national history day. turning points in history: people, ideas, events, choose a topic that fits the...
TRANSCRIPT
National History Day
Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events,
Choose a topic that fits the theme
Topics – Choose something you are interested in:
American history Hawaiian history World history European history Sports history Music history Science history
Military history Asian history African American
history Women’s history Labor history Art history
Topics must fit the theme Consider:
Is the topic historically important? Did the person or event change or
influence attitudes or change society? Does the issue have both a positive and
negative side? How was it perceived by others?
Gather Information
and READ about it
Start with Secondary Sources
Used to get an overview of topic Encyclopedias Textbooks Biographies
Use Primary Sources to Support Your Thesis
First-hand accounts Letters Journals Photos Speeches Documents Court records Interviews
How to Use the Sources
After you select a topic or to find one,read through lots of secondary sources
Check bibliographies Find lots of primary sources
Avoid Doing a Biography or a Narrative of Events!!
Think Context, Analysis and Selectivity
Move beyond the who, what, where, when questions.
Ask why and how questions.
ANALYSIS
Context
Investigate events and people surrounding your topic.
Create a Thesis Statement
The thesis explains how the topic relates to this year’s theme - time and place, cause and effect, change over time, and impact and significance - by drawing conclusions about how the topic affected individuals, communities, nations or the world.
Do I work alone or with a group?
Choosing Groups and Formats in October
OK for a student to change topic if working in a group.
Look at research and decide on a format that fits.
Alone Pros Cons Make your own
decisions Make your own
schedule Saves time Fewer distractions
You are responsible for every part of the project.
No group support No one to bounce
ideas off of
GroupPros Cons
Support Share work Share costs Share fun
Someone is: Too busy Too bossy Too lazy Too playful Too disorganized
Most Groups Are Successful
When choosing a group consider: Is someone going on vacation you need
to know about? Moving?
Can you get together on weekends or breaks?
Does your partner turn in quality work on time in other classes?
Types of Projects
History Day Formats:(Competition only)
Display board (1-3 people) Media Documentary (1-3 people) Performance (1-3 people) Individual Research Paper Website (1-3 people)
Display Board Most popular
Can be costly and bulky
500 of your own words
How to Make a Great HD Exhibit on HD website
Individual Research Paper
No partners 2500 words Includes an appendix See me for examples and handout
Media Documentary Need equipment: video camera, sound, video
editing software, tripod
Need to create a storyboard
No performances
10 minutes How to Make Great Media Documentaries on HD
website
Performance Be prepared to perform in public
Need a script
Need costumes and props
10 minutes
How to Create Great Performances on HD website
Website
An electronic research paper 2500 of your own words Images and video clips No outside links No advertisements on pages Must use Weebly
Annotated Bibliography
See HD website for instructions
Competitions
School - January
District – February
State – March/April
National - June
Research Collection
Note cards ( about 100) – Use key words and phrases only. Follow questions on worksheet.
Using Google docs and BibMe
Informational Packet Includes:(For Competition only)Title PageProcess Paper– 500 words (only
for students going on)Annotated Bibliography
Needed for all projects except Individual Research Paper
Timeline
August – Overview of project September and October – Topic selection,
research, form groups November – continue research collection,
thesis statement, select format of project, December– assemble project, submit
bibliography January – Project due to teacher, school
History Day event
ADVICE TO STUDENTS
PLAN AHEAD START EARLY KEEP ORGANIZED! WORK AT LEAST 2-3 HOURS A
WEEK
ADVICE TO PARENTS
Check deadlinesDiscuss topic. Ask “why” questionsCheck their work and help editGive feedbackProvide transportation to libraries
and competitionsDon’t do the work for them.
Thank you for attending this evening.