Hartwood Yule

What are you passionate about? What have you explored and learned more about? Enter Hartwood’s Scholar’s Competition at this year’s Court d’Argent and share your knowledge and research with us.

The competition will consist of writing one paper on any historically based topic within the scope of your SCA time period and country. The paper should be three to four pages long plus a bibliography of your sources. Your subject doesn’t have to be something your persona would have done or owned but something you would have been aware of from your country and time period.

Those wishing to enter must advise me no later than Nov 4 with their intent to enter and the subject (including country and time period) of your entry. You must have an electronic copy of your entry to me no later than November 15th. This will allow me to line up appropriate judges. My email address is jdharcus@telus.net.

At the event you should bring at least three copies of your paper and be prepared for a 30 minute presentation which will include a brief presentation on your persona (country and time period), your presentation, and then a question and answer period.

The paper does not have to be written in any particular style as long as the information is presented in a logical and clear manner (good layout of text/pictures, easy to follow, etc.). The information presented will be judged on the historical accuracy of material, how well your points are supported and reference good quality sources (which should be included in your bibliography), difficulty of research, and that your subject was appropriately addressed (not too broad or narrow). Your oral presentation will be judged on how well you present the information (was it presented in a clear and organized manner), the depth of knowledge displayed during the presentation and the question and answer period, and your ability to field questions.

Here are some examples of topics to start you thinking (there are many more possibilities):

– What would your persona’s home be like (construction, furniture, people, pets, etc.)?

– What crops grown on your land or around your town and what are they used for?

– What special days/holidays do you observe and how do you observe them?

– What items might you make for yourself or others, or someone might make for you?

– How did you learn a special skill or trade?

– What fighting styles and weapons were common in your area?

– What are the politics of your time/country?