FAQs

Am I eligible to submit an essay if I was a winner in a previous year's contest?

Yes, winning teachers and students from previous years are eligible to participate in this year's contest.  The essay submitted must be new and different from your previous winning essay.

If I need help and can't find the answer onine, what do I do?

You can contact us via email at essaycontest@billofrightsinstitute.org or you can call us at (703)894-1776 x23.

Do I have to choose a Founding Document written between 1760 and 1800?

Yes. You must reference at least one document written between 1760 and 1800. However, many other documents are very important in emphasizing or defining the values that unite us as Americans. For example, connecting contemporary documents to Founding documents may greatly improve the quality of your essay. Referencing Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech as it relates to the Declaration of Independence is an example of connecting an historic document with a contemporary one.

If I didn't win a prize, can I still find out how well I did in the Contest?

Because we receive so many essays each year, it is not possible to give individual feedback on essays. We realize that feedback is a vital part of becoming a better thinker and writer. For this reason, we have always required a teacher to submit essays, and not just students. It is our hope that teacher submitters take the time to review and help students revise their essays before submission.

Is a title required for my essay?

No. Titles are not required for essays and will not be part of the evaluation process.

Can I write about more than one American hero/civic value/Founding document?

Yes, you can write about more than one American Hero/Founding document in your essay. You should only select one civic value for your essay. Please note that 750 words is a very limited amount of space to cover the topic effectively. Choosing more than one American hero/Founding document will make it difficult to cover your topic thoroughly.

Will my essay be disqualified if I go over the 750 word limit?

We have designed the form used for entering essays and submitting them to allow for a little flexibility in the word limit. If the submission field accepts the essay for submission, then your essay will not be disqualified for being over the word limit.

Do I need a Works Cited section/page with my essay?

We do not expect or require a Works Cited page or section for Contest entries. If you use quotes from individuals or research, simple citations will suffice. For example:

An example of what I am referring to comes from James Madison when he said in Federalist #51, "If men were angels, no government would be necessary."

or

"If men were angels, no government would be necessary." (James Madison, 1788)

 Either format for citing sources used in your essay will suffice.

Am I eligible to participate?

Students in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Armed Forces schools abroad, and students in United States territories are eligible to participate in the contest. Because essay contest winners are decided by contest region, please visit our state map to see which region you are in and to find out which states you are competing against.

In addition to going to school in a contest state, you must be in grades 9-12.  You must also meet our eligibility requirements.  If you meet these criteria, you can have a teacher submit your essay!  (Home school students too!)

How do I participate?

Students: Tell your teacher you would like to participate. Ask them to register, and to submit your essay. Both you and your teacher will be eligible to win cash prizes!

Teachers: You can register to participate by going to the Teacher Registration Form. Some teachers submit essays for self-motivated students who have discovered the contest on their own; some teachers invite students to submit essays to the contest for extra credit; some teachers assign the essay to their whole class; and some teachers use our lesson plan and activities as a way of talking about civic values with their students before asking students to reflect on civic values by writing on the essay topic. A complete list of resources can be found in the "For Teachers" and "For Students" sections of the main menu.

However you choose to participate, we ask you to submit up to five of the best essays your students have written. These essays will be judged blindly by a panel of current and former high school teachers from around the country.

Do I have to be taking a class from the teacher who submits my essay?

No. Provided you meet all of the eligibilty requirements, any teacher in your school may submit your essay.

What are the prizes?

In each contest region, winning students, and their teachers, are eligible for thousands of dollars in cash prize money and possibly a trip to Washington, D.C. for an Awards Weekend! For a complete list of prizes, please click here.

What are the judges looking for?

Being an American essays will focus on various civic values and will reference a wide range of Founding documents and individuals from American history. There are no civic values, documents, or figures which are "preferred" or "better," provided the document is from 1760-1800 and the figure is from American history.

A well-written essay will completely adhere to the topic and fully answer the question. These essays approach the topic with original and lively prose. They include a detailed discussion of a civic value(s); a thoughtful personal response to the value(s); an outstanding critique of the value(s) as it appears in at least one Founding document.

Judges are looking for the following:

• adherence to the Essay Guidelines (as stated in Section III of the Rules and Regulations)
• originality
• organization
• writing style
• depth of analysis

To see a complete rubric that is given to our judges, please click here.

How long does my essay have to be?

There is no minimum required length for an essay, however, you cannot exceed 750 words with your essay. For more information on what constitutes a complete essay, please visit our guidelines by clicking here. To view some sample essays, please click here.

When will the winners be announced?

Winners for the 2009-2010 contest will be announced on this website in late March, 2010.