Questions Anyone?

State Coordinator for National History Day in Ohio recently visited 70 10th graders at Norwood High School. They had some great questions that I'd like to share with the group.

Q: Do you have to do an Ohio or American history topic?

A: NO. But, make sure you can find primary sources for your topic. When brainstorming topics keep a list of potential website, libraries, museums, archives or other research institutions that may have sources related to your project.

Q: What type of sources are we looking for?

A: Remember, you're looking for two types of sources:

PRIMARY SOURCES are created at the time of the event or by someone who witnessed the event. A recording of Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have a Dream" speech would be a primary source.

SECONDARY SOURECES were created after the time of the event, using or analyzing primary sources. Your textbook's section on Martin Luther King Jr is a secondary source.

Q: How does this History Day thing work?

A: Here's the basic idea:

Choose your group or decide to work alone. Think about what type of project you want to complete: paper, exhibit, documentary, performance or website.

You choose a topic related to this year's theme: Triumph and Tragedy in History.

Start preliminary research, look in your library, talk to your teacher.

Do the bulk of your primary source research.

Outline the project and put it together.

In February you'll register for your district event. Check out which district you are in and the date of your competition at: http://www.ohiohistory.org/resource/edserv/ohd/about/district.html.

At the contest you'll have a judging time. If you have a paper or exhibit, you'll be interviewed. If you've completed a documentary, you'll show it to the judges and answer their questions. Performances will do their project live and be interviewed by the judges.

The most important part of this process is research and HAVING FUN!