Civitas Institute is pleased to announce its first annual Civic Literacy Essay contest.
All High School Students are Eligible
Students in 9th through 12th grades in North Carolina public, charter, private or home schools are eligible to participate.
Essay Topic
Contestants must submit an essay of 1,000-1,200 words on the following question:
“Rights talk” is a central component of contemporary political debate. Thus we often hear of a “right to healthcare” or a “right to education” or a “right to life.” But are all rights the same? Just what is a fundamental right and what is the role of government in securing such rights?
In answering the question above, please articulate the distinction between what the Declaration of Independence means when it refers to “certain unalienable rights” and how such rights differ from what some modern political thinkers call “economic rights.”
The following readings should be used as a guide in crafting your answer:
1) James Madison’s March 29, 1792, essay on property; and
2) Franklin D. Roosevelt’s January 11, 1944, State of the Union Message to Congress.
Essays will be judged on the following criteria:
a) strength of argument and clarity of expression;
b) grammar, spelling and punctuation;
c) integration of selected readings.
Winners will be announced during the second week of April and contacted directly using the preregistration information you provide.
Prizes
First place - $2,000 award (Winning essay will appear in our quarterly magazine, Conservative Citizen).
Second place - $1000 award
Third place - $350 award
In addition, the civics/history teacher of each winning student will receive a $50 cash prize.
Awards will be presented at the Civitas Institute 2008 Conservative Leadership Conference (CLC '08) in Greensboro, North Carolina on April 19th, 2008.
Preregistration & Deadlines
1. Preregistration -- All applicants must preregister here no later than March 3, 2008.
(If you lack access to a computer, you may call Dion Terry and preregister over the phone at: 919-834-2099, ext. 36.)
2. Completed Essays may be emailed, faxed, or sent by mail to:
Dr. Robert Luebke, Civitas Institute, N.C. Civic Literacy Project, 225 Hillsborough St., Suite 130, Raleigh NC 27603
Email: bobl@nccivitas.org Fax: (919)-834-2350
Due Dates
Essays must be received NO LATER than March 24, 2008. Mailed essays must be postmarked no later than March 24, 2008.
About the N.C. Civic Literacy Project
The N.C. Civic Literacy project is dedicated to providing North Carolina students and teachers with a deeper appreciation for our country’s Founding principles, with particular attention paid to the manner in which these principles impact North Carolina politics and civic life. As part of the Civic Literacy program, expert speakers are available to speak to your class or school group on a variety of topics, including: the U.S. Constitution, Founding Documents, state government in North Carolina, and select policy issues. If you would like to learn more about the N.C. Civic Literacy Project or are interested in scheduling a speaker, please contract: Dr. Robert Luebke at: bobl@nccivitas.org or 919-834-2099.