DAR Essay 2023-2024
DAR AMERICAN HISTORY ESSAY CONTEST
2023-2024
WHAT IS THIS YEAR'S TOPIC?:
On May 14, 1897, John Phillip Sousa played his new march, “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” This song would become the national march of the United States on December 11, 1987.
Imagine it is 1897 and you are a newspaper reporter for “The Philadelphia Times.”
Your newspaper editor has asked you to write an article about the song being performed that day.
Your article needs to tell us about Sousa’s life and the story behind the song.
It is the first performance of the song, so make sure your article includes your thoughts about the music and how the audience reacts to what is seen and heard that day.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
All grade 5, 6, 7, and 8 students in a public, private, or parochial school, or those who are home schoolers, are eligible. An individual student may submit an entry directly to a DAR chapter if their class or school is not participating. This contest is conducted without regard to race, religion, sex, or national origin. DO NOT SUBMIT A STUDENT PHOTOGRAPH WITH ENTRY.
HOW LONG DOES THE ESSAY HAVE TO BE?
Grades 6, 7, and 8: 600–1,000 words (DO NOT COUNT WORDS IN TITLE OR BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND COUNT DATES AS ONE WORD)
FORM: NEW THIS YEAR – ALL ESSAYS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY! Essay is to be prepared on a computer, 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. Please note that the entire essay must be the student’s original work. This includes all research, writing, and editing, which must be done by the student themselves and not by a parent, teacher, tutor, or other helper. Each essay must include a completed submission form.
RESOURCES:
Essay must have a list of all resources utilized. Four individual resources are expected. Internet resources, if used, should include the electronic address.
** Any essay with information copied directly from sources without using quotes (plagiarized) will be disqualified. **
JUDGING AND AWARDS:
Judging will be based on historical accuracy, adherence to topic, organization of material, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, and that it is the student’s own work. 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-DARmembers.
CHAPTER: One essay at each grade level is selected as the chapter winner and forwarded to the state American History chair for state competition. American History essay contest chapter winner certificates and bronze medals may be presented by the chapter if desired. In addition, chapters may present certificates of participation to every student who participates in the essay contest. These supplies are available from the DAR Store.
STATE: One essay at each grade level is selected as the state winner and forwarded to the appropriate national division vice chair of American History for division competition. The state winner receives a silver medal and state winner certificate.
DIVISION: One essay in each grade is selected as the division winner and forwarded for national competition to the national vice chair. Division winners are presented a division winner certificate.
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 June 2023. Winning essays may appear in official DAR communications.
Note: All essays must be submitted to a local chapter electronically by a teacher, school or individual student. Essays sent directly to the national chair or vice chair of the essay contest will not be considered.
DEADLINE:
Chapter chairs should determine date for teachers, schools or individual students to forward essays to them to the chapter chair to allow for judging to be completed prior to state deadline. States with district level judging should set appropriate intermediate deadlines. Date assigned:
2023-2024
WHAT IS THIS YEAR'S TOPIC?:
On May 14, 1897, John Phillip Sousa played his new march, “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” This song would become the national march of the United States on December 11, 1987.
Imagine it is 1897 and you are a newspaper reporter for “The Philadelphia Times.”
Your newspaper editor has asked you to write an article about the song being performed that day.
Your article needs to tell us about Sousa’s life and the story behind the song.
It is the first performance of the song, so make sure your article includes your thoughts about the music and how the audience reacts to what is seen and heard that day.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
All grade 5, 6, 7, and 8 students in a public, private, or parochial school, or those who are home schoolers, are eligible. An individual student may submit an entry directly to a DAR chapter if their class or school is not participating. This contest is conducted without regard to race, religion, sex, or national origin. DO NOT SUBMIT A STUDENT PHOTOGRAPH WITH ENTRY.
HOW LONG DOES THE ESSAY HAVE TO BE?
Grades 6, 7, and 8: 600–1,000 words (DO NOT COUNT WORDS IN TITLE OR BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND COUNT DATES AS ONE WORD)
FORM: NEW THIS YEAR – ALL ESSAYS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY! Essay is to be prepared on a computer, 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. Please note that the entire essay must be the student’s original work. This includes all research, writing, and editing, which must be done by the student themselves and not by a parent, teacher, tutor, or other helper. Each essay must include a completed submission form.
RESOURCES:
Essay must have a list of all resources utilized. Four individual resources are expected. Internet resources, if used, should include the electronic address.
** Any essay with information copied directly from sources without using quotes (plagiarized) will be disqualified. **
JUDGING AND AWARDS:
Judging will be based on historical accuracy, adherence to topic, organization of material, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, and that it is the student’s own work. 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-DARmembers.
CHAPTER: One essay at each grade level is selected as the chapter winner and forwarded to the state American History chair for state competition. American History essay contest chapter winner certificates and bronze medals may be presented by the chapter if desired. In addition, chapters may present certificates of participation to every student who participates in the essay contest. These supplies are available from the DAR Store.
STATE: One essay at each grade level is selected as the state winner and forwarded to the appropriate national division vice chair of American History for division competition. The state winner receives a silver medal and state winner certificate.
DIVISION: One essay in each grade is selected as the division winner and forwarded for national competition to the national vice chair. Division winners are presented a division winner certificate.
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 June 2023. Winning essays may appear in official DAR communications.
Note: All essays must be submitted to a local chapter electronically by a teacher, school or individual student. Essays sent directly to the national chair or vice chair of the essay contest will not be considered.
DEADLINE:
Chapter chairs should determine date for teachers, schools or individual students to forward essays to them to the chapter chair to allow for judging to be completed prior to state deadline. States with district level judging should set appropriate intermediate deadlines. Date assigned:
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Citations
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