History Day is a curriculum enhancement program designed to change the way that history is taught and learned in middle schools and high schools. History Day promotes a better-informed citizen in a democracy where problem-solving, clarity of thought, in-depth research, character, and rigorous academic learning are critical.

Entries are divided into two divisions: Junior (Grades 6-8) and Senior (Grades 9-12).

Entries may enter one of eight categories: paper (individual only), individual exhibit, group exhibit, individual performance, group performance, individual documentary, group documentary, and individual and group (combined) website design. Each category in each division is judged separately. Groups may include 2 to 5 students. Group participants do not have to be in the same grade to compete together.

Entries are judged on three main elements: historical quality (60%), relation to theme (20%), and clarity of presentation (20%).

The theme for the 2011 National History Day competition is "Debate and Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, and Consequences."

The 10th Annual East Tennessee History Day district contest will be held on March 7, 2011 at the University Center on the campus of the University of Tennessee. For further information on East Tennessee History Day, please check out our District News Page. District winners are eligible to compete in the state competition, and winners at state may compete in the national competition.  

To register for the competition (registration opens Jan. 1, 2011 and closes February 17, 2011) or to get more information on Tennessee History Day, please check out the Tennessee History Day website. 

For PDF copies of the East Tennessee History Day Dispatch (a quarterly newsletter documenting the NHD program in East Tennessee) please click on individual issues below:

East Tennessee History Day Dispatch                                                                        Volume 1, Issue 1 (Summer 2009)    

Volume 1, Issue 2 (Fall 2009)

Volume 2, Issues 1-2 (Winter/Spring 2010)

2010 NHD CONTEST, Special Edition, Volume 1

2010 NHD CONTEST, Special Editon, Volume 2

2012 ETHD Parent Teacher Student Information Letter

 

For more information, please check out the National History Day website or contact William E. Hardy, East Tennessee History Day Co-Coordinator by e-mail at .