National Civics Bee Invites Middle School Students to Enter

Essay Topic

Identify a problem facing your community. How might a citizen solve the problem? Write a 500-word essay, two pages, double-spaced, that includes the following:

• What is the problem, and how do different members in your community or neighborhood view it?
• What civic principles or systems could help to address the problem?
• What is your idea or recommendation for solving the problem?
• What primary sources, such as the Declaration of Independence or the United States Constitution, provide supporting evidence or examples for your idea or recommendation?
• How might members of your community or neighborhood bring your idea or recommendation to life?

Judging Criteria 

Your essay will be evaluated based on how well you:

•    Demonstrate an understanding of civics.
•    Acknowledge and address opposing points of view.
•    Acknowledge and address at least one Founding Principle and one Civic Virtue.
•    Use primary sources, like newspapers, data, historical documents, images, or other documents that relate to your idea.
•    Clearly describe an idea innovative or new to you.

Local Prizes

First Place: $500 cash prize

Second Place: $250 cash prize

Third Place: $125 cash prize

State Prizes

First Place: $1,000 cash prize 

Second Place: $500 cash prize 

Third Place: $250 cash prize 

Each finalist receives a certificate. 

About the Bee

The National Civics Bee is an annual competition that encourages young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. In the first round of the contest, local 6th, 7th and 8th grade students will participate in an essay competition. Judges will then select 20 finalists to participate in the local competition: a live quiz event testing civics knowledge. Then, the top 3 students from each local competition will advance to the state competition