1) History Fair Thesis

Ready, steady, go!  Phase II of the history fair is here.

We will be watching a short video, reviewing the history fair PowerPoint [click on five steps to become a historian], and writing down ideas on our worksheet. 

Then, we'll focus on developing a thesis

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.

As you read…Write it down now!

To be a responsible researcher you must give credit to your source of information in a bibliography. For now, however, it is important to collect the critical information from each source you will use: the author's name, titles, publishers, and date of publication, and page number for quotes.

From NDH website: http://www.nhd.org/ConductingResearch.htm