Creating Web Site Entries
**PLEASE NOTE: FOR SUBMISSION PROCEDURES AT THE LOCAL AND STATE COMPETITIONS, CHECK WITH YOUR DISTRICT OR STATE COORDINATOR** What is a web site?
A History Day web site is a computer-based representation of your research and argument that incorporates both textual and non-textual content (e.g. images, songs, interviews, videos, and other media) to engage and inform your viewer about your topic. A web site is more than just an electronic paper or an exhibit on a computer. Through a web site you are able to incorporate nontextual elements with which a viewer can interact.
Why Should I Choose the Web Site Category?
The web site category is great for students who enjoy working with computers and want to work with web design software. If you've ever wanted to learn how to build a web site – now is your chance. While many topics can be effectively conveyed using the web site category, this category is especially suitable for topics that have a variety of non-textual materials (media, photos, documents, timelines, illustrations, newspaper articles, etc.) that can be used to support your argument.
Since this category requires additional equipment and supplies, you should make sure you have access to this equipment before you start. Do you, at home or school, have access to a computer with web design software? If you don't already know how to use the program, is there someone at home or school who can help you as you learn to use it?(Remember, people can help you with the program, but all the work in creating the web site must be done by group members!) Before you begin, it's also important to consider where you will have access to this equipment and where you will do most of your computer work. Discuss the answers to these questions with your parents and teachers.
The Basic Framework - Size Limit: The overall file size of your web site can be no more than 100MB of file space, including all multimedia.
- Word Limit: The web site may contain no more than 1200 visible, student-composed words. This means that all words that you write that are visible to the viewer count towards your word limit. If you didn't write it, it doesn't count towards the limit. Quotations from other sources won't count against your 1200 words. Words that are not visible to the viewer – citations, code used to build the site, and alternate text tags on images – do not count against the limit, either. Site content should not "lift" just quotes.
Examples of things that count toward your word limit | Examples of things that don't count toward your word limit | - Titles and subtitles
- Captions
- Graphs, charts, or timelines that you create yourself
- Words that you write that appear on your web pages
| - Quotations
- Graphs, charts, or timelines that you don't create yourself
- Brief citations crediting the source of an illustration, quotation, or piece of media
- Code used to build the site, and alternate text tags on images
| - Be sure to check the NHD Contest Rulebook for complete category rules!
Web Sites are About Research
As in other History Day categories, good research is the first step and foundation for your web site. After completing your primary and secondary source research, you will have the following pieces of information ready for the web site:
- Thesis
- Connection to theme (remember, it's your job to show how your topic connects to the theme!)
- Project title
Important Resources for the Web Site Category |
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