The Impact of Building Big
How do big structures change our communities? What does building
a big structure do to the landscape, the economy, the way people go about their lives? Is
the structure’s impact mostly positive? Is there an impact that wasn’t expected?
And how are these unforeseen impacts being addressed?
When engineers and architects design and build a big structure, they have to consider
many things. Not only do they determine structural requirements and aesthetic factors,
they must also consider how the structure will impact the community – the economic,
environmental, and social impact the structure will have. Some of these considerations are
required by law; others are just a part of what it takes to be a responsible professional.
The Impact of Building Big Essay Contest asks middle school students to
do some research into the impact of one of the Local Wonders, and write an essay on their
findings.
There are a few rules:
- You must address one of the Local Wonders either identified by the project sponsors or
nominated by a student group. These Local Wonders will be found on the Building Big in
South Dakota web page at www.sdpb.org/buildingbig.
- You must do some research into this topic and credit your sources of information on a
separate sheet. We suggest you have a minimum of three different resources for information
about the Local Wonder. These can be books, documents, photographs, interviews with people
– whatever makes the most sense for your topic. If you have trouble finding
resources, contact the project sponsors (indicated below) and we’ll try to help you
find someone or something that can help you out.
- Entries must be submitted by individual middle school students – not groups of
students. We are defining "middle school" as grades 6-9.
- Your essay must be at least 500 words long, but there is no maximum. We will look for
essays that state the writer’s points succinctly and clearly. We will also look for
good writing skills (grammar, spelling, sentence structure, paragraph development, etc.).
- We would like you to address all three impacts: environmental, economic, social. If
doing so is not appropriate for your selected Local Wonder, we’d like you to tell us
why. For example, why is there no social impact for this structure – if that’s
the case you’re making.
- Your entry must include an entry form, your essay, and your resource list. Please put
your name and school on your essay and resource list pages.
First place, second place, and honorable mention awards will be given in each grade
level: 6, 7, 8, and 9.
Essays will be judged by a team of engineers and project sponsors on the following
criteria:
- The writer’s understanding of the meaning of the environmental, economic, and
social impact of a big structure.
- The writer’s ability to make her or his point about that impact.
- The writer’s research -- appropriate, relevant resources.
- Correct, appropriate, and effective writing.
Because this contest requires a fair amount of research, students have several months
to complete their entries. The deadline for submitting entries is January 31, 2001.
Entries should be sent to:
Building Big in South Dakota – Essay Contest
South Dakota Public Broadcasting
P.O. Box 5000
Vermillion, SD 57069
Download the ESSAY ENTRY FORM HERE.
(requires  Adobe Acrobat Viewer
or Plug-in.)
Entries may be submitted electronically by sending them as an attachment (Microsoft
Word) to EdServices@sdpb.org. We
prefer that students submit entries by one of these two methods.
CONTEST WINNERS will be announced in mid-February. First place winners in each
grade will be honored in Pierre during National Engineering Week, February 19-24,2001.
(Exact date and time to be announced.) These students will be introduced in the House and
Senate chambers and honored at a special reception in the SD Discovery Center and
Aquarium. Travel expenses will be paid for the winner and one parent or guardian by the
Building Big in South Dakota project.
First Place winners will also receive a US Savings Bond and a Building Big in South
Dakota sweatshirt; second and third place winners will receive a Building Big in South
Dakota sweatshirt and other nifty prizes.
Questions? Need more information? Contact SDPB Educational Services at:
1-800-456-0766
EdServices@sdpb.org |
