National History Day How To: Writing a Paper

Paper BasicsConsult the Contest Rule Book for complete rules.

• More than book report or biography: Needs a Thesis.

• Individual only.• 1500-2500 words (6-10 pages). Does not

include notes, appendices, or bibliography.

• Must be the work of the student. Excessively long quotations or using someone else’s work as your own is not acceptable.

• Contains citations to document research.

How should your paper look?

• Must have a cover page with title, name, division, and category only.

• Appendix material must be referred to in the text and use should be limited.

• Must be typed or computer printed. On plain 8.5 x 11 inch white paper with 1 inch margins on all sides.

• Consecutively numbered, single-sided, double spaced pages. • Stick with an easy to read font like Times New Roman, Arial,

or Calibri in 10-12 point font.• Stapled on left hand side and cannot be enclosed in binder or

cover.

How do I choose a topic?

• Learn what historical resources are nearby.

• Think through controversial topics.• Choose something you think is

interesting! • Brainstorm topics related to the

theme.

Writing your paper

Collecting information – your research will form the basis of

your paper.

Organization - begins with the analysis of your research and development of your thesis. • Tip: Outlining your argument and

supporting points with specific references to your sources will help you as you develop and write your paper.

Create a structured argument with a topic sentence to focus

each paragraph.

Write multiple drafts and have them reviewed before handing in a final draft for competition

or to a teacher

How do I research my topic?

• Start with secondary sources• They help you understand your

topic more completely.• Will point you toward primary

sources.• Help you pick the specific themes

and key questions you want to address and ask.

Can I use websites?• Yes, but don’t do all your research

there.

How do I research my topic?

• Primary sources!– NHD defines these as materials

directly related to a topic by time or participation.

– Sources can be both primary and secondary depending on how it’s used.

– Look in the footnotes and bibliographies of secondary sources to find them.

– Talk to a librarian, teacher, historian, or archivist!

Evaluating your sources

• Not all primary sources are primary to your topic.

• Think about these questions:– What type of source is it?– What is the date?– Who created it?– Where was it produced?

Your Annotated Bibliography and Citations

• Bibliography: List of sources at the end of your paper that you consulted in creating your paper. Keep a working bibliography as you research.

• Annotations: Brief descriptions of how the source was useful to your research.

• Citations: Used within the paper to show the origins of ideas or quotes presented in your paper. – You can use footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical citations.

• For both annotations and citations refer use the MLA or Turabian style manuals.– Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and

Dissertations.– Joseph Gibaldi, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.

Tips!• Avoid slang, informal abbreviations, jargon, or offensive language. • Proofread, proofread, proofread: Have teachers and parents look

it over.• Be aware that you have to submit your paper two weeks in advance

of competition, so the draft you submit must be your final.• Don’t blow off the interview just because they’ve already read your

paper: The judges will use this time to verify that you did the work, ask you questions they had about your paper, and offer you the chance to show off your hard work.

• But your paper should stand alone and judges should be able to find all the information they need about your topic in it. – Ask your proofreaders if you have communicated your argument effectively.

But, what if I have questions?

• That’s easy, contact: Cheryl Caskey at cheryl.caskey@ky.gov or 502-564-1792 ext.4461.

• Or, visit: http://nhd.org/CreatingEntry.htm.• Or, visit: www.facebook.com/kyjhs.• Or, visit: www.history.ky.gov.