Process Paper
For this year’s National History Day contest I selected the topic: The Keating-Owen Child Labor Act of 1916. I chose this topic for several reasons. First, since I was in sixth grade I have done a project on the rights of the people. They interest me because as a citizen of the United States, one of the only countries run using a democracy and popular sovereignty, I am curious to understand the progressiveness of this country. In addition, I do my projects on rights that pertain to me. I believe it is extremely important to understand my rights and the effort, time, and determination used to earn them, so in the future I will never take advantage or discontinue them.
I conducted most of my research online. I used the HISD Library Services as well as links in their bibliographies to find the information needed to make this an outstanding project. In addition, I used the “History of Art” website to collect the various pictures and quotes used to describe them. This was important to my project because the photographer was a very well-known, pivotal member of the effort concerning the child labor reform. Other sites were used to collect important dates and possibly create a timeline. It is important that I use different types of sources, from different places so my project can be presented in several forms, be diverse, and ultimately appeal to a broader audience. Moreover, I used excerpts of interviews from young children during this time period. I hoped this rare, yet important, primary information would intrigue the learner and spark an interest in them about my topic.
I chose to present my project in the form of a website. I felt this would be the best way to display the pictures I acquired as well as the information. I also thought it would be creative to create a photo gallery of Lewis Hines’s artwork and his quotes because I had not seen it done before. I also liked the idea of using a timeline to illustrate the change this important document has caused. It would create a very obvious reason why this topic relates to the National History Day theme this year. Furthermore, I noticed there are lots of projects presented in the form of an exhibit. I would like to be unique and have a better chance in advancing in the National History Day contest.
My topic, The Keating-Owen Child Labor Act of 1916, relates to the National History Day theme: A Turning Point in History. This was the first formal document requesting a change in the child labor industries; therefore it paved the way to the child labor reform and exposed many unknowledgeable citizens about the problem. Although it was deemed unconstitutional, it was very important this document be debated over, and ultimately reaches congress. This is how The Keating-Owen Child Labor Act of 1916 relates to the National History Day theme.
I conducted most of my research online. I used the HISD Library Services as well as links in their bibliographies to find the information needed to make this an outstanding project. In addition, I used the “History of Art” website to collect the various pictures and quotes used to describe them. This was important to my project because the photographer was a very well-known, pivotal member of the effort concerning the child labor reform. Other sites were used to collect important dates and possibly create a timeline. It is important that I use different types of sources, from different places so my project can be presented in several forms, be diverse, and ultimately appeal to a broader audience. Moreover, I used excerpts of interviews from young children during this time period. I hoped this rare, yet important, primary information would intrigue the learner and spark an interest in them about my topic.
I chose to present my project in the form of a website. I felt this would be the best way to display the pictures I acquired as well as the information. I also thought it would be creative to create a photo gallery of Lewis Hines’s artwork and his quotes because I had not seen it done before. I also liked the idea of using a timeline to illustrate the change this important document has caused. It would create a very obvious reason why this topic relates to the National History Day theme this year. Furthermore, I noticed there are lots of projects presented in the form of an exhibit. I would like to be unique and have a better chance in advancing in the National History Day contest.
My topic, The Keating-Owen Child Labor Act of 1916, relates to the National History Day theme: A Turning Point in History. This was the first formal document requesting a change in the child labor industries; therefore it paved the way to the child labor reform and exposed many unknowledgeable citizens about the problem. Although it was deemed unconstitutional, it was very important this document be debated over, and ultimately reaches congress. This is how The Keating-Owen Child Labor Act of 1916 relates to the National History Day theme.