Mike Parker: DAR Sponsors History Essay Contest
Although students increasingly rely on AI for schoolwork, an old-fashioned American History Essay Contest encourages young people to think creatively about our nation’s history and see it in a new light.
The Moseley-Bright Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution has revealed this year’s topic for the essay contest. The topic is “Announcement of the Declaration of Independence First Public Reading.”
The prompt poses these questions based on the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776. After this first reading, word of the Declaration spread throughout the colonies through newspapers, additional public readings, and posted notices announcing its adoption. The essay prompt says:
“Imagine you lived in Philadelphia or an area of the colonies where the news did not reach you for weeks. How would you react to hearing the Declaration in your community? With whom would you share the news? What action would you take after hearing it? How would this have impacted your life?”
This contest is open to students in public, private, and parochial schools, as well as registered home-study programs. Students in grades five through eight are encouraged to participate. Students in Grade 5 must write an essay between 300 and 600 words. Students in Grades 6-8 must write an essay between 600 and 1,000 words.
The submission deadline is October 30. Completed essays should be submitted to Ann McClung, American History Chair of the Moseley-Bright Chapter of the DAR. If you are interested in entering the contest, please get in touch with Ann McClung at mcclung.ann@gmail.com. She will send you all the information and requirements for entering the competition.
Each year, the DAR selects a topic for use during the academic year, and contest instructions are published online and sent to schools by participating DAR chapters. Essays are judged for historical accuracy, adherence to the topic, organization of materials, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and neatness.
Participating local chapters send one winning essay from each of the four grade levels for state-level judging. The state will send one winning essay from each of the four grade levels for divisional judging. The winning essay from each of the four grades will then be judged on the national level.
Each student participant receives a certificate of participation from the chapter, and the winners receive bronze medals and certificates. State winners receive certificates and silver medals. National winners receive special certificates, medals, and a monetary award.
The Moseley-Bright Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR or DAR), welcomes you to learn more about us.
“We are a growing, energetic chapter with an active membership,” said the Vice Regent of the Moseley-Bright Chapter. “We are located in Lenoir County, which is in the Coastal Plains region of North Carolina. Lenoir County is rich with local history and genealogical resources.”
The Moseley-Bright Chapter actively engages in service activities at the community, state, and national levels to fulfill the goals of patriotism, historic preservation, and education.
Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, or ancestors who contributed to the cause of independence via donations of goods or support, is eligible for membership. Help is available in directing the applicant to relevant resources and in filling out the necessary application for membership.
The Moseley-Bright Chapter welcomes new members who are interested in helping us achieve DAR goals and who enjoy lively meetings and camaraderie.
For more information, visit this website: https://www.ncdar.org/MoseleyBrightChapter_files/index.html.
Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.
