Texas History Day

2013 Theme  Turning Points In History: People, Ideas, Events  Projects are due January 29, 2013

History Day  Focus on all history  Project based  Co-curricular activity  Awards are available for quality research  For 6 th -12th

Divisions and Categories  Exhibit  Historical Research Paper  Interpretive Web Site  Documentary  Performance  Junior Division: 6 th -8 th Grade  Senior Division: 9 th -12 th Grade  Group or Individual projects

Paper Category Length Requirements: no less than 1500 and no more than 2500 words Does not include end/footnotes, annotated bibliography or appendix material Citations: Chicago or MLA Preparation: typed, computer printed or legibly handwritten, pages must be numbered, no less than 10- point font 4 copies

Exhibit Category  Size Requirements: 40 inches wide, 30 inches deep, 6 feet high; circular exhibits must be no more than 30 inches in diameter  Media Devices: must not run for more than 3 minutes, fit within the size of the exhibit, judges and viewers must be able to operate device  Word Limit: 500 student-generated word limit

Performance Category Time Requirements: 10 minutes in length, time starts after students announce their names and the entry title Performance Introduction Media Devices: media devices are permitted, students must provide and operate Script: do not present the judges with a script Costumes: provided by the student

Documentary Category  Time Requirements: 10 minutes in length  Introduction: students should introduce only themselves and the title of the entry  Student Involvement: students must run all equipment  Student Production  Entry Production: students may use professional photographs, film, slides, music in their entry with proper integration and credit  Credits: do not include a full bibliography  Computer Entries: interactive computer programs are prohibited

Web Site Category Entry Production: entries must be produced using the NHD web site editor beginning at the school level Size Requirements: 1200 student generated words; 100 MB of file space Navigation Multimedia Required Written Materials: annotated bibliography and process paper must be included as part of the Web site Stable Content Viewing files Submitting an Entry for Judging

Group Selection  Groups no larger than 4 students  Avoid common problems with group work  Choose group members who share a common interest and work ethic  Decide on a task list early and stick to your deadlines  Be honest with group members if you feel there are problems with the project

Required Written Material for All Entries  Written Material (except the historical paper)  Title Page  Process Paper  Annotated Bibliography  Separation of Primary and Secondary Sources  Style Guides  All rules available free to download in PDF online:

Annotated Bibliography  Organized list of sources, divided into primary and secondary – Students may further divide sources by letters, interviews, photographs, etc.  Annotations should describe the content and focus of item  Annotations may also include student’s reaction to the item

What is the key to History Day? History Day  Choices  Research

What is the goal of History Day? History Day  Choices  Research  Technology  Achievement

How does the competition work? History Day  Choices  Research  Technology  Achievement  Levels of Competition National History Day College Park, MD June 9-13 Territory and DOD Competitions Texas History Day Austin May 3-4 Regional Contests Feb-Mar Regional Contests Feb-Mar School Fairs Nov-Jan Regional Contests Feb-Mar State Contests 49 other states

What are the benefits of competition? History Day  Choices  Research  Technology  Achievement  Levels of Competition  Recognition

Annotated Bibliography  Organized list of sources, divided into primary and secondary – Students may further divide sources by letters, interviews, photographs, etc.  Annotations should describe the content and focus of item  Annotations may also include student’s reaction to the item

Program Benefits Texas History Day  TEKS Correlation  Differentiation for individual learners  Skills used closely related to those needed for AP courses  Distinguished Achievement Program Program covers most of the Social Studies Skills TEKS for any grade level.

Benefits of NHD/Results of Study In Texas, NHD students outperformed their non-NHD peers on TAKS tests

Benefits of NHD/Results of Study NHD students had more exemplary writing scores, and fewer low scores

Benefits of NHD/Results of Study When asked about their confidence in a variety of career- and college- ready skills, NHD students have an edge over their peers

THD T-Shirt Design Contest Designs due by mid-December  Helps students understand theme  Builds student ownership in program  Interdisciplinary activity  Prizes for winning design

Finding Primary Sources - Online Online:  Library of Congresswww.loc.govwww.loc.gov  National Archiveswww.archives.govwww.archives.gov  Eyewitness to historyhttp://  Our Documentshttp://  Children & Youth in History  The Portal to Texas Historyhttp://texashistory.unt.edu/  Texas General Land Officehttp://  Texas Archive of the Moving Image Most Universities have research databases:  University of Texas at Austin – Dolph Briscoe Center for American History  Wake Forest University  University of Houston

NHD Resources  THD/NHD Web site THD/NHD Web site  Tools provided on NHD site  NHD Resource booklets

How do I get started? History Day  Be informed  Get permission  Start early  Hold school fair  Attend regional fair  Go all the way!

Research Strategies and Resources  NHD Resources NHD Resources  Big 6 Research Model  Additional Resources

Topic Selection Process  Topic selection is very flexible.  Choose a topic in which you are interested.  Make sure the topic is thematically connected and specific.  Give thought to title and thesis.

Big 6 Model  Widely used.  Applicable outside of history.  Six basic steps.  More information available at

Additional Resources  Colleagues/Teachers  Librarians  Historical Societies and Sites  Archives and Archivists  Subject Matter Experts

Other services of TSHA  Handbook of Texas Online  Texas Almanac – Lesson Plans Online  Publications  TSHA Annual Meeting

Texas History Resources Teaching Texas & Texas Insights o Handbook of Texas Online o Texas Almanac o Exploring Texas Workshop Series o