National History Day (NHD)

TABLE OF CONTENTS (click links below to jump to a section)

What is National History Day (NHD)?

STEP 1: CHOOSE A TOPIC

The following links can help guide you towards IDEAS for topics. Each link is not necessarily an NHD topic itself. You will still have to put in the time and effort to research and read about a topic to determine if it's something you are excited about AND fits the NHD theme!

Remember your topic must be a "TIPPING POINT TOPIC" - fill out your graphic organizer and get your topic choice checked off my Ms. Thompson :)

Ms. Thompson's Top Picks

Colorado Topic Ideas


Topic Lists on Websites


NEWSEUM RESOURCES

(you will need to make a free account to access the info on these links below - use your school email to sign up!)

Social & Societal from Newseum


Political & Governmental


Supreme Court Cases


Discovery & Exploration


Free Expression (First Amendment issues):


Physical & Natural

STEP 2: Building Background Knowledge

Part 1 -- Research to complete Graphic Org.

Part 2 -- Write BBK Paragraph to explain your topic.

The next step is to understand and explain the context and background of your topic - that's the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of your topic.

First, research reliable secondary sources to answer the guiding context questions on this graphic organizer below. Then, use those details to explain your topic in a complete paragraph.

MODEL: BBK Paragraph - Topic: The Ludlow Massacre

Helpful Search Sites for Secondary Sources:

Step 3: Cause & Context

Part 1 -- Research to complete the CER Graphic Org.

Part 2 -- Write your argument paragraph to prove the cause of your topic.

MODEL: Completed Cause/Context CER Graphic Organizer

Cause_Context CER Graphic Org MODEL and TEMPLATE.pdf
MODEL: Cause/Context CER Paragraph

YOU DO: Using research, write an argument to prove the cause of your topic. Research and complete the CER graphic organizer, then use it to write your argument paragraph.

Cause/Context Research Questions:

  • What caused your topic to happen?

  • What was going on at that time in history that led to your topic happening?

  • Was there DEBATE or DIPLOMACY that led to your topic occurring?


Cause/Context - CER Argument Graphic Organizer


Step 4: Thesis

Thesis: A short statement, usually 1-3 sentences, that summarizes the claim of an essay or research project.

The question our thesis must answer: How has debate and diplomacy in history impacted our world today?

Step 5: Short Term Impact - ARGUMENT Paragraph

Impact/Significance - CER Argument Graphic Organizer

^^ Use this double sided graphic organizer to collect your research and plan your written argument (CER) paragraphs.

Using both primary and secondary sources, PROVE how your topic impacted the world. This includes answering and arguing :

Short Term Impact: What immediate impact did your topic have?

Step 6: & Long Term Significance - ARGUMENT Paragraph

Impact/Significance - CER Argument Graphic Organizer

^^ Use this double sided graphic organizer to collect your research and plan your written argument (CER) paragraphs.

Using both primary and secondary sources, PROVE how your topic impacted the world. This includes answering and arguing:

Long Term Significance: What is the long lasting effect of your topic? (Why does your topic still matter today??)

Step 7: Choose a Project Category & Create!

Primary Sources

What is a Primary Source?

Primary sources are the voices of the past. They are the raw materials of history — original documents and objects which were created at the time under study. They are different from secondary sources, accounts or interpretations of events created by someone without firsthand experience. Documents, letters, posters, film, artifacts, photographs, maps, etc. can be primary sources that tell the story of people, places, and events of the past.

Primary and Secondary Source Slide

Finding Primary Sources

  • Try a Google Search in the following ways:

        • primary source + your topic

        • your topic + LOC

        • your topic + national archives

  • Go back up to the Topic Section for great links to primary sources

  • Looking for historical music to embed in your website? - check out the National Jukebox

  • NewsEla P.S. Sets

Analyzing Primary Sources

Primary Source Analysis - Graphic Organizer (Scholastic Edition)

When you find a primary source that connects to your topic, use this organizer to analyze it. This will help you understand the source and the context of the source, and get you to think about how it can be used as evidence to support the different claims within your NHD project.

Looking for more strategies and tips to analyze primary sources? Try this questions list! https://dohistory.org/on_your_own/toolkit/primarySources.html

Annotated Bibliography

An annotated bibliography is required for all National History Day Contest categories.

Creating an annotated bibliography lets your reader know what sources you used in the creation of your project. First, an annotated bibliography tells the reader how many sources you used and the quality and range of sources used in your research. It provides evidence of the many hours that you spent doing research in libraries, archives, classrooms, and on the internet. Second, the annotation informs the reader about how you used your sources and why they were valuable to understanding your topic. An annotated bibliography is crucial to the NHD process because it shows judges the scope and depth of your research.

MODEL: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Annotated Bibliography - MODEL/EXAMPLE

View this video lesson to learn how to structure your bibliography to match the model above:

website anno bib ex


Steps to Create your Annotated Bibliography -- using knightcite

Process Paper

A process paper is a description of how you conducted your research, developed your topic idea, and created your entry. The process paper must also explain the relationship of your topic to the contest theme.

Tipping Point ACES Organizer

Using both primary and secondary sources, PROVE how your topic connects to the NHD Theme - how did your topic break barriers in history?

All categories, except historical paper, must include a process paper with the entry.

It must describe in 500 or fewer words how you conducted your research and created your entry. The process paper must include four sections that explain:

1. how you chose your topic;

2. how you conducted your research;

3. how you selected your presentation category and created your project;

and

4. how your project relates to the NHD theme.

Click here for an example