Minnesota Sesquicentennial Essay
The Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission is pleased to announce a call for submissions to an essay contest for the 4th, 5th and 6th graders of Minnesota. We invite those enrolled in public and private schools, as well as home schooled children, to submit.
Minnesota’s 150th year of statehood provides a unique opportunity for its residents to examine and learn from our past, evaluate our present statehood, and plan for our future. We want to inspire students to think and write critically and creatively and to publicly recognize them as the embodiment of Minnesota’s future.
ESSAY PROMPT:
Minnesota became a state in 1858 because the majority of people who lived here then wanted to be a part of the United States of America. In doing so, they committed to governing themselves as a democracy, a government in which decisions are made together in the best interests of the common good. Our own State Constitution states in Article I, Bill of Rights, Section 1. Object of Government: Government is instituted for the security, benefit and protection of the people, in whom all political power is inherent, together with the right to alter, modify or reform government whenever required by the public good.
What does “statehood” mean to you today and how might it evolve into the future when you are an adult “in whom all political power is inherent, together with the right to alter, modify or reform government whenever required by the public good?”
Some resources for your essay are available in the Minnesota Legislative Manual Student Edition, 2007-2008, including the U.S. Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and the Minnesota Constitution, available through the Office of the Secretary of State or through your local or school library.
You will be able to view one of the original copies of the U.S. Declaration of Independence and Minnesota Statehood documents at the Minnesota History Center, as a part of Statehood Week, May 11-18, 2008.
ESSAY CONTEST RULES AND PROCEDURES
- Contest is open to 5th and 6th grade students enrolled in any Minnesota public, private or homeschool.
- Submission is to be in essay form. It should be 250-500 words in length and word-processed or legibly written.
- Submission by a student indicates that the work is his or her own and that none of the content has been plagiarized. Any outside sources are expected to be cited in a bibliography (words will not count toward 500 word limit).
- Each entry should include:
- Three copies of essay if mailed or delivered by hand
- A completed entry form
- Judging will be based on the following criteria:
- Has the author addressed the subject in a complete and reasonable manner?
- Creativity- Does the essay indicated the student has thought about the prompt and contributed unique ideas and suggestions?
- Clarity- Is the essay easy to follow, flowing from one idea to another?
- Grammar- Is the essay grammatically correct and does it contain little or no spelling errors?
- Entry due date is April 25TH, 2008 at 4:30pm. Entries can be mailed or dropped off at:
Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission Office
240 Summit Avenue
St. Paul, MN - Entries can also be emailed to info@mn150years.org
- Judging will be by members of the Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission staff and results will be announced by April 23rd. Entry into contest indicates permission to publish the winning essays (but not for profit).
WINNERS:
One winner from both grades will be selected and invited to come to St. Paul on May 11, 2008 to participate in the Statehood Day ceremony at the State Capitol to read their essay to those gathered, including Minnesota government officials. All students who enter the contest will receive a certificate of appreciation.
Any questions can be directed to Megan Jung at 651.296.1870 or megan@mn150years.org