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 11th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Workshop/Contest. The focus of the discussion and writing will be the 1961 freedom rides and Dr. King’s speech, “Statement Delivered at a Rally to Support the Freedom Rides," May 21, 1961.
(See http://www.dentonisd.org/mlkessaycontest)
The workshop/contest will be held
Date: Saturday, January 30, 2010
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, January 28, 2010 (On-line registration closes at 3:00 P.M.)
- 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., January 27, in order to be received by Thurs., January 28.
March 6 Reception and April 17 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 17
Objectives: Students will
- learn background information about segregation and the Civil Rights Movement
- learn about the student freedom rides
- understand the meaning, power, and relevance of Dr. King’s speech and his philosophy of nonviolence
- 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 freedom rides 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 27 and 28: Winners notified
- Saturday, March 6: Reception for all participants, Advanced Technology Complex, 1504 Long Rd. 76207, 2-4 P.M.
- Saturday, April17: North Texas Book Festival, Center for Visual Arts, 400 E. Hickory St. (at Bell Ave.) 76205, 11:30 P.M.
