"The Short of It" Challenge
Read one (1) essay OR short story (print or digital) originally published in the 21st century (i.e. January 1, 2001 or later) available through HCC Libraries.
Tip #1: You may find it helpful to email ask@hccs.libanswers.com to request a short list of options to choose from with your preferences (Examples: “I really like fantasy fiction and need help finding a short story in that genre.” or “I want to find an inspirational essay." or "I'm okay with an essay or short story, so long as it's related to sports.”), but don't forget to mention the publishing date requirement. Please allow at least 1 business day for a librarian response.
Respond by identifying a particular passage that resonated with you. Explain briefly in 1-3 sentences why you chose it. Perform direct, block quoting of your selected passage. Use MLA Style (9th edition) formatting, in-text citation, and provide the complete citation as a Work Cited at the end. Use the sample paper available to download at the bottom of this box to guide you.
Tip #2: Visit the HCC Library’s MLA Style (9th edition) LibGuide for helpful citation guidance or Purdue University's O.W.L. (see the subsection "A Work in an Anthology, Reference, or Collection" for targeted guidelines).
Rewards: An HCC swag item and one (1) library raffle prize entry. Students will be notified of the raffle drawing outcome no later than Friday January 31, 2025.
Deadline: This challenge must be completed by or on Friday January 31, 2025.
"Ebonrary" Challenge
Read a book (accepted formats: e-/Book, e-/Audiobook, e-/comic, e-/graphic novel) written by a Black author or centering Black voice(s) or stories.
Tip #1: Explore books honored by BCALA Literary Awards, ALA's Coretta Scott King Book Awards, NCSS's Carter G. Woodson Awards, OCM Bocas Prizes for Caribbean Literature, the Hurston/Wright Legacy Awards, Essence Literary Awards, Phillis Wheatley Awards, Ernest J. Gaines Awards for Literary Excellence, or the NAACP Image Awards for Literature for inspiring possibilities. Students can also find qualifying books at our library's Black History Month page, Black Stories/Black Voices page, and Juneteenth page.
Respond by sharing a specific passage from the book that you found poignant, inspiring, or challenging. Explain briefly in 1-3 sentences why you chose it. It can be a direct quote or a paraphrase. Provide the correct MLA Style (9th edition) in-text citation for it. Use the sample paper available to download at the bottom of this box to guide you.
Tip #2: Visit the HCC Library’s MLA Style (9th edition) LibGuide for helpful citation guidance or Purdue University's O.W.L. (see the subsection "A Work in an Anthology, Reference, or Collection" for targeted guidelines).
Reward: An HCC swag item and one (1) library raffle prize entry. Students will be notified of the raffle drawing outcome no later than Monday March 10, 2025.
Deadline: This challenge must be completed by or on Friday February 28, 2025.
"Alphabet Soup" Challenge
Read a book (accepted formats: e-/Book, e-/Audiobook, e-/comic, e-/graphic novel) written by an LGBTQIA+ author or centering LGBTQIA+ voice(s) or stories.
Tip #1: Check Lambda Literary Award Winners, Stonewall Book Awards List, our LGBT History Month page, or notable books (see Award Information: Winner List) selected by the American Library Association’s Rainbow Round Table for inspiring possibilities.
Respond in 100 to 200 words by explaining what caused you to choose this title and format, whether your impression of the book changed much (or not) by the end, and why. Use APA Style (7th edition) formatting, in-text citation, and provide the complete citation as a Work Cited at the end. Use the sample paper available to download at the bottom of this box to guide you.
Reward: An HCC swag item and one (1) library raffle prize entry. Students will be notified of the raffle drawing outcome no later than Thursday April 10, 2025.
Deadline: This challenge must be completed by or on Monday March 31, 2025.
"Roses are Red" Challenge
Select a collection of poetry available through HCC Libraries in print or digital format. Read at least five (5) poems.
Respond with the names of at least five (5) poems you read separated by a semicolon (Example: “High Dudgeon; Mice in the Cupboard; gravity; My Sweetest Day; 10,000 Rupees to Preeti Ganesh”). Choose one poem to analyze and draft a thesis related to your interpretation. Use MLA Style (9th edition) formatting, in-text citation, and provide the complete citation as a Work Cited at the end. Use the sample paper available to download at the bottom of this box to guide you.
Tip: Visit Texas A&M University's Writing Center page on Analyzing Poetry. The introductory paragraph and Thesis sections may be most helpful.
Reward: An HCC swag item and one (1) library raffle prize entry. Students will be notified of the raffle drawing outcome no later than Saturday May 10, 2025.
Deadline: This challenge must be completed by or on Wednesday April 30, 2025.
"Mayday" Challenge
Read a book (accepted formats: e-/Book, e-/Audiobook, e-/comic, e-/graphic novel) written by an Asian or Pacific Islander or centering Asian or Pacific Islander voice(s) or stories.
Tip: Need help finding one that interests you? You can live chat with an HCC librarian, browse the physical Comics & Graphic Novels collections at HCC’s Alief-Hayes, Central, Codwell (Northeast), Eastside, Northline, Spring Branch, South, and West Loop campus libraries, check our Graphic Novels page, or check our Superhero (Comics & Graphic Novels) page.
Respond in 200 words or less, tell us why you chose this title, whether you’d recommend it to your peers, how many stars you would rate it (out of 5) and what you liked most or least about it. Use the sample paper available to download at the bottom of this box to guide you.
Reward: An HCC swag item and one (1) library raffle prize entry. Students will be notified of the raffle drawing outcome no later than Tuesday June 10, 2025.
Deadline: This challenge must be completed by or on Saturday May 31, 2025.
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