THE DENTON AREA ALLIANCE OF BLACK SCHOOL EDUCATORS (DAABSE)
P.O. BOX 50144
DENTON, TX 76206
PHONE: (940) 566-3216 FAX: (940) 382-9695
The Denton Area Alliance of Black School Educators (DAABSE) is hosting its 10th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Essay Workshop/Contest. The focus of the discussion and writing will be the 1960 student sit-ins that began in Greensboro, North Carolina
and Dr. King’s speech, “A Creative Protest,” delivered in support of the students on February 16, 1960 in Durham, North Carolina
(See http://www.dentonisd.org/mlkessaycontest)
The workshop/contest will be held
Date: Saturday, February 7, 2009
Time: 9:00 A.M. - 3:30 P.M.
Place: Fred Moore High School, 815 Crosstimbers (at the corner of Crosstimbers and Wye), Denton 76205, (940) 369-4000
Eligibility Requirements
- all Denton County middle school and high school students (Grades 6 – 12) in public, private, or home school
- students who attend the morning and afternoon sessions of the workshop
Registration Deadline: Thursday, February 5, 2009
- On-line registration: http://www.dentonisd.org/mlk ---NOTE: Please make sure that all fields are complete. If data is incomplete, student’s name will not get into registration database. Also, click “submit registration” button.
- Pen and paper registration: fax or mail in. U.S. mail postmark date – Wed., February 4, in order to be received by February 5.
March 7 Reception and April 18 North Texas Book Festival
- All participants will receive a certificate and a book of all participants' essays. Books will be published by Zone Press.
- Winners in both the middle school and high school divisions will receive savings bonds.
-1st place: $200 savings bond
-2nd place: $100 savings bond
-3rd place: $75 savings bond
- All participants are invited to participate in the North Texas Book Festival (as student authors) on April 18
Objectives: Students will
- learn background information about segregation and the Civil Rights Movement
- learn about the student sit-ins, which began on February 1, 1960 with the Greensboro Four
- understand the meaning, power, and relevance of Dr. King’s speech
- write an essay using TAKS writing criteria as preparation for the March TAKS Writing Test
Writing Prompt
What lessons can you apply from the student sit-ins and Dr. King’s speech to help you become a positive agent of change today?
Judging Criteria
- Responds appropriately to the prompt.
- Makes writing thoughtful and interesting.
- Organizes ideas so that they are clear and easy follow.
- Develops ideas thoroughly by using appropriate details and precise language.
- Stays focused on purpose for writing by making sure that each sentence contributes to the composition as a whole.
- Communicates effectively by using correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, usage, and sentence structure.
Schedule
- Morning session – the springboard for the essay-writing in the afternoon: presentation by speakers, documentary clips,
freedom songs, discussion period. After this session, lunch is provided for everyone.
- Afternoon session: Students are assigned teachers and classrooms by grade level. English teachers review essay structure and
guide students through the writing process; computer technicians assist students in typing their essays on classroom
computers. Students submit two copies of their essay to their teacher before they leave.
Other important dates
- Saturday and Sunday, February 28 and March 1: Winners notified
- Saturday, March 7: Reception for all participants, Advanced Technology Complex, 1504 Long Rd. 76207, 2-4 P.M.
- Saturday, April18: North Texas Book Festival, Center for Visual Arts, 400 E. Hickory St. (at Bell Ave.) 76205, 12:30 P.M.
