Project Assignment: Europe, 1500 - 1815
Learning Objectives to Demonstrate:
• Ability to ask historical questions (questions about historical process)
• Information literacy (framing questions, finding appropriate and qualified sources)
• Synthesis of sources -- make an historical argument
• Communication of your analysis
• Demonstrate your ability to formulate an historical argument -- make a point!
• Connect historical processes to human experience
Task
Traditional Paper -- 5 -10 (length really depends on topic!)
• Topics need to be approved!
• Appropriate use of sources, word processing, formatting, style, etc.
• Ask if you're not sure what to do!
Alternative formats: All require a "Process Paper" (Process Paper: 2- 4 pages)
• Why did you pick this format?
• Did your format meet your expectations?
• Did you run into any particular problems? If so, how did your solve them?
• If you were starting over, would you change anything? What would you change?
• Evaluate your method. Did it work? Strengths? Weaknesses? How did it meet your need to communicate your ideas?
National History Day Process paper outline. You're welcome to use this one if you like it!
The first section should explain how you chose your topic.
The second section should explain how you conducted your research.
The third section should explain how you selected your presentation category and created your project.
The fourth section should explain how your project relates to the NHD theme.
All Projects - papers and Alternative formats require an annotated bibliography. Again, the History day site is a good resource.
How to find a topic:
Subject (e.g., Women't History) > Area (e.g., Everyday Life) > Topic (e.g., 18th-century women's fashions)
Subject (e.g., Political History) > Area (e.g., Renaissance Monarchies) > Topic (e.g., Henry IV's reforms)
Subject (e.g., History of Art) > Area (e.g., Artists' workshops) > Topic (e.g., How did Michelangelo really work in the Sistine Chapel)
Subject (e.g., Economic History) > Area (e.g., Renaissance Commerce) > Topic (e.g., How were Bills of Exchange actually Used?)
Subject (e.g., Law and Society) > Area (e.g., Crime and Punishment) > Topic (e.g., How did Policing work in early-modern cities? What were the different penalties for different crimes?)
Subject (e.g., Early-Modern Warfare) > Area (e.g., Battles and the Thirty-years' War) > Topic (e.g., Which battle proved most decisive in the Thirty-years' war?)
Some Project Presentation Ideas:
* Historical Process Timeline
* A "Poster Paper"
* A "Newspaper or Magazine"
* A "Correspondence" or a "Diary"
* A Documentary
* Write a Play or Produce aan Artwork
* A Model, a Map, or a Diorama
* An "Edited" work
* An Annotated Bibliography
* An Annotated Map.