United States History Semester Research Project

IntroductionNational History Day is an EPIC Nerdfest for history buffs. As a US History student, you will be expected to

create a glorious research project and participate in this year’s National History Day Competition. You will create an NHD project during the Fall Semester and complete the project during the early part of Spring Semester.

Theme – Leadership and Legacy in HistoryEvery year National History Day frames students' research within a historical theme. The theme is chosen for the

broad application to world, national or state history and its relevance to ancient history or to the more recent past. This year's theme is Leadership and Legacy in History.  Your NHD project must formulate a thesis that fits within this thematic framework.  Choose a topic that analyzes the fight for change, the efforts of individuals who worked for greater freedoms -- or the dictators who tried to crush them.  In what ways has this topic affected history?  What were the successes and failures of the topic you have chosen?  What were the results?

Fame and FortuneEach of your semester projects will be entered into the National History Day competition by March 1st. If your

project makes it beyond the regional and state competitions, you will receive an all-expense paid trip to the University of Maryland (just outside D.C.) to compete nationally. Some prizes include cash rewards ($5000.00 for example), and scholarships (full-ride scholarships to universities such as the University of Minnesota or the University of Hawaii among others).

Although you are strongly encouraged to enter your project into the national NHD competition, your grade in this class is not dependent upon it. However, every student must finish a project and participate in our BCCHS qualifying round to possibly earn the chance to enter in the Regional Competition.

Project Details Presentation Format – narrow your research topic into a strong THESIS, then decide on your presentation format,

which can include one of the following: Exhibit

o Panel or three-dimensional exhibit similar to a science faire exhibit Performance

o 10-minute creative interpretation/re-enactment of an historical person or event Media Documentary

o Computer-generated Slide Presentations – presents your research with a slideshow AND recorded voice-over (DO NOT simply have slide after slide of text)

o Video Documentary – presents your research through a combination of audio and visual presentation Website

o Self-contained and interactive method of presenting historical research.

Annotated Bibliography An annotated bibliography is required for all categories. The annotations for each source must explain

how the source was used and how it helped the student understand the topic. The student should also use the annotation to explain why the source was categorized as primary or secondary. Historians do sometimes disagree and there's not always one right answer, so students should use the annotation to explain why they classified their sources as they did. Students should list only those sources used to develop their entry. An annotation normally should be about 1-3 sentences.o Source (example)

Bates, Daisy. The Long Shadow of Little Rock. 1st ed. New York: David McKay Co. Inc., 1962.o Annotation (example)

Daisy Bates was the president of the Arkansas NAACP and the one who met and listened to the students each day. This first-hand account was very important to my paper because it made me more aware of the feelings of the people involved.

You must have a minimum of 4 primary and 4 secondary sources

Process Paper (only needs to be completed for those projects going to the Regional Competition) – all projects that want to participate outside of the BCCHS qualifying contest must include a Process Paper that meets all of the following credentials:

Title Page 500 word (approx. 2 pages double spaced) description of your research method and the importance of your

topic to the study of history Annotated Bibliography that lists primary and secondary sources in alphabetical order and provides a short

(one paragraph) description of that source

This project will be DUE on the FIRST WEEK OF MARCH

Point Value: 400 pts