How Entries are Judged

The goal of National History Day is to provide students with a high-quality, educational experience- whether or not you win a prize. The judges' evaluations are part of the learning and skill building process of History Day and will help you to improve your projects and your knowledge about your research topic.

In Tennessee, the judges for History Day at all levels are college and university historians, public historians, educators and graduate students in both history and education. A team of 2-3 judges is assigned to a group of projects. The judges will evaluate those projects using the judging forms below. The judges will then consult with each other and rank those projects within their group. If a run-off round is necessary, the highest ranking projects will move forward into a new group and a new team of judges will be assigned to this new group. The judges' decisions are final.

Every History Day category has a judging form specifically designed for that category. Copies of judging forms can be downloaded below. Judges are encouraged to comment upon the entry and make suggestions for improvement. Each category's form is based upon the following general criteria used by all judges.

Evaluation Criteria
HISTORICAL QUALITY...............60 percent of the total

The most important aspect of your entry is its historical quality. Ask yourself the following questions to help you focus on your historical analysis:
  • Is the entry historically accurate and authentic, or does it have serious omissions?
  • Does the entry demonstrate a grasp of the subject within the historical context of the era? The student's knowledge and analysis should extend beyond a very narrow topic to its overall importance.
  • Does the entry provide an analysis of the historical data, or is it just a description of an event/topic? Remember, history is not the past, it is the past explained.
  • Is there a wide use of primary and secondary sources? Is the research balanced; does it demonstrate an analysis of all points of view?
  • Does my entry demonstrate a balanced presentation of viewpoints?
  • Does my annotated bibliography demonstrate wide research?
  • Does my entry demonstrate use of available primary sources?

RELATION TO THE THEME............20 percent of the total

Your entry must clearly explain the relation of your topic to the annual NHD theme. Ask yourself the following questions to help you focus your topic on the theme and its significance:
  • How does my topic relate to the theme?
  • Why is my topic important?
  • How is my topic significant in history and in relation to the National History Day theme?
  • How did my topic influence history?
  • How did the events and atmosphere (social, economic, polical, and cultural aspects) of my topic's time period influence my topic in history?

CLARITY OF PRESENTATION...20 percent of the total

Although historical quality is most important, your entry must be presented in an effective manner. Ask yourself these questions to help you focus on your presentation:
  • Is my entry original, creative, and imaginative in subject and presentation?
  • Is my written material clear, grammatically correct, and is my spelling correct?
  • Is my entry well-organized?
  • Do I display stage presence in a performance?
  • Is the visual material I present clear?
  • Do I understand and properly use all of my equipment?

MANDATORY DEDUCTIONS....can cost up to 15 percent of the total
  • Exceeds time, size or set-up limits
  • No process paper or annotated bibliography
  • Students did not run all equipment
Sample Judge's Evaluation Forms

The Sample Judge's Evaluation forms are provided here to help teachers and students prepare their entries for competition. National History Day and Tennessee History Day reserves the right to update these forms at any time.

Performance
Documentary
Exhibit
Website
Research Paper