Sunday, December 6, 2009

NHD 2010 Research

For the month of December, students will be conducting research and constructing their NHD projects.

Please go to nhd2010.blogspot.com for updated assignments.

Follow the calendar for NHD as well:



National History Day Project at Constitution High School
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Road to the National Constitution Center City Championship!

 Preliminary Class Competition, December 22nd will determine which students will be allowed to compete in the school-wide competition. Students will create a smaller version of the project and present it to the class.
1. Paper: write the first 3-pages of you paper and complete an outline which includes all citations to primary and secondary sources.
2. Documentary: edit and present the first 3-minutes of your film and complete a story board for the other 7-minutes.
3. Performance: perform the first 3-minutes of the play and submit an outline of all acts/scenes which also includes a list of props and drawing of the each set.
4. Website: complete the main page of the website and one other sub-page.
5. Exhibit: use poster board to construct a miniature design of your exhibit as well as submit an exhibit layout that describes each label and specific source.

Evaluation criteria will be based on the NHD judges form and student(s) ability to communicate with passion and dedication on their topic and project. Students selected to move on to will be permitted to complete a finished NHD project and the required process paper, compete in the school-wide competition, and have an opportunity to move on to the city competition.


School-Wide National History Day Competition, January 27th: Professional educators and judges from around the city will judge your project to help us determine which projects should move on to the National History Day’s Philadelphia competition. Winners in the city competition win medals and move on to the state competition at Millersville University for a chance to earn state recognition and qualify for the national competition at the University of Maryland. Winners at the state and national level receive significant awards. See http://www.nhd.org/AwardsWinners.htm for more details.

What is required of me to complete a preliminary NHD project?

 2-Minute Pitch: In a short speech, students will tell the class about their innovation. This pitch should include a description of your thesis statement, at least two resources you are using, the project type you will develop, and why you are exited about this topic.
o Presentations are due on November 25th 100 POINTS

 Project Contract: A contract (will be provided to you) must be completed by all members of the group and signed by a parent / guardian in order for an official acceptance of a group project.

 Annotated bibliography: The development of your project’s annotated bibliographies (research log) will be checked on the following dates:
o December 4th , total of 15-20 sources 100 POINTS
o December 10th, total of 20-25 sources 100 POINTS
o December 18th, total of 25+ sources 100 POINTS

 A preliminary NHD project (see description on front) which will be presented to our class on December 22nd-23rd. 100 POINTS

 EXTRA CREDIT: Interview/Site Visit Conduct an interview with someone that can provide more insight into your topic and/or visit a museum, archive, or historic site. This person should have a lot of knowledge about the topic you are researching. 100 POINTS

Sunday, November 22, 2009

The Two-Minute Pitch / The Two-Page Pitch

This week students are working on creating their two-minute pitch for their NHD projects. For students unable to present to class this week, you are required to write your two-minute pitch as a two-page pitch.

In your Two-Page pitch, you must have:
1. An engaging and exciting beginning to grab the readers' attention. (At least one paragraph - you can use a vivid description, an interesting fact, or an anecdotal story about your inventor / invention / innovation.)

2. Thesis Statement - Your thesis statement must include:
A. A description of the innovation
B. It's impact on people's lives
C. How this innovation changed American history

3. You need to describe your research. What are at least three secondary sources you have used so far? How have these secondary resources helped you? What are at least three primary sources you have used so far? How have these primary sources helped you?

4. What type of project are you going to create for NHD? Explain how you will present your topic in this project type? Why did you choose this project type? Why do you think it is the best project type for presenting your topic? What steps will you need to take to complete this project?

5. Why did you choose this topic? Why should people be interested in your topic?

This two-page pitch is due on Wednesday. Please email me your pitch: ackermancarl@hotmail.com

Enjoy your Thanksgiving Break! Be sure to work on your NHD project! The Classroom competition is Dec. 22nd!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

This Week's Lesson - American Revolutionary War Webquest

Students will be studying the events that led up to the American Revolution.

For students unable to attend class, please complete this webquest:

http://www.milforded.org/schools/calfpen/jcox/wq/revwar.html

Follow the assignment closely - you are to conduct research on an individual during the Revolutionary War period.

NHD Topic Selection Essay Grading Rubric

Student Essays will be graded using the following rubric:

National History Day Topic Essay

STUDENT:

Date / Assignment Grade 20 /20
1. Essay addresses first question set:
• What is your historical innovation?
• When was it created?
• Where was it created?
• Who is credited for this innovation?


2. Essay addresses second question set:
• What was the problem this innovation solved?
• Who agreed / disagreed with this innovation?
• What immediate impact did it have on our country / people’s lives?
• What long-term changes happened as a result of this innovation?
• How has the use of this innovation changed over time?
3. Bibliography of 5-10 sources in MLA format.


4. Length – minimum of 5 pages typed in 12 point font, times new roman.

5. Grammar / Mechanics
• Overall essay is well organized, clearly / neatly written.
• Spelling / grammar errors.




Grade: The final grade will be based on the total points earned in each of the five categories. Each category has the potential for twenty points. 5 x 20 = 100 points total.

NHD - Topic Selection Essay

NHD Topic Selection Essay - Due Friday November 13th.

National History Day Topic Selection Essay
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TASK: Write a 5 paper research paper (12-point font, 1-inch margins) on your proposed topic choice that relates to the 2009-10 NHD Theme. This research paper will be called your topic selection essay.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Step One: Read this year’s theme reading and select your Innovation in History.

Step Two: Research and write topic selection essay. The essay must answer these questions:
1. What innovation would you like to build a project about?
• What is your historical innovation?
• When was it created?
• Where was it created?
• Who is credited for this innovation?

2. What major impact and change in history did this innovation have?
• What was the problem this innovation solved?
• Who agreed / disagreed with this innovation?
• What immediate impact did it have on our country / people’s lives?
• What long-term changes happened as a result of this innovation?
• How has the use of this innovation changed over time

Step Three: Prepare a bibliography of 5-10 sources in MLA format.
• EasyBib http://www.easybib.com/
• Landmarks Son of Citation Machine http://citationmachine.net/

Step Four: Hand essay in on time. Essay due on November 6th!

Grading: This essay will be a major project / exam grade in English, Social Studies, and Art History/Technology (if you have it).
Grading Rubric Based On Proper:
1. Length
2. Bibliography
3. Connection to Theme
4. Grammar/Mechanics
NOTE ON FORMING GROUPS FOR NATIONAL HISTORY DAY
As always, groups are permitted and encouraged for National History Day projects. However, each student is responsible for handing in his or her own researched topic selection essay about the group’s agreed upon innovation. Discuss with your teacher what each paper should focus on.

ESSAY REQUIREMENTS
• INDIVIDUAL: write entire essay as described in this assignment
• GROUP OF TWO STUDENTS: In Step Two one student answers question 1 and the other student answers question 2. Each student should submit a 5-10 source bibliography.
• GROUP OF THREE-FOUR STUDENTS.
o In Step Two one group member answers question 1.
o The next two group members should divide question 2 between them.
o The fourth group member should complete an essay on primary sources available online and in print.
o Each student should submit a 5-10 source bibliography.
• ALL STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO WRITE A 5 PAGE RESEARCH PAPER.

TOPICS: You must choose a topic that relates to our study of American History. This means you can select any topic from Early American History (1500s) to World War I. As part of the American Studies course, students must also write a Civil War research paper. It is highly encouraged that students select a topic for NHD that relates to the Civil War. This will allow students to conduct extensive research to create competitive Civil War papers.

Some possible topic that are highly suggested:
1. Ancient Maya, Aztec, Inca and Native American innovations.
2. European exploration innovations (Caravel, Compass, Sextant, Lateen Sails).
3. Innovations in self-government (State Constitutions, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution).
4. Early Abolitionists – innovations in civic participation / protest (John Brown)
5. 1800s – Communication and Transportation: telegraph, steam engine, canals / turnpikes, railroads.
6. Civil War – weapons, strategies, prisons of war, forts, troops (Massachusetts 54th)

Friday, March 13, 2009

Works Cited Page

Works Cited


Primary Sources:
1. Basker, James and Justine Ahlsrtom, ed. I Take Up My Pen. New York: Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, 2008.


2. Basker, James, ed., Why Documents Matter. New York: Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, 2007.


Secondary Sources:
1. Antietam. DVD. directed by Michael Epstein. 1999; New York, NY: The History Channel, 2008.

2. Hart, Diane. Pursuing American Ideals. Palo Alto: Teachers Curriculum Institute, 2008.

In Text Citation

MLA Citation Style

The Modern Language Association (MLA) Style is widely used for identifying research sources. In MLA style you briefly credit sources with parenthetical citations in the text of your paper, and give the complete description of each source in your Works Cited list. The Works Cited list, or Bibliography, is a list of all the sources used in your paper, arranged alphabetically by author's last name, or when there is no author, by the first word of the title (except A, An or The). [5.1-5.5]
For example:
In the text of your paper:
The Civil War had an enormous impact on the lives of soldiers. Millions of men fought in the war and about one million were wounded or died (Hart, 124).

or,

Diane Hart characterized the Civil War as an extremely deadly affair in the textbook Pursuing American Ideals. She argues that “Around 3 million men fought in the Civil War. As many as a third of these soldiers died or were wounded in battle” (124).

In your Works Cited list:
Hart, Diane. Pursuing American Ideals. Palo Alto: Teachers Curriculum Institute, 2008.