National History Day 2018Conflict and Compromise in History

National History Day 2018

Categories

• Documentaries• Websites• Papers• Performances• Exhibits

1. 20% Development of Theme

2. 20% Quality of Presentation

3. 60% Historical Research

Documentaries

• 10 minutes long – You will need enough photos, video & interview clips to fill the time• Familiar with video making computer software?• Do you know how to record an interview and edit for a documentary?• Do you know how to capture video from DVDs or the Internet?• Are there enough photos to use in your documentary?• Do you have access to the right equipment to record your voiceover and edit?

Documentaries

• You must do the voiceover/narration yourself• Interview people with different points of view• Use audio from interviews as voiceover for a change of voice• Make sure you match up the voiceover with the images• Create a credits page to end your presentation• Clean production and edits are essential• Voiceover should be your voice and be very clear• Background music is helpful, but don’t overpower your voiceover• Use appropriate colors, music, titles to fit your topic• Create a storyboard to help you organize material

Documentaries

Create a storyboard

Websites

Websites

• Use NHD editor – nhd.weebly.com• Write your website text in a word processor before designing it• Organize your information into separate web pages• Consider images, video & audio that will be needed for each page• Use thumbnails for larger images in some instances • Will it be sorted by topic area? • Around a timeline? Other?• Memory limit• How will you emphasize your thesis? • What kinds of visual materials & multimedia would you like to have?

Websites

• Make Your Argument Clear - Don't hide it! • Put your thesis on the first page as part of an introduction to the site• All pages & elements should support your argument• Take time to create your own basic layout• Header, footer, colors, fonts, etc. – duplicate for the entire site• Pick colors for your background, text, and links that are not just attractive, but also help your audience understand what your project is about• Your design should connect to your topic. Make sure that the colors you select allow the viewer to easily read the text; color should not overpower the viewer

Websites

• Use the Same Basic Layout on Every Page• Your site will be easier for viewers to use if each page has navigation buttons and content in about the same places• Keep decorative animation and clip art to an absolute minimum and avoid "busy" background images and other clutter.• It's also a good idea to include some blank space in your pages so the viewer isn't overwhelmed• Plan your navigation links very carefully• Check all of your links and pages in different browsers!

Papers

Papers

• Your paper should open with a strong, focused introduction where you state your thesis statement and address how the material in your paper relates to the theme• The middle should follow two basic principles: it should have continuity and clarity. Remember you are telling a sort of story• It should be clear what the story is about and the story should develop in a logical sequence• This logical sequence should both describe the events and your analysis (your ideas) about these events• The conclusion should summarize your main points about your story, using them to prove the thesis you stated in the introduction

Papers

• Proof read• Spell check• Have other people read and offer suggestions• A paper should not be the reciting of one fact after another. Tell the reader the meaning of these facts: • How did this fact or event affect the events that came later? • What prior events affect the events of your story? • How do the events of your story affect us today?• Write at least three drafts. Proof your first draft and make necessary changes. Then either proof it again yourself or have another set of eyes proof it and then make the corrections on your final draft

Performances

Performances

• Research the topic first• Write important facts or quotes which might be important to the performance; write a thesis statement, supporting statements, and a conclusion, and think about how these might become a part of the performance• Prepare a draft script• Brainstorm about general ideas and the ways they might be presented. If a group is performing, each member should describe different ways that the characters might interact• When writing the script, make sure it contains references to the historical evidence found in the research• Use actual dialogue, quotations or excerpts from speeches are good ways of putting historical detail into the performance

Performances

• Remember that the script should center on the thesis statement, supporting statements and the conclusion.• Be careful not to simply present oral reports on individuals which begin when they were born and end when they died. Instead, become the historical figure(s) and write a script around an important time or place that will explain the major ideas• Sets and props – consider carefully• Is there a prop that is central to the story?• Prepare the costuming. Use the most authentic costumes possible• Good costumes help make a performer convincing, but be sure they are appropriate to the topic • Consult photographs or costume guides if unsure about appropriate dress. Make this part of your research!

Performances

• Determine where the actors will stand, move, and/or relate to the set. Students should think about these movements when deciding where people will stand and move at what times.• Keep the performance flowing – no breaks for costume changes• Keep costume changes very quick and simple• Practice in front of teachers, parents, get feedback• Work on the delivery, speaking clearly and pronouncing all words correctly. Practice voice projection so that the judges and the audience can hear every word. Practice with the set and full costumes as often as possible• Video record your performance and watch & critique it

Exhibits

Exhibits

• Tri-fold display -- highly effective format displays a center area with two sidewalls. A viewer’s eye goes immediately to the top half of the centerboard. Your title and introduction can be placed there• Place your conclusion on the lower half of the right sideboard. I would use the left sideboard, then the lower part of the center and finally the upper part of the right sideboard to tell your story. People normally read from left to right. • Or place the title at the top of the centerboard, the introductory paragraph on the upper left sideboard and the conclusion either on the lower part of the center or lower part of the right sideboard• Guide the judge with subtitles, lines, arrows, and/or numbers

Exhibits

• Always write in short, concise sentences and paragraphs• Limit your narrative to perhaps 5 or 6 total paragraphs• Make them short and to the point• Do give thought to color and design• Color and design can strengthen your point• Certain colors and designs automatically are associated with certain topics

Exhibits

• Lettering, labeling, and matting should be done neatly• Check for spelling errors and sentence composure• Do not rely on spell check functions• Mat your text as well as your images• Consider the color combination of both text sheets and matting• Avoid overuse of white background• Too much "white space" gives the impression of last-minute preparation

Exhibits

• Think about visual balance. For instance, the left shouldn’t be full of images and text while the right is nearly empty. Avoid excessive negative space. Maintain a balance• Quotes should make an impact and support your thesis statement and narrative• Ask yourself these questions:

• What is the one main thing I want people to know about my topic? • Why is my topic important?

• Titles & subtitles should stand out & text should be readable at arm’s length• Make everything changeable on your exhibit. Make nothing permanent. Stay away from the glue gun!

Conclusion

Tips to remember:

You are not part of the argument You must be objective Address both sides of the issue Do not simply list pros and cons Use your own analysis Draw your own conclusions and state them clearly in your

project

Conclusion

IMPACT: Define the historical significance of your topic and its

impact Consider both success and failure Short term and long term consequences How has your issue been viewed historically? Impact locally, regionally, nationally, globally Impact in politics, economics, culturally and socially

Conclusion