Topic


“Joining Christopher Columbus on His Voyage to the New World”

Topic: Imagine you have been chosen to join Christopher Columbus’ crew as he sets out for the New World. What are your thoughts and feelings as you prepare for this potentially hazardous mission? What skills do you possess that are essential to your success and survival? Why do you want to go on this voyage and what do you hope to gain from this experience?

Deadline

In conjunction with

Student essays, title page and bibliography and in proper format must RECEIVED by no later than January 30, 2015. 

Mail to:

Michelle Kirby
6453 Needles Trail
Tallahassee, FL  32309

No entry will be accepted if the contestant's contact information is not provided.

Since 1996, the NSDAR has joined with the National Italian American Foundation to sponsor an annual national essay contest on Christopher Columbus. The contest is open to students in grades 9 through 12 in public, private, or parochial schools, or those who are home schooled. This contest is conducted without regard to race, religion, sex, or national origin.

Awards

The Fort San Luis Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution will award a $100 first place prize and forward the paper to the state level.  The state may also offer awards for place winners.  The next level is regional covering a group of states.  A regional winner is advanced to national. First, second, and third-place national winners are selected after judging by the National Italian American Foundation. To qualify for first place the winner must be able to go to Washington, D.C., in October to read his or her winning essay at the Christopher Columbus Celebration. The first-place national winner receives $1,200 from the NIAF in addition to paid lodging and transportation to Washington, D.C., in October for the winner and one parent or guardian. The second-place national winner receives $500, and the third place national winner receives $300.

Rules                       RUBRIC

Length:  800-1,200 words
Bibliography – must be included and in MLA format.
Form:  typed, double spaced in 12 point Times New Roman
Title Page Must Include:

*Title of Essay:  “Joining Christopher Columbus on His Voyage to the New World”
*Contestant’s full name and address.
*Contestant’s phone number with area code
*Contestant’s email address
*Grade level and school
*Name of sponsoring Chapter:  Fort San Luis Chapter
*Number of words in essay
Judging will be based on historical accuracy, adherence to topic, organization of material, interest, originality, spelling grammar, punctuation and neatness.  Pictures, maps, drawings, graphics, and other such additions will not be considered in judging and should not be included.

Suggested Reading


Dugard, Martin. The Last Voyage of Columbus: Being the Epic Tale of the Great Captain’s Fourth Expedition, Including Accounts of Swordfight, Mutiny, Shipwreck, Gold, War,

Hurricane, and Discovery. New York: Little, Brown, and Company, 2005.

Fernández-Armesto, Felipe. Columbus. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991.

Morrison, Samuel Eliot. Admiral of the Ocean Sea: A Life of Christopher Columbus, Vols. I and II. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1942.

Taviani, Paolo Emilio. Columbus, the Great Adventure: His Life, His Times, and His Voyages.New York: Orion Books, 1991.

Wilford, John Noble. The Mysterious History of Columbus: An Exploration of the Man, the Myth, the Legacy. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1991.