National History Day 2016:
Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History Historical Research Process
The National History Day website provides a detailed explanation of each of these 8 steps. Step 1: Decide how to keep your information organized. Step 2: Select a topic Step 3: Read background information for historical context Step 4: Narrow your topic Step 5: Gather and record information Step 6: Analyze and interpret sources Step 7: Develop a thesis and the body of your paper Step 8: Finalize and Review your research project Finding & Narrowing Your Topic Start with broad categories by asking yourself questions such as: 1) What am I interested in? 2) What have I learned a little bit about? 3) What is something that affects me personally? Do a little bit of research on one or more of your broad topics. You might want to check out Student Resources in Context, an online database available through ELM, and select the tab "Browse Topics". You can also look at books in the library to learn a bit more about your areas of interest. To narrow your topic, try to focus on any combination of the following: * person * place * time period * specific event For example, if you know that you are interested in the Civil War, you could pick a person to focus on, such as Clara Barton. Or you could pick a specific person and an event, such as President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation speech at Gettysburg. Then, try to frame your narrowed topic as a thesis (an argument, idea, or claim). Because the NHD theme for 2015 is Leadership and Legacy, your thesis should be focused around those issues. For example: "Clara Barton's Role in the Civil War and the Legacy of the Red Cross" or "President Lincoln"s Emancipation Proclamation: Leadership for Equal Rights". Check out the link below to get an idea of what a narrowed topic looks like. You can even choose one of these topics as your own. NHD Sample Topics List |
Middle School Non-Fiction Suggestions
Suggestions from Librarian Naomi Bates Fourth Grade State Research Source Guide Plan to use your book and one or more of the sources in this guide as your first (and perhaps only) research sources for your state project. State Project Bibliography Guide We will work on this during library class. Fifth Grade ALA Youth Media Awards Info Page ALA Youth Media Award Winners 2016 Middle School
Research Information & Resources A guide to help you understand the sources you will need and how to find them. Evaluating Sources Check out this guide for ideas on how to decide if a source is worth your time. Citing Sources It just doesn't get any better than this. Info, tips, and resources to help you cite like a rock star. Source Requirements for History Day Research aka: Answers to the question "How Many Sources Do We Need?" Maud Hart Lovelace 2015-16
Maud Hart Lovelace Award Prezi by Coleen Monroe
This was made in 2012, so the nominated books are not current but the information about the award is still accurate. Book Trailers:
Please note that not all book trailers are created by or endorsed by the author or publisher. Buddy Other Resources: Maud Hart Lovelace Award - go to "Members Only" tab and select "2014-15 Resources". Then go to "Mackin Book Talks". Check with Mrs. Maguire for password. Author Sites: Below are links to the websites of the MHL-nominated authors. As you look at author websites, try to figure out who is responsible for the site: Is it the author, a publisher, or some other source? Are you able to determine when the content was last updated? What do you like about different authors' websites? Are there any that you don't like as much as the others? Why? Buddy - M.H. Herlong Camo Girl - Kekla Magoon Counting by 7's - Holly Goldberg Sloan Fourmile - Watt Key The Fourth Stall - Chris Rylander The Lions of Little Rock - Kristin Levine One Came Home - Amy Timberlake One for the Murphys - Lynda Mullaly Hunt Perfect Game - Fred Bowen Rump - Liesl Shurtliff Summer of the Wolves - Polly Carlson-Voiles Zombie Baseball Beatdown - Paolo Bacigalupi |