Judging and Volunteering at History Day
Judges and volunteers are needed at all levels of History Day competition.
Judges - historians, educators, and other specialists - evaluate the students'
entries and provide the positive and constructive feedback that is essential to
the learning process. Volunteers are critical to maintaining
a smoothly running event. They help with registration, room monitoring, and other
assorted duties.
Judges
Evaluating History Day projects is interesting and rewarding for you—and it really
helps young people develop leadership and academic skills. History Day judges review
entries in their preferred category, give students feedback and select which projects
advance from the regional to the state and national events. The time commitment
can be as little as one five-hour event or extend to multiple competitions in different
venues; you can even judge websites and papers at home. Many judges say that History
Day is their favorite day of the year!
Washington's History Day competition is vibrant and growing; each year more than
6,000 kids around the state explore historical topics through projects ranging from
performances, exhibits and documentary films to websites and research papers. In
a typical year, more than 50 Washington students go to the National History Day
competition in Washington, D.C.
Judge Responsibilities
Online judge registration allows you to request a specific History Day category
that aligns with your profession or experience. If you have no preference, no problem!
We'll find a category that needs your help. Prior to the History Day competition
you will receive your judging assignment with the corresponding information on the
category you will be judging and a contest rule book to read through. The packet
you receive will also contain information about what time you will need to arrive
at the competition location for your judge orientation session and further instructions.
Judge Information and Instructions
Please review this general information in advance of the competition.
-
The NHD Judging Process: Learn more about the
general process of evaluating NHD entries.
-
NHD Judging Tips: In-depth information, as well
as a final checklist to use when evaluating entries.
-
Judge Positives and Pitfalls: What makes a great
judge? What should judges watch out for?
-
NHD Theme Sheet: Take a closer look at the broad
theme that NHD uses to guide student topic selection and analysis.
-
Sample Questions: Get a better idea of the typical
questions judges ask students at NHD competitions.
-
NHD Rule Book: If you want a more detailed look
at the program, please take a look at the NHD Rule Book.
Please review the judge instructions for the specific category you will be judging
in advance of the competition.
Event Information
Your event coordinator will provide specific logistical information about the day
of competition, including event locations and times and the specific NHD category
you will be judging. On the day of the event, the event coordinator will also provide
a brief judge orientation, to familiarize you with the program and logistics of
the event. For a list of History Day contests,
click here.
Sign up to judge!
Click here
to get started (signup opens January 2011).
If you’re new to judging, please read the Online Tutorial titled, “The Judge Registration
Process.” If you’ve used the online registration system to sign up for previous
contests, just click on the contest name and enter your username and password to
get started. Forgot your username and/or password? No problem! Just
email us and we’ll send it to you.
Volunteers
At the History Day competitions we can always use extra hands to help with registration,
contest headquarters, loading and unloading projects, t-shirt and souvenir sales,
runners and hall/door monitors during judging, and more!
Volunteers for the Washington History Day State Contest can register online beginning
January 2011; check back for more information. To volunteer at a regional contest,
please
check the dates
and contact the appropriate
regional contest coordinator.
Questions?
If you have specific questions about the History Day event for which you are judging/volunteering,
please contact the
event coordinator.
If you have general program questions, contact the state coordinator,
Lauren Danner.