revolutionary War.

Secondary Sources:

Allen, Thomas B.. George Washington, Spymaster: How the Americans Outspied

the British and Won the Revolutionary War . New York : National

Geographic Children's Books , 2004.

This interesting book about Washington’s spying during the

Revolutionary War helped me find primary sources for my quotations and

led me to other documents. It also provided ciphers to use in my project. I

used some of the code to show how they communicated.

This is called a hanging indent

Helping your student manage Helping your student manage their time productivelytheir time productively NHD is done in stages Watch for important notices of deadlines and

due dates Check students agendas, folders, newsletters, e-

mails, and websites weekly http://www.kbensonlsms.weebly.com

Watch for communication that is sent home with your student

NHD is done in stages Watch for important notices of deadlines and due

dates Check students agendas, folders, newsletters, &

e-mails Watch for communication that is sent home with

your student Remember, I don’t require 6th grade students to

compete, it is completely up to them!

Important competition dates to rememberImportant competition dates to remember W 2/8 NHD Entry Forms with Thesis Paragraph, parent W 2/8 NHD Entry Forms with Thesis Paragraph, parent

signatures, and fee signatures, and fee due to GT Facilitator - must reach regional coordinator by 6PM on F 2/10

W 2/15 Finished PAPERS and WEBSITES W 2/15 Finished PAPERS and WEBSITES due –due – must must reach regional coordinator by 6PM (This includes process reach regional coordinator by 6PM (This includes process paper and annotated bibliographies.)paper and annotated bibliographies.)

Regional CompetitionRegional Competition – 9AM to 2PM (Winners – 9AM to 2PM (Winners announced about 4PM)announced about 4PM) Saturday, March 3, 2011Saturday, March 3, 2011

South Middle SchoolSouth Middle School 220 W. Greenhurst Rd220 W. Greenhurst Rd Nampa ID 83686Nampa ID 83686

“National History Day is not just a day,

it’s an experience!”

National History Day www.nhd.org