Transcript National History Day - Kailua Intermediate School

National History Day
Turning Points in History:
People, Ideas, Events,
Choose a topic that fits the
theme
Topics – Choose something
you are interested in:
 American history
 Military history
 Hawaiian history
 Asian history
 World history
 African American
 European history
history
 Women’s history
 Labor history
 Art history
 Sports history
 Music history
 Science history
Topics must fit the theme
Consider:
 Is the topic historically important?
 Did the person or event change or
influence attitudes or change society?
 Does the issue have both a positive and
negative side?
 How was it perceived by others?
Gather Information
and READ about it
Start with Secondary Sources
 Used to get an overview of topic
 Encyclopedias
 Textbooks
 Biographies
Use Primary Sources to
Support Your Thesis
 First-hand accounts
 Letters
 Journals
 Photos
 Speeches
 Documents
 Court records
 Interviews
How to Use the Sources
 After you select a topic or to find
one,read through lots of secondary
sources
 Check bibliographies
 Find lots of primary sources
Avoid Doing a Biography or a
Narrative of Events!!
Think Context, Analysis and
Selectivity
ANALYSIS
Move beyond the who,
what, where, when
questions.
Ask why and how
questions.
Context
 Investigate events and people
surrounding your topic.
Create a Thesis Statement
 The thesis explains how the topic
relates to this year’s theme - time and
place, cause and effect, change over
time, and impact and significance - by
drawing conclusions about how the
topic affected individuals,
communities, nations or the world.
Do I work alone or
with a group?
Choosing Groups and
Formats in October
 OK for a student to change topic if
working in a group.
 Look at research and decide on a
format that fits.
Alone
Pros
 Make your own
decisions
 Make your own
schedule
 Saves time
 Fewer distractions
Cons
 You are responsible
for every part of the
project.
 No group support
 No one to bounce
ideas off of
Group
Pros
Cons
 Support
 Someone is:
 Share work
 Too busy
 Share costs
 Too bossy
 Share fun
 Too lazy
 Too playful
 Too disorganized
Most Groups Are Successful
When choosing a group
consider:
 Is someone going on vacation you need
to know about? Moving?
 Can you get together on weekends or
breaks?
 Does your partner turn in quality work
on time in other classes?
Types of Projects
History Day Formats:
(Competition only)
 Display board (1-3 people)
 Media Documentary (1-3 people)
 Performance (1-3 people)
 Individual Research Paper
 Website (1-3 people)
Display Board
 Most popular
 Can be costly and bulky
 500 of your own words
How to Make a Great HD Exhibit on HD
website
Individual Research Paper
 No partners
 2500 words
 Includes an appendix
 See me for examples and handout
Media Documentary
 Need equipment: video camera, sound,
video editing software, tripod
 Need to create a storyboard
 No performances
 10 minutes
 How to Make Great Media
Documentaries on HD website
Performance
 Be prepared to perform in public
 Need a script
 Need costumes and props
 10 minutes
 How to Create Great Performances on
HD website
Website
 An electronic research paper
 2500 of your own words
 Images and video clips
 No outside links
 No advertisements on pages
 Must use Weebly
Annotated Bibliography
See HD website for
instructions
Competitions
 School - January
 District – February
 State – March/April
 National - June
Research Collection
 Note cards ( about 100) – Use key
words and phrases only. Follow
questions on worksheet.
 Using Google docs and BibMe
Informational Packet Includes:
(For Competition only)
 Title Page
 Process Paper– 500 words (only
for students going on)
 Annotated Bibliography
 Needed for all projects except
Individual Research Paper
Timeline
 August – Overview of project
 September and October – Topic selection,
research, form groups
 November – continue research collection,
thesis statement, select format of project,
 December– assemble project, submit
bibliography
 January – Project due to teacher, school
History Day event
ADVICE TO STUDENTS
 PLAN AHEAD
 START EARLY
 KEEP ORGANIZED!
 WORK AT LEAST 2-3 HOURS A
WEEK
ADVICE TO PARENTS
 Check deadlines
 Discuss topic. Ask “why” questions
 Check their work and help edit
 Give feedback
 Provide transportation to libraries
and competitions
 Don’t do the work for them.
Thank you for attending
this evening.