Process Paper Example
Process Papers
Students producing entries in the exhibit, media, and performance categories* must also write a “process paper.” This paper introduces your topic, explains how you developed your entry, and documents your research. It is important to do a good job on this part of your entry because it is the first thing that people look at when evaluating History Day entries. The process paper contains three parts: the title page, a research description, and the annotated bibliography.
*The research paper category requires a title page and annotated bibliography, but it does not include a research description.
The process paper must be typed on plain white paper and stapled in the top left corner. It should be assembled in the following order: title page, research description, and annotated bibliography. Do not enclose the process paper in a cover or binder.
Title Page
The title page includes the title of the entry, name(s) of the student(s) who developed the entry, and the age division and category of the entry. Do not include any additional information or illustrations on the title page. It is important to come up with a good title for your entry. A good title will quickly introduce your topic, and it will help the viewer understand your point of view. You should include ideas from the theme in your title.
For example, a title for an entry about Clara Ueland could be:
A Force for Higher Civilization:
Clara Ueland and the Fight for Women’s Voting Rights in Minnesota
This title explains the topic and also gives a sense of the argument that Clara Ueland and other suffragists used to argue for their right to vote.
Research Description
The research description is not a summary of the topic. It is an essay of no more than 500 words explaining how you selected the topic, conducted your research, and developed your entry. The research description should conclude with a paragraph describing how the topic fit this year’s theme and why
Students producing entries in the exhibit, media, and performance categories* must also write a “process paper.” This paper introduces your topic, explains how you developed your entry, and documents your research. It is important to do a good job on this part of your entry because it is the first thing that people look at when evaluating History Day entries. The process paper contains three parts: the title page, a research description, and the annotated bibliography.
*The research paper category requires a title page and annotated bibliography, but it does not include a research description.
The process paper must be typed on plain white paper and stapled in the top left corner. It should be assembled in the following order: title page, research description, and annotated bibliography. Do not enclose the process paper in a cover or binder.
Title Page
The title page includes the title of the entry, name(s) of the student(s) who developed the entry, and the age division and category of the entry. Do not include any additional information or illustrations on the title page. It is important to come up with a good title for your entry. A good title will quickly introduce your topic, and it will help the viewer understand your point of view. You should include ideas from the theme in your title.
For example, a title for an entry about Clara Ueland could be:
A Force for Higher Civilization:
Clara Ueland and the Fight for Women’s Voting Rights in Minnesota
This title explains the topic and also gives a sense of the argument that Clara Ueland and other suffragists used to argue for their right to vote.
Research Description
The research description is not a summary of the topic. It is an essay of no more than 500 words explaining how you selected the topic, conducted your research, and developed your entry. The research description should conclude with a paragraph describing how the topic fit this year’s theme and why
Bibliography: A bibliography is an alphabetized list of the sources you used. An annotated bibliography not only lists the sources, but also gives a short description of the source and how you used it in the entry. The History Day bibliography should be separated into primary and secondary sources, and it should be on a separate page from your research description. Process Paper Examples For examples of process papers, go to the following website link: http://nationalhistoryday.org/ProcessPapers.htm