Annual Essay Contest student opportunity

      Annual Essay Contest
      German Information Center USA 5th Annual Essay Contest
      ABOUT THE CONTEST

            (© German Information Center USA)

      The German Information Center USA fulfills the public diplomacy
mission of the German Embassy in Washington, D.C. To encourage American
students to get to know modern Germany, the GIC provides classroom materials
to educators in the United States.

      The purpose of the essay contest is to familiarize students with today
’s Germany. In addition, the contest offers students and their teachers an
opportunity to discuss traditional and modern German culture, language and
society.

      Detailed contest information such as rules, deadlines and the essay
questions can be found below.

      All entries must be submitted electronically by April 15, 2010.

      There will be three grade groupings for the contest: Grades 3-5,
Grades 6-8, and Grades 9-12. Winners will receive prizes and certificates;
their essays will appear on this website (www.germany.info), as well as the
German Information Center USA’s newsletters.

      GUIDELINES
      Students must answer the following questions for their appropriate
group:       “A World Without Climate Protection”

      2010 marks the one year anniversary of the Transatlantic Climate
Bridge, a joint commitment between Germany and the United States to invest
in newer, cleaner sources of energy can create new jobs and world-class
industries, clean up the environment and protect the climate, improve
standards of living and enhance global security. The Transatlantic Climate
Bridge aims to increase cooperation on both sides of the Atlantic and work
towards climate change solutions.

      Now imagine life without climate protection. What would the world be
like? What about your city? What would change? Would would remain the same?
What would your life be like? Would your favorite activities change or
remain the same? What about traditions? Can the Groundhog still predict the
end of Winter? Can Santa’s Workshop stay at the North Pole? Think about the
questions below as you write your essay.

      Grades 9-12: What immediate problems do you see happening through
climate change? What measures could be undertaken to reduce the risk? What
will the long-term future look like if nothing is done to clean up the
environment and protect the climate?

      Essay must be in English and in paragraph format. 500 words for Grades 6-12. (Note:
More does not mean better! Focus on the quality, not quantity.)   Students may submit only one essay per person.
 Submit entries as .doc (Microsoft Word), .pdf (Adobe Acrobat), .odt
(OpenOffice), scanned-in graphic files (jpg, etc.) or .txt (Simple Text)
files only. Email your essay to Jennifer Clardy (dz-12[at]germanembassy.us).
Entry must include the author’s name, grade level, school name and school
address at the beginning.

      RULES
      All students enrolled in 3rd through 12th grade in the U.S. are
eligible. Seniors graduating in 2010 are eligible. Students enrolled in
DoDDS schools or schools in American overseas territories with APO mailing
addresses are eligible. Homeschooled students are also eligible.

      Each essay must be the sole work of the author.

      Entries may be submitted by individual writers or by their teachers.

      Entries must include the name of the student & teacher/advisor, the
grade level of student, the email address of student & teacher, and a postal
address for the student & teacher. This information enables the GIC USA to
quickly award prizes and prize packages. No personal or contact information
will be handed over to a third party.

      Only electronically submitted essays will be accepted.    Submitted entries will become the property of the German Information
Center USA; they may appear in GIC USA or associated publications.  The decision of the panel of judges from the German Information Center
USA and German Embassy Washington is final.

      Students are encouraged to review spelling, grammar and punctuation.   Receipt of essays will be confirmed by email. Please contact us if you
do not receive a confirmation within a week.

      DEADLINE for entries is April 15, 2010. Winners will be notified by
May 15, 2010.

      CRITERIA FOR JUDGING
      Winners will be determined by a panel of judges from the German
Information Center USA and the German Embassy Washington. Entries will be
judged based on their content, style and grammar.
 Successful entries will:

      Follow the guidelines.

      Show that student has done research on her/his subject

      Include the author’s own opinions

      Demonstrate superb critical and creative thinking

      PRIZES

      Amazon.com gift certificates will be awarded to first place winners in
each age group.

      1st place – grades 9 – 12: $100 bookstore gift certificate

      For Teachers or Advisors of 1st place winners:      $100 bookstore gift certificate for classroom resources

      In addition, 10 runners-up will receive a package from the German
Information Center USA.

      Good luck!