News and Updates

Special Rules and Procedures for the 2021 Remote Contest

Houstonfest Scholarships

Scholarships at State

Teacher-to-Teacher Tips

Tips for Pair Discussion

Photo Gallery 2014

Arrival at Heights High School

Lunch options

Plays will be performed at Houstonfest

Daily log of changes to state-qualifier list

Important Dates

Sat., Jan. 16, 2021:  Regular deadline to submit registration spreadsheet in order to pay regular price of $10/student (payment does not have to be mailed until 1/25).

Mon., Jan. 25, 2021:  Final deadline to submit registration spreadsheet for late price of $12/student and deadline to postmark payment.

Mon., Feb. 1, 2021:  Proof sheet of entries sent to teachers for final verification and changes.

Wed., Feb. 3, 2021, 8:00 p.m.:  Deadline to submit changes (adds, drops, substitutions). After this point, no more additions or substitutions will be allowed.

Sat., Feb. 6, 2021:  Houstonfest (100% remote): some events conducted "live" (online) that day, all others submitted digitally by 9:00 a.m.

Sat., Feb. 13, 2021:  Houstonfest online awards ceremony, time TBA.

Wed., Feb. 17, 2021:  State online registration due by 11:59 p.m. for "early bird" price of $10/student (payment does not have to be mailed yet). Also, deadline to apply for the Mary El-Beheri Memorial Scholarship and to submit entries for promotional video contest to State director Jennifer Christianson.

Mon., Feb. 22, 2021:  State online registration due by 11:59 p.m. at regular price of $12/student.

Sat., Feb. 27, 2021:  Texas State German Contest (100% remote): some events conducted "live" (online) that day, all others submitted digitally by 9:00 a.m.

Sat., Mar. 6, 2021:  State online awards ceremony, time TBA. Also, Houstonfest Scholarship applications due.

Fri., Mar. 12, 2021:  Gail Cope Scholarship applications due.

Fri., April 30, 2021:  Gail Cope Teacher Grant applications due.

Rules:  Research Paper

Below are the "normal" rules for Houstonfest in a non-pandemic year.  To preserve a record of the normal rules, alterations to the rules for the 2021 remote contest will not be reflected here but rather documented at this link: Special Rules and Procedures for the 2021 Remote Contest.  In a nutshell, however:  Research Paper will be offered in 2021, adapted for the online environment.  We do know that it will not be due until 9:00 a.m. on the day of contest (rather than the previous Tuesday), but the mode of submission is still being determined.

Entry Limit:  1 research paper per school, with 1-2 authors

Length Limits:  minimum 700 words, maximum 1000 words, not including title page and Works Cited

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.  The contestant's teacher must e-mail a copy of the paper, including the Works Cited, in a Microsoft Word-compatible format to the regional director or his designee by 11:59 p.m. on the Tuesday before the regional contest.  Specific submission instructions will be inserted here.  All entries will be checked for plagiarism via turnitin.com or a similar service.  On the day of contest, submit the following in a sealed 9×12 envelope to the designated room by 9:00 a.m.:  (1) a hard copy of the paper and Works Cited with a title page including the name(s) of the contestant(s), the name of the teacher, the school and city, and the title of the paper (note that even though MLA Style does not call for a title page, we ask for one); (2) a USB drive (labeled with name) that contains only the paper itself, the Works Cited, any visual material, and any digital recordings used as primary sources.  All materials submitted will be returned on the afternoon of contest, but do not include irreplaceable items in your submission.  Download critique sheet.

Read about

scholarships for the winners of the Research Paper contest at State!