Creating a Winning History Day Paper

by Mary M. Otis

Numerous requests from schools with students who want-ed to enter the paper category of History Day competition but were at a loss how to approach it, prompted this detailed guide by the editor of the California Historian.

GOAL
To present documented information on a subject relating to HISTORY DAY theme in an interesting and readable form.

HEADLINE
• first thing you see — last thing you write
• headline gives gist of story compacted into a few eye-catching words
• length of head — look at billboards where a product is sold in eight words
• every good head contains an action verb
• story is preserved in the headline (history is recorded in headlines — watch for this as you research)

CONSTRUCTING A HEAD
• construct a picture of what paper is about
• kicker (also called an eyebrow) placed to left of paper in smaller type than head (maybe as small as 12 point) and underlined — this is a good place to state History Day theme
• next comes head in large type
• finally a subhead of one or two lines, 10 to 20 words in slightly smaller type expanding on the head

BODY COPY
• do not choose a subject that has too broad a scope — paper must fit into number of words specified in History Day competition rules
• choose a topic that has aroused your interest
• story of an individual is usually more interesting than that of a movement
• choose a topic on which there is access to ample resources
• record on a separate loose leaf sheet each source and the notes taken from it — loose leaf will enable you to place the information in proper sequence (continuity) — also is the tentative bibliography
• copy — use good English in adding your interpretations (long and unfamiliar words are not great idea) — watch for translation pitfalls — words have many different meanings — make sure you have chosen the meaning commonly used — here is where you make a good dictionary your bosom buddy
• use consistent spelling, grammar, capitalization, punctuation, abbreviations — use a stylebook to guide you — suggestions: Associated Press Stylebook; Chicago University Press, A Manual of Style

NOTE TAKING
• pick up facts which pertain to theme of HD as distinguished from general history (during early research, notes taken are often too voluminous — don’t be distracted by interesting items not directly related to theme)
• quotations: must be the exact words, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, etc., of original — if there are errors, researcher must NOT correct them but should show that the original has been followed by inserting in brackets following the error the Latin word [sic] in brackets — brackets should also be used where you find it necessary to insert your own words to clarify meaning of quote; if you omit words in a quote, omission is indicated by three periods at the point where words were left out; if the words would have ended a sentence, omission is indicated by four periods.

PULL RESEARCH NOTES TOGETHER
• put loose leaf sheets in order so information flows from one point to next
• make an outline to serve as guide
• a review of all your notes should show —
• relation to theme
• answer questions you have on subject
• reach sound conclusions
• if information is accurate — many sources help determine this

READY FOR FIRST DRAFT
• outline is the skeleton — notes are the flesh
• lead — this is the first paragraph that gets story underway — can be a short summary of what story is about — check newspapers to see how to write a lead
• massive amount of research notes must be boiled down to HD-designated word length — don’t try to achieve this in the first draft — it may take numerous rewrites to get the “guts of the story” and still keep it interesting
• a composition is not putting together a series of quotes — pull basic information from quotes and notes, put these in your own words to show your interpretation; limit quotations to those words containing gist
• use your own words as a bridge from one point to another
• make deliberate effort to free material from the influence of prejudice which may be in some raw material — present unbiased story

REWRITES
• while it is essential that source of facts be made clear, it is not always necessary to give a separate reference for each
• rewrite until you are satisfied you have said what you wanted to say
• check and double check spelling (don’t rely on Spell Check), punctuation, grammar and MEANING OF WORDS THAT YOU ADD — keep a good dictionary and/or thesaurus at your fingertips primarily for word meanings — this is vital if English is a second language as words can have many and varied meanings
• conclude with brief, concise summary

SOURCES
• primary — interviews, autobiographies, letters, diaries, logs, journals, government records and documents
• secondary — newspapers, biographies, articles and essays in periodicals, general histories, etc.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
• style usually follows this order — author (last name first) alphabetized, title, city of publication, publisher, year of publication
• if more citations from same source follow, use ibid (abbreviated from Latin ibidem meaning same)• if author is listed more than once, initial of first significant word in next title determines precedence
• annotated bibliography — each entry is followed by your comment evaluating usefulness of information.