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Judging Criteria

The judging criteria for The Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize are those used in The National History Challenge.

Historical Quality (60%)

Is the entry:

  • Historically accurate?
    • The work must be factually correct and accurate.
  • Using a range of different sources of information?
    • This means that a variety of sources is used (where reasonably available).
  • Using both primary and secondary sources where appropriate?
    • A primary source is material directly related to a topic by time or participation. These materials include letters, speeches, diaries, oral history interviews, documents, photographs, artefacts, or anything else that provides first-hand accounts about a person or event. Secondary sources are usually published books or articles by authors who base their interpretation on primary sources.
  • Showing an empathetic understanding of the period?
    • The work shows that you have understood the attitudes and values of the time being investigated.
  • Using the evidence and information to create an effective argument?
    • Successful history writing not only tells a story, but also shows analysis and interpretation. A question is set, and it is answered by the student.

Relation to Question (20%)

Does the entry:

  • Clearly relate to the question in the historical context?
    • At the end of your presentation the audience must see clearly how your investigation has helped to explain some aspect of the question.
  • Show a personal understanding of and involvement in the question?
    • Have you shown how the investigation has meant something to you?

Presentation (20%)

Does the entry:

  • Have a clear and logical organisation and structure?
    • The audience can clearly follow the progress of the work.
  • Effectively communicate its ideas?
    • The ideas and messages of the work are clear to the audience.
  • Recognise sources used?
    • You have included a list of the resources you have used in your investigation.
  • Show an original approach?
    • Is it all your own work? The work does not show plagiarism. Plagiarism is using the work or ideas of others in ways that give the impression that these are your own (ie. copying information word-for-word without using quotations and footnotes; paraphrasing an author's ideas, or using visuals or music without giving proper credit in footnotes).