“What Message did the Gettysburg Address
Communicate to our War-Torn Nation in 1883?
How are the Ideals Articulated in the
Speech Still Relevant to our Country Today?”

National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
AMERICAN HISTORY ESSAY CONTEST 2008-2009

TOPIC:
2008-2009 topic is: “What message did the Gettysburg Address communicate to our war-torn nation in 1883? How are the ideals articulated in the speech still relevant to our country today?”

PARTICIPANTS:
All grade 5, 6, 7, and 8 students in a public, private, or parochial school, or those who are home schoolers, are eligible. This contest is conducted without regard to race, religion, sex, or national origin. DO NOT SUBMIT A STUDENT PHOTOGRAPH WITH ENTRY.

LENGTH:
Grade 5: 300 - 600 words
Grades 6, 7, & 8: 600 - 1,000 words

FORM:
Essay is to be handwritten in ink, typed, or prepared on a computer or word processor, using black type in a non-script font no smaller than 12 point or larger than 14 point. A limited vision student may use Braille, a tape recorder, or very large type. A written transcript must be included, as well as a teacher’s or physician’s letter attesting to the student’s special need. All of the essay must be the student’s original work. Each essay must have a title page listing the following:

• Title of essay: “What message did the Gettysburg Address communicate to our war-torn nation in 1883? How are the ideals articulated in the speech still relevant to our country today?”
• Contestant’s full name and address. (Street, RR, PO Box, City, State, Zip Code)
• Contestant’s telephone number (with area code) and e-mail address if available
• Name of contestant’s school with grade level indicated
• Name of sponsoring DAR chapter
• Number of words in essay.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Essay must have a bibliography listing all references utilized. Internet resources, if used, should be cited in similar format to that used for printed resources. Add the electronic address used to access the document as supplementary information. Any essay with information copied directly from sources without using quotes will be disqualified.

JUDGING AND AWARDS:
Judging will be based on historical accuracy, adherence to topic, organization of material, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and neatness. Pictures, maps, drawings, graphics, and other such additions will not be considered in judging and should not be included.

Judging at the chapter level is by three judges, including at least one non-DAR judge.Judging at other levels is by three judges, all of whom are non-DAR members.

CHAPTER: One essay at each grade level is selected as the chapter winner and forwarded to the state competition. Certificates and bronze medals may be presented by the chapter if desired.

STATE: One essay at each grade level is selected as the state winner and forwarded to divisional competition. State winner certificate, silver medal, and other state approved award may be presented by state to each grade level winner.

DIVISION: One essay in each grade is selected as the division winner and forwarded for national competition. Divisional winner presented certificate and book.

NATIONAL: One essay in each grade is selected as the national winner. A certificate, gold pin and monetary award is presented to each national winner at Continental Congress in July, 2009. Winning essays may appear in official DAR communications.

Note: All essays must first be submitted to a local chapter. Essays sent directly to the National Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Essay Contest will not be considered.

DEADLINE:
Chapter Chairmen should determine date for students/schools to forward essays to them to allow for judging to be completed prior to state deadline. States with district level judging should set appropriate intermediate deadlines.

DAR Information Packet:
This packet is an Adobe PDF file that contain the following pages:

• DAR Essay Contest 2008 Program Cover
• DAR Essay Rules
• Handout 1: That Was Then, This is Now
• Handout 2: Excerpt from Just a Few Words, Mr. Lincoln
• DAR Resource List 2008
• DAR Bibliography Guide
• Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Bibliography Entries (MLA)

DAR Information Packet