Announcing the Sherlock Holmes Essay Contest 2014 Clarkson Prize Winner!
HANNA, PUBLISHED AUTHOR!
scroll down to read her winning essay!
Sherlock Holmes Essay Contest
Watson's Tin Box, in collaboration with Howard County
Library and Howard County Public Schools (Maryland), announces the seventh
annual Sherlock Holmes Essay Contest for all Howard County Maryland public,
private, and home schooled 7th grade students in 2011. Students 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. Students may download a booklet that includes
the story, pre-reading activities, a glossary of British terms, specific essay
questions, the rubric which will be used in judging the essays, and a contest
entry form.
Each year the Tin Box awards First, Second, and Third Place Prizes to the top three essays. The First Prize in the contest is The Clarkson Prize, an award named after Tin Box founder Steve Clarkson, BSI, who was a mentor to so 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, the young Sherlockians would distribute their analyses of the Sherlock Holmes stories to each other in real envelopes. Steve continued his mentoring of young Sherlockians until he passed away in 2004.
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 historical and literary pursuits. One presentation that has been made by the group at Howard County Library is “Sherlock Holmes as Cultural Icon,” during which the point is made that even those who have never read a Sherlock Holmes story know his name and recognize the silhouette or figure of the man in a deerstalker cap with a pipe or a magnifying glass. As critical thinking and light-hearted fun have always been hallmarks of Sherlockian literary societies, Watson’s Tin Box attempts to present the character behind the icon through education and entertainment.
To that end, Watson’s Tin Box has enjoyed a collaboration with Howard County Library since 2003. Tin Box members have provided Sherlock Holmes-related items for displays at all six Howard County Library branches, presented children's events for the Summer Reading Club, co-hosted (with Howard County Library) “Dinner and a Mystery with Sherlock Holmes” for adults, assisted with “solve-a-mystery” lock-ins for middle schoolers, in addition to the annual Sherlock Holmes Essay Contest for 7th grade students in Howard County, Maryland.
Funding for Watson’s Tin Box educational programs is provided by Watson’s Tin Box members.
Each year the Tin Box awards First, Second, and Third Place Prizes to the top three essays. The First Prize in the contest is The Clarkson Prize, an award named after Tin Box founder Steve Clarkson, BSI, who was a mentor to so 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, the young Sherlockians would distribute their analyses of the Sherlock Holmes stories to each other in real envelopes. Steve continued his mentoring of young Sherlockians until he passed away in 2004.
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 historical and literary pursuits. One presentation that has been made by the group at Howard County Library is “Sherlock Holmes as Cultural Icon,” during which the point is made that even those who have never read a Sherlock Holmes story know his name and recognize the silhouette or figure of the man in a deerstalker cap with a pipe or a magnifying glass. As critical thinking and light-hearted fun have always been hallmarks of Sherlockian literary societies, Watson’s Tin Box attempts to present the character behind the icon through education and entertainment.
To that end, Watson’s Tin Box has enjoyed a collaboration with Howard County Library since 2003. Tin Box members have provided Sherlock Holmes-related items for displays at all six Howard County Library branches, presented children's events for the Summer Reading Club, co-hosted (with Howard County Library) “Dinner and a Mystery with Sherlock Holmes” for adults, assisted with “solve-a-mystery” lock-ins for middle schoolers, in addition to the annual Sherlock Holmes Essay Contest for 7th grade students in Howard County, Maryland.
Funding for Watson’s Tin Box educational programs is provided by Watson’s Tin Box members.
Watson's Tin Box Wins the Beacon Award!!
Watson's Tin Box Beacon Award
During the annual Baker Street Irregulars Weekend in New York City in January 2008, Watson's Tin Box received the annual award of The Beacon Society for its literacy projects, the first BSI scion society to do so. Our annual essay contest was instrumental in our qualifying for the award.