History Fair Checklist: Thesis and Revised Bib

Ready, steady, go!  Round thee of the history fair.

We will be watching a short video, reviewing the history fair PowerPoint [click on five steps to become a historian], and maybe taking the primary source vs. secondary source quiz.  

Then, we'll focus on developing a thesis (see your handouts).

Projects should do more than just tell a story. Every exhibit, performance, documentary, paper and web site should make a point about its topic. To do this, you must develop your own argument of the historical impact of the person, event, pattern or idea you are studying. The point you make is called a thesis statement. A thesis statement is not the same as a topic. Your thesis statement explains what you believe to be the impact and significance of your topic in history.

For Example

Topic: Battle of Gettysburg
Thesis Statement: The battle of Gettysburg was a major turning point of the Civil War. It turned the tide of the war from the South to the North, pushing back Lee's army that would never fight again on Northern soil and bringing confidence to the Union army.

[From NDH website]

Next, revising your bibliography making sure to cite your sources and annotate. See handouts and/or follow the links for more info.  This must be submitted through Edmodo.

Here's what your bibliography should look like:

After that, we'll watch some PBS History Detectives to get some inspiration and finally, we'll write a five-paragraph essay.  More about that later.