National History Day 2025

Rights & Responsibilities in History

Getting Started

Choose a topic

The annual National History Day contest theme is designed to help you think of a topic from any aspect of United States history. With the theme as a guide, you can create questions to investigate and explore with your research.

The theme for National History Day 2025 is "Rights & Responsibilities in History". Learn more on the National History Day theme page.

Rights: Freedoms or privileges that individuals possess as human beings or as members of a society

Responsibilities: Expectations of individuals as members of society

Here are a few questions to ask yourself as you choose a topic:

What are major rights - civil rights, political rights, economic rights, or human rights - that you find interesting? What specific events, people, or ideas involve those rights?
You can also start in the other direction: What ideas, events, or people do you find interesting or compelling? What rights or responsibilities helped influence, or were affected by, those events, ideas, or people?
What do the ideas of "rights" and "responsibilities" mean to you? What would you add to the provided definitions?
What rights or responsibilities don't exist or aren't protected, but should be?

Here are some major anniversaries in 2024 and 2025 that may help inspire some ideas.

You have almost unlimited freedom in choosing a topic and forming your research question, as long as it fits the theme and is related to U.S. history. Find one that excites you!

create a research question

Once you have selected your topic, you'll write your research question. This will be the basis for your entire project, and can be broken down into three steps.

Start with the main topic and focus of your paper. (i.e. Women's Suffrage)
Ask a question about your topic in one sentence. (Example: Who fought for women's suffrage?)
Revise this sentence by using specific terms. (Example: How did key figures work together to ratify women's suffrage into law? Were any groups excluded? If so, why?)

Things to consider:

Is your chosen topic too broad or expansive for you to cover within the scope of your project? Your research question should focus on a specific area or aspect.
Is your research question too narrow or obscure? It may be difficult to find enough resources and information on lesser-known topics.

Submit your chosen topic

Research

Library Databases

These library databases are great places to start your research journey.

Sign in using your school Google account!
Your username (before the @) and password will let you access databases and resources outside of school.

EBSCO Research Databases

Search within multiple databases at once, efficiently narrowing results with filters.

Gale in Context: U.S. History

Offers overview of United States history, with reliable resources including overviews, news and magazine articles, primary sources, multimedia content, and biographies on historical events, decades, conflicts, wars, political and cultural movements, and people.

Historical Newspapers

Delivers complete, fully-reproduced issues of The New York Times (1851-2019), Chicago Tribune (1849-1998), and Chicago Defender (1909-1980). Explore historical events, social and consumer history, economics, literature, technology, and more.

Library of Congress

Explore the digitized collections of the largest library in the world, an invaluable resource for primary and secondary source research. Includes digitized maps, legal materials, audio interviews, music recordings, and much more.

Find even more on these database pages:

Academic Journals

History

Primary Sources

Books

Destiny is the online catalog for all District 207 school libraries. You can find print books and ebooks, as well as see what is available at South and West's libraries. You can request to borrow items from the other schools.

Tip: Use a book's table of contents and index to zero in on the information that's most useful and specific to your topic.

Research Skills

The research process

Grow Your Research Garden

Prepare the Soil

Background investigation and thoughtful questions lay a healthy groundwork for your research.

Plant the Seeds

The librarians and databases can help you locate quality sources that will sprout into your research project.

Harvest your Crop

Use NoodleTools and Google Drive to organize, compile, and annotate the sources and information you have gathered.

SEARCH STRATEGIES

Search Terms & Fields
The words you search for, how you phrase them, and where in the resource you are looking for those words, are key to finding the best resources.

Terms
The actual words you are looking for.

PROTIP:
Use quotation marks to search for specific words together in a specific order

"Declaration of Independence"

"Civil Rights"

"Chicago Fire"

Field
Where are you looking for your search terms?

Title: Name of the source
Author: Who created the source
Subject: What the source is about
Keyword: Searches key fields at once

Boolean Operators
Refine and fine-tune your search by combining search terms & fields. Some operators narrow your search, and others broaden your search results.

AND

Results with search terms combined.

Lincoln AND "civil rights"

poverty AND crime

Results with any of the search terms.

"right to vote" OR suffrage

wage OR income

(Great for synonyms and ideas with many different names.)

NOT

Results with search terms excluded.

"Chicago Fire" NOT soccer

dementia NOT Alzheimer's

(Great for targeting a term that has many different meanings.)

filters & limit search results

After you perform a search, you can sort and fine-tune the results using filters or limiters. Different databases may use different terms, but most will let you filter by the categories listed here.

Subject
What topics the resource covers

Hone in on all of the resources related to a topic. Databases often have specific, controlled vocabulary for topics.
"Canines" instead of "dogs"; "hypertension" instead of "high blood pressure."

Search multiple subject terms at once using Boolean Operators to get even more specific.

You can find a database's specific subject terms linked in a resource's information page, or in a database's Thesaurus Terms. Use those terms to search in the Subject field on future searches.

Peer Reviewed — Limits to items from scholarly journals that have gone through a review process by experts in the field.

Publication Date
When the resource was created

Limit the results to recent years for the most up-to-date information and research.

Older results can help find primary sources or show how people in certain time periods understood your topic.

Source/Content Type
Where the resource was originally published

Reference
Books of facts with specific entries to cover particular information, like encyclopedias, atlases, dictionaries, etc.
(Ex. Dictionary of American History, Encyclopedia of Crime and Justice)

Newspaper/Magazine/Periodical
Often shorter articles, for the public and a general audience. Great for overviews, recent news, and opinions about a topic.
(Ex. Rolling Stone, Chicago Tribune)

Academic/Scholarly/Trade Journal
More technical articles for a more specialized audience. Often longer articles that include actual studies and research conducted on a particular topic.
(Ex. Journal of Education, American Historical Review)

Full Text
If the entire resource can be viewed and accessed on the database

Some databases just include information and a citation for the resource, but not the actual resource itself. Limiting by "Full Text" excludes those from your search results.

If you see a citation for a resource that you would like to find, talk to the librarians. We can often get that resource for you in just a few days!

Database PRO-tips

Library databases and other research sources have these tools you can find and use to research more effectively and efficiently.

Search multiple databases. Each database has a different collection of resources. Performing the same search will get you even more resources to choose from.

Use the citations and bibliographies of the most useful resources. Search for those authors, or even those exact resources. Find the information those writers used.

See also: Trace information back to its original context from the S.I.F.T method under "News & Media Literacy."

Cite resources on any of our databases by finding the quotation mark icon.

Choose the citation format that is required for your project.

Abstracts are short summaries of there resource. Read the abstract and subject terms to decide if you want to save the resource and explore it further. This will save you a lot of time!

evaluating resources

Currency

Timeliness of the information

When was this resource created? Has it been updated?
If it is a website, do most of the links still work?
Does your research topic require your information to be the most recent, or will older resources still be valuable?

Authority

How reliable the source of the information is

Is the author clear and easy to find? Are their background and credentials clearly stated?
Do they have expertise or experience related to the topic?
Who is the publisher? Are they well known and trustworthy?
Use lateral reading to find more background information.

Accuracy

How reliable and correct the resource is

Are the arguments and claims supported by evidence?
Can you verify the information from multiple other sources?
Does this resource have citations, footnotes, or links?
Has the resource gone through the peer review process?
Are there any spelling errors or typos?

Relevance

Importance of the information for your needs

Does the information help answer your research question?
Is the entire resource related to your topic, or only parts of it?
Does the information support or contradict your other sources?
Does the resource provide a perspective or point of view on your topic that is absent in your other sources?
Is the information presented in a way that is too simple, too technical, or too advanced for your needs?

Purpose

The reason the resource exists

Why was the resource created? Is it presenting straight facts and data, or interpretations and opinions?
Is the information presented objectively, or is it written using words that arouse emotions? Is it attempting to sway the audience toward a specific point of view?
Is the resource upfront about having a particular viewpoint or mission?
How is the work funded? Is there extensive advertising on the website? Is a subscription required to access the information? Is the research funded by an organization with a specific interest?

CITATION TOOLS

NoodleTools provides integrated tools for citations, document archiving, annotation, and collaborative research and writing. Most library databases will create properly formatted citations and export it right to your NoodleTools project folder.

Google Docs has a built-in Citation Tool to help you format citations, create a bibliography/works cited page, add footnotes, and more. Watch a tutorial here.

The Online Writing Lab (O.W.L) at Purdue University is an extensive resource for creating works cited and annotated bibliographies, as well as help with research, writing, and formatting styles.

primary sources

Types of Sources

All materials, data, and information used in research are known as sources. Information sources are classified into three categories: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources.

Primary Sources are original materials that provide first-hand information or data. They serve as the raw materials used as the building blocks of research by historians, scientists, and other scholars. Determining if a source is primary depends on context, which will be discussed further, but include examples listed here.

Examples:

Photographs
Music & video recordings
Interviews
Speeches

Newspapers & periodicals
Census data & survey results
Letters, diaries, and journals
Scientific & medical study data

Secondary Sources describe, digest, interpret, evaluate, and analyze information, usually by using multiple primary sources.

Examples:

Journal articles
Biographies
Nonfiction books

Reviews & criticism
Documentary films

Tertiary Sources compile, list, index, and summarize information from secondary and primary sources. These sources are great for starting your research journey when getting background information, but are not sources you want to cite in your own research projects.

Examples:

Encyclopedias
Reference books

Wikipedia
Textbooks

Identifying Primary Sources

Determining if something is a primary source is often dependent on the context in which the source was created and published, and how you are using and interpreting the source. Consider these factors when making a decision.

Timing

Was the source produced at the time of the event/period being studied? Shortly after? Or much later?

Sources created closer to the event are more likely to be primary.

Primary Source: A photograph of settlers preparing for their journey on the Oregon Trail in 1847

Secondary Source: A 2018 documentary film about the Oregon Trail using photographs, diaries, and other source material

Authorship

Was the source created by someone directly involved or witnessing the event?

First-hand accounts and records usually indicate a primary source.

Primary Source: A memoir written by a woman who grew up during the Great Depression

Secondary Source: A biography by a historian published in 2004 about Frances Perkins, the U.S. Secretary of Labor during the Great Depression

Purpose

Is the source's original purpose to convey direct information, or to analyze or interpret the information?

Raw documentation and data tends to be primary sources

Primary Source: Statistical data on 1980s voter turnout collected by the U.S. Census Bureau

Secondary Source: An article in an academic journal analyzing voter trends over time that uses census data

Context of Use

The context in which a researcher uses and analyzes a source can also determine if it is primary or secondary.

If the source directly provides the key information or evidence being examined, it is likely a primary source.

Source: Review of the movie Jurassic Park by movie critic Roger Ebert.

Primary Source: For a biography about Ebert, or a study of film criticism through history.

Secondary Source: for research on the evolution of special effects in movies, or a biography of the director.

Primary Source Quiz - Test Yourself!

Finding Primary Sources

There are multiple ways to gather Primary Sources. Think about the type of primary source you are looking for to help you decide the best place to find it.

Databases & Websites

Several databases and websites are dedicated to providing original documents, raw research data, and other primary sources. You can find a large collection of them on our Primary Sources database page.

Archives

Archives are collections of historical artifacts like documents, records, manuscripts, or photographs surrounding a specific place, institution, individual, or group of people. They are usually hosted by museums, historical societies, libraries, businesses, universities, and other institutions. Many archives require appointments and other requirements to view their materials, but there are often partial or complete digital archives as well.

Oral Histories

Oral histories are collections of interviews - either audio recording or transcribed - with people who have first-hand experience with a historical event or topic. Oral histories are often collected in books or as digital archives.

Create Them Yourself

Conduct interviews or surveys, collect your own raw data, or take your own photos! If they help to answer your research question, they are primary sources.

news & mEDIA LITERACY

How do you know if news and other online information is credible?

Use the four moves of the S.I.F.T. method to help you analyze news, videos, and other information that you encounter online and on social media.

The SIFT method is a strategy developed by digital literacy expert, Mike Caulfield. All SIFT information on this page is adapted from his materials with a CC BY 4.0 license.

Stop

Don't rush to share and trust information right away!

Consider what you already know about the topic or source. Is it reputable and reliable?

Focus on why this information matters to you. Don't get distracted by unrelated details.

Recognize if the headline/article/video is trying to provoke a strong reaction to get attention. Is their goal to get more views and clicks over sharing accurate information?

Investigate the source

Research the author and publication

What relevant background, expertise, or agendas to they have?

Use lateral reading: check what other credible and trusted sources say about this source, instead of relying on how they present themselves. Wikipedia and Google are great.

Is the site, author, or organization what you originally thought it was? Is there inconsistency in how they present themselves?

Find additional coverage

Find the best information on the topic.

Search for other coverage of the topic to compare perspectives. Do different sources agree or contradict the original information? Is there a general consensus?

Read more in-depth reporting and analysis - don't settle for the first article you see.

Evaluate which sources seem the most thorough and credible. Consider adding them to your personal list of trustworthy news outlets to check first in the future.

Trace information to its original context

Find the original source for the claim, quote, and media.

It's always best to locate the origins of images, videos, quotes, research studies, and other information.

Check if re-reported information accurately reflects the primary source.

Has anything been altered or taken out of context. Was data cherry-picked to support a specific agenda?

When in doubt, contact an expert - like a librarian!

Public Libraries

Find even more resources in print or online at your local library. They have a large collection of nonfiction, databases, and primary sources you can utilize. You can also request even more resources from around the country at your public library.

Your librarians at Maine East can help you sign up for a card and help you figure out what resources to look for at your public library.

NIles-maine public library

6960 W Oakton St., Niles
(847) 663-1234
www.nileslibrary.org

park ridge public library

20 S. Prospect Ave., Park Ridge
(847) 825-3123
www.parkridgelibrary.org

morton grove public library

6140 Lincoln Ave., Morton Grove
(847) 965-4220
www.mgpl.org

des plaines public library

1501 Ellinwood St., Des Plaines
(847) 827-5551
www.dppl.org

glenview public library

1930 Glenview Rd., Glenview
(847) 729-7500
www.glenviewpl.org

Save Resources & Citations

Google Docs has a built-in Citation Tool to help you format citations, create a bibliography/works cited page, add footnotes, and more. Watch a tutorial here.

The Online Writing Lab (O.W.L) at Purdue University is an extensive resource for creating works cited and annotated bibliographies, as well as help with research, writing, and formatting styles.