
John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest
Ages:High School
Type:Submission
Categories:Language Arts, politics & government
Scope:National
Registration
Entry Fee: $
Contact
In Profiles in Courage, John F. Kennedy recounted the stories of eight U.S. senators who risked their careers to do what was right for the nation. These leaders demonstrated political courage by taking a stand for the public good in spite of pressure by interest groups, their political party, or even their constituents. The Profile in Courage Essay Contest challenges students to write an original and creative essay that demonstrates an understanding of political courage as described by John F. Kennedy in Profiles in Courage.
Describe and analyze an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917, the year John F. Kennedy was born. Include an analysis of the obstacles, risks, and consequences associated with the act. The essay may concern an issue at the local, state, national, or international level. The maximum word count is 1,000 with a minimum of 700, not including citations and bibliography. Use at least five varied sources such as government documents, letters, newspaper articles, books, and/or personal interviews. All submissions must adhere to contest requirements.
Content (55%)
Demonstrated understanding of political courage
- Demonstrated an understanding of political courage as described by John F. Kennedy in Profiles in Courage
- Identified an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917.
- Proved that the elected official risked his or her career to address an issue at the local, state, national, or international level
- Explained why the official's course of action best serves or has served the larger public interest
- Outlined the obstacles, dangers, and pressures the elected official is encountering or has encountered
Originality
- Thoughtful, original choice of a U.S. elected official
- Story is not widely known, or a well-known story is portrayed in a unique way
Supporting Evidence
- Well-researched
- Convincing arguments supported with specific examples
- Critical analysis of acts of political courage
Source Material
- Bibliography of five or more varied sources
- Includes primary source material
- Thoughtfully selected, reliable
Presentation (45%)
Quality of writing
- Style, clarity, flow, vocabulary
Organization
- Structure, paragraphing, introduction and conclusion
Conventions
- Syntax, grammar, spelling, and punctuation
Website: https://www.jfklibrary.org/Education/Profile-in-Courage-Essay-Contest/
Managing Organization: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Contact:
profiles@nara.gov
Eligibility:
The contest is open to United States high school students in grades nine through twelve attending public, private, parochial, or home schools; U.S. students under the age of twenty enrolled in a high school correspondence/GED program in any of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, or the U.S. territories; and U.S. citizens attending schools overseas. Past winners and finalists are not eligible to participate. Employees of John Hancock Financial Services and members of their families are not eligible to participate.
All students must list the name of their nominating teacher on the registration form. The role of a nominating teacher is to provide students with support and advice during the writing of their essay.
Registration Opens: September 1, 2019
Registration Closes: January 18, 2020
Overview
In Profiles in Courage, John F. Kennedy recounted the stories of eight U.S. senators who risked their careers to do what was right for the nation. These leaders demonstrated political courage by taking a stand for the public good in spite of pressure by interest groups, their political party, or even their constituents. The Profile in Courage Essay Contest challenges students to write an original and creative essay that demonstrates an understanding of political courage as described by John F. Kennedy in Profiles in Courage.
Process
Criteria
Content (55%)
Demonstrated understanding of political courage
- Demonstrated an understanding of political courage as described by John F. Kennedy in Profiles in Courage
- Identified an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917.
- Proved that the elected official risked his or her career to address an issue at the local, state, national, or international level
- Explained why the official's course of action best serves or has served the larger public interest
- Outlined the obstacles, dangers, and pressures the elected official is encountering or has encountered
Originality
- Thoughtful, original choice of a U.S. elected official
- Story is not widely known, or a well-known story is portrayed in a unique way
Supporting Evidence
- Well-researched
- Convincing arguments supported with specific examples
- Critical analysis of acts of political courage
Source Material
- Bibliography of five or more varied sources
- Includes primary source material
- Thoughtfully selected, reliable
Presentation (45%)
Quality of writing
- Style, clarity, flow, vocabulary
Organization
- Structure, paragraphing, introduction and conclusion
Conventions
- Syntax, grammar, spelling, and punctuation
Awards
Participate
Website: https://www.jfklibrary.org/Education/Profile-in-Courage-Essay-Contest/
Managing Organization: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Contact:
profiles@nara.gov
Entry Fee:
Eligibility:
The contest is open to United States high school students in grades nine through twelve attending public, private, parochial, or home schools; U.S. students under the age of twenty enrolled in a high school correspondence/GED program in any of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, or the U.S. territories; and U.S. citizens attending schools overseas. Past winners and finalists are not eligible to participate. Employees of John Hancock Financial Services and members of their families are not eligible to participate.
All students must list the name of their nominating teacher on the registration form. The role of a nominating teacher is to provide students with support and advice during the writing of their essay.
Deadlines
Registration Opens: September 1, 2019
Registration Closes: January 18, 2020