Tuesday, August 18, 2009
National History Day in Indiana is on Facebook!
Facebook users: search "National History Day in Indiana" and become a Fan of the NHDI page! We will be using this page to supplement the NHDI page and this blog. It's a place for you to post pictures, comments, ask questions, and tell us what you are doing with National History Day!
Friday, March 27, 2009
North District Contest
The North District Contest will be hosted by St. Mary's College in Notre Dame on Saturday, March 28. Students can begin registering at 7:45am in the Student Center. We ask that all students be registered by 8:45am.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Be Careful Your Project Does Not Become Just a Biography!
Once you have selected your individual, be careful not to create a biography where you tell the whole story of your individual's life. You need to know the story of the person’s life to understand the person, but you want to focus on a specific part of the individual’s life. What were the most interesting actions that your individual did in his/her life? What was the result or legacy of these actions?
If you choose someone like Martin Luther King, Jr. who had a number of important actions – leading the Montgomery bus boycott, forming the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, studying with Gandhi about the philosophy of non-violence, giving the “I Have a Dream” speech, etc. – you need to pick the action and legacy that you find most important and/or most interesting. If you tried to cover all of King’s actions, you would have way too much information for your paper, exhibit, documentary, performance, or Web site. Study the individual that interests you and learn their biography. Then select a part of the individual’s life that you want to focus on for your project.
If you choose someone like Martin Luther King, Jr. who had a number of important actions – leading the Montgomery bus boycott, forming the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, studying with Gandhi about the philosophy of non-violence, giving the “I Have a Dream” speech, etc. – you need to pick the action and legacy that you find most important and/or most interesting. If you tried to cover all of King’s actions, you would have way too much information for your paper, exhibit, documentary, performance, or Web site. Study the individual that interests you and learn their biography. Then select a part of the individual’s life that you want to focus on for your project.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Tips for Selecting Your Individual to Study
Selecting a Topic for the Individual in History: Actions and Legacies
When looking for a person to study, you should not pick someone who is just making news today. The topic is not just “the individual in history” – the topic asks you to look at the individual’s “actions and legacies.” A legacy is something left behind to later generations. For example, a woman who worked in a factory during World War II helped to show that women can perform factory work well. These factory workers helped open up new work opportunities for women. An individual who worked for voting rights in America helped to create a society where all citizens can vote, regardless of their race or gender. Legacies are not all positive. Hitler left a legacy of hate and terror.
If the person you select is someone from today’s headlines, like Al Gore, it can be difficult to really know the full legacy. Gore has done a great deal to bring a lot of attention to environmental issues, but we don’t yet know the full legacy of his actions. You would be able to find primary sources about Al Gore, but it would be harder to find secondary sources about him where historians have really looked at his work and drawn conclusions about his lasting impact on society. You want to study a person who made a difference in society, and you want this person to have done their action(s) in the past so that historians have had a chance to study and write about the person’s legacy. Do consider local and lesser-known individuals, as these people can lead to exciting and unique topics.
When looking for a person to study, you should not pick someone who is just making news today. The topic is not just “the individual in history” – the topic asks you to look at the individual’s “actions and legacies.” A legacy is something left behind to later generations. For example, a woman who worked in a factory during World War II helped to show that women can perform factory work well. These factory workers helped open up new work opportunities for women. An individual who worked for voting rights in America helped to create a society where all citizens can vote, regardless of their race or gender. Legacies are not all positive. Hitler left a legacy of hate and terror.
If the person you select is someone from today’s headlines, like Al Gore, it can be difficult to really know the full legacy. Gore has done a great deal to bring a lot of attention to environmental issues, but we don’t yet know the full legacy of his actions. You would be able to find primary sources about Al Gore, but it would be harder to find secondary sources about him where historians have really looked at his work and drawn conclusions about his lasting impact on society. You want to study a person who made a difference in society, and you want this person to have done their action(s) in the past so that historians have had a chance to study and write about the person’s legacy. Do consider local and lesser-known individuals, as these people can lead to exciting and unique topics.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Welcome NHDI bloggers
It's great to hear that National History Day in Indiana has a blog! What's new?
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
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