Honors US History
History Fair Unit
Group Member Names:____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
History Fair Packet
Introduction
The History Fair serves thousands of students in hundreds of schools who participate in school,
regional, state, and national history contests. You will work individually or in groups of no more
than three students to create research projects in local history. You are required to use primary
sources--voices from the past--as evidence in your projects and to extend the walls of the
classroom into the community to find sources for your research. To present your story, you will
produce an exhibit, a performance, or a documentary.
In the process of participating in the History Fair, you learn reading, writing, thinking,
interviewing and presentation skills. You also learn how to work in teams and organize and
complete a project. Finally, in discovering your own community history, you will confront
questions of significance, validity, point of view, change over time, and cause and effect. You will
learn how decisions are made in the social, cultural, economic, and political realms that impact
your life. Not only will you "become a historian," but you will also become a better citizen.
2014-2015 National History Day Theme:
Leadership and Legacy in History
(Your project must incorporate the theme and be Chicago-based)
Thinking about the Theme
During the 2014-2015 school year, National History Day invites students to research topics
related to the theme, “Leadership and Legacy.” Chicago students must select a topic that connects
to the Chicago metro are, as well. To understand the historical importance of your topics, you
must ask questions of time and place, cause and effect, change over time, impact and significance.
You must ask questions: why did those events happen and what impact did the events have? Is it
the right of a people to revolt against an unjust government? Why was there a need to stand up
for rights at a particular time? Why did this event trigger a reaction? Regardless of the topic
selected, you must do more than describe what happened. You must draw conclusions, basing
your opinion on evidence, about how the topic affected individuals, communities, nations and the
world. Studies should include an investigation into available primary and secondary sources,
analysis of the evidence, and a clear explanation of the relationship of the topic to the theme.
As you investigate this year’s theme think of the theme in broad terms, as one specific hero or
topic may be too narrow. For example, leaders may leave a legacy, but it may not always be a
positive one. The best leaders may be from behind the scenes, and so not well known. Part of
what you will have to do is define leadership so that your topic models your definition. It will
also be important to show the more nuanced history surrounding your leader which made a
legacy possible.
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Honors US History
History Fair Unit
Group Member Names:____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
History Fair Packet
Possible History Fair Topics (Circle Your Topic)
1. Gwendolyn Brooks: Changing the Face of Writing for Black Women (People, Ideas) –
Black women struggled to get access to equal education in the mid-20th century, let alone
the notice they deserved as authors in their own right.
2. Jane Addams: The Settlement House Movement (People, UIC)—The Settlement House
Movement became a pivotal access point for women to enter the social sphere and the
workforce. Hull House, begun by Jane Addams, was one of a leader of this movement.
3. Al Capone: Mobster or Entrepreneur? (People, Events, CHM) – With the onset of
Prohibition, crime rates went up across the US. Nowhere as much as in Chicago. On the
other side of these crimes, however, were the entrepreneurs getting rich.
4. Ida B. Wells-Barnett: Courageous Reformer (People, IBW)—This Chicago reformer
called for legislation against lynching and pushed for increased women’s rights in various
organizations.
5. Harold Washington Confronts Racism (People, Ideas, DSM)—After being elected
Chicago’s first black mayor, white city councilmen reacted by refusing to work with Mayor
Washington and the city was divided.
6. Marshall Field: Changing the Way We Shop (People, Ideas, CHM) – Marshall Field
forever altered the way that people shop with the introduction of the department store.
He brought advertising, affordability, and convenience together for a new century of
consuming.
7. Fred Hampton: The Black Panther Party (People) – In the late 1960s, the Black
Panther Party was founded to help organize black communities across the US to improve
economic, social, and political situations. Fred Hampton led this fight in Chicago.
8. Earl Renfroe: Health and Civil Rights (People, Ideas) – Dr. Renfroe led the dental field
through much of the 20th century, introducing orthodontics and breaking down racial
barriers in the medical profession.
9. Red Grange or Jackie Joiner Kersee: Leading the Game and the Field (People,
Events) – Athletes can do amazing things for their team. It’s when they do amazing things
to change the game that makes them a leader.
10. Your Own Topic! – You must get clearance from Ms. Jihan, and be able to support your
topic via one of the following: Newberry Library, Chicago History Museum, or the Chicago
National Archives.
CHM – Chicago History Museum (online access)
DSM – DuSable Museum
UIC – UIC.edu/jaddams
CORE – core-onoline.org
IBW – Ida B Wells Museum (online access)
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Honors US History
History Fair Unit
Group Member Names:____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
History Fair Packet
Preliminary Brainstorming and Research
Directions: Using page 1, answer the questions below.
1. How many people may work on a project?
2. What is the purpose of History Fair?
3. What are primary sources?
4. What are the options for presenting your project?
5. What do I hope you learn while doing this project? Summarize in your own words.
6. What is the topic for this year’s History Fair? What is one turning point in your own life?
7. Give one example of a turning point in US History.
Directions: Using page 2 of this packet, and the Encyclopedia of Chicago
(http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/), choose a topic and begin to research it.
8. Choose 2 topics from page 2 (or 2 of your own). List them below. Then, list 3-5 facts from the
“Encyclopedia of Chicago” for each topic. Finally, write one sentence about why you think this
topic would be a good or bad topic for a History Fair project.
a.
b.
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Honors US History
History Fair Unit
Group Member Names:____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
History Fair Packet
Grading Rubric for Preparation, Research, and Project
Guideline
History Fair Intro Packet

Participates in intro discussion and
completes the brainstorming activities
Museum Handout


Actively toured the CHM, participating
in discussions, etc
Completed Museum Handout accurately
Research Notes

Defines leadership/legacy, main facts &
explains significance
Written Draft of Thesis Statement

Arguable, Has all 4 parts, includes theme
of Leadership and Legacy
Written Draft of Text for Exhibit,
Performance, or Documentary




At least 8, relevant to topic
Bibliography of Sources in MLA
Format


10
15
20
10
40
15
25
At least 5 sources, at least 2 primary
sources (other than the 8 images)
Annotated
Summary Statement Form


Your Score & Comments
Introduction
Background
Leadership/Legacy Role
Outcome/Significance
Images

Points
Possible
Completed thoughtfully, thoroughly
Spelling & grammar checked
20
Extra Credit

Proof provided
Total
/155
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Honors US History
History Fair Unit
Group Member Names:____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
History Fair Packet
Deadlines & Workdays
Date
Class Work
September
Intro to History Fair
•
Introduce NHD theme and History Fair topics (p.3 questions)
Due Date
_________
September
History Fair Packet and Dates Introduction
•
Preview History Fair Research packet
•
Begin to identify topic & sources (2 sources annotated, p.7)
_________
October
History Fair Projects & Topic Selection
•
Review sources
•
Investigate project types, choose project type (p.10)
_________
Thurs, October 23rd
Chicago History Museum Field Trip
•
Complete museum handouts
_________
Mon, 10-27-Fri-11/21
Researching Your Topic
•
Annotating sources (at least 1 primary and 2 secondary – in addition to
the original 2!!)
•
Report out your progress/ complete p.11
_________
_________
Mon-Tues, 11/24-25
History Fair Workday - Introduction & Thesis
•
Writing an introduction and Thesis (p.12)
_________
Thurs, Dec 4th
History Fair Workday—Thesis Corrections
•
Thesis statement PowerPoint from CMHEC.
•
Final draft Intro and Thesis
•
Background (p.12) and Turning Point (p.13)
_________
_________
Thurs, Dec 11th
History Fair Workday—Outcome and Significance
•
Check Background and Turning Point
•
Outcome and Significance (p.13)
_________
12/5-1/5
Researching Your Topic
•
Visit at least one library to locate primary and secondary sources for your
research!
_________
•
Record citations and annotations for your sources. Images (p.8)
_________
•
Annotated bibliography (total: 5-10 secondary AND 3+ primary)
_________
Fri, Jan 8th
History Fair Workday – Finalize All Sections
•
Final drafts of all sections: Intro, Background, Turning Point,
Outcome/Significance (work on performance, documentary)
_________
Mon, 1/12-Fri, 1/23
History Fair Projects
•
Lay out your exhibit or documentary, practice your performance.
_________
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Honors US History
History Fair Unit
Group Member Names:____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
History Fair Packet
Thurs, Jan 29th
History Fair Workday—Finishing Your Project
•
Summary Statement Form
•
Put your board together, or finalize your documentary/performance.
Projects due next Friday for History Fair!!
Thurs, Feb 5th
History Fair Presentations at Simeon
_________
.
Extra Credit Opportunities: All are worth up to 30 extra credit points!
1.
Library Visits—Attach note from librarian or show Ms. Jihan photocopies of sources for
anything MORE THAN the single required visit!!
2.
Interview—Interview an expert on your topic. An expert could be a professor, a librarian or a
relevant community member, maybe someone who lived through your topic, or specialist like an
officer from Building Codes or a Fireman.
3.
Museum Visit—Attach note from museum docent, brochure or ticket from visit or take specific
notes from the relevant exhibit to show Ms. Jihan. The museum and exhibits must be pertinent to your
topic!
History Fair Task Checklist
By the time your project is finished, you should be able to answer YES to all of the following!
1. Does my project have a title?
2. Does my project say my name on it?
3. Does my project make reference to the NHD theme and Chicago?
4. Does my project have an Introduction with a thesis?
5. Does my thesis reference the NHD theme?
6. Does my project set the Background of the event/person/idea?
7. Does my project explain the Turning Points of my topic?
8. Does my project explain the Outcome/Significance of my topic?
9. Exhibit:
Does each section of my board have at least 2-3 images or primary sources with a
caption that matches the topic of the page?
Performance/Documentary:
Does my bibliography include at least 3 images and 3 primary sources?
10. Did I check the spelling and grammar on my project multiple times?
11. Exhibit/Documentary:
Are the different parts of my board visually attractive? Is the layout understandable
and easy to read?
12. Does my project include my annotated MLA Bibliography and Summary Statement
Form?
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Honors US History
History Fair Unit
Group Member Names:____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
History Fair Packet
Sources Used

Below is space to record citation notes for your first 2sources. Other sources should be
recorded in the same format ON YOUR OWN PAPER.
Make sure to include:
a.)Type of Source (Book, article, web site,
e.) Publishing Company or Organization
etc…)
f .) Pages Used
b.) Author of Source
g.) is the source Primary or Secondary?
c.) Title of Source
h.) full web site address
d.) Publication Date/City

Below the Citation Notes, write your annotation for this source.
Make sure to write at least 3-4 sentences answering the following questions:
What kind of source is this? What was particularly useful about this source? What did you learn from
this source? Where exactly did you use information from this source in your project?
Source
#
1.
Citation Notes & Annotation
a. )_________________ b.) __________________________________________
c.) ___________________ d.)________________/_____________________________________________
e.) __________________________________ f.)________________ g.)____________________________
h.)_____________________________________________________________________________________
Annotation:
2.
b. )_________________ b.) __________________________________________
c.) ___________________ d.)________________/_____________________________________________
e.) __________________________________ f.)________________ g.)____________________________
h.)_____________________________________________________________________________________
Annotation:
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Honors US History
History Fair Unit
Group Member Names:____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
History Fair Packet
Image Brainstorm
What kind of images do you hope to find for your Exhibit/Documentary, or to support your Performance?
You should have at least 3-5 images to use for your research.
Introduction
I would like to find images/video of:
I found them on this website:
Background
I would like to find images/video of:
I found them on this website:
Leadership
I would like to find images/video of:
I found them on this website:
Outcome/Significance
I would like to find images/video of:
I found them on this website:
Once you have an idea of what you’d like to find, use the internet and other sources to find images that are
appropriate for each page. Save them in a Microsoft Word document. You may also save the web addresses
where you found them and come back to the images later.
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Honors US History
History Fair Unit
Group Member Names:____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
History Fair Packet
MLA Bibliography Guide
I recommend that you go to EASYBIB.COM to make your MLA style citations. Make sure the page is
set to MLA format. Click on the type of source you need a citation for. Click “Manual entry.” Fill in
as many of the information boxes as possible. Then click “Cite This.” If you want to search for your
source you can use the “Autocite” function.
Book with one author
Author last name, Author first name. Title of Book. Publication city: Publication Company, Publication
year.
Kennedy, David. Birth Control in America: The Career of Margaret Sanger. New Haven: Yale
UP, 1970.
Article in a magazine
Author last name, Author first name. “Title of Article.” Title of Magazine. Volume number (Publication
year): Pages for article.
Christie, James F. "Sociodramatic play training." Young Children 37 (1982): 25-32.
Book with two or more authors (cite authors as they appear on title page, not necessarily in alphabetical
order)
Wellek, Rene, and Austin Warren. Theory of Literature. 3rd ed. New York: Harcourt, 1962.
Article in an encyclopedia
"China." Encyclopedia Americana. 1978 ed.
Article in a weekly magazine
Cohen, Hennig. "Why Isn't Melville for the Masses?" Saturday Review 16 Aug. 1969: 19-21.
Article in a newspaper
Brody, Jane E. "Cancer Termed on Increase." New York Times 10 Oct. 1976, sec. 1: 37.
Personal interview conducted in person
McKenna, Margaret. Personal interview. 17 April 1992.
Newspaper article on the Internet
Calem, Robert E. "Does the Web Addict People? Or Just Tempt Internet Abuse?" The New York
Times. 17 March 1996: 22 pars. Online. Available:
http://www.nytimes.com/web/docsroot/library/cyber/week/0317addict.html. 20 March 1996.
Web page essay
Author last name, Author first name. Page Title. Sponsoring Organization. Online. Available: Full Web
Address. Day Accessed Month Accessed Year Accessed.
Asantewaa, Eva Yaa. Clearing a Path to Expression. Organization of American Historians. Online.
Available: http://plaza.interport.net/cats/eva2.html. 20 March 1996.
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Honors US History
History Fair Unit
Group Member Names:____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
History Fair Packet
Types of Projects: Exhibit, Performance, Documentary
Go to: http://www.chicagohistoryfair.org/
Click on: History Fair
Click on: History Fair Rules and Guidelines
Click on: Chicago Metro History Fair Exhibit Rules
1. Summarize the rules for creating an exhibit. Include how big the exhibit can be, and what is
expected to be on the exhibit.
2. Summarize the guidelines. What should exhibits have and be made of?
Click on: “Next” at the bottom of the page
3. Summarize the rules for creating a performance. Include how long the performance can be,
how many people can be included, and what is expected to be in the performance.
4. Summarize the guidelines.
Click on: “Next” at the bottom of the page
5. Summarize the rules for creating a documentary. Include how long the documentary can be,
how many people
6. Summarize the guidelines. How can you assure that you make a good documentary?
7. What kind of project will you be completing: ________________________________________________________
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Honors US History
History Fair Unit
Group Member Names:____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
History Fair Packet
Introduction/Thesis Pointers
-
Here, you should write a draft of what your Introduction will say. Introduce the topic of your project.
What information would a reader need to know about your topic before getting into the details and
argument of your topic? Try to make this interesting and catchy.
-
What will your project prove? (Your Thesis Statement must be in your Introduction.) What is the
argument that your project will prove? Why was your topic important?
-
What does a person who knows nothing about your topic need to know before they learn about your
topic? What events led up to the event you studied? What were some of the causes of the event?
What issue needed to be changed? What people were involved? What problems existed that led to
the event?
Background Draft
Turning Point Draft
-
What was the right being fought for or infringed upon? Who was involved in it? What was the issue
being changed? How long did the event last? How did the change occur? How did people react to
your fight for rights or change in responsibilities?
-
How did the public react to this event? Did one side win? If so, how? If not, why? What problems
remain or were not solved? Why was this event significant in Chicago history? What changed as a
result of this event? Who did this event affect? Did it have a long term impact? What other
problems did this event cause? What problems did this event solve?
Outcome & Significance Draft
How to Type and Save Your Documents
Once you have written your draft of each of the sections above, you should begin typing. Type your
paragraphs into a Microsoft Word document. When you need to save, save your text as a Word
Document.
o Click “Save As” name the file using your name and then where it says “Save as Type” pick
“Word Document.”
o You can save this file to a flash drive or to the desktop.
o If you save your file to the desktop, be sure to email it to yourself so that it is saved in your
email.
 To email a file to yourself, open your email using an internet browser.
 Create a new email.
 In the “To” line, enter your own email address.
 In the “Subject” line say what History Fair file you are sending.
 Click “Attach” and find the file you want to send.
 Once the file is attached you may click “Send.” The email will be in your Sent folder
and your Inbox.
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Honors US History
History Fair Unit
Group Member Names:____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
History Fair Packet
Notes and Discussions
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