High School Student Essay Contest Focuses On The Constitution

Between now and Dec. 15, students in grades 9 – 12 have an opportunity to compete in an essay contest for cash prizes up to $1,000. Students and their teachers are invited to participate in the Bill of Rights Institute’s sixth annual Being an American Essay Contest, sponsored by the History Channel.

“This contest is unique in that it gives students the opportunity to think about the important Founding principles communicated in our Constitution,” Dr. Jason Ross, Bill of Rights Institute Vice President of Education Programs said in a press release. “This context is vital to helping students see their Founding principles as a meaningful part of the American experiment of self-government.”

Students are asked to share their thoughts on the Constitution by answering, in essay form, the following question. “How does the Constitution establish and maintain a culture of liberty?”

The top three student winners from each of the five geographical regions will be awarded cash prizes of $1,000 (First Place), $500 (Second Place), and $250 (Third Place). Teacher sponsors for each student winner will also receive a cash prize of $100.  

“The contest not only honors and awards sponsoring teachers, but also equips them with free lesson plans and other supplemental materials that meet state and national academic standards so they can easily incorporate the essay contest into their classrooms. The Contest is really a tribute to the excellent work teachers do in the important task of civic education,” Ross said.

Information, including submission criteria, lesson plans and background information on the Constitution, Bill of Rights, Founders and the Founding principles can be found at www.BillofRightsInstitute.org/Contest.   

The following are the basic rules of the contest

ELIGIBILITY:  Students in grades 9-12 who are U.S. citizens or legal residents and are either attending public, private, religious, or charter schools, being home-schooled, or participating in a GED or correspondence school program but are no older than 19 years of age.  Military bases and U.S. territories are also invited to participate.

ESSAY LENGTH:  No more 1,000 words.

JUDGING CRITERIA:

•                Adherence to Essay Question

•                Originality

•                Organization

•                Writing Style

•                Depth of Analysis

JUDGES:  High school teachers

STUDENT CASH PRIZES:  Three cash prizes per region will be awarded to students: 

•                First Prize:                               $1,000 each

•                Second Prize:                           $500 each

•                Third Prize:                              $250 each

TEACHER CASH PRIZES:  Cash prizes of $100 will be awarded to the teachers of all winning students: 

CONTEST START DATE:  September 17, 2011

DEADLINE FOR ESSAY SUBMISSIONS:  December 15, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. PST. All essays must be submitted at www.BillofRightsInstitute.org/Submit.

WINNERS ANNOUNCED:  February 2012

WEB SITE AND CONTEST GUIDELINES:  www.BillofRightsInstitute.org/Contest