Essay Contest
“I think of writing another little monograph some of these days ...” (IDEN)
ABOUT THE CONTEST
Beginning in 2005, Watson's Tin Box, in collaboration with the Howard County Public Library and Howard County Public Schools (Maryland), has sponsored an annual Sherlock Holmes Essay Contest open to all Howard County public-, private-, and home-schooled 7th-grade students. Participants are asked to read the Sherlock Holmes short story "The Adventure of the Speckled Band" and write a five-paragraph analytical essay according to the rules and guidelines of the contest. A contest booklet -- including the story, pre-reading activities, a glossary of British terms, specific essay questions, the rubric used to judge the essays, and a contest entry form -- is made available for students to download.
Each year the Tin Box awards First, Second, and Third Place Prizes to the top three essays. First Prize in the contest, The Clarkson Prize, is named after Tin Box co-founder Steve Clarkson, BSI, who was a mentor to many young Sherlockians. Steve started a Sherlock Holmes literary society for young people in the late 1960s that included members from across the country. Before the advent of e-mail, these young Sherlockians would distribute their analyses of the Holmes stories to each other in real envelopes, via "snail mail." Steve continued his mentoring of young Sherlockians until he passed away in 2004. The following year, Tin Boxer Andy Solberg, BSI, founded the Essay Contest as a way of carrying on Steve's legacy. Andy has spearheaded the event every year since then.
Watson’s Tin Box members are committed to encouraging others, especially children and young adults, to read the Sherlock Holmes stories for entertainment as well as for their historical and literary value. Each year at the Essay Contest awards ceremony, attendees are treated to a presentation on “Sherlock Holmes as Cultural Icon,” during which the point is made that even those who have never read a Sherlock Holmes story still know his name and recognize the silhouette or figure of the man in a deerstalker cap with a pipe or a magnifying glass.
WTB & THE HOWARD COUNTY (MARYLAND) PUBLIC LIBRARY
As critical thinking and light-hearted fun are both hallmarks of Sherlockian literary societies, Watson’s Tin Box attempts to promote interest in the Holmes stories through both education and entertainment. To that end, the Tin Box has enjoyed a collaboration with the Howard County Public Library since 2003. In addition to the Essay Contest, Tin Box members have provided Sherlock Holmes-related items for displays at all six Howard County Library branches, have presented children's events for the library's Summer Reading Club, have co-hosted (with Howard County Public Library) “Dinner and a Mystery with Sherlock Holmes” nights for adults, and have assisted with “solve-a-mystery” lock-ins for middle-schoolers.
Funding for Watson’s Tin Box educational programs is provided by Watson’s Tin Box members.
ABOUT THE CONTEST
Beginning in 2005, Watson's Tin Box, in collaboration with the Howard County Public Library and Howard County Public Schools (Maryland), has sponsored an annual Sherlock Holmes Essay Contest open to all Howard County public-, private-, and home-schooled 7th-grade students. Participants are asked to read the Sherlock Holmes short story "The Adventure of the Speckled Band" and write a five-paragraph analytical essay according to the rules and guidelines of the contest. A contest booklet -- including the story, pre-reading activities, a glossary of British terms, specific essay questions, the rubric used to judge the essays, and a contest entry form -- is made available for students to download.
Each year the Tin Box awards First, Second, and Third Place Prizes to the top three essays. First Prize in the contest, The Clarkson Prize, is named after Tin Box co-founder Steve Clarkson, BSI, who was a mentor to many young Sherlockians. Steve started a Sherlock Holmes literary society for young people in the late 1960s that included members from across the country. Before the advent of e-mail, these young Sherlockians would distribute their analyses of the Holmes stories to each other in real envelopes, via "snail mail." Steve continued his mentoring of young Sherlockians until he passed away in 2004. The following year, Tin Boxer Andy Solberg, BSI, founded the Essay Contest as a way of carrying on Steve's legacy. Andy has spearheaded the event every year since then.
Watson’s Tin Box members are committed to encouraging others, especially children and young adults, to read the Sherlock Holmes stories for entertainment as well as for their historical and literary value. Each year at the Essay Contest awards ceremony, attendees are treated to a presentation on “Sherlock Holmes as Cultural Icon,” during which the point is made that even those who have never read a Sherlock Holmes story still know his name and recognize the silhouette or figure of the man in a deerstalker cap with a pipe or a magnifying glass.
WTB & THE HOWARD COUNTY (MARYLAND) PUBLIC LIBRARY
As critical thinking and light-hearted fun are both hallmarks of Sherlockian literary societies, Watson’s Tin Box attempts to promote interest in the Holmes stories through both education and entertainment. To that end, the Tin Box has enjoyed a collaboration with the Howard County Public Library since 2003. In addition to the Essay Contest, Tin Box members have provided Sherlock Holmes-related items for displays at all six Howard County Library branches, have presented children's events for the library's Summer Reading Club, have co-hosted (with Howard County Public Library) “Dinner and a Mystery with Sherlock Holmes” nights for adults, and have assisted with “solve-a-mystery” lock-ins for middle-schoolers.
Funding for Watson’s Tin Box educational programs is provided by Watson’s Tin Box members.
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WTB WINS BEACON AWARD
During the annual Baker Street Irregulars Weekend in New York City in January 2008, Watson's Tin Box received The Beacon Award from The Beacon Society for its Holmesian literacy projects. The award is generally given to an individual; the Tin Box was the first BSI scion society to be so honored. Our annual Essay Contest was instrumental in our qualifying for the award. |