2007-2008 Essay Contest Rules
-- Revised --
May 5, 2007
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 29, 2008. 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 you and your selected cultural group.
4. ESSAY LENGTH: Essays should be 250 to 700 words (about 1 ½ to 3 pages).
5. ESSAY FORMAT: Entries must be typed double spaced or neatly hand-written, using good grammar and spelling. Write/print only on one side of 8.5” x 11” white paper. Staple all pages together, with the 2-page entry form on top. Illegible entries will not be judged.
6. JUDGING: Entries will be judged by grade-level and on:
a) Quality of compositionb) Clarity of writingc) Completeness of thought processesEntries will evaluated by professionals from San Antonio academia and the local literary arts community. 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 to any one of the Alamo Community College District campuses.
b) Honorable Mention (one in each grade level): Certificate.
8. SUBMISSION and DEADLINE: Entries must be mailed to the following address and must be postmarked by February 29, 2008.
San Antonio Founders Day Essay Contest
P. O. Box 700767
San Antonio, Texas 78270-0706
9. QUESTIONS: Contact Wilma Heberling, Essay Contest Chairperson, at 651-0359 or johwil@sbcglobal.net.
Information and ideas on how to get started on researching your essay are available on the Contests page of this website.
