1. National History Day It’s not just a day. It’s an experience!

2. CHOOSING A GREAT TOPIC Step by Step

3. Step 1: Figure out the Theme Both theme words do not need to be equally addressed in your project; but they both must be addressed, as well as the “in History” part. Leadership and Legacy in History

4. Leadership in History Benjamin Franklin, 1770, Library of Congress Steve Jobs, 2003, www.archives.gov Definition: Position as a leader of a group, organization, etc.; the time when a person holds the position of leader; the power or ability to lead other people

5. Legacy in History What is a Legacy? Definition: Something that happened in the past or that comes from someone in the past; something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past Andrew Jackson, 1824, Library of congress Harriet Tubman, 1861 National Archives

6. “in History” What is “in History”? Criteria: Your project must be historical, not a current event Alfred Nobel, 1875, Library of Congress

7. Step 2: Where Can I Go For Help With My Topic? Middle School LMC The Library Lady is brilliant! Cool Books Cool Books Teachers Teachers Sample Topics List Sample Topics List Family/Friends/Neighbors Family/Friends/Neighbors News News

8. Step 3: Choosing an Outstanding Topic ☺Does my topic need to be about Leadership and Legacy? ☺Yes ☺ What if my group wants to do a topic I don’t really like? ☺Compromise or Get a New Group or Work as an individual ☺ How many sources will I need? ☺A LOT! Do a quick check before you select!

9. Step 3: Choosing an Outstanding Topic (cont.) ☺Should I choose a topic that is really old? NO!—try to stay within the last 200 years ☺Should I choose a topic that is really current? NO!—try to be before 2000 ☺Should my topic be general or specific? Specific – but you can start general

10. Step 3: Choosing an Outstanding Topic (cont.) Always keep in mind… What is new, unique, or different about your topic?What is new, unique, or different about your topic? How did it change life for people?How did it change life for people? What was happening at the time that made this person become a leader and leave a legacy?What was happening at the time that made this person become a leader and leave a legacy?

11. Step 4: Make Sure Your Topic Is Important To History! When and where did this particular leader emerge? Was there a need for this leader at the particular time? How did the leader impact change over time? What were those changes? What impact/effect did the leader have? What factors contributed to a continuing legacy? Regardless of the topic selected, you must do more than describe what happened.

12. Topics should not be of current eventsTopics should not be of current events Topics should not be of ancient events (more than 500 years ago)Topics should not be of ancient events (more than 500 years ago) In general, try to base topics on events that took place at least 20 - 200 years agoIn general, try to base topics on events that took place at least 20 - 200 years ago WHS Image ID: 41644

13. Science and Technology Cyrus McCormick Revolutionizes Agriculture Jonas Salk: Polio, the Vaccine, and the March of Dimes Wisconsin Historical Society, 1955 Wisconsin Historical Society, 1872

14. Social Issues http://www.dol.gov/dol/aboutdol/hallofhonor/ 1989_commons.htm John Commons: Workmen’s Compensation Bennett Law: Mandatory English in Schools Michael Bennett:

15. Arts, Literature & Music Les, Paul, 1961, Library of Congress Les Paul and the Electric Guitar WHS Image ID: 3855 Frank Lloyd Wright, 1912, Wisconsin Historical Society Frank Lloyd Wright and Organic Architecture

16. Environment Gaylord Nelson, 1972, Wisconsin Historical Society Gaylord Nelson and Earth Day http://www.google.com/search?q=john+muir& John Muir: Creator of Yosemite National Park

17. Famous People Golda Meir, 1961, Library of Congress Golda Meir Joseph McCarthy, 1943, Wisconsin Historical Society Joseph McCarthy When you select your person remember that it is more than a biography. You will need to focus on something significant that became his/her legacy.

18. Military History & Wartime http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisp lay.pl?index=W000170 Cadwallader C. Washburn Military great and politician http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/whspress/books /book.asp?book_id=370 Cordelia Harvey: “Civil War Angel”

19. Agriculture Stephen Babcock and the Butterfat Tester Stephen Babcock: WHS Image ID: 5585 Jeremiah I Case, Wisconsin Historical Society J.I. Case: Agricultural Inventions

20. Politics and Government Fighting Bob’s Progressive Reforms Robert M. LaFollette, 1925, Wisconsin State Historical Society William Rehnquist: http://www.biography.com/people/william- rehnquist-9454479

21. Social Issues Vel Phillips and Civil Rights in Wisconsin Vel Phllips, 1968, History.com Alice Green Hixon: Founder of Local League of Women Voters http://www.findagrave.com/cgi- bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=41264172 http://www.lchshistory.org/hixon-house/

22. Transportation William Harley, 1902, Library of Congress Henry Ford and the Assembly Line William Harley Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Henry Ford, 1933, Library of Congress

23. Women in History Kathryn Frederick Clarenbach: 1 st Chairwoman of NOW http://womenshistory.about.com/od/now/a/Kathry n-Clarenbach.htm Mildred Fish-Harnack, 1942, Library of Congress Mildred Fish- Harnack: Nazi Resistor

24. Pop Culture Mary Kay Ash Mary Kay Ash, 2001, www.markay.com Liberace: Musician and Entertainer http://whoonew.com/2013/04/famous-people-wisconsin/ Pop culture topics can be effective for NHD projects—but you have to treat these topics as historical research topics.

25. Other Great Topics to Consider Early Hmong in LaCrosse Tom Maulson: Spearfishing Mary Bradford: State’s 1 st female superintendent Andrew Carnegie: Small-Town Libraries Father Groppi: Selma of the North

26. Other Great Topics to Consider Bacon’s Rebellion The Euro Veteran’s Administration Peace Corp YMCA Union Pacific Railroad CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp)

27. Instead of…..do….. Football Teddy Roosevelt and football Pop Warner Carlisle Indian Boarding School Gridiron Guts Jim Thorpe