The Work of the Historian

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History Day Basics
JUNIOR (1) Paper (2)Performance (3) Exhibit (4)
Documentary (5) Website
SENIOR (6) Paper (7) Performance (8)
Exhibit (9) Documentary (10) Website
Individual Group categories
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History Day Basics
The competition begins at
There are 5 districts in Connecticut
Torrington UCONN Torrington Campus
MANCHESTER Manchester High School
MANSFIELD Mansfield Middle School
NEW HAVEN Wilber Cross High School
STAMFORD Academy for Info Technology
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The Work of the Historian
Historians
1. Have an area of focus or expertise
2. Explore their subject matter in depth
3. Develop a strong thesis and and pick the best
evidence from their research to support it.
4. Share their findings with other historians and
the general public through books, documentaries,
movies, and museum exhibits
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The Work of the Historian
For your History Day project
you will
1. Choose your Topic
2. Research your Topic
3. Organize your Research
4. Present your Findings
just like a historian.
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The Work of the Historian Choosing Your Topic
Your Topic should
1. Relate clearly to the History Day Theme
2. Be of personal interest to YOU
Interview older members of your family for topic
ideas.
3. Meet your teachers expectations and those of
the competition
4. Lend itself to primary research
Do you have any talents, hobbies, or interests
which you could relate to the theme?
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The Work of the Historian Researching Your Topic
WHERE do historians find clues from the past?
Photographs
Artifacts
Music
Diaries
Clothing
Books
Encyclopedias
Paintings
Movies
Letters
Maps
Architecture
Government Records
Drawings
Business Records
Newspapers
Interviews
Textbooks
Documents
Which of these sources are PRIMARY? Which are
SECONDARY?
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The Work of the Historian Organizing Your
Research
When you feel you have enough research it is
important to take time to organize all your
information and ideas. 1. Write and Refine Your
Thesis. Be sure it relates to the History Day
theme 2. Review your research and choose the
evidence that best supports your thesis. If your
research and thesis are strong, less is always
more. 3. Do more research to fill any holes in
your argument. It is also useful to explore
alternate viewpoints to your thesis.
Acknowledging them shows the judges that you
considered different opinions of your subject
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The Work of the Historian Presenting Your
Findings
Keep these three questions in mind as you chose a
format for your final project
1. What project format will best showcase my
research?
2. What project format emphasizes my academic
strengths?
3. What project format will I enjoy working on
the most?
Paper
Documentary
Website
Performance
Exhibit
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The Competition
History Day entries are judged on three basic
goals and standards

• Historical Quality counts for 60 of the total.
• Is the entry historically accurate?
• Does the entry include analysis and
  interpretation?
• Does the entry place the topic in historical
  context?
• Does the entry demonstrate wide research?
• Does the student use available primary sources
  in the entry?
• Is the entry research balanced?
• Relation to the Theme counts for 20 of the
  total.
• Does the entry have to do with Communication in
  History The Key to Understanding?
• Does the entry demonstrate the significance of
  the topic in history?
• Does the entry draw conclusions?
• Clarity of Presentation counts for 20 of the
  total.
• How is the entry presented?
• Is it well organized?
• Is it grammatically correct and are words
  correctly spelled?
• Does the entry show creativity?

Always remember History Day is about History!
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The Competition Advice from the Judges
Be thorough in research and careful in
presentation.
Know the rules.
Be sure to highlight the theme and take advantage
of whichever media you choose.
Expensive costumes, props or materials arent
necessary student creativity, neatness, and
authenticity are!
Edit, Edit, Edit.
Ask lots of questions.
Clearly state your thesis, prove your thesis,
conclude your thesis.
Investigate all avenues of research, dont rely
on secondary sources.
Love your topic!
Make sure your entry has a strong historical
connection-not just the history of something, but
the impact on history.
GOOD LUCK and HAVE FUN!
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State Winners for 2008