Taking a Stand in History: People, Events, and Ideas

Here's a guide to support students using the National History Day theme. To help organize their research and analysis, students may be encouraged to keep their notes in a five-subject notebook or binder.

FACTS about your "taking a stand" choice:

• What is "the stand"? Describe the event, idea, or person.
• What was the event or situation in which taking this stand became necessary or become important or noticed? Why was the phrase "taking a stand" used in this situation?
• Who (individual, community, nation, or nationality) took this stand or was involved in taking or fighting against this stand? Why this person or people?
• When was this stand an issue? Think about its inception, its conclusion, or the moments in time when it was a "hot topic."
• Where was this stand or taking this stand an issue? Why t/here?

SPECIFIC CAUSES/HISTORY leading up to this taking a stand:

• What was happening prior to this stand being taken?
• Why was there a need for this stand to be taken? How did taking this stand come into being?
• What were people's attitudes about this issue prior to the stand being taken (general public, individuals or institutions with power, stakeholders)?
• Had this stand been taken or attempted before by others?

IMPACT of taking this stand:

• What effect did this stand have on the people or ideas involved in the issue?
• What effect did this stand have on this field/genre/or topic?
• What effect did this stand have on the world politically, socially, culturally, and economically?
• What effect did this stand have on the future (which is our present!)?
• How was life different as a result of this stand being taken?
• How did this stand, or how did taking this stand, change over time?
• How did this stand, or how did taking this stand, make an impact?
• Quotes or opinions/arguments by others about your topic's significance or effect on society?

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

• What major events occurred in the community, city, state, nation and world at this time?
• Who were the prominent people or organizations at the time?
• Who else was taking this stand or similar stands at this time?
• What else were people in the community, nation, or world doing and thinking and caring about?

MISCELLANEOUS

• Bilbliographic information and notes for the annotation
• Address, phone numbers, emails of people to contact or contacted
• Other sources to investigated
• Interview questions