NHD Exhibit Guide

1. NHD Exhibit Guide

2. NHD Exhibits • A three-dimensional visual representation of research and interpretation of the topic’s significance in history • Analysis and interpretation of your topic must be clear and evident to viewers • Labels, captions, and other text should be used creatively with visual images, objects, and design to enhance the message of your exhibit • Your exhibit should make a clear connection to the NHD theme and tell a meaningful story

3. NHD Exhibit Rules • Size limits: no larger than 40 inches wide, 30 inches deep, and 6 feet high • Circular/rotating exhibits or those meant to be viewed from all sides: no more than 30 inches in diameter or diagonal (the diagonal becomes the depth when viewed from the corner) • Word limit: 500-word limit on student-composed text More about word limit • Media devices may run for a maximum total of 3 minutes More about incorporating media • Title page, process paper, and annotated bibliography are required – place 3 copies on the table in front of your exhibit (staple sets of papers in upper left corner, no binder or cover) • No formal prepared presentation during interview – judges will lead the discussion and ask questions

4. Important Considerations If you are thinking about the exhibit category, ask yourself these questions: Do you have a topic in mind that will have plenty of good visual images available? - for ancient-early modern topics you may need to depend on reproductions of paintings or photos of historical sites in addition to maps, graphs, etc. Can you assemble the exhibit with attention to detail? - you will need to cut precisely, glue carefully, etc. Do you have access to tools and other resources? - good quality paper cutter, art supplies, photo paper and good printer or commercial printing, matting, etc.

5. Early Steps: Research and Planning • Give yourself time to accomplish much of your research before you start planning the layout of your exhibit • As you research, save copies of any images you might use in your exhibit – be sure to note source citation information for your bibliography, and sort these images by categories (you might re-sort later as you do more research) • www.livebinders.com provides a useful online tool for organizing your information and images

6. Bibliography and Historical Quality • The bibliography is one of the very mostimportant parts of your NHD project • The bibliography shows how you meet 3 out of 6 components in the historical quality criteria: • Shows wide research • Uses available primary sources • Research is balanced • There is no “magic number” of sources, but good projects are based on thorough research in books, primary documents, scholarly library databases, and even interviews and visits to museums or historic places – do not stop researching after a quick Google search; it is normal for very high quality entries to be based on 50+ primary and reliable secondary sources

7. Bibliography Tips • Create your bibliography in Word – even if you are using an online bibliography tool such as www.easybib.com • Start your bibliography as soon as you find your first source • Add to your bibliography AS YOU GO, every time you find another good source • As you add to your bibliography, place each bib citation in the correct order alphabetically by the main author’s last name • If there is no author listed for your source, place the citation in the correct order alphabetically by the first main word in the title (but be careful – most good sources will list an author) • Write a brief annotation for each source AS YOU GO – for online secondary sources be sure to explain the author’s credentials if the source is not a book, scholarly article from a library database, or material published by a major museum, university, government agency, or well-known organization • More information about the bibliography

8. Planning your Exhibit • Start with the 3-column chart you used to organize information when you wrote your thesis statement • List your thesis statement and below the thesis statement, write 3-5 sentences that advance the argument of your thesis statement • Use the main idea of each sentence as an organizational focus for a different section of your exhibit (you may find you can use these sentences in the text you include in each part of the exhibit) • As you are planning the focus for each section, keep in mind the images or other items you have available – you want to have your exhibit visually balanced • Also consider how you will address the historical context (perhaps with a timeline) and how you will address aspects of the theme (best woven in throughout the exhibit but you might also want to make it the specific focus of one section) • Once you have decided on major sections, you can start writing text sections and captions and begin selecting the images, reproductions of documents, quotations, artifacts, etc. you will include in your exhibit • The parts you get written will let you see what you still need to research and also give you ideas about how to best organize your exhibit

9. Organizing the Exhibit – General Tips • You don’t need to label it, but make sure your thesis statement is clear and stands out – a good place is near the top of the central panel in a 3-panel exhibit • Think about how people tend to read (left to right, top to bottom) as you plan placement of text and other material • A straight linear arrangement is best – people generally don’t have to tilt their heads sideways to read text or view images when they visit exhibits in a museum • Allow “white space” – enough room between each item on the exhibit so the overall effect does not appear cluttered and busy • Big is usually better; a common “clarity of presentation” mistake in exhibits is to make the font/images too small to see clearly from at least 3 feet away – use as much of the allowed exhibit size as you can • Give each section of the exhibit a specific focus, and consider section subtitles (but remember every word counts) • This is a good 5-minute video about how to plan an exhibit project: http://www.tennesseehistory.org/images/videos/TN_HistoryDayVideoPart3.mov (QuickTime required to view; it will take several minutes to load)

10. Generic Template for Exhibit Layout – important elements to include, but arrangement/design is up to you! Title – may incorporate theme words Introduction to topic – include your analysis and interpretation; connect to theme if you can THESIS Statement: big, bold, in strategic location on exhibit to attract viewers’ attention – definitely should incorporate theme words Consequences or impact of topic – include your analysis and interpretation; connect to theme if you can Use carefully selected images (maps, photos, posters, etc.) and documents with captions plus brief quotations to help tell your story in each section – think about the purpose /focus of the section as you select items Background/historical context of topic – include your analysis and interpretation; connect to theme if you can Conclusion – connect to theme and address the significance of topic in history; rephrase the thesis without simply repeating Details about how your topic started/developed in history – include your analysis and interpretation; connect to theme if you can Important details about topic (the story) with your analysis, interpretation, and clear connection to theme – you might want to subdivide this section A timeline will help put your topic in context and tell the story – a good placement is across the bottom of the exhibit or across the middle (dividing the exhibit in half horizontally)

11. Specific Exhibit Considerations • Keep the limit of 500 student-composed words constantly in mind – make sure each word you use is necessary to help support your thesis • Images and quotations from primary sources and experts as well as brief primary documents or excerpts can help tell your story without using up your word limit – but remember that viewers will not take time to read lengthy documents on your exhibit • Try to have at least half of your own 500 words of writing directly addressing connections to the theme and explaining your analysis and interpretation of the facts – focus on historical significance • A timeline is a meaningful addition for most exhibit topics – it helps set the historical context and gives viewers a sense of how the topic developed over time and fits in history; students sometimes quote timelines from published authors to save words, but it is really better to write your own and include only the most important factors • Make sure it is very clear to your viewers when you are quoting – use quotation marks and identify the author/speaker

12. More Exhibit Board Tips • If you use commercial cardboard tri-fold boards, consider using two boards to make a taller exhibit (attach/reinforce with thin wood strips or yard sticks and heavy tape on the back) • If you have help and resources available, a simple hinged wooden frame could be recycled and used for many years (and folded down for easy transport); see note about adult help • A wooden frame can be covered with fabric or fitted with cardboard or foamcore inserts • Solid wood boards are not recommended as they are very heavy • Styrofoam pieces cut slightly smaller than exhibit elements can be attached between the board and the element for a 3-D effect • Make your exhibit and all text and image elements on it big enough to see and read from at least 3 feet away. • The classic folding panel board design is most effective – exhibits that are designed to be shaped like an object rarely work well (the shape tends to become a distracting “gimmick”)

13. This exhibit’s title “Encountering the Counter – The Oklahoma City Sit-ins” makes a great connection to the theme of Exploration, Encounter, and Exchange in History (2004) This full-exhibit photo does not let us see the thesis statement, but this is a likely place for it; increasing the size/prominence is a possible improvement • Design strengths: • Unified color scheme – black and white suit the topic of opposition to segregation; the red and tan provide visual contrast • Layered matting helps give importance to each element while keeping the collage background from being too “busy” • The pictorial time line divides the exhibit space and along with the silhouette figures suggest the setting of a lunch counter • The layout of each section is well balanced but not boringly symmetrical • Text and images are big enough for viewers to read and appreciate

14. Above: the student gained additional display space by designing hinged panels that can be moved to view from both sides. The nautical-patterned table drapes reinforce the theme of migration, but they count as part of the height measurement of the exhibit; omitting the drapes would leave more space for the actual exhibit, allowing items to be larger and less crowded.

15. These exhibits use the table space in front for additional display area.

16. The “architectural” elements of these exhibits can be achieved with inexpensive paintable Styrofoam “molding” from a baumarkt. Note: lighting, plexiglas covers, etc. are unnecessary expenses; judges will be looking for effectively presented solid research, not high cost projects.

17. THESIS Timeline Catchy quotation • A variety of tools and software programs can be used to create an engaging exhibit: • PowerPoint (it is easy to place text sections and graphics anywhere on page) • Inspiration (timelines, flowcharts, etc.) • Publisher (larger banner-style print jobs) • Photoshop (collages and special effects) • Cricut machine or manual die cutter for letters and shapes (Cricut was used for this title board and large quotation; many schools have these) • Flatbed or rotary cutter and mat Conclusion Real X-ray film (mounted on light box)

18. Keeping economy in mind – how to create your NHD exhibit without spending a fortune…. To use large pieces of heavy cardboard for the exhibit board (moving cartons, appliance or mattress box, etc.): - place the cardboard you are cutting on top of another piece of cardboard to protect the work surface and use a sharp utility knife - use a large T-square to draw and cut precise 90° angles - on the back side of the cardboard, carefully score lines where you want the exhibit board to fold (to score: cut only part-way through from the back; if possible, cut parallel to the corrugated lines rather than across so it will fold more easily) - or try to use the corners of the box as fold lines instead of scoring - spread an inexpensive plastic drop cloth out before you paint - paint with a small roller to completely cover the cardboard; apply paint lightly and allow to dry between coats (saturating the board with paint will cause it to warp); lay the board flat to dry and weight it if needed to prevent warping - covering the board completely with fabric or heavy paper is another option; good materials may be found in the drapery department of a baumarkt, craft/art supply stores, or office/stationary stores

19. Title Page and Process Paper • Title Page should include only the title of the entry, your name(s), and the contest division (JR or SR) and category • The process paper describes in 500 words or less how you conducted your research and created your entry. • The process paper should include four sections that explain: • how you chose your topic • how you conducted your research (include details about how you went about finding sources, particularly useful sources, etc.) • how you selected your presentation category and created your project (include specific details about software and tools used, etc.) • how your project relates to the NHD theme – be specific • Collate in order: title page, process paper, and bibliography; provide three sets of required paperwork and place them on the table in front of your exhibit (staple in upper left corner; do not use a binder, folder, or report cover)

20. Annotated Bibliography • List all sources that contributed to the development of your entry and sources that provided usable information or perspectives, including interviews, visits to historic sites, museums, visual materials and artifacts • Divide your bibliography into separate sections for primary and secondary sources; students with many different sources often create additional subdivisions within each category to specify the type of source (i.e., books, articles, images, multimedia, interviews, etc.); subdivision is not required • Acceptable NHD styles for bibliography and citations: MLA or Turabian; consult the appropriate style guide and be consistent • Annotations should very briefly describe the source and explain how it was useful in the development of the project • Annotations for any websites used should describe who sponsors the site; if the reliability of the site is not readily apparent (i.e., major museum, educational institution, or well-known organization), explain the website author’s credentials in the annotation • Observe standard bibliography conventions: hanging indent, double spacing, alphabetize entries by main author’s last name or first main word of title or item if there is no author (note: no recognized bibliography formats include numbered or bulleted entries)

21. Crediting Sources • In addition to citing in your bibliography, the source of direct quotations, images, and any other kinds of media such as video or audio should be credited on the exhibit board itself, ideally right under or next to the item – not a full bibliographic citation, but something like this: Source: American Memory Project, Library of Congress. Short source credits like this do not count as part of the 500-word limit. • If you use scanned images from books or save and import • them from a website, simply credit the book/website author

22. 500-Word Limit • Applies to all text on the exhibit written in the student(s)’ own words, including titles, subtitles, captions, graphs, timelines, media devices, or supplemental materials (photo album, scrapbook, etc. – do not include supplementary material such as interview transcripts, texts of laws or court cases, or other lengthy primary or secondary sources) • Brief citations crediting the sources of images, artifacts, media files, or quotations do not count as part of 500-word limit • A date counts as one word, while each word in a name is individually counted; short words such as “a,” “the,” and “of” count as one word each • Quotations do not count in the 500-word limit, but be very selective in choosing quotations; covering your exhibit with quotations will only diminish the power of every one of them • Do look for possible quotations that contain some of the theme words and might serve well as a title or section subtitle

23. Incorporating Media • Multi-media features are not required but can be a nice enhancement to an exhibit • Total running time cannot exceed 3 minutes • May include video or audio devices, computer (i.e., PowerPoint – but remember any student-composed text would count in the 500-word limit), digital photo frame, etc. • Media components must be integral to the exhibit, not a method to bypass the prohibition against live student involvement (so you can include a brief excerpt from a student-conducted recorded interview or a dramatic reading of a brief primary source, but not a recorded narration) • Viewers must be able to start/stop any media; direction signs such as “push here for video” count in the 500-word limit

24. Adult Help • All NHD projects, including exhibits, must be student work • If students are not experienced users of power tools or other potentially dangerous equipment such as utility knives, they may have adult assistance with these items only • All design elements must be the students’ ideas – students must draw out the plans, calculate measurements for cutting, determine which materials to use, etc. • Any work that can be done by students must be: sanding, painting, gluing, etc. – this includes assembly and set-up of the exhibit at the competition site • Safety is the primary consideration, not artistic expertise; if students want to include specially-designed elements in exhibits such as paintings, drawings, models, paper mâché, clay sculpture, etc. they must create these items themselves, but they may need adult help with tasks such as machine sewing