Contest Rules

ELIGIBILITY:

Students currently enrolled in Community Colleges, Colleges, and Universities in the counties of Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Montgomery, Waller and Harris.

TOPIC:

The first sentence of the First Amendment to the U.S Constitution states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The first part of this sentence, known as the Establishment Clause, has been consistently interpreted by the U. S. Supreme Court as separating church and state. The second clause is known as the Free Exercise Clause. Both clauses guarantee freedom of conscience and have contributed to religious diversity in America, one of the most religious countries in the world today. Yet there have been and are groups who contend that the Founding Fathers had never intended the separation of church and state. Now the greater introduction of religion into politics we are witnessing today has placed separation of church and state in greater peril than ever before in the history of our country. The Religious Right has attained unprecedented influence over our elected officials; their ultimate objective is not only to tear down the separation wall, but also to impose their narrow-minded interpretation of biblical law as the only law of the land. We want you to tell us, in your own words, why you believe in separation of church and state.

REQUIREMENTS:

Essays should be between 2000 and 2500 words in length, excluding footnotes and bibliography. You may use the title above, or substitute an original title. Essays must he typed, double-spaced, on letter-sized paper (8.5’x 11”), with 1” margins, and be submitted in a word-processor format. Pages should be numbered. All personal information, including contestant’s name, address, phone number, e-mail address and college attended (please include the school grade you are currently in, and major), must be on a separate cover page.  Do not include any personal information on the first page of your essay (you will be assigned a number for judging purposes to ensure fairness).  If you include your instructor’s name, phone number and e-mail address on the cover sheet, we will notify him/her that you have submitted an essay. In the upper-right corner of each page of the essay, including the cover sheet, type your initials and date of birth (mm-dd-yy).

JUDGING:

Judges will be selected from among members of the Houston Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Winners will be announced by March 31, 2007.  (Note:  No essay will he considered for a cash prize if no more than two judges out of five vote for it.)

Essays are judged on originality, scholarship and presentation.  Elements that judges will be looking for include

Quality of the Research
The quality of your research will demonstrate your knowledge and depth of understanding about the issue you are addressing. Things to keep in mind include

o     Have you adequately researched both facts and points of view regarding the topic?

o     Have you supported your assertions with good examples?

o     Does your essay show that you know the topic well enough to make informed judgments?

o     Are the ideas and information obtained from other sources cited properly?

o     Do you have familiarity with primary sources related to the subject?

Quality of the Analysis
A goal of the contest is to encourage students to begin to develop their own ideas about the issue. This perspective should be reflected in your essay, using clear, concise arguments to support your point of view.

o     Have you carefully and thoughtfully analyzed the information presented?

o     Have you examined the issue from an original perspective?

o     Have you used critical thinking skills to support your positions and conclusions?

o     Have you expressed your own serious reflection on the topic?

Style and Mechanics
Effectively communicating your point of view requires good writing skills. Ask yourself the following questions about your essay as a written document:

o     Does the essay have an introduction, body, conclusion, and bibliography?

o     Is your essay free of errors in syntax, grammar, spelling, and punctuation?

o     Is your writing focused and well-reasoned?

o     Are all quotations and sources properly cited?

Reasons for Disqualification

o     Plagiarism, using another's words as if they are your own, is reason for automatic exclusion.

o     Relying solely on Internet research; books, journals, or other sources must be used.

o     Relying solely on encyclopedias; again, other sources must also be used.

o     Not following the rules regarding length, format, and/or date of submission.

DEADLINE:

The deadline for submitting essays is January 15, 2007.

MAILING:

Essays must he mailed. (No e-mail or FAX entries.)  Send essay with cover sheet, postmarked no later than January 15, 2007, to

Church-State Essay Contest, Americans United, P.O. Box 55526, Houston, TX 77255-5526

AWARDS:

Winners will be presented their awards at the annual Americans United, Houston Chapter, dinner in April 2007.

 

References

Visit the website of Americans United for Separation of Church and State:  www.au.org. Founded in 1947, AU brings together Americans of many faiths and political viewpoints to defend church-state separation.

Frank Lambert, The Founding Fathers and the Place of Religion in America, Princeton University Press, 2003. Lambert explains why the United States, founded as colonies with explicitly religious aspirations, came to he the first modern state whose commitment to the separation of church and state was reflected in its constitution.

Edwin S. Gaustad, Church and State in America, The Horn Book, Inc. 1999. This historical overview traces conflicts between religion and government from the colonization of the country through the twentieth century.

William Martin, With God on Our Side: The Rise of the Religious Right in America, Broadway Books, 1996. A companion volume to the PBS series of the same name. Martin’s book is based on extensive research as well as more than a hundred interviews with key players who were part of, or opposed to, the Religious Right.

Duane M. Oldfield, The Right and the Righteous: The Christian Right Confronts the Republican Party, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc. 1996. Oldfield examines the emergence of the Religious Right as a force within the GOP.

David Cantor and Alan Schwartz, The Religious Right: The Assault on Tolerance and Pluralism in America, Published by the Anti-Defamation League, 823 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 141017.

Robert Boston, Why the Religious Right is Wrong About Separation of Church and State, Second Ed. Prometheus Books, 1999.

Philip Hamburger. Separation of Church and State, Cambridge, MA. 2002.

Edwin S. Gaustatd, Liberty of Conscience: Roger Williams in America, Grand Rapids, Mich. 1991.

 

CONTACT:

James H. Berry

Chairman, Essay Contest Committee,

 

Houston Chapter

Americans United for Separation of Church and State

Phone: 281-286-8092

jhberry@netzero.net