1. I T ' S N O T J U S T A D A Y, I T ' S A N E X P E R I E N C E

2. National History Day
This year’s theme is Conflict and Compromise

3. Choosing a Topic Topic MUST fit with the theme
Stay away from over done topic
Frivolous topic vs. serious topic
Focus project on thesis statement

4. Resources Choose your resources carefully-
a long list doesn't mean a good list
Judges like to see a variety of resources
Use books, journals, newspaper articles, etc.
Do not rely too heavily on web sites

5. Primary Sources
A primary source is information created during the time of the event or process of the event
The writer must be an eyewitness or participant of the event

6. Primary sources Examples
Archival documents
Interviews
Letters or postcards
Diary entries
Photographs
newspaper/magazine/journal articles- primary ONLY if they are first hand accounts written at the time of the event
Can you think of other examples?

7. Secondary Sources
Any historical source that interprets or explains an event AFTER it occurred
The writer is NOT an eyewitness or participant of the event

8. Secondary Sources Examples
Books
Articles
Media productions
Historical publications
Interviews (if given by an expert or someone who was NOT an eyewitness to the event)
Can you think of other examples?

9. Annotated Bibliography
The annotations for each source explain how you used the resource and why it was helpful to you
Annotations should also explain why you categorized a particular source as primary or secondary
Sources should be divided into two sections:
primary and secondary

10. Sample Annotation
Source (example): Bates, Daisy. The Long Shadow of Little Rock.
1st ed. New York: David McKay Co. Inc.,
1962.
Annotation (example): Daisy Bates was the president of the Arkansas NAACP and the one who met and listened to the students each day. This first-hand account was very important to my paper because it made me more aware of the feelings of the people involved.

11. Important Questions to ask yourself…
Does my topic relate to the theme?
If so, how does it relate to the theme?
Does the project’s information/material focus directly on my topic and the theme?
Is my project worthy of winning the regional, states or even national competition?
What can I do to improve my project?

12. Checking the final project…
Remember, what is interesting is NOT always important
Ask yourself, “Will this information help people understand the main ideas of my topic?”
Don’t waste space/words on information that is not crucial to your topic.