NHD Rulebook
The National History Day Contest Rule Book has all the information you need on general and category-specific contest rules as well as a breakdown on how entries are judged. For a downloadable pdf copy of the rule book click the link below.
If you're looking for information about what written materials you need to submit and how to submit them, click here for the Region 1 Submission Guide
The Region 1 Contest is organized by the Department of History at BGSU.
Region 1 is part of the Ohio History Day Contest, which is an affiliate and prerequesite for National History Day.
We are thrilled to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of History Day! Beginning as a small contest in Cleveland in 1974, NHD now has over half a million students participating annually in all 50 states and internationally. Read more about the origins of History Day here.
The 2024 Region 1 History Day Contest will take place in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union on March 9, 2024
A detailed day-of schedule, including judging start times and award ceremony times, will become available closer to the date of the competition.
In general, judging usually begins at 9am and wraps up by 12:30. Categories with many projects require runoff judging, which usually takes place from 1:30-2pm.
Group Documentary
Students in all categories must upload their title page, annotated bibliography, and process paper by February 25.
Group Exhibit
Students in all categories must upload their title page, annotated bibliography, and process paper by February 25.
Group Performance
Students in all categories must upload their title page, annotated bibliography, and process paper by February 25.
Group Website
Students in all categories must upload their title page, annotated bibliography, and process paper by February 25.
Individual Documentary
Students in all categories must upload their title page, annotated bibliography, and process paper by February 25.
Individual Exhibit
Students in all categories must upload their title page, annotated bibliography, and process paper by February 25.
Individual Performance
Students in all categories must upload their title page, annotated bibliography, and process paper by February 25.
Individual Website
Students in all categories must upload their title page, annotated bibliography, and process paper by February 25.
Paper
Students in all categories must upload their title page, annotated bibliography, and process paper by February 25.
Judging Criteria
History Day relies on consensus judging. That means that instead of giving entries numeric scores, our judge teams will rank projects in their categories. Judges will judge entries according to the following criteria:
Historical Quality (80%)
- Historical argument
- Wide research
- Primary sources
- Historical context
- Wide research
- Multiple perspectives
- Historical Accuracy
- Significance in history
Clarity of Presentation (20%)
- Student voice
- This varies from category to category, but in general, how you use the tools of your category to present your research, argument, and the historical significance of your topic.
All entries must conform to the general rules:
- Students can only participate in one project per year.
- Entries must be researched and developed during the current contest year.
- Students are responsible for the research, design and creation of their entry.
- Students must provide an annotated bibliography as well as a process paper of no more than 500 worlds.
In addition, each category has its own specific rules. Click here for the evaluation rubric for each category.