LANGUAGE ARTS-NEW MEXICO

Letters About Literature

Once again this year The Center for the Book at the Library of Congress and the Target Corporation are sponsoring the "Letters about Literature Contest."   To enter the competition, "readers [in grades 4 through 12] write a personal letter to an author, living or dead, from any genre-- fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic, explaining how that author's work changed the student's way of thinking about the world or themselves."  You can find more information about the contest, rules, and a teacher's guide here. Submission deadline is December 14, 2007.  (If you check the 2007 state winners you'll see that New Mexico was the ONLY STATE that had no winner for last year.  We think that means NO ONE ENTERED.  Looks like an opening for writers from our state.)

Profile in Courage Essay Contest

The annual John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest invites high school students from across the nation to write an original essay about an elected official who has demonstrated political courage.  The contest is a companion program of the Profile in Courage Award, named for President Kennedy’s 1957 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Profiles in Courage, which recounts the stories of eight senators, the obstacles they faced, and the special valor they demonstrated despite the risks.

Winning essayists will receive awards totaling up to $6,500. The first-place winner will be invited to accept the award at the Profile in Courage Award Ceremony hosted each May by Caroline Kennedy and Senator Edward M. Kennedy at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.  To encourage student leadership and civic engagement, the nominating teacher of the first-place winner will receive a John F. Kennedy Public Service Grant for $500.

Deadline for submission is January 6, 2007.  More information is available here.

Letters about Literature Contest

Once again this year The Center for the Book at the Library of Congress and the Target Corporation are sponsoring the "Letters about Literature Contest."   To enter the competition, "readers [in grades 4 through 12] write a personal letter to an author, living or dead, from any genre-- fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic, explaining how that author's work changed the student's way of thinking about the world or themselves."  You can find more information about the contest, rules, and a teacher's guide here.  Submission deadline is December 8, 2006.  (If you check the 2006 state winners you'll see that New Mexico had no winner for grades 9-12 last year.  Looks like an opening for a high school writer from our state.)

First Amendment Essay Contest

From the Albuquerque Tribune of February 24, 2006::

The Crawford First Amendment Essay Contest will award $500 to the best essay from a high school student on "How has 9/11 affected rights protected by the First Amendment?"

The contest, sponsored by the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, was established in 2003 to honor the late Albuquerque Journal editor Gerald Crawford.

Entries are due May 1 to NMFOG, P.O. Box 92197, Albuquerque, NM 87199.

The first prize and a second-place $150 award will be announced July 31. Winners will be honored at the William S. Dixon First Amendment Freedom Awards fall dinner.

For more information (from NMFOG) click here.

Essay Contests X 3

Here are three essay contests for middle school and/or high school students:

The "Listen to Life" essay contest asks students ages 8-18 to interview grandparents or "grandfriends" about their hopes, goals, achievements, and the obstacles they have overcome.  The contest is part of the National Legacy Project, and free activity kits with interview ideas and curriculum connections are available.  Grand prize is a Think-Centre computer and a $500 gift certificate from Books are Fun.  The deadline is March 13.  For more information, visit www.legacyproject.org.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum is holding a national essay contest for students in grades 5-12.  The contest is divided into four grade levels and asks students to write no more than 500 words on themes such as social activism and the pursuit of peace.  Winning essays will become part of the museum exhibit and cash prizes will awarded to the top three essayists in each group.  The deadline is March 1.  For more information, visit www.oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org.

Finally, The Nation is looking for original, thoughtful, provocative student voices to discuss what issue is of most concern to their generation. Essays should not exceed 800 words and should be original, unpublished work that demonstrates fresh, clear thinking and superior quality of expression and craftsmanship. The winner will be awarded a $500 cash prize and a Nation subscription. The winning essay will be published in the magazine and featured on their website. The contest is open to students at American high schools and to undergraduates at American colleges and universities. Entries (only one per student) will be accepted through March 31.  For more information, click here.

Oprah's Essay Contest Now Underway

Today, Oprah announced her new book club selection as well as the essay contest for high school students that will accompany it.  The book is Elie Wiesel's Night.  The topic for the essay is

"WHY IS ELIE WIESEL'S BOOK NIGHT RELEVANT TODAY?"

Many New Mexico middle school and high school classes read Night, so there's a chance students in your class already know the book.  And given our state's relatively small population, a New Mexico student who enters stands a better chance of winning (each state gets one winner) than someone from, say, California or Florida.  The essays must be postmarked by Monday, February 6.  The details can be found here.

Promising Young Writers Program

Entries in NCTE's 2006 Promising Young Writers Program for Eighth-Grade Students are due January 20, 2006.  Complete information is available at www.ncte.org/about/awards/student/pyw.   The contest is for students who are eighth graders in the 2005-2006 academic year. 

Oprah's Essay Contest

Here's some information about an upcoming essay contest, via Oprah's "Angel Network."

On January 16th (or 17th), 2006 the Oprah Show is doing something WE’VE NEVER DONE BEFORE. In addition to announcing my new book club selection-which I promise is mandatory reading for every human being on the planet-I will also announce Oprah’s National High School Essay Contest to accompany it.  

The essay contest will be based on the book I reveal and is open to high school students across America. Based on their essays, a panel of learned judges will select 50 high school students and one designated parent or guardian for each to receive an educational trip and participate in a special Oprah show in February.  

To support this nationwide initiative, my website-Oprah.com-will offer comprehensive study materials for students, teachers and parents. This is an important book that I hope will be discussed in homes and schools across the country.  

To make this happen I’ll need your help. Please get the word out to your students, their parents and their teachers.  

Remember, I will announce the title of the book I’ve chosen on the air, Monday, January 16th (or 17th), 2006. So check your local listings for times. Immediately after that announcement, the essay contest begins and the deadline for the entries is Monday, February 6, 2006 so time is of the essence.  

For more details on Oprah’s National High School Essay Contest go to Oprah.com. We’re hoping to get as many students and educators involved as possible. Thank you for working with us.   Finally, please accept my heartfelt gratitude for all you do to make education a priority in your circle of influence. I applaud you for this important work.  

Here’s to Books! Happy Holidays!  

National Poetry Reading Contest

From the Louisville Courier-Journal and the Associated Press.

NEA to sponsor poetry reading contest
By Hillel Italie, Associated Press

NEW YORK — The National Endowment for the Arts and the publisher of Poetry Magazine have organized a national poetry reading competition for high school students, with the winner receiving a $20,000 college scholarship.

"There's a twofold importance in a program like this," Dana Gioia, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, told The Associated Press.

"One half is education; students come into contact with great poetry and language and learn it by heart. There's also an equal, and often overlooked practical importance. It will improve the student's command of language, and will provide much needed training for speaking in public."

The program, co-sponsored by the NEA and the Chicago-based Poetry Foundation, was officially announced Thursday in Pittsburgh at the annual convention of the National Council of Teachers of English.

"Poetry Out Loud: The National Recitation Contest" expands upon a pilot program for which competitions were held last year in Chicago and Washington, D.C.

The contests, which start in early 2006, will take place in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, from local classroom readings to state finals, in April, then national finals, scheduled for May 16 in Washington. 

More here.

Writing Contest: Teachers Against Prejudice

Teachers Against Prejudice has announced its sixth annual essay contest for high school and middle school students.  The deadline is December 16, 2005.  The first prize for each division is a $150 U.S. Savings Bond. Here are the topics:

High School Question:     In the last year or so, the media has reported on a wide range of events. These include the war in Iraq, the bombings in London and Madrid, Hurricane Katrina, the tsunami in the Indian Ocean, the impact of fundamentalism, same-sex marriage and civil unions, and more local issues.  What do you notice about the kinds of stories that get reported the most? Do you think bias/prejudice plays a role in what does or does not get covered or what is under-reported? Explain. Identify and discuss one or two issues or events that, in your opinion, have been under-reported. Why do you think these issues or events are important and what can be done to improve media coverage?         
Please limit your essay to 750 words or less.         

Middle School Question:     Movies and TV programs often show discrimination and prejudice against a race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, the disabled, or other group of people. Some movies and TV programs successfully demonstrate how hurtful discrimination can be. Others totally ignore this fact and may even increase hate and bias.  Animated movies and cartoons on TV feature a wide-range of characters. In your opinion, do you think popular cartoons, animated series, or animated films instill prejudice in young minds or combat prejudice? Please cite at least two sources (they can be cartoons, animated films or an animated series) and explain your answer. If TAP were going to publish a list of films and TV programs young people should see, would you want your choices included or excluded? Why or why not?         
Please limit your essay to 600 words or less.

For more information, click here.