Judging Criteria

Regional Competitions

For the purposes of the competition, Texas has been divided into ten geographic regions. Students will be judged in their respective region with three finalists selected for each region. Regional finalists (30 students) come to Austin in the Spring of 2009 for the statewide competition and awards ceremony.

State Competition

All regional finalists are invited to The University of Texas at Austin campus to compete for the top three prizes in the Spring of 2009. Regional finalists participate in an awards ceremony and dinner, and receive a medallion in the likeness of the late Honorable Barbara Jordan. Three state scholarship winners are announced at the Annual Heman Sweatt Symposium on Civil Rights following the awards ceremony.

The top three state winners receive a trophy and a scholarship award that may be used at any institution of higher education that the student selects.

Judging Criteria

Educators, historians, and community leaders serve as judges at each level of competition. Essays will be judged on the following three criteria:

HISTORICAL QUALITY (60%)

You should ask yourself the following questions to help you focus on your historical analysis:

• Is my essay historically accurate?

• Does my essay provide analysis and interpretation of the historical data or event rather than just a description?

• Does my essay demonstrate an understanding of historical perspective and context?

• Does my essay demonstrate use of available local primary sources?

CLARITY OF PRESENTATION (20%)

You should ask yourself the following questions to help you focus on your presentation:

• Is my essay original, creative and imaginative in subject and presentation?

• Is my essay written clearly with correct grammar and spelling?

• Have I followed the length and citation requirements in preparing my essay?

RELATION TO THEME (20%)

You should ask yourself the following questions to help you focus your topic on the theme and its significance:

• How does my topic relate to the theme?

• How did my topic influence or have an effect on our local community?

• How did the events and environment of my topic's time period influence my topic in history?