The Hispanic Heritage Essay Contest

Essay Guidelines:
Must be one page, written in English or
Spanish, typed and double-spaced with one
inch margins. Times New Roman, 12 font, on
8 x 11 white paper.
Must include a title page containing only the
names of the essay, your name, your
teachers name, your schools name, and the
name of this contest.
Must include a bibliography using MLA or
APA format for all sources including
interviews. Failure to credit sources is
plagiarism and will result in disqualification.
Must be written about a person of Hispanic
heritage from the Jacksonville community
who has made a significant contribution in
one of the following areas:
Medicine
The Arts (visual, music, theater, etc.)
Politics
Law
Education
Business
Literature
Science
Please read the rubric carefully and
understand how your essay will be judged.

Two winners will be

selected: one student
from middle school
and one from high
school.
The winners will each
receive a certificate
signed by the Mayor
as well as various
prizes.
All essay submissions
should be sent from
teachers to
davisj4@duvalschools.
org by 5:00 P.M. on
October 16th.
Promoting a greater
understanding of the
Hispanic contribution to
Jacksonvilles history and
culture.

ESSAY RUBRIC
SCORE

DESCRIPTION

COMPLETION OF TASK

TOPIC DEVELOPMENT,
CONTENT

LANGUAGE USE, ACURACY

EXCELLENT

Student has chosen a

Hispanic member of
the Jacksonville
community. Essay
follows all guidelines
above. Essay includes
title page. Bibliography
is included and
properly formatted.

Essay details the important

accomplishment(s) of the
person chosen. Essay explains
how the person has affected the
writers life or the lives of
others. Essay is meaningful and
inspiring.

Essay has been edited for

grammar, punctuation,
and spelling. Few or minor
errors.

GOOD

Student has chosen a

Hispanic member of
the Jacksonville
community. Essay is
one page with 1
margins. Title page may
or may not be included.
Bibliography is just a
list of sources and not
in proper format. (MLA
or APA format)

Essay details the important

accomplishment(s) of the
person chosen. Essay explains
how the person has affected the
lives of others.

Essay has been edited for

grammar, punctuation,
and spelling. More than a
few errors.

POOR

Student has chosen a

Hispanic member of
the Jacksonville
community. Essay is
not one page. Title
page is missing. No
bibliography is
included.

Essay details the

accomplishment(s) of the
person chosen.

Major errors are found

throughout.

UNSATISFACTORY

Student did not choose

a Hispanic member of
the Jacksonville
community.

Essay strays from the topic.

Content is shallow and
meaningless.

Errors make reading the

essay difficult.