Essay Contest
“I think of writing another little monograph some of these days ...” (IDEN)
ANNOUNCING THE WINNERS OF THE 2020-21 SHERLOCK HOLMES ESSAY CONTEST
The Clarkson Prize (1st place): Jayen Tolia, Ms. Taylor's class, Lime Kiln Middle School
The Austin Prize (2nd place): Jacqi Fan, Ms. Randolph's class, Burleigh Manor Middle School
Third Prize: Anvita Airani, Ms. Farquharson's class, Burleigh Manor Middle School
ABOUT THE ESSAY CONTEST
Watson’s Tin Box of Ellicott City, in partnership with the Howard County Library System and Howard County Public Schools, holds an annual Sherlock Holmes Essay Contest for all Howard County public, private, and home-schooled seventh-grade students.
Participants in the 2020-21 contest were 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. Anyone interested in reading those rules may click here to download the 2020-2021 contest booklet, which includes the story, pre-reading activities, a glossary of British terms, specific essay questions, the rubric used in judging the essays, and the contest entry form.
Teachers who chose to use the contest as a whole-class exercise were asked to send Watson's Tin Box the top two essays from each participating class. Home-schooled students were invited to send their essays directly to the Watson's Tin Box address listed in the booklet. The deadline for entries was May 31, 2021.
Special thanks go to contest co-ordinator Andy Solberg, BSI, as well as to the Howard County Library System and Howard County Public School System, the contest's co-sponsors.
PRIZES
The First Prize Winner receives a $50 gift card to Barnes & Noble Booksellers, along with a copy of The Complete Sherlock Holmes and a certificate from Watson’s Tin Box. In addition, the winning essay is published in the next edition of Irene’s Cabinet, the annual journal of the Tin Box.
The Second and Third Prize Winners each receive $25 gift cards to Barnes & Noble Booksellers, a copy of The Complete Sherlock Holmes, and a certificate from Watson’s Tin Box.
CONTEST HISTORY
Watson's Tin Box's annual Sherlock Holmes Essay Contest was established in 2005 by Andy Solberg, BSI, as a way of carrying on the legacy of Tin Box co-founder Steve Clarkson, BSI. 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 his death in 2004, and Andy has continued the good work by spearheading the essay contest every year since then.
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 for Steve Clarkson, BSI. As of 2021, Second Prize in the contest is designated The Austin Prize, in memory and in honor of Beth Austin, ASH. Beth, whom we lost in 2020, was a mainstay of the Tin Box and of the mid-Atlantic Sherlockian community, as well as a familiar figure at our Essay Contest awards ceremonies over the years. In her keynote talk, "Sherlock Holmes as Cultural Icon," she delighted in pointing out that even those who have never read a Sherlock Holmes story still know his name and recognize the outline of the man in a deerstalker cap with a pipe or a magnifying glass.
WTB & THE HOWARD COUNTY (MARYLAND) PUBLIC LIBRARY
Critical thinking and light-hearted fun are the twin hallmarks of Sherlockian literary societies, and Watson’s Tin Box attempts to promote interest in the Holmes stories through both education and entertainment. Our members are committed to encouraging others, especially children and young adults, to read the Sherlock Holmes stories not only for their historical and literary value, but also for fun. To that end, the Tin Box has enjoyed a collaboration with the Howard County Public Library since 2003. Over the years, in addition to holding 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.
ANNOUNCING THE WINNERS OF THE 2020-21 SHERLOCK HOLMES ESSAY CONTEST
The Clarkson Prize (1st place): Jayen Tolia, Ms. Taylor's class, Lime Kiln Middle School
The Austin Prize (2nd place): Jacqi Fan, Ms. Randolph's class, Burleigh Manor Middle School
Third Prize: Anvita Airani, Ms. Farquharson's class, Burleigh Manor Middle School
ABOUT THE ESSAY CONTEST
Watson’s Tin Box of Ellicott City, in partnership with the Howard County Library System and Howard County Public Schools, holds an annual Sherlock Holmes Essay Contest for all Howard County public, private, and home-schooled seventh-grade students.
Participants in the 2020-21 contest were 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. Anyone interested in reading those rules may click here to download the 2020-2021 contest booklet, which includes the story, pre-reading activities, a glossary of British terms, specific essay questions, the rubric used in judging the essays, and the contest entry form.
Teachers who chose to use the contest as a whole-class exercise were asked to send Watson's Tin Box the top two essays from each participating class. Home-schooled students were invited to send their essays directly to the Watson's Tin Box address listed in the booklet. The deadline for entries was May 31, 2021.
Special thanks go to contest co-ordinator Andy Solberg, BSI, as well as to the Howard County Library System and Howard County Public School System, the contest's co-sponsors.
PRIZES
The First Prize Winner receives a $50 gift card to Barnes & Noble Booksellers, along with a copy of The Complete Sherlock Holmes and a certificate from Watson’s Tin Box. In addition, the winning essay is published in the next edition of Irene’s Cabinet, the annual journal of the Tin Box.
The Second and Third Prize Winners each receive $25 gift cards to Barnes & Noble Booksellers, a copy of The Complete Sherlock Holmes, and a certificate from Watson’s Tin Box.
CONTEST HISTORY
Watson's Tin Box's annual Sherlock Holmes Essay Contest was established in 2005 by Andy Solberg, BSI, as a way of carrying on the legacy of Tin Box co-founder Steve Clarkson, BSI. 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 his death in 2004, and Andy has continued the good work by spearheading the essay contest every year since then.
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 for Steve Clarkson, BSI. As of 2021, Second Prize in the contest is designated The Austin Prize, in memory and in honor of Beth Austin, ASH. Beth, whom we lost in 2020, was a mainstay of the Tin Box and of the mid-Atlantic Sherlockian community, as well as a familiar figure at our Essay Contest awards ceremonies over the years. In her keynote talk, "Sherlock Holmes as Cultural Icon," she delighted in pointing out that even those who have never read a Sherlock Holmes story still know his name and recognize the outline of the man in a deerstalker cap with a pipe or a magnifying glass.
WTB & THE HOWARD COUNTY (MARYLAND) PUBLIC LIBRARY
Critical thinking and light-hearted fun are the twin hallmarks of Sherlockian literary societies, and Watson’s Tin Box attempts to promote interest in the Holmes stories through both education and entertainment. Our members are committed to encouraging others, especially children and young adults, to read the Sherlock Holmes stories not only for their historical and literary value, but also for fun. To that end, the Tin Box has enjoyed a collaboration with the Howard County Public Library since 2003. Over the years, in addition to holding 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. The annual Essay Contest was instrumental in our qualifying for the award. |