Houstonfest - Research Paper Rules

News and Updates

Contest promo video #1 (students from one school tell why they love contest)

Contest promo video #2 (one student tells why she loves contest)

State promo video contest

Teacher-to-teacher tips

Tips for Pair Discussion

Arrival at Kingwood High School

Lunch options

Photo gallery

Daily log of changes to State-qualifier list

Important Dates

Mon. Jan. 8, 2024, 4:00 p.m.: Application for transportation grants from Houston Saengerbund opens (teachers will be sent a link to a Google Form).

Thur., Jan. 18, 2024, 11:59 p.m. (extended by 2 days, previous deadline 1/16): Houstonfest registration spreadsheet due for regular price of $12/student (payment does not have to be mailed until 1/22).

Mon., Jan. 22, 2024, 11:59 p.m.: Houstonfest registration spreadsheet due for late price of $15/student. Deadline to postmark Houstonfest payment.

Sat., Jan. 27, 2024, 9:00 a.m.: Submission of entries in the 7 virtual Houstonfest events due (get link to Google Form from your teacher - it was sent to them on Wed., Jan. 24).

Tue., Jan. 30, 2024, 11:59 p.m.: Remote judging of the 7 virtual Houstonfest events ends.

Wed., Jan. 31, 2024, 9:30 p.m.: Houstonfest changes (adds, drops, substitutions) due. After this point, no more changes will be allowed.

Sat., Feb. 3, 2024: Houstonfest, Heights High School, Houston.

Fri., Feb. 9, 2024, 11:59 p.m.: State online registration due for "early bird" price of $12/student (payment does not have to be mailed until 2/14).

Wed., Feb. 14, 2024, 11:59 p.m.: State online registration due for regular price of $15/student. Deadline to postmark your State payment.

Sat., Feb. 17, 2024, 9:00 a.m.: Submission of entries in the 7 virtual State events due (get the link to a Google Form from your teacher; it was emailed to them on 2/7 by the State director). Also, Mary El-Beheri Memorial Scholarship and Sandra Dieckman GTHS Memorial Scholarship applications due (to submit the application, get the link to a Google Form from your teacher; it was emailed to them on 2/10 by the State director).

Mon., Feb. 19, 2024, 8:00 p.m.: Entries in State promotional video contest due to State director.

Tue., Feb. 20, 2024, 11:59 p.m.: Remote judging of the 7 virtual State events ends.

Sat., Feb. 24, 2024: Texas State German Contest, Texas State University, San Marcos.

Sat., Mar. 2, 2024, 11:59 p.m.: Houstonfest Scholarship applications due.

Sun., Mar. 10, 2024: Gail Cope State Scholarship applications due.

rolling basis but no later than Tue., Apr. 30, for payment this school year: submit Gail Cope Teacher Grant applications.

Rules: Research Paper

Entry Limit: 1 research paper per school, with 1-2 authors

Length Limits: minimum 700 words, maximum 1000 words, not including Works Cited

This is a "virtual event." You must submit your entry no later than one week before the contest. Specific instructions for uploading the entry will be published on the contest website and/or distributed to teachers each year.

Write a research paper in English on an interesting German-Texan cultural and/or historical topic. The topic should not be commonly known: a particular person, family, place, building, business, area, group, settlement, organization, church, tradition, activity, practice, etc. The paper should contribute to a greater understanding of German-Texan history and/or culture. The entry must be typed and double-spaced and have internal documentation with proper in-text citation and a Works Cited page, as per MLA (Modern Language Association) guidelines. Follow the rules in the latest MLA Style Sheet, paying special attention to rules for entering Internet sources. Use at least three sources, at least two of which must be non-Internet. Digitally archived sources originally published in hard copy may be counted as non-Internet sources. Sources should include primary sources and secondary sources. Primary sources are evidence in the form of artifacts, photos, letters, interviews, music, charts, illustrations, etc. with a direct connection to the era being studied. They may be personally documented by the contestant(s) (photos taken, interviews recorded) or found in personal collections, archives, libraries, museums, etc. Secondary sources are documents that discuss or analyze primary sources and topics - primarily other academic work. All entries will be checked for plagiarism via turnitin.com or a similar service.

Using MLA Style, include your name(s), your school, the date, and the title of the paper at the top of page 1.
To include photographs, other images, and/or audio materials, add an appendix after the Works Cited page. Images may be pasted directly into the document. Audio files should be linked, e.g., via a Google Drive link.
Convert the completed research paper, including the Works Cited and any appendix, to a single PDF file and upload it according to the instructions provided.

Download critique sheet.

Read about

scholarships for the winners of the Research Paper contest at State!

Help with MLA Style:

Purdue University MLA Formatting and Style Guide

Note: The judges will have an actual copy of the latest edition of the MLA Handbook (9th edition, 2021). If you use online "cheat sheets" that claim to summarize MLA rules, such as the one linked above, rather than referring to the actual MLA Handbook, you do so at your own risk. Make sure that any website you are using is based on the new 9th edition from 2021.