Reading guides due every class, essays, DBQs, the AP exam in May…and now sophomores enrolled in AP World History are again required to participate in the National History Day Competition (NHD).
Both AP World History and World History II Honors teachers are again making NHD a project grade as it was the year before last.
“We didn’t have as many participants last year than other years,” said AP World History teacher Cathleen Boivin.
Because the project was not required to be done as a significant grade, virtually all of the students last year ignored it completely and did not make an effort even for a bonus grade due to its requirements.
These demanding project requirements include choosing a historical topic relating to the theme of the year and conducting extensive research, analyzing sources, drawing conclusions, and presenting their work.
Despite NHD being a year long effort, students continue to have reservations due to the hefty workload expected of them.  Sophomore Kristen Larson, for example,finds value in the project itself, but is wary of the challenge.
“I think it is a good project for young students to learn about turning points in history, but I think it’s difficult because it is hard to find primary resources,” said Larson, “It takes a lot of time.”
Students are required to find 30 sources, the majority of them from firsthand sources, and incorporate them into their projects which may range from original papers to performances and documentaries.
This challenging workload is not intended to overwhelm students, but rather to help them gain effective skills that will stay with them for their entire academic careers. History teachers are able to see the skills develop over the course of the year.
“They gain skills in organization, following directions, good research techniques, and being able to construct a solid thesis,” said Boivin.
These effective study habits, however, are overlooked by students who find that the project is a burden.
“I think it is an interesting project, but I also think it is difficult because of the AP workload we also have,” said sophomore Derek Smith, who is enrolled in AP World History.
Smith is not alone in his objections to the project. World History teachers are not deaf to these complaints, yet they are able to find value in the project watching the students grow throughout the year.
Since the project it was not required last year, the number of participants dropped and students were not able to grow in this unique way.
“The project is great because you can watch the kids do history and learn a lot through the process,” said Boivin.