Historical Research

Are you looking for a helpful teacher guide with hints, tips, and activities to encourage student inquiry and historical research? 

The Guide to Student Research and Historical Argument provides an overview of the inquiry process, explores primary and secondary sources from the Library of Congress, and helps teachers guide students to construct historical arguments. The book targets important historical thinking skills that often challenge students. 

The Guide to Student Research and Historical Argumentation was developed by National History Day through a Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) grant from the Library of Congress.

NHD and the Library of Congress training videos:

• Historical Thinking Skills - Part 1

• Historical Thinking Skills - Part 2

Why is "wide research" important?

NEH Experts explain the importance of wide research in NHD projects in this video.

• Ask a NHD Expert: Wide Research

Vermont Topics may want to begin here:

• Digital Collection - Vermont Historical Society

• Howard and Alba Leahy Archival Library Search

• Vermont Historical Society's Museum Catalog

Looking for a graphic organizer with guiding questions to help students collect their notes?

Rights and Responsibilities in History, research graphic organizer (2 pages, unlined)

• Color
• Black & White

Rights and Responsibilities in History, research graphic organizer (4 pages, lined)

• Color
• Black & White