National History Day ‐ California Entry Evaluation Ratings
The National History Day - California Entry Evaluation Form aligns with that of National History Day and includes seven columns to rate the elements related to Historical Quality, Relation to Theme, and Clarity of Presentation. Four columns include labeled headers with unlabeled columns in between.
Superior and Excellent marks generally apply to entry elements considered top half of the rating spectrum. Good and Needs Improvement marks apply to entry elements considered lower half.
Ratings Descriptions
- Superior: This entry element could not be improved upon in any way. While there nearly always are multiple ways an entry element can be approached, the element is addressed completely with the highest levels of scholarship, creativity, and craftsmanship (as appropriate). If advancing to the next level of competition, this entry element requires no additional consideration.
- Excellent: This entry element reflects extraordinarily high quality scholarship, creativity, and craftsmanship (as appropriate). In a classroom setting, this element would receive the equivalent of a letter grade of "A." Any errors are minimal to the point of barely being noticed. This element may require minor improvements should the entry advance to the next level of competition.
- Good: This entry element reflects reasonably generally solid scholarship, creativity, and craftsmanship (as appropriate). Judges may notice gaps in research, somewhat distracting typographical, grammatical, and/or style errors. This entry element should undergo substantial improvement/correction should the entry advance to the next level of competition.
- Needs Improvement: This entry element reflects significant challenges related to scholarship, creativity, and craftsmanship (as appropriate). Judges may notice frequent &/or distracting factual, typographical, grammatical, and/or style errors. Should the entry advance to the next level of competition, this element will need to be addressed and reworked.
Essential Considerations
- Evaluation ratings reflect the quality of work considered reasonable for the grade span/age range being evaluated. What may be marked Superior for a Junior Division entry may be considered Good for a Senior Division project.
- Historical Quality counts for 60% of the overall evaluation weight.