National History Day
in Arizona!
What is National History Day?
National History Day is:
• Student-centered history project.
– You get to choose what you want to research, not the
teacher or the state of Az!
• Chance for students to “do history”
National History Day
2016 Theme:
Exploration, Encounter, Exchange
in History
Choosing Your Topic
• Choose a topic you will enjoy.
• Make sure it is workable (access to sources).
• Can you state your topic as a question?
• Don’t overlook local history!
• Choose a narrow topic, if it is too wide, you will not
be able to explore it completely
• Relate it to the THEME!
Choosing Your Topic
• Explore historical significance: answer the “so
what?” question
• Address questions about time, place, cause and
effect, change over time, impact, and significance
• Don’t just describe what happened!
• Draw conclusions and provide historical context
Topic Ideas
• Brainstorm with your group possible topic ideas
related to the following categories:
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Science and Technology
Politics and Government
Individual Thinkers
Popular Culture
Women & Minorities
The Usual Suspects
• Avoid the obvious choices
• See suggested NHD List – great place to start!
– www.nhd.org
Advanced Topic Tips
• Ask a different question of a well-studied topic
– Analyze a common topic from a different perspective
– Find a “sub-iconic” topic
• Example: After her arrest for not moving to the back of the bus,
what role did Rosa Parks play in the Civil Rights movement?
• Avoid biography!
• Avoid “what if” history
• Avoid recent events (Topics at least 20 years old)
Writing Your Thesis
• Your thesis should be:
• Specific: Addresses a narrow topic and argument.
• Opinionated: Does it do more than just tell a story?
• Significant: Why is this important in history?
• Connect to the NHD Theme.
Researching Your Project
2/3 of your bibliography must be primary resources!
Places to find Primary Resources:
• National Archives- www.archives.gov
• Library of Congress- www.loc.gov
• Chronicling America: American Newspapers since 1830 http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/
• Digital History - University of Houston - http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/
• Arizona Historical Society: Library & Archives
www.arizonahistoricalsociety.gov/library-and-archives/
• Arizona Memory Project
• Arizona Digital Newspaper Project
• Local libraries/museums – MNA, NAU, Pioneer Museum
Researching Your Project
• http://www.nhdaz.org/
Choosing your Category
You may work with groups of up to 4 people
Paper (individual projects only)
Exhibit
Documentary
Performance
Website
Competitions
• School Showcase
– You will first compete against other students with a school
showcase/competition.
• Regional Competition
– If you are chosen to move on, you will compete in your age range and
category at the regional level.
• State Competition
– If you are chosen to move on, you will compete at the state
competition in early April in Phoenix.
• National Competition
– Finalists then move on to the National History Day annual
competition in the nation’s capital in June.
National Competition Fun
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Travel to Washington D.C.
Sightseeing in our Nation’s Capitol
Have a chance to meet one of your state legislators
Special museum tours
Special National History Day night at the Smithsonian
Compete with other students from around the world
Why Do National History Day?
NHD makes students
better at:
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Writing
Critical Thinking
Researching
Working in a team
Talking to experts
Managing time
Standardized Tests (ACT, SAT, GRE, MAT, LSAT, Etc.)
More Information
• Arizona History Day:
http://www.nhdaz.org/
• National History Day:
http://www.nhd.org