National History Day Helpful Hints

Students will Day One: Review how to access the library catalog and the library databases Review and practice MLA format citations Day Two: Review and practice summarizing information Learn what an annotated bibliography is and practice writing one.

Selecting a Topic Your topic must be related to the theme,

Sample Topics

Read to learn about your topic Digital Resources Books Specialized Encylopedias Search the Library Media Services Web PageLibrary Media Services Web Page

Primary Sources Definition: A primary source is 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. The purpose of primary sources is to capture the words, the thoughts and the intentions of the past. Primary sources help you to interpret what happened and why it happened. Examples: include documents, artifacts, historic sites, songs, or other written and tangible items created during the historical period you are studying. Building Historical Context and Conducting Research. NHD National History Day. Cecil Hall University of Maryland College. Web. 27 Sept. 2009

Example of Primary Source

Secondary Sources Definition: A secondary source is 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. Examples: textbooks, articles, books Building Historical Context and Conducting Research. NHD National History Day. Cecil Hall University of Maryland College. Web. 27 Sept. 2009

Example of Secondary Source

Resources: World Book Online More than an encyclopedia

Resources: ABC-CLIO Search Results Page

Resources: Gale Student Resources in Context

Resources: netTrekker for Web Sites

Resources: Discovery Education Resource for Video and Images

Resources: Books QVMS Library Public Library Check the school catalog. Remember I also have reference books available for use in the library (no checkout). If you don’t have one, get a card so you can check out books at the public library!

Gathering and Recording Information As you read, write down the following: Author’s Name Title Publisher Date of Publication Page Number for Quotes You must cite all of your sources You must collect data as you do your research Otherwise you will not be able to do your annotated bibliography or your final project bibliography

Bibliography Adapted from “A Student’s Guide to National History Day: Almost Everything You Need to Know to Get Started on Your History Day Adventure.” Wisconsin History Day Building Historical Context and Conducting Research. NHD National History Day. Cecil Hall University of Maryland College. Web. 27 Sept Eight Steps of Historical Research. NHD National History Day. Cecil Hall University of Maryland College. Web. 27 Sept A Guide to Historical Research Through the National History Day Program. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Print.

MLA Bibliography: Activity On each table are three print and two web resources. There is an MLA format citation for print electronic resources handout on your table. Use the handout to write a citation for each of the five sources you are given on your own paper. Group members turn in one page of citations when finished or before the bell rings; write all group member names at the top of the page. summarize___note_taking.html

Annotated Bibliography for NHD

What is an annotated bibliography? A list of sources on a particular topic A brief summary of what the source is about For NHD, it includes a brief evaluation of how the source helps you with your project It should be three sentences max! Order: Bibliography Summary Evaluation

Example Parsons, Matt. “Protecting Children on the Electronic Frontier: A Law Enforcement Challenge.” FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin (2000): 22 – 26. Parsons describes an educational program the US Navy uses to educate its employees and their families about dangers on the Internet and praises its effectiveness. The article supports the argument that education promotes awareness and changes behavior.

Annotations should be Short Summaries “Quote free” In your own words Reminder: Cite your source, then write your annotation

For each source Summarize as you take notes Use your own words For sources you can write on: Highlight the title, headings, thesis statement, topic sentences, and concluding sentences of each paragraph Use these to determine main ideas of an article Remember: not all topic and concluding sentences may be used as part of the summary. Some paragraphs may simply continue or support ideas already presented. Summarizing Activity More online practice Summarizing: Activity | TV411

Activity Read the article Each sentence is numbered. Write the number of the sentences that will best help you write your summary (there are 6) Write a one or two sentence summary Write a one sentence evaluation of how the article helps you understand the power of social media and/or the Internet

Additional Help Taking Notes from Research Reading A Guide for Taking Notes Taking Notes from Research Reading Purdue OWL: Annotated Bibliographies A guide for creating an annotated bibliography Purdue OWL: Annotated Bibliographies

Resources ABC - CLIO District databases School and local libraries Research Methods and Materials Organizations and Institutions Museums and Historic Sites National Libraries, Archives and Directories State Resources State and Local NHD Web Sites Primary Sources on the Web US History Primary Sources and Major Web Sites World History Primary Sources and Major Web Sites Photos, Maps and Other Images Music