STEPS to Creating a HISTORY DAY project
(Shamelessly stolen from the National History Day Website)
(Shamelessly stolen from the National History Day Website)
Creating A Project
A step-by-step process of creating an NHD entry.
- Read about the contest theme and review the curriculum book.
- Determine if you want to do an individual or group project. Use this worksheet to help you decide.
- Select a topic:
- Narrow down an area of interest
- Choose a title
- Tips on topic selection
- Topic selection worksheet
- Sample topics - Select the type of entry: documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or Web site. Read the Contest Rule Book.
- Research a topic:
- Research Roadmap
- Types of source material
- Finding basic primary source material
- Using the Internet as a research tool
- Research strategy worksheet - Design the entry:
- Documentary
- Exhibit
- Paper
- Performance
- Web Site - Self-evaluate your entry:
- Judging criteria
- Evaluation forms for judging entries - Contact your state coordinator to find out how to enter the contest.
- What is an annotated bibliography?
- Citing sources for an annotated bibliography? This list of links provides examples.
- How do I create a process paper?
- Sample Evaluation Forms
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What in the heck is a Process Paper???
--------------------------Process Paper
A process paper is a description of no more than 500 words explaining how you conducted your research and created and developed your entry. You must conclude your description with an explanation of the relationship of your topic to the contest theme.
A title page is required as the first page of written material in every category. Your title page must include only the title of your entry, your name(s) and the contest division and category in which you are entered. Do not include your age, grade or school name.
Process Paper:
First section should explain how you chose your topic.
Second section should explain how you conducted your research.
Third section should explain how you selected your presentation category and created your project.
Fourth section should explain how your project relates to the NHD theme.
Here are some sample process papers. These samples are Adobe Acrobat files.
A process paper is a description of no more than 500 words explaining how you conducted your research and created and developed your entry. You must conclude your description with an explanation of the relationship of your topic to the contest theme.
A title page is required as the first page of written material in every category. Your title page must include only the title of your entry, your name(s) and the contest division and category in which you are entered. Do not include your age, grade or school name.
Process Paper:
First section should explain how you chose your topic.
Second section should explain how you conducted your research.
Third section should explain how you selected your presentation category and created your project.
Fourth section should explain how your project relates to the NHD theme.
Here are some sample process papers. These samples are Adobe Acrobat files.
| Sample 1 | Sample 2 | Sample 3 |
How in the world will my project be judged???
| How an Entry Is Judged Regardless of which category a student enters, the following principles of evaluation will be used in the judging of National History Day entries. Historical Quality  The most important aspect of an entry is its historical quality, which determines 60% of the total evaluation. The judges' evaluation will rest on the students' success at conducting historical research, interpreting their research and drawing conclusions. A superior rating generally reflects positive responses to the following questions:
Although historical quality is most important, entries must be presented in an effective manner. This section is worth 20% of the total evaluation. Do not be carried away by glitz; simpler is often--but not always--better. The following questions will be considered by judges when looking at clarity of presentation:
The entry must clearly explain the relation of the topic to the annual National History Day theme. This section is worth 20% of the total evaluation. The topic should be placed in historical context, and the entry must demonstrate the student's understanding of the significance of the topic in history. The entry should not confuse fame with significance. In other words, the entry should answer the questions, "So what? Why was this important?" It should not be just descriptive. The relationship of the entry's topic to the yearly theme should be explicit and should be integrated into the entry itself. |
| Evaluation Forms Copies of all of the judging forms used in district, state and national NHD competition are available for downloading here. These forms are also used by many teachers as rubrics for evaluating student projects. If you have a PDF plug-in installed with your browser, the form will open in a new window for printing. If not, the PDF file should download to your hard drive, where it can be opened separately with Acrobat Reader 4.0 and printed. If you need Acrobat Reader, click on the logo to go to Adobe's web site and get the free program. Judging Forms (Preliminaries) Judging Forms (Finals) Web site judging form (Preliminaries) Web site judging form (Finals) |
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This all might be a bit overwhelming...take a deep breath...you too parents and guardians!!! Many of these criteria are set up for students who wish to complete at a district and state level. Students can complete projects that are not submitted to district competitions and as such can "bend the rules" since they will be judged "in house" at FMS only :)
Mr. S.
