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Constitution Day Essay Contest: How to Run One in Your Classroom

An essay contest sounds like extra work. It doesn't have to be.


Done right, a Constitution Day essay contest is one of the most powerful civics assignments you can give an 8th grader — and the 917 Society has already done most of the heavy lifting for you.


Why an Essay Contest Works for Constitution Day


  1. Multiple choice tests tell you what a student memorized. An essay tells you what a student actually thinks.

  2. When you ask a student to argue a constitutional position — in writing, with evidence, with their own voice — something different happens. They have to decide what they believe. They have to defend it. They have to reckon with the other side.

  3. That's not just civics. That's thinking.

  4. The essay contest format also gives Constitution Day weight. It's not just a video and a worksheet. It's something students work toward, something with stakes, something they can be proud of.

 

Option 1: Enter the 917 Society Essay Contest

 

The 917 Society runs an annual essay contest specifically for 8th graders, centered on the Constitution. It's free to enter, open to students across all 50 states, and designed to be assigned as a classroom project.

 

Why it's worth doing:

 

  1. It's a real contest with real recognition — students are writing for an audience beyond their teacher

  2. The prompt connects directly to the Constitution and civic identity

  3. It pairs naturally with the pocket Constitution every student already has in hand

  4. Winners receive recognition that looks great on a middle school record

  5. Register your class and get the current prompt here →

 

The best time to assign it: right after Constitution Day. Students are primed, the content is fresh, and you have a natural deadline built in.

 

Option 2: Run Your Own Classroom Contest


Want to customize the experience? Run your own version. Here's a simple framework:

  1. The Prompt Keep it open-ended but grounded in the Constitution. Good prompts:

  2. "Which amendment in the Bill of Rights matters most to Americans today, and why?"

  3. "The Constitution has been amended 27 times. If you could propose the 28th amendment, what would it be and why?"

  4. "The Founders wrote the Constitution in 1787. Is it still working? Defend your position."


The Requirements

  1. Length: 300–500 words for an in-class version; 500–800 words for a take-home assignment

  2. Must cite at least one specific amendment or constitutional clause

  3. Must include a clear argument and at least one counterargument addressed

  4. Must be written in the student's own voice


The Judging Simple rubric: argument clarity (25%), constitutional knowledge (25%), evidence and reasoning (25%), writing quality (25%).

 

Invite a guest judge — a local attorney, a city council member, a parent who works in law or government. It elevates the whole thing.


The Prize

It doesn't have to be big. A certificate, a few extra credit points, reading the winning essay to the class. Recognition matters more than the reward.


How to Fit It Into Your Schedule

  1. Week of Constitution Day (September 14–17):

  2. Monday/Tuesday: Teach the Constitution unit, distribute pocket Constitutions

  3. Wednesday: Introduce the essay prompt, in-class brainstorm and outline

  4. Thursday/Friday: Draft writing — in class or as homework

  5. Following week: Revision and final submission


If you're using the 917 Society contest, check the deadline and work backward. Most years the window opens in the fall and closes before the end of the semester.

 

Connecting the Essay to the Pocket Constitution

  1. The essay works best when students have their pocket Constitution in hand throughout the writing process. Encourage them to use it as a primary source — to quote directly from it, to cite specific amendments, to hold the actual text while they argue about it.

  2. That's the whole point. Not memorizing what the Constitution says. Knowing it well enough to have an opinion about it.

 

 

The 917 Society distributes free pocket Constitutions to 8th-grade classrooms across all 50 states and runs an annual essay contest celebrating constitutional thinking. Founded by Joni Bryan, we believe every student deserves to know what's in their hands.

 

📂 Category: Civic Education Resource 🏷️ Tags: Essay Contest - Constitution Day - 8th Grade - Teacher Resources - Civics Education

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