Illinois History Day

Grades

6-12th grade (Middle school and high school)

Age

Typically 11-18 years old

Citizenship

No citizenship requirement mentioned; program appears open to all students in Illinois schools

Prerequisites

No specific academic prerequisites; open to all interested students; typically coordinated through schools

Steps

1. Select a historical topic related to the current year's theme
2. Conduct historical research using primary and secondary sources
3. Choose a project category (paper, exhibit, documentary, performance, website, or podcast)
4. Create and develop your project over several months
5. Register with your county/regional History Day coordinator
6. Compete at regional/county level competition
7. If selected, advance to state competition
8. If selected at state level, compete at National History Day in Washington, D.C.

Materials Needed

• Research sources (primary and secondary documents)
• Project materials specific to chosen category
• Registration through county coordinator
• Evidence of historical research and analysis
• Project typically includes annotated bibliography and historical analysis

Timeline

Typically begins in fall (September-October) with theme announcement; projects developed over 4-5 months; regional competitions January-February; state competitions February-March; national competition in early June in Washington, D.C.

Cost

Typically free or low-cost to enter at local/regional level; costs may vary by county; participation is often free for students whose schools sponsor them

What Judges Look For

• Depth and accuracy of historical research
• Clear understanding of historical context and significance
• Effective analysis connecting the topic to the year's theme
• Quality of presentation and technical execution
• Originality and creativity in project approach
• Use of primary sources and evidence
• Clear communication of historical argument
• Proper citations and bibliography
• Engagement with multiple perspectives on the historical topic
• How well the project illustrates historical thinking and reasoning

Scoring

Judging typically evaluates: historical accuracy and interpretation (40%), use of primary and secondary sources (20%), critical analysis and historical thinking (20%), presentation quality (10%), overall impact and creativity (10%). Judges are experienced educators, historians, and community members.

Common Mistakes

• Insufficient primary source research; relying too heavily on secondary sources
• Poor connection between project and the year's theme
• Weak historical analysis; merely summarizing facts rather than analyzing
• Incomplete or inadequate citations and bibliography
• Projects that are too broad or lack focus
• Poor technical quality or presentation issues
• Failing to engage with multiple viewpoints on historical events
• Starting research too late; rushing the project
• Choosing overly complicated topics without sufficient time to research
• Not following the specific category requirements and time/size constraints

Acceptance Rate

Not formally published; however, competitive at regional and state levels. Approximately 500,000 students participate nationally each year in NHD across all states. Illinois typically sends 100-200+ competitors to national competition from the state level.

Applicants

Estimated 5,000-10,000+ students participate in Illinois History Day competitions annually across all regional/county competitions

Winners / Selected

Typically 2-5 projects per category advance from state competition to nationals; each regional competition selects approximately 10-20 projects to advance to state

• Start early (September-October) to allow maximum research and development time
• Choose a topic you're genuinely interested in—passion shows in the project
• Focus on primary sources; judges value original research and analysis over summaries
• Understand the year's theme deeply and ensure your topic connects meaningfully to it
• Choose the project category that best suits your strengths (documentary, exhibit, performance, etc.)
• Visit the National History Day website for category-specific guidelines and examples
• Create a strong historical argument supported by evidence, not just a narrative of events
• Get feedback from teachers, mentors, and others before competition
• Pay attention to presentation quality—visual/audio clarity affects judging perception
• Practice your presentation multiple times if competing in performance category
• Keep detailed notes on all sources and evidence as you research
• Create an annotated bibliography showing critical evaluation of sources
• Connect your local/regional history topic to broader national or global themes
• Consider interviews with local historians or community members as primary sources
• Study past winning projects on the NHD website for inspiration and standards
• Ensure your project meets all technical requirements for your chosen category
• Build in time for revisions; first drafts are rarely competition-ready

How to Prepare

• Familiarize yourself with previous years' themes and winning projects on nhd.org
• Practice historical research using library databases and primary source collections
• Visit local museums and historical sites for inspiration and potential primary sources
• Read books, documentaries, and articles on various historical periods
• Take honors history or AP history classes to develop deeper historical thinking
• Practice writing analytical essays (not just narratives) about historical events
• Learn how to properly cite sources and create annotated bibliographies
• Develop skills in your chosen project category (e.g., video editing, exhibit design, public speaking)
• Study the National History Day rules document thoroughly
• Attend History Day workshops or webinars offered by your school or county
• Connect with past History Day participants for advice and mentorship

Resources

• National History Day official website (nhd.org) - rules, resources, past projects
• Library of Congress American Memory Collections - primary sources
• State historical society archives and local libraries
• Primary source databases through school library (JSTOR, ProQuest, etc.)
• National Archives and Records Administration - government documents
• Oral history collections and interviews
• Local museums and historical societies
• YouTube channels featuring historical documentaries
• Books: 'The Historian's Craft' and other historiography guides
• AdmissionSight's National History Day guide
• Your school's history teachers and librarians
• County History Day coordinators (can provide local resources and coaching)

Time Needed

4-5 months of active work recommended (September through January for regional competition). Realistically: 50-100+ hours of research, planning, creation, and revision for a competitive project. More time is beneficial if advancing to state or national competition.

Successful National History Day competitors typically have: Deep passion for history and their specific topic; Strong research skills and access to primary sources; Ability to connect local/regional topics to larger historical themes; Creative presentation skills matched to their chosen category; Teachers or mentors who support their work; Started projects in fall with 4-5 months of development time; Demonstrated historical thinking beyond simple fact collection; High-quality production values for their chosen format; Clear, well-argued historical analysis. Winners often have previous History Day experience or strong academic backgrounds in humanities. Many winners pursue history, journalism, documentary film, or related fields in college.

National History Day (and by extension, Illinois History Day) is highly respected in college admissions. Admission officers view it as evidence of: strong research and analytical skills, intellectual curiosity, sustained effort over months, ability to communicate complex ideas, creativity and technical proficiency. Particularly impressive for students applying to liberal arts colleges, history programs, journalism, documentary film, and public policy programs. Advancing to state or national competition is a significant achievement worth highlighting in applications. STEM-focused colleges also value it as evidence of research skills. NHD experience is often mentioned in admissions essays and interviews. Students who win at regional/state level have a definitive edge; national competition appearance is highly prestigious. This activity demonstrates initiative since it's largely student-driven and not required.

• National History Day (NHD) in DC — Tier 3, competition
• Texas History Day — Tier 3, competition
• National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) — Tier 3, competition
• Miniversity Singapore Debate Olympiad — Tier 3, olympiad
• National High School Ethics Bowl (NHSEB) — Tier 3, competition