Creating History Day Projects: Research, Documentary, Exhibit, Performance, Web Site

1. HISTORY DAY Project Categories

2. Types of Presentations • Research paper (individual only) • Documentary • Exhibit • Performance • Web site

3. Research Paper Papers are 1500 to 2500 word discussions of a historical thesis related to the annual theme. Communication in History

4. Documentary • Video

5. Steps to Creating a Documentary • Research, research, research. • Storyboard the scenes before shooting. • Operate all equipment. [students] • Present a variety of panning shots, interviews, live action, and still subjects. • Use no more than 10 minutes. • Can include music. • Get permissions for EVERYTHING.

6. Exhibit • History Day exhibits are similar to museum exhibits. • Exhibits balance visual interest & historical explanation. • 500 original words

7. Steps to Creating an Exhibit • Research, research, research. • Make title the main focus of the center panel. • State your thesis • Use the center panel to present the main ideas supporting thesis. • Use side panels to compare or explain. • Place artifacts on the table. • Get permissions for everything.

8. Performance • 10 minute skit that translates theme into action • Quotations and excerpts from real events • Your interpretation

9. Steps to Creating a Performance • Research, research, research. • Storyboard the scenes/prepare the script based on research. • Prepare authentic costumes. • Practice lines and voice projection. • Prepare set [limit props to minimum]. • Address the thesis with clear beginning, middle, and end related to theme.

10. Historical Web Site Use the computer to create a web site that communicates a significant topic in History.

11. Steps to Creating a Web Site • Research, research, research. • Balance visual interest & history • Show thesis and relate to theme. • Use maximum1500 words and 20 pages • Annotated bibliography - posted/print • Include 500 word process paper - posted/print • Upload by History Day entry deadline. • Avoid outside links.

12. Time Management • Organizational Skills • Cant do this project at last minute • Cut it up into small bites • Examine theme sheet • Brainstorm topic ideas • Select a topic • Choose to work individually or in a group • Group/individual contracts • Research • Progress checks - assignments • More Research – it’s Ongoing! • Tell story, support thesis on a project (Rule book guidelines) • Annotated Bibliography – 10 items each individual

13. History Day Skills …Are Life Skills Creating a History Day project involves... • Conceptualizing an idea • Planning and organizing all the steps • Doing research - reading, interviewing, recording • Developing skill in the presentation mode • Working with others • Presenting oneself

14. History Day Skills Lead to College Success • The thinking, planning and writing skills developed for History Day are the same skills needed for college work. • College admissions officers look for participation in academic programs such as History Day, Science Fair, We the People, etc.

15. History Day Skills Lead to College Success “History Day participation was the thing that allowed me to be accepted to Pomona College in the face of stiff competition.” Keith Willis

16. History Day Teaches History- Social Science Standards Chronological and Spatial Thinking • Students explain how major events are related to one another in time. • Students construct various time lines of key events, people, and periods of the historical era they are studying.

17. History Day Teaches History- Social Science Standards Historical Research, Evidence, and Point of View • Students frame questions that can be answered by historical study and research. • Students distinguish fact from opinion… • Students distinguish relevant from irrelevant information… • Students assess the credibility of primary/secondary sources and draw sound conclusions from them… • Students detect the different historical points of view...

18. History Day Teaches History- Social Science Standards Historical Interpretation • Students explain the central issues and problems… • Students understand and distinguish cause, effect, sequence, and correlation in historical events… • Students explain the sources of historical continuity and how the combination of ideas and events explains the emergence of new patterns. • Students recognize that interpretations of history are subject to change as new information is uncovered.

19. History Day Teaches Reading-Language Arts Standards • Writing Organization and Focus • Research and Technology • Revising and Evaluating Writing • Research Reports that... • Define thesis • Record important ideas • Use variety of sources

20. History Day Assessment Scoring • 60% is historical quality • 20% is adherence to theme • 20% is quality of presentation

21. History Day Assessment What is Historical Quality? • Accurate • Interprets and analyzes doesn’t just report • Topic set in historical context • Wide research – uses both primary and secondary sources

22. Historical Context • Impact and Consequence • Cant understand what MLK said until you know about the time period

23. History Day Assessment What is Adherence to Theme? • Topic clearly relates to the theme • Demonstrates the significance of the topic IN HISTORY

24. History Day Assessment What is Quality of Presentation? • Creative and original • Well organized • Written material is clear, correct, and articulate • Type of entry matches the topic

25. Use NHD Student Rulebook as your guide. • www.nhd.org • Focus on one type of entry. • Research, explore, and learn. Have fun!!!