2008-2009 Essay Contest Rules

-- Posted --

October 5, 2008

1.  THEME:

“How the History and Heritage of a Cultural Group Have Contributed to San Antonio”

a.  Write an interesting non-fiction paper about the topic in your own words.

b.  Include accurate historical information.  Do research and provide a list of your sources.  For example, a book title if you find the information there, the title and date of a newspaper article you found helpful, a website that includes historical and cultural information.  Interviews with individuals knowledgeable on the subject can be cited, but you should also include some published references.

c.  Use colorful words and details to paint a word picture of the cultural group or outstanding individual in that group.

d.  Be organized with an exciting introduction, clear flow of ideas and a concise conclusion.

2.  WHO:

Public, private or home-schooled students, grades 6-12 as of February 28, 2009.  Previous San Antonio Founders Day essay contest winners are not eligible.  Entrants must live in Bexar County or these seven adjacent counties (Atascosa, Bandera, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina and Wilson).  Each student may submit only one entry per year and can win only once.

3.  ENTRY FORM:

Fill out the 2-page entry form, which includes some basic questions about yourself and your selected cultural group.

4.  ESSAY LENGTH:

Essays should be 250 to 700 words (about 1 ½ to 3 pages) plus list of research sources.

5.  ESSAY FORMAT:

Entries must be typed double-spaced or neatly hand-written, using good grammar and spelling.  Write/type on one side only of 8.5” x 11” white paper.  Staple together the 2-page entry form (on top) with the essay pages and the list of research resources.  Illegible and incomplete entries will not be judged.

6. JUDGING:

Entries will be judged by grade level and on:

a)  Quality of composition

b)  Clarity of writing

c)  Completeness of thought processes

d)  Appropriateness of research sources

Entries will be evaluated by professionals from the San Antonio academic and local literary arts communities.  The contest organizers reserve the right to not award in a particular grade level based on the quality of the entries.

7.  PRIZES:

a)  Winner – One winner in each grade level will receive one $1,000.00 scholarship from the Alamo Community Colleges’ Foundation to any one of the Alamo Community Colleges.

b)  Honorable Mention (one in each grade level): Certificate.

8.  SUBMISSION and DEADLINE:

Entries, including essay and entry form, must be mailed to the following address and must be postmarked by February 28, 2009.

San Antonio Founders Day Essay Contest

P. O. Box 700767

San Antonio, Texas 78270-0706

9. QUESTIONS:

For questions, please contact Mynda McGuire, Essay Contest Chairman, at 497-4638 or armynda@sbcglobal.net.