WHAT IS THE SAR MIDDLE SCHOOL BROCHURE CONTEST?
The SAR Middle School Contest is to create a tri-fold brochure out of a typical 8 ½” x 11” piece of paper. The brochure must conform to the contest theme which is one the five foundational documents of the United States – which you select. The brochure will be judged on: Content, Creativity and Correctness. The judging criteria rates highest personally drawn art work and text authored by the student as opposed to cut and paste from books, magazines and the Internet. The use of software tools by the student for creating the brochure, and even the art work, is permissible.
LOCAL, STATE, and NATIONAL PRIZES:
Local Chapter and State prizes vary by State and by Local Chapter. National prize awards are established each year. Currently the National cash prizes are: 1st: $200; 2nd: $150; 3rd: $100.
The ‘official’ name of the contest, and in whose name the award will be made, is the Sgt. Moses Adams Memorial Middle School Brochure Contest.
HOW DOES THE CONTEST WORK?
The contest consists of three levels. The first level is sponsored by the local SAR Chapter. Chapter winners advance to the State level. The first-place State winner then advanced into the SAR national competition to compete for the national prizes. All entries begin at the local Chapter level. The only exception is where schools/classes/youth groups wish to conduct their own competition, submitting one winner to the local SAR Chapter competition. Individual students do not submit their entry directly to the Chapter. All entries must go through a school, scouting organization, or C.A.R. Society. Even home school submissions should go through their association. The participating Chapter should be within the local area of the young person entering the contest.
WHO CAN ENTER?
The SAR Brochure Contest is open to Middle School students, including private, church based and home schooled students in the 6th, 7th, 8th or 9th grades, depending upon which year the American Revolution is taught in their educational system. The contest is also open to members of scouting and also the C.A.R. (Children of the American Revolution) who are in the same grades, only when their school system is not participating in the contest. In the case where the local school system, or its equivalent, is participating, the young person needs to enter the contest through the school, and not through a different entity. If the American Revolution period of American History is technically not specifically covered during these middle school grades curriculum, an entry will still be accepted for the competition by SAR. A student can only enter once during these middle school grades. One Brochure per student – Not as a group entry.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
• Ask your teacher, or C.A.R., or scouting adult leader to supervise the SAR Brochure Contest.
• Ask them to Contact a local SAR Chapter within your local area for deadlines and guidelines.
• Make sure you conform to the guidelines and rules of the contest provided by SAR (below).
• Deadlines vary among Chapters – Make sure that your teacher, or adult leader learns the appropriate deadline for your local SAR Chapter.
HOW WILL I BE JUDGED?
You will be judged on how well you understand, develop and present the specific foundational document you selected to be your brochure’s theme. Brochures will be judged at the National level focusing on the following three categories: Content; Creativity & Correctness.
Authorship and Use of Technology: The judging criteria rates highest personally drawn art work and authored text by the student as opposed to cut and paste from books, magazines and off the Internet – though use of material from books, magazines and the Internet does not disqualify an entry, it is just valued less during judging. The use of software tools by the student for creating the brochure, and even the art work, is permissible.
WHAT IS THE THEME?
The SAR Brochure Contest theme is the same every year – it does not change from year to year. Choose from any of the five (5) Foundational Documents of the United States as the theme for your brochure:
• Articles of Confederation
• Declaration of Independence
• U.S. Constitution
• Bill of Rights
• Federalist Papers
WHAT ARE THE GUIDELINES and RULES?
There are two sets of guidelines and rules:
#1 How to Construct the Brochure; and
#2 How to display and arrange the Content with in the Brochure.
DEADLINE INFORMATION:
To qualify, all entries must be submitted within the deadlines. Deadlines vary among Chapters – Make sure that your teacher, or adult leader, learns the appropriate deadline for your local SAR Chapter. Do not be confused with deadlines you might see on the Internet when Chapters have to submit their Winning entry to the State Competition, or the deadline the State has for submitting the State Winning entry to the National Competition. Know your local SAR Chapter’s deadline.
SGT. MOSES ADAMS
A Soldier of the American Revolution
Nov. 30, 1748 – June 13, 1778
In 2011, the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) named one of its national youth programs: “The Sgt. Moses Adams Memorial Middle School Brochure Contest” honoring a representative soldier of the American Revolution who made the ultimate sacrifice. Young Moses Adams, of New Marlborough, Massachusetts, joined with his brothers and neighbors and marched with their local Minute-men militia in response to the Alarm of Lexington and Concord. He then joined the Continental Army and rose to the rank of Sergeant in the 13th Regiment, Massachusetts Line. He died at Valley Forge. The SAR dedicates its annual middle school program, as a living memorial, to honor Sgt. Adams along with the thousands of others who, like him, gave their lives for the cause of freedom during the American Revolution – and also to their families who suffered their loss for generations. The SAR and the Town of New Marlborough hope that when a young student asks “Who was Moses Adams?” it will become a teaching moment for the men of SAR and classroom teachers everywhere to expound upon the ultimate sacrifice so many men and women have made in the service of our country.
CONTENT INSTRUCTIONS:
Fold a single 8 ½” x 11” piece of paper into three equal size panels – a Tri-Fold: There will be six panels counting inside and outside. The following is an explanation of what each panel of the brochure should contain:
a. Cover: A title and a picture.
b. Inside Cover: Picture to accompany the introduction. May also contain a brief caption or explanation of the picture.
c. First inside panel when Cover is opened (while folded): An introduction that presents the basic facts of the event and succinctly states the main idea presented in the interior of the brochure. The introduction should have a title, be written in paragraph form, and clearly communicate the overarching concept of the brochure.
d. Two inner panels: A detailed explanation of the ideas of the student around the theme. This written explanation should provide a systematic argument persuading the reader to the point of view of the author; that is, it should be a persuasive essay. The writing should be clear, well organized, and convincing. These panels may also contain pictures and/or artwork that make the brochure more aesthetically appealing. Some questions that may be helpful for the students to consider when completing these panels would include:
i. What are the lessons for our country within this document?
ii. How does this document reflect American society and American values?
iii. What thoughts do you have regarding the sacrifices made by the participants who drafted this document?
iv. What was the outcome of this document and how did this outcome impact American history?
v. What motivated the participants to be a part of creating this document?
vi. Could you have been a participant in creating this document?
e. Back Panel: The following information must be included in the exact order specified on the back panel of the brochure inside a 2 ½” x 2 ½” framed box. Failure to include this information, and to contain all the information in the 2 ½” x 2 ½” framed box, can result in disqualification from the competition.
i. Student’s Name: First, Middle Initial, and Last
ii. School District
iii. School Name: school name; or C.A.R. Society; or Scouting Troop
iv. Grade in School: (in California – 8th Grade) + School Year: e.g. 2016-17
v. Student’s Teacher’s/Adult Leader’s Name
vi. State Code (TX for Texas) + SAR Chapter name
[NOTE 1: When a Brochure is submitted from another source, other than a school, e.g. C.A.R. Society, or home schooled child, reflect that in the info block.
[NOTE 2: SAR will conceal the above personal information throughout the judging process using a 3”x 3” Post-It® note.]
CONSTRUCTION INSTRUCTIONS:
Brochure size: The brochures should be made from a single 8 ½” x 11” piece of paper. The paper must be folded according to the construction instructions provided above. The content of the various panels of the brochure should align with the instructions also provided.
Paper thickness: Any common paper so long as the final product can be folded closed as a tri-fold 8 ½” x 11” brochure.
Paper color: White paper is most common, but pastel, or color paper is acceptable.
Artwork: Ideas are the most important element in these brochures and the art is merely a means of conveying those ideas. All artwork on brochures that is personally drawn is highly valued, although artwork created by the young person using software is acceptable. Tracing is permissible and simple drawings that represent complex concepts are encouraged for those who may doubt their artistic skills. Do not paste pictures from magazines, books, or off the Internet, or make extensive use of clip art.
Pasting: Pasting of personally drawn art work onto a master is permitted. Text: The written text is commonly hand printed.
Typed text sections (even pasted on) are also permitted. [CAUTION: This must be original text written by the student – not clipped from magazines, books or taken off the Internet.]
Content: Ideally: The brochure entry adheres to guidelines; contains ideal mix of historical fact and interpretation; is well organized and logical; easy to follow, and the pictures or illustrations add to understanding.
Moreover: The brochures must conform to the theme: One of the Nation’s Five Foundational Documents in the American Revolutionary: 1. Articles of Confederation; 2. Declaration of Independence; 3. Constitution; 4. Federalist Papers; 5. Bill of Rights. …Exception: in 2016-17 Judges will accept Poster Contest themes – Specifically: The Overmountain Men.
Creativity: Ideally: The brochure entry adheres to guidelines, prose includes metaphors, similes, and other appropriate tools and demonstrates creativity, wit, and insight into the topic; pictures depict the topic creatively and imaginatively; and the brochure contains additional creative touches that add to the aesthetic appeal. The extent the young author addresses 1 or more of the 6 thought provoking questions in the “2 inner panels” in the Content Instructions will also be considered.
Moreover: The Americanism Committee stated: The judging Criteria rates highest personally drawn art work and authored text by the student as oppose to cut and paste from outside sources.
Correctness: Ideally: The brochure entry adheres to guidelines, contains no spelling or grammatical errors, Paragraphing and sentence structure is error free, No erasures or white out evident.
Moreover: Following the guideline & rules – particularly the explanation of what each panel of the brochure should contain matters.