HOW AN ENTRY IS JUDGED

CLICK HERE TO Download the actual judge sheet so you can see what the judges use to evaluate your project

Regardless of which category a student enters, the following principles of evaluation will be used in the judging of National History Day entries:
Historical Quality—80% The most important aspect of an entry is its historical quality, which determines 80% of the total evaluation. 
  • Historical Argument: Does your project make a well-formulated historical argument supported by thorough analysis? Is the annual theme woven throughout the project?
  • Wide Research: Did you integrate a body of credible research into a fully developed historical argument? 
  • Primary Sources: Did you develop your historical argument using Primary Sources to support it? 
  • Historical Context: Did you analyze the short-term and long-term causes of the historical event(s)?
  • Multiple Perspectives: Did you integrate multiple perspectives throughout the historical argument? 
  • Historical Accuracy: Is your historical information accurate?
  • Significance in History: Did you draw an evidence-based conclusion about the topic's significance in history? AND did you analyze the short-term and long-term impact? 
  • Student Voice: Are student ideas, analysis, argument, and conclusions original and persuasive? 
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Here's the video shown to judges if you are curious...
Clarity of Presentation—20% Having a project that is clear for your audience to understand determines 20% of the total evaluation.  ​