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News and Updates

 

Changes and updates for 2024 (new!)

 

Contest Promo Video #1 (students from one school tell why they love contest)

 

Contest Promo Video #2 (one student tells why she loves contest)

 

Teacher-to-Teacher Tips

 

"Texas State German Contest at 40" newsletter series (full of tips for contest prep and Pass auf! study material)

 

Houstonfest Scholarships

 

Scholarships at State

 

State Promo Video Contest

 

Tips for Pair Discussion

 

Arrival at Heights High School

 

Lunch options
 

Daily log of changes to state-qualifier list

 

Photo Gallery

 

Important Dates

 

Tue., Jan. 16, 2024, 11:59 p.m.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).

 

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

 

Wed., Jan. 31, 2024, 9:00 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 State payment.

 

Sat., Feb. 17, 2024, 9:00 a.m.:  Submission of entries in the 7 virtual State events due (get link to Google Form from your teacher). Also, Mary El-Beheri Memorial Scholarship applications due.

 

Mon., Feb. 19, 2024, 8:00 p.m.:  Entries in 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.

 

Tue., April 30, 2024 Gail Cope Teacher Grant applications due.

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.

  1. Using MLA Style, include your name(s), your school, the date, and the title of the paper at the top of page 1.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

 

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Oral Tests Pass auf! Research Paper Scavenger Hunt Written Tests

When is the next Houstonfest?

 

Saturday,

February 3, 2024

 

Where is Houstonfest?

 

Heights High School

413 E. 13th Street, Houston, TX 77008

 

Link to Texas State German Contest

 

Texas State German Contest on Facebook

 

Texas State German Contest 40th Anniversary Facebook Group