1. Theme: Taking a Stand in History
National History Day
Theme:
Taking a Stand in History

2. What does it mean to take a stand?

3. What is history?
“History” = His story (or Her story) a continuous, systematic narrative of past events as relating to a particular people, country, period, person, etc., usually written as a chronological account; chronicle Explain the following quote: “Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it.”

4. Where do I start?!
FIND A TOPIC THAT INTERESTS YOU! Reflect on and analyze the questions that you ask about the world and how things came to be. Consider the 8th grade curriculum…it might be easier to stay within the context of American history. (It does not have to be limited to Georgia.) But if you find a topic that interests you enough to spend hours researching it, then go for it.

5. Broad topics…
political history social history military history economic history
religious history cultural history diplomatic history
women’s history public history history of government
rural history family history ethnic history labor history
urban history history of education history of the common man
intellectual history demographic history environmental history

6. I would like to study…
Governments, laws, and who is in control How people lived How militaries operate
How money affects peoples’ lives How ideas develop in society How ordinary people live
How people worship and express religious beliefs Art, culture, music, sports and other forms of entertainment
How nations agree or disagree with each other How the physical world influences how people live
How women and other groups earned equal rights in society
What happens when large groups of people move from one part of the world to another
The growth and development of cities The development of the rural parts of a nation
The history of a particular group of people within a larger society The way workers operate
The story of my family’s roots How governments develop and change over time

7. I would like to create… A historical paper A documentary
A museum exhibit
A website
A stage performance

8. Topic Proposal Form
Part 1: Topic Description—Who / what do you want to study?
Part 2: Personal Interest—Why are you interested in studying this person / event /idea? Submit three research questions that you hope to answer in the course of your research.
Part 3: So What?—Why is this important enough for you to research and present? How does your question represent an enduring issue in history?
Part 4: Explain how you will incorporate the theme, “Taking a Stand in History”.

9. Topic Proposal Form (continued)
Part 5: Significance in History—Describe why this person/event is important—explain the historical significance. Give three clear reasons why this was important to history at a local, state, national, or international level:
What primary source helped you to establish this significance?
How do you know this is a reliable source?
What secondary source helped you to establish this significance?
Part 6: List 3-5 credible sources you can use for your research?

10. Topic Proposal Form (continued)
Part 7: What type of project do you plan to do?
Documentary
Exhibit
Paper
Performance
Web Site

11. Project Checkpoints (May be subject to change based on student and project requirements)
August 26: Topic choice due. Write a paragraph explaining how you will address the theme, your project choice, and your group members’ names. September 16: Topic Proposal Form due. Use the guidelines in this presentation to complete your TPF. November 11: Project type, process paper (rough draft), thesis statement/paragraph, and annotated bibliography on this topic due for language arts. December 9: NHD project mock-up/rough draft, outline, or other first draft is due. January 9, 2017: Completed project due. School competition is January