ESSAY JUDGING SUGGESTIONS
[5 pts] NEATNESS. May be handwritten or typed, double spaced on 8 ½ by 11 paper, and in the student’s own word s. Essay
title is not included in word count.
[5 pts] FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS. This category should also include the word count.
[5 pts] COVER SHEET. Shall include:
(1) title of essay;
(2) student’s name, address, and phone number;
(3) school’s name, city and address;
(4) school district’s name, city and address;
(5) name and city of sponsoring DRT Chapter including Daughters of the Republic of Texas;
(6) District number;
(7) name of Chapter chairperson and phone number.
[15 pts] RESOURCE DATA. Data used shall be listed on a separate sheet of paper in the form of a bibliography. Resource data
WILL NOT be included in word count. The rules stated dates and names such as Stephen F. Austin be counted as one (1) word
each. (Don’ t be overly concerned about ‘a, an, the’.) Included in the bibliography shall be the name of the author; title of the
book, newspaper, article, city of publication; publisher, and date of publication.
[50 pts] HISTORICAL QUALITY. The most important aspect of the essay should be historical accuracy.
[10 pts] CLARITY OF ESSAY. Is the grammar clear? Are spelling and punctuation correct?
[10 pts] ORGANIZATION. Is the essay original, interesting and well organized? The Seventh Grade Essay is intended to encourage
the students to think, and be able to organize facts. The fourth Grade Essay shall be written according to current TAKS
qualifications, including all of the above. (The Committee will have this guideline.)
(IF THERE ARE TOTAL POINT TIES, THEN RANK FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, BASED ON YOUR PERSONAL IMPRESSION OF THE ESSAY)
*PLEASE KEEP A COPY FOR YOUR CHAPTER RECORDS.
Thank you for your participation.
