National History Day Contest Rule Book
The Oklahoma National History Day contest is a recognized state affiliate of the National History Day contest and upholds the rules of the National History Day rulebook.
What is Oklahoma National History Day?
Each year thousands of Oklahoma students, encouraged by teachers statewide, participate in the Oklahoma National History Day (OkNHD) program. OkNHD is a part of National History Day and is a highly regarded academic program for 6–12 grade students. More than 750,000 students across the country participate every year!
Students choose historical topics related to a theme and conduct extensive primary and secondary research through libraries, archives, museums, and historic sites. After analyzing and interpreting their sources students draw conclusions about their topics' significance in history before presenting their work in original papers, exhibits, performances, websites, and documentaries. The student projects are entered into competitions in the spring at regional, state, and national contests where they are evaluated by professional historians and educators. Each May students from across Oklahoma compete in the state finals. The program culminates in the Kenneth E. Behring National Contest each June held at the University of Maryland at College Park.
Setup Needed...
Public Display
Inform visitors when and where the can go to see the various contest projects.
valuation Criteria
The NHD evaluation criteria are the guidelines by which judges evaluate projects. These guidelines are established by the national-level program. The same criteria are used at Regional, State, and National contests.
Judges take into consideration both the project itself and the annotated bibliography when evaluating a project. If a project does not have an annotated bibliography, they are unable to advance to the Final-Round of competition.
Historical Quality (60%)
The most important aspect of the entry is its historical quality, which covers research, analysis, interpretation, and historical context. This, along with the relation to theme, puts the “history” into National History Day!
- Entry is historically accurate: Main ideas are supported by facts; entry contains no obviously inaccurate facts.
- Shows analysis and interpretation: Entry has clear thesis, original interpretation, and thoughtful analysis; entry demonstrates significance of topic, and acknowledges strengths and weaknesses of historical evidence.
- Places topic in historical context: Entry utilizes accurate and appropriate references to time period, surrounding events, ideas, people, places, and objects; entry specifies political, economic, social, and cultural influences.
- Shows wide research: Entry has investigated a variety of types of sources, in accordance with what might be available given the topic.
- Uses available primary sources: Entry shows clear understanding of the relationship between primary and secondary sources, using primary sources where appropriate and readily available.
- Research is balanced: Entry may focus on one interpretation, based on evidence and analysis; but entry acknowledges and analyzes other possible points of view.
Relation to Theme (20%)
The entry must clearly explain the relation of the topic to the annual National History Day theme and the topic’s significance in history. These elements must be in the project itself, not just in the interview.
- Clearly relates topic to theme: Entry thesis is closely linked to the theme and obviously demonstrated throughout.
- Demonstrates significance of topic in history and draws conclusions: Entry uses historical evidence to show topic’s significance in history and to back up conclusion; entry has clearly stated conclusion.
Clarity of Presentation (20%)
Although historical quality is most important, the entry must be presented in an effective manner. It is important to remember that the NHD criteria specify clarity of presentation, which does not necessarily mean a flashy presentation. Judges will be careful to look beyond glitz in projects for organization, neatness, etc.
- GENERAL: Entry is an original production, and it is clearly (neatly) presented, well-organized, and very articulate; this entry is best suited to the category in which it is presented.
- PAPER: Entry text is very clear, grammatical, and correctly spelled; entry is very neatly prepared.
- DOCUMENTARY: Entry utilizes images (such as interviews, film footage, site visits) and audio to effectively communicate central points.
- EXHIBIT: Entry is visual and effectively utilizes images (such as maps, photos, models, etc.) to communicate and support central points.
- WEBSITE: Entry has visual impact and makes good use of multimedia to communicate and support central points; entry is very interactive and easy to navigate; information is historically accurate.
- PERFORMANCE: Entry performers show good stage presence and props/costumes are historically accurate and an integral part of the presentation.
Rule Compliance
Judges will take any rule infraction into consideration in their final rankings. Minor rule infractions will not disqualify an entry, but rule infractions that give students an unfair advantage will be taken into consideration in determining a project’s final ranking. Take close look at the “Rules for All Categories” and the “Individual Category Rules” in the National History Day Contest Rulebook for specific rules for each category.
Disqualification
Tampering with another entry, plagiarism, and revising or reusing an entry from a previous year – whether your own or another student’s – is unacceptable and will result in disqualification.