1. What is National History Day?

2. What is NHD?
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3. What Can You Do With NHD? BECOME an historian
Explore the history of something that interests YOU
Create a project to SHARE your ideas with others
Enter a competitive cycle - ADVANCE to regional, state, and national contests

4. How does NHD work? Select a topic connected to annual theme
Complete your own research
Analyze the significance of topic in history
Present your ideas through a creative project
Compete in series of regional, state, and national competitions (optional)

5. Picking an NHD Topic Needs to connect to the annual theme, but…
There are endless topic possibilities!
Everything has a history!

6. Tips for Picking Topics
Avoid history that is “too new.”
More than 20 years in the past as a rule of thumb.
Don’t choose a broad topic.
Narrow topic by time period, people, event, or geographic area. Look at something specific related to the broad topic.
Example:
American Revolution  Stamp Act
Are there primary and secondary sources you can access?
Choose something you are interested in.

7. Topic Brainstorm

8. Select a topic based on an annual theme.
Topics must be connected to the to theme
Annual theme is broad enough to cover a wide range of topics

9. Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events
2013 NHD Annual Theme
Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events

10. The Annual Theme A Turning Point is moment that great change.
Think of how things were before this point, and how things were different afterwards.
Examples:
Area of History
Women’s History
Your Idea?
Topic 1
Susan B. Anthony and the Suffrage Movement
Topic 2
Title IX and Equality for Women in Sports`

11. Categories
Exhibit
Historical Paper
Website
Performance
Documentary

12. Exhibits

13. Exhibits Similar to what you might see in a museum
Uses text, images, objects, etc. to make an argument
Up to 6’ tall, 40” wide, 30” deep
500 student-composed words
Most popular NHD category

14. Documentary
The Use of Propaganda and the Rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party

15. Documentaries
Similar to what you might see on PBS or the History Channel
10-minute media presentation
Great category if you like technology and have a visual topic

16. Performance

17. Performances 10-minute dramatic performance
Conveys your argument and evidence
Uses scripts, costumes, props, etc.
Great category for performers who love to be on stage: actors, singers, dancers

18. Historical Paper

19. Papers 1,500 - 2,500 word essay about an historical topic
Includes citations: footnotes, endnotes, or internal documentation
Great category for aspiring writers

20. Website Prohibition http://71658347.nhd.weebly.com/
The Suez Crisishttp:// nhd.weebly.com/

21. Web Sites 1,200 visible, student-composed words, 100 MB size limit
Incorporates text, images, media, and more to make an argument
Created using the NHD Website Editor – provided free online

22. Selecting a Category Pick a category YOU like:
Do you like working with technology?
Do you like performing on stage?
Do you like writing?
Pick a category that works with your topic:
Are there enough visuals for this topic to make a documentary? An exhibit? A website?
Can you focus on a specific person or event for a performance?

23. The Three Hats of the Historian
The NHD Process
Research
Analyze
Present
The Three Hats of the Historian

24. Research your topics using primary and secondary sources.
“NHD really helped me with my research skills. During the research I learned to use the Archives and microfilm.”
"During my research I was able to visit the archives at UW-GB. I found that often the primary sources had better opinions and more meaningful information than the compiled secondary sources."

25. Research Start with Secondary Sources Move to Primary Sources
A book about your topic
A good website from a reliable source
Move to Primary Sources
Photographs, interviews, books written by participants, newspaper articles, etc.

26. Primary and Secondary Sources
Primary Sources
Connected to an event by time or participation
Created at the time of the event or by someone who witnessed the event
Secondary Sources
Created after the fact and analyzes primary sources to create an historical narrative
Need both types of research for a good NHD project

27. Where to find information?
School Library
Public Library
University/College Library
Archives
Historical Societies
Museums
The Internet

28. Thesis and Analysis History Day is more than just a book report
Analyze your research to figure out why your topic is significant in history
Develop a thesis statement about your topic

29. Guide to Creating a Top Notch NHD Entry
Analysis and Interpretation
Significance and Impact
Research
Historical Accuracy
Historical Context
Adherence to the Theme
Follow ALL NHD Rules

30. Judging Criteria
The same criteria are used at all levels of NHD competitions:
60% Historical Quality: Accuracy, analysis, interpretation, historical context, and the quality of research.
20% Connection to Theme: Have you connected the topic to the theme in the project itself?
20% Clarity of Presentation: How clearly have you used the project to convey your argument and evidence? Includes spelling, organization, etc.
Rules Compliance: Have you violated any major rules for the category or NHD?

31. Competition DC-G Competition District Competition State Competition
March 4, 2013
District Competition
April 6, 2013
State Competition
April 29, 2013
National Competition
June 9-13, 2013

32. IMPORTANT INFO You can find most important documents on my website.
US History  National History Day
Pay close attention to project due dates.
Ask questions!