National History Day 2016 - Theme
Each year, the National History Day contest is built around a theme. Every project must demonstrate how the topic is connected to the theme.
The themes are intentionally broad. There are thousands of possible topics that could easily relate to the theme.
This year's theme is Exploration, Encounter, Exchange.
Not sure how to get started? Click here.
Need some help understanding the theme? Click here.
Need help picking your topic? Click here or follow the steps below.
The themes are intentionally broad. There are thousands of possible topics that could easily relate to the theme.
This year's theme is Exploration, Encounter, Exchange.
Not sure how to get started? Click here.
Need some help understanding the theme? Click here.
Need help picking your topic? Click here or follow the steps below.
Choosing the Right Topic
Picking the right topic for your NHD project can be hard. Your topic has to fit the theme, be at least 20 years old, and be easily researchable using more than just the web. Most importantly, it has to be something you and your partners find interesting and engaging!!!
Use this page to get help picking and narrowing down your topic. Or, complete the Topic Selection Guide.
Step One: Get a general idea of possible topics
Step Two: Make a list of topics that interest you
- Brainstorm with your partners about subjects or topics that interest all of you. These can be topics from any subject. It can be something you already know a little about, or something that's completely new to you.
- Your topics should be at least twenty years in the past. This is so that you can find enough sources.
- Narrow down your topic as much as you can. Instead of picking a broad topic, like "The American Revolution," think about one specific piece of that topic. For example: How changes in weapon technology changed the way the war was fought.
- Don't worry yet about whether your topics fit the theme. Your teacher will help with that in the next step.
- Write down any sample topics from the NHD list that you found interesting, or want to know more about.
Step Three: Get your teacher's opinion
- Show your list to your teacher. They can help you clarify or eliminate topics.
- Your teacher will help you make your topic more specific, especially if you have chosen a very broad topic, such as World War II or the invention of the personal computer.
- Be prepared to have some possible topics rejected if they don't fit the theme or the project guidelines.
- If necessary, go back and brainstorm some more in order to add more topics to your list.
Step Four: Narrow down your list
- With your partners, narrow your list down to three or four topics that you all think are interesting, and that your teacher has said have potential.
- Rank the possible topics in order of how excited you are about the topic.
Step Five: Go back to your teacher
- Take your list of three or four topics back to your teacher for final approval.
- Your teacher will tell you which topics are the strongest, and which need to be revised in order to fit the requirements of the project.
- LISTEN to what your teacher has to say. You might have to change your topic slightly, or focus on a part of the topic that you don't know much about.
- BE READY TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW. Your final topic should be something that you don't know too much about. The whole point of NHD is to learn new things. And completing the project will be more fun and more rewarding if you pick a topic that you have a lot to learn about.
Step Six: Make your decision
- Decide with your partners which topic you will explore. It should have a very narrow focus and should be something you are passionate about.
- Don't be surprised if your topic changes once you've started researching. The more you learn about your topic, the better you will be at deciding exactly what your project will say.