The contest rules changed in June 2020. You can find the contest rule book on the Resources page of the MHD website.
Michigan History Day (MHD) is an educational program of the Historical Society of Michigan. The Historical Society of Michigan, the state’s oldest cultural organization, helps to connect the stories of all Michigan’s peoples to students, educators, historical organizations and the public through education programs, conferences, publications, awards, workshops, referral services, networking opportunities, and support for local history organizations.
Please visit hsmichigan.org/mhd for more information.
Judging Criteria
History Day relies on consensus judging. That means that instead of giving entries numeric scores, our judge teams will rank projects in their categories. Judges will judge entries according to the following criteria:
Historical Quality (80%)
- Historical argument
- Theme
- Wide research
- Primary sources
- Historical context
- Multiple perspectives
- Historical Accuracy
- Significance in history
Clarity of Presentation (20%)
- This varies from category to category, but in general, how you use the tools of your category to present your research, argument, and the historical significance of your topic.
- Student voice
All entries must conform to the general rules:
- Students can only participate in one project per year.
- Entries must be researched and developed during the current contest year.
- Students are responsible for the research, design, and creation of their entry.
- Students must provide an annotated bibliography as well as a process paper of no more than 500 worlds.
In addition, each category has its own specific rules. Click here for the evaluation rubric for each category.