Search New York State History Day: Contests Judging   Evaluation Forms   Winning Regionals   Winning States   Home can't read it? click here for a new image		Home     News     Contest     Teachers     Students     Parents     Staff     Contact Us     Store   How an Entry Is Judged For more detailed information about the judging process see pages 15-17 of the National History Day Contest Rule Book. There are three evaluation criteria that judges are required to use when evaluating a project: Historical Quality (60%) Clarity of Presentation (20%) Relation to the Theme (20%) Historical Quality is the most important aspect of any project. By taking on the role of a historian, students' work must be historically accurate. Judges look to see if an entry: Provides analysis and interpretation that moves beyond a description or a book report. Demonstrates an understanding of historical context, showing how the topic is connected to what else was happening in the world. Has an annotated bibliography that shows a wide range and variety of sources. Demonstrates a balanced presentation of materials. Are viewpoints on both sides of an argument addressed? Uses available primary sources in an appropriate way to support the thesis or argument. Sources add value and do not only add more sources to a project. Clarity of Presentation refers to the audience's ability to understand your message. Can the judges easily find the thesis and the supporting evidence? It also encompasses the creativity and professional appearance of an entry. Judges look for: A creative and original subject and presentation. What sets the project apart from other projects? Clearly written materials with correct grammar and spelling. A well-organized entry. If the information is presented in a logical order it helps the audience walk through an argument. A stage presence and confidence in the presentation. Visual materials that are clear and connect to the thesis. Proper use of any equipment. Relation to Theme is the component that makes History Day a unique experience. Though students have a choice of topic, it must clearly relate to the overall theme of the contest. Judges look at: How a topic relates to the theme and why the topic is important. What is historically significant about the topic and how it relates to the theme? Why should people care about this subject? How has the topic influenced history? Again, this relates to historical significance. How did other events, people, cultures during the topic's time period influence the topic? How was the topic affected by other things going on in the world at the same time? Other Notes about Judging: The judges reach their decision by consensus. All judges must agree on the top entries. Judging is subjective. The NYS History Day staff does its best job preparing judges. Their decisions are final and cannot be overturned.