Choosing a Category
Choosing a Category
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Some students choose their topic first, while others choose their category first. Either option is ok, but you want to make sure you choose wisely. Once you register for your first contest, you are unable to switch categories. This page will help break down the 5 different categories and give you some advice to consider to help you choose.
Some students choose their topic first, while others choose their category first. Either option is ok, but you want to make sure you choose wisely. Once you register for your first contest, you are unable to switch categories. This page will help break down the 5 different categories and give you some advice to consider to help you choose.
NHD Expert Tip! Be sure your topic and category pair together nicely. For instance, if you choose one of the visual categories (exhibits, websites, and documentaries), make sure your topic has a lot of visual sources (photos, artwork, graphs, videos, etc.) available.
Exhibits
Exhibits
The exhibit category is a great category for students who love to design and have selected a topic with a lot of supporting visuals. This category has a 500 word limit, so be sure that you can present your topic concisely. Exhibits can get a bit expensive to create depending on the design and materials chosen. Explore the exhibits category page linked in the button below to learn more about this category.
Performances
Performances
This is a great category for students who love the spotlight and acting, singing, or dancing! However, do not forget that the performance category still requires in-depth research, historical analysis, and supporting evidence throughout the project. Performances may have additional costs if you decide to purchase supplies for costumes, props, or backdrops. Explore performance category section linked in the button below to learn more about this category.
Historical Papers
Historical Papers
This category is a great one for aspiring writers! However, don't forget that this is the only category that must be done as an individual. Papers can be a traditional research paper or can be done in a creative writing style (for example, create a fictional diary, series of letters, poems, etc. ). Either way, the paper should conform to all of the category rules and include a historical argument supported with factual evidence from your research. The paper category is very low cost, though you may need to print several copies of your paper for a contest. Explore paper category section linked in the button below to learn more about this category.
Websites
Websites
The website category is the most interactive of all NHD categories. A website should reflect your ability to use website design software and computer technology. They should be a collection of web pages, interconnected by hyperlinks, that presents both your research and historical analysis. To engage and inform viewers, it should also incorporate interactive multimedia, text, non-textual items (photographs, maps, music, etc.), and interpretations of sources. Websites must be created using the NHDWebCentral web builder platform. Websites are free to create making this the lowest cost category to participate in. Explore website category section linked in the button below to learn more about this category.
Documentaries
Documentaries
The documentary category is perfect for aspiring filmmakers! This category reflects your ability to use both audio and visuals to communicate your topic’s significance in history. To produce a documentary, you need access to editing software and often times recording equipment such as a microphone and camera. This year we can provide students to an online video editing software for free, but they must email us to ask for an account. Students must be prepared to upload their videos ahead of each contest registration deadline. Explore documentary category section linked in the button below to learn more about this category.
Should I Work in a Group or as an Individual?
Should I Work in a Group or as an Individual?
Every category except for historical papers allows you to work either as an individual or in a group of up to 5 students. Historical papers must be done as an individual. Be sure to choose carefully because you will have to stay in the group or individual category once competitions start. Some questions you may want to ask before deciding are:
Do my parents/guardian feel comfortable with me working with others?
Can I easily meet with my group afterschool either virtually or in-person?
Does everyone in my group have the same goals as I do? If we qualify for the next level of contest will everyone still want to continue? What if we make it all the way to the national level?
Can we easily and fairly share the work with our chosen number of group members?
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