About Oregon History Day 2024

The 2024 Oregon History Day contest will take place on Saturday, April 13 from 8am to 5:30pm at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. 

Oregon History Day, part of National History Day®, is a renowned, evidence-based middle and high school program in which students across the state develop historical research projects on a topic of their choosing based on an annual theme.

Over half a million students from every state in the nation participate. Most students participate in the classroom only, but they may also participate in the state and national contests, where judges evaluate their projects and provide feedback. Creating an Oregon History Day project is immensely rewarding for students, many of whom participate over consecutive years. Oregon History Day meets the state standards in multiple subjects and can support the teaching of standards related to Ethnic Studies, Tribal History / Shared History, and Holocaust and Genocide education.

Each year National History Day (NHD) selects a theme for the contest. Although you may select a topic on any aspect of local, regional, national, or world history, your project’s research and conclusions must relate clearly to the annual theme. The 2024 National History Day® theme is Turning Points in History.

There are five different categories of projects that are being submitted for this fair:

Exhibit category – students create an exhibit board to demonstrate research and analysis of their topic and how it relates to the theme. Exhibits are limited in size and to 500 student composed words - but this category can get very creative in presentation. Judges will view/read the board, have a brief interview with the students, discuss with fellow judges, and score the exhibit.

Paper category – students write a paper to demonstrate research and analysis of their topic and how it relates to the theme. Papers are a minimum of 1500 words. Judges will read the papers in advance of the contest, have a brief interview with the student on contest day, discuss with fellow judges, and score the paper.

Documentary category – students create a documentary film, of no more than 10 minutes, to demonstrate research and analysis of their topic and how it relates to the theme. The judges will view the films, have a brief interview with the students, discuss with fellow judges, and score the documentary.

Performance category – students create an original performance, ensemble or monologue, to demonstrate research and analysis of their topic and how it relates to the theme. Performances are no longer than 10 minutes. The judges will view the live performance, have a brief interview with the student, discuss with fellow judges, and score the performance.

Website category – students create a website, using NHD WebCentral - https://website.nhd.org/ - a website creation engine. These websites will demonstrate research and analysis of their topic and how it relates to the theme. Judges will be sent links to student created websites in advance - that should be no larger than 1,200 student generated visible words. The judges at the contest will have a brief interview with the student, discuss with fellow judges, and score the website.

Working individually (papers are individual only) or in groups of 2 to 5 students, junior (grades 6–8) and senior (grades 9–12) division students select a topic related to the annual theme.

National History Day® Contest 

Students who finish in 1^st and 2^nd place and meet project requirements at Oregon History Day in each category may be selected to go on to the National History Day contest. If one of the top two winners decline participation in the national contest, the 3rd place finishers who meet project requirements may be invited to compete at the national contest.

Oregon History Day State Contest - At a Glance 

Students interviews are returning! You will receive your interview time during student check-in, from 8:30 AM to 9 AM in the lobby next to Montag Den. Please email History.Day@ohs.org if you need a particular time slot due to a conflict with another academic event or medical appointment, and provide your requested time frame and reason for your request.

The purpose of the interview is to allow the judges to get to know you and learn a little more about what went into the development of the your project. Information presented by the students during the interviews is not included in the evaluation but may help judges better understand the project.

The Questions
This year, we are only allowing judges to select questions from the following list. Disclaimer: Judges won't ask every question on the list, and they may ask questions that aren't on the list if they want more clarification about an aspect of the project. 

Documentary Students
You should bring 2 copies of your project’s written materials with you to give to your judges during your interview. Written materials should be stapled together in this order: Title Page, Process Paper, Annotated Bibliography. During your interview time, judges will watch your documentary and then you will be interviewed about your project. Please prepare your documentary in various formats to avoid technical difficulties during your judging time, such as a USB drive. Students should double check to make sure their documentary will work on the day of the contest.

Exhibit Students
Bring your exhibit and 2 copies of your project’s written materials with you to give to judges during your interview. Written materials should be stapled together in this order: Title Page, Process Paper, Annotated Bibliography. You are also responsible to bring any power and/or extension cords if your exhibit needs electricity. Please bring a power strip if you have multiple things to plug in.
·        
Paper Students
Bring 2 printed copies of your project’s written materials stapled together in this order: Title Page, Process Paper, Paper, Annotated Bibliography.

Performance Students
Bring any costumes and props and 2 printed copies of your project’s written materials stapled together in this order: Title Page, Process Paper, Annotated Bibliography. Please note you are required to bring your own tables, chairs, projectors, etc. as outlined in the official NHD Rule Book, if you will be using them in your performance.

Website Students Bring 2 printed copies of your project’s written materials stapled together in this order: Title Page, Process Paper, Annotated Bibliograph. Optional: You may bring two paper printouts of your website to give to judges during your interview.

Willamette University
900 State St, Salem, OR 97301
Saturday, April 13
8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Campus Map 
Directions

Judging Criteria

The evaluation is an essential part of the Oregon History Day experience for the students. The students and teachers will pore over your comments and use them to improve their projects. Your comments should be written appropriately for students who are in grades 6-8 and likewise for those students in grades 9-12. These students are beginning - and honing - their historical research skills. They are not subject experts or academic historians, but they are eager and curious young historians. Judge's comments should clearly state and explain what is positive and why and what needs improvement and why. In a virtual contest, there is no interview, so the evaluation form is even more important to the participants. 

Evaluations should be based on the quality of the work, and most importantly on the historical quality. 

Historical Quality (80%): Entries should include analysis and interpretation of the topic. Consider whether the student goes beyond the “what, when, and where” to explore the “why” of the topic and the broader historical context. In addition to providing basic information about the topic, entries must draw conclusions about significance in history.

• Historical accuracy
• Historical context
• Analysis and interpretation
• Use of available primary sources
• Wide research
• Balanced research (a variety of perspectives)

Clarity of Presentation (20%): Evaluations should be based on the clarity and appropriateness of the style of the entry for its particular category.  Remember that the message is most important; the medium is not the message.  By the same token, do expect an effective and well-organized presentation.  Remember, this section is worth only 20% of the total evaluation; historical quality is most important.

• Presentation, written materials are original, clear, appropriate, organized and articulate
• Entry is organized; visual impact is appropriate to topic

Below are the Judging Instructions for each category, which confirmed judges will receive with their assignments:

Documentary, Exhibit, Paper, Performance, Website

Below are the Evaluation Forms for each category. 

Category Evaluation Forms: All Categories