Sample Essays

Essays for the Bill of Rights Institute's Being an American Essay Cotnest 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 the approved list of Founding documents. Click here to view the approved list of documents.

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); and an outstanding critique of the value(s) as it appears in at least one of the approved Founding documents.

Three sample essays are posted here in order to give you a general idea of what submissions might look like in terms of focus and structure. Please keep in mind that they serve as samples only and not as endorsements of the values, documents and individuals referenced.

Example Essay One: Perseverance (Excellent)

Example Essay Two: Courage and Integrity (Good)

Example Essay Three: Courage (Poor)