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National History Day How to: Creating a Documentary

National History Day How to: Creating a Documentary. What is a Documentary?. An 10 minute audio-visual presentation of your event, person, place, or idea. You get to use still images, moving images, narration, and other types of media. Tip: Think of a documentary you might see on PBS.

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National History Day How to: Creating a Documentary

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  1. National History Day How to: Creating a Documentary

  2. What is a Documentary? • An 10 minute audio-visual presentation of your event, person, place, or idea. You get to use still images, moving images, narration, and other types of media. Tip: Think of a documentary you might see on PBS.

  3. The Basics of a DocumentaryConsult the Contest Rule Book for complete rules • 10 minute time limit – including your credits. • Must be student produced and operated. • Any narration must be within the documentary. • Access to moviemaking software: Keynote, PowerPoint, Windows Movie Maker, iMovie.

  4. What does your project need to “do”? • Make an argument • Tell a story • Reveal change over time • Consider historical perspective • Provide context • Ask questions • Draw conclusions • Find facts

  5. How do I choose a topic? • Brainstorm topics related to the theme. • Learn what historical resources are nearby. • Think through controversial topics. • Choose something you think is interesting!

  6. How do I research my topic? • Start with secondary sources • They help you understand your topic more completely. • Will point you toward primary sources. • Help you pick the specific themes and key questions you want to address and ask. • Visit your local libraries and archives! • Can I use websites? • Yes, but don’t do all your research there.

  7. How do I research my topic? • Primary sources! • NHD defines these as materials directly related to a topic by time or participation. • Sources can be both primary and secondary depending on how it’s used. • Look in the footnotes and bibliographies of secondary sources to find them. • Talk to a librarian, historian, teacher, or archivist!

  8. Evaluating your sources • Not all primary sources are primary to your topic. • Think about these questions: • What type of source is it? • What is the date? • Who created it? • Where was it produced?

  9. What do I put in my documentary? • Does it fit the theme? • Does it support your argument? • Does it further the story you’re telling? • Is it visually interesting? Visual information is the key to a documentary. • Make sure your topic is well suited to a documentary.

  10. Your “Script” • Write a script: It will become the basis for your narration during your documentary. • Introduction: Make sure your thesis comes at the beginning and is clear to the viewer. • Divide your body into the sections that support your thesis. • Make sure you have your conclusion. • Remember to have credits. • Everything must be done in 10 minutes.

  11. What should my documentary look like? • Consider color, size, and legibility of the text you include. • Build your images as you research. • BUT, make sure the images you decide to include support your script and argument. • Make sure you have good high-res images so they don’t appear pixilated on screen. • Remember to include captions for any images, interviews, or video used so that people know your research. • Consider your soundtrack. Make sure it’s not too loud. • Have fun with it!

  12. Documentary FAQs • Who can operate the equipment? • Only the student(s) may operate the equipment. • Who can appear in the documentary? • Students are the only one’s who can appear as narrators, but interviews with experts or participants in the event are encouraged. • Can you use clips from other films? • Yes, with proper credit. They are not a substitute for your own idea. • Can someone else narrate? • No, but you can use pre-existing narration or sound clips, but not they must not be created with specific use for your project.

  13. Your Annotated Bibliography and Citations • Bibliography: List of sources typed that you consulted in creating your documentary. Keep a working bibliography as you research. • Annotations: Brief descriptions of how the source was useful to your research. • For both annotations and citations refer use the MLA or Turabian style manuals. • Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. • Joseph Gibaldi, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.

  14. Tips! • Watch PBS documentaries. Or previous History Day winners. • Make sure your argument is clear! • Outline your argument and write a script so that you know exactly what you will include. • Include your research! It’s not just there for your bibliography. • Content is more important than glitz. • Judges should be able to find all the information they need in the documentary.

  15. But, what if I have questions? • That’s easy, contact: Cheryl Caskey at cheryl.caskey@ky.gov or 502-564-1792 ext.4461. • Or, visit: http://nhd.org/CreatingEntry.htm. • Or, visit: www.facebook.com/kyjhs. • Or, visit: www.history.ky.gov.

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