Information for Teachers
This guide provides information for teachers as to how the essay prompt aligns with the Florida high school curriculum standards and how teachers may promote the essay contest in their schools. The contest rules, submission requirements, and deadlines are available on the Middle District's website at www.flmd.uscourts.gov.
Student Participation and Interest
We hope you will encourage your students to participate in the 2022 essay contest. The teachers of the first, second, and third place submissions will each receive a $500 classroom grant. The school with the most qualifying entries will receive $1,000 and the schools with the second and third most qualifying entries will receive $500 and $250, respectively. Accordingly, your students may ask for your contact information to include in their online contest entry form. In promoting the essay contest to your students, you may want to review with them or direct them to the Contest Rules and emphasize the following benefits, as detailed on the Contest Home Page:
- Cash prizes for the top ten winners.
- Grants for teachers and school.
- Recognition ceremony at the Sam M. Gibbons United States Courthouse.
- Opportunity to shadow a federal judge.
- Opportunity to create a writing sample for college and scholarship applications.
- Opportunity to develop research skills and learn more about the Constitution.
- Accolade to include in college and scholarship applications.
into the Curriculum
The essay prompt aligns with several English Language Arts and Social Studies CPALMS standards: Strands LAFS.K12.W; LAFS.K12.R; LAFS.K12.L; LAFS.910.RL; LAFS.910.W; LAFS.910.RI; LAFS.910.L; LAFS.910.RH; LAFS.910.WHST; LAFS.1112.RL; LAFS.1112.W; LAFS.1112.RI; LAFS.1112.L; LAFS.1112.RH; LAFS.1112.WHST; ELA.K12.EE; ELA.9.R; ELA.9.C; ELA.9.V; ELA.10.R; ELA.10.C; ELA.10.V; ELA.11.R; ELA.11.C; ELA.11.V; ELA.12.R; ELA.12.C; ELA.12.V; SS.912.A; and SS.912.C.
The essays will be scored by lawyers and judges in the Tampa Division. Their decisions will be final. The essay graders will evaluate the essays based on the following categories, which directly align with CPALMS standards as indicated:
- Identification of Amendment: An above average essay will identify an amendment to the U.S. Constitution and persuasively explain why that amendment promotes the goals articulated by the framers.
- Thesis and Argument Development: An above average essay will convey a competent and well-developed thesis and will critique, examine, or rely on external sources such as Supreme Court decisions, legislative history, or commentaries.
- Writing Style & Proofreading: An above average essay will contain few to no punctuation, spelling and/or capitalization errors and use precise, topic-appropriate language and vocabulary.