2009 Hispanic Heritage Month Essay Competition

1. 2009 Hispanic Heritage Month Essay Competition What event or person in Hispanic history has most influenced or inspired you or modern society and why?

2. Step One: Choose your topic/focus • About whom/what will you write? • Research famous people and events related to Hispanic history • Find a focus that will be easiest to write about • Outline notes in Cornell format • Examples: • Sonia Sotomayor – Supreme Court Judge • Oscar de la Hoya – Boxer • Selena - Singer

3. First Paragraph - Introduction • Lead – Attention Grabber • Fact: A fact about your topic often generates interest and curiosity. • Ex: 26th Street is the second busiest street in the city of Chicago. • Image: An image paints a picture for the reader, excites the imagination, and draws the reader to the essay. • Ex: In her last days, Frida Kahlo was bedridden, her skin was pale, but her distinctive uni-brow still remained, if not slightly more gray.

4. First Paragraph Cont. • Leads Cont. • Question: When readers are posed with a questions, they become curious and feel as if they need to answer. • Ex: For centuries, civilizations have asked, what happens to us after we die? • Quote: Quotes can be insightful, intriguing, inspiring, or shocking. Readers are drawn to quotes. • Ex: “Although I grew up in very modest and challenging circumstances, I consider my life to be immeasurably rich,” Sonia Sotomayor.

5. First Paragraph Cont. • Leads Cont. • Story: When the writer provides a background on the subject of his/her essay, the reader becomes fascinated with the drama and plot line. A story, when not overly used, connects well with readers. • Ex: He is a man. A man with passion and determination. But, in the ring he becomes more. Under the heat from the spotlights, blinded by the flashes of cameras, the blood from his right eye fuses with the beads of sweat and people still embrace is tattered body. Oscar de la Hoya is more than a hard-working boxing champion; he is an inspiration to all.

6. First Paragraph Lead (Choose between fact, image, question, quote, or story) Introduce Topic, brief background information Thesis stating why your topic is influential/inspirational ____________________ is (influential or has inspired) ___________________ because _____________________________.

7. Body Paragraphs For each body paragraph, you must explain and describe a reason why your topic is influential/inspirational. Body Paragraph 1 – Reason 1 and why Body Paragraph 2 – Reason 2 and why Body Paragraph 3 – Reason 3 and why

8. Conclusion Choose One: Circle Ending – relate it to the lead of your introduction Pointed Question – leave the reader thinking about a particular question Prediction – insight about how the future could be different, worse, or better Strong Statement – a strong, punched statement that summarizes your beliefs and impacts your reader Restate your thesis, but don’t copy it!

9. Additional Information Rules: Prizes Length: 500-600 words / 3-4 pages typed Must have a title on the top of first page 12-point font and Times New Roman or Ariel Judged on originality & creativity, cultural knowledge and research, organizational structure and clarity, and spelling and grammar Grand Prize: Laptop computer and printer Digital camera and photo printer $5,000 Roosevelt University Scholarship