YOUNG AUTHORS CONTEST SoMIRAC 2013-2014 COVER SHEET Please Print Clearly

YOUNG AUTHORS CONTEST SoMIRAC 2013-2014
COVER SHEET
Please Print Clearly
Student/Author’s Name:
Student’s full name (as it should appear in the publication)
Student/Author’s
Home Address:
(street, city, state. zip)
Student/Author’s
Home Phone:
Email Address:
(Full Address with zip code)
South Shore Elementary School
1376 Fairfield Loop Rd.
Crownsville, MD 21032
Grade:
Grade:
Teacher: First/Last Name
Teacher Email:
Mr., Mrs., Ms (circle one)
Local Reading Council:
Anne Arundel County
Title of Entry:
Title:
School Name/ Address:
Circle one:
POEM
SHORT STORY
Permission for Publication
I, _________________________________________, give permission for SoMIRAC
Print first and last name
representatives to reproduce my child’s work in an anthology of writing, in the event he/she
becomes a State Winner.
Student Signature: _____________________________________ Date:________________
Parent Signature: _____________________________________ Date: _______________
Teacher Signature: ___________________________________ Date: _______________
ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES 2-8
2013-2014 YOUNG AUTHORS’ CONTEST GUIDELINES
ELIGIBILITY:
Students in Grades 2 through 8 are eligible to enter a previously unsubmitted short story and/or
poem written within the 2013-2014 school year. Each entry may have only one author and only one
entry per author may be submitted for each category.
CONTEST GUIDELINES:
1. Entries must be the student’s original work. Peers or adults may provide editing assistance
(spelling, punctuation, etc.), but revisions should be student-generated and the final product
must be the student’s own work.
o All entries must be submitted in a word processing file with no less than 12 point font
using either Times New Roman or Comic Sans font.
o Each short story entry may range from a minimum of two (2) paragraphs to no more than
three (3) typed pages.
o Each poem entry will consist of a single poem, which may be any style or length.
2. Entries must not include graphics.
3. All entries must include a completed “Cover Sheet” signed by the student author and
sponsoring teacher.
SELECTION CRITERIA:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Entry meets all of the above guidelines.
Story reflects creativity and appropriate use of language and short story structure.
Poem reflects creative and appropriate use of language and imagery.
Entries of a violent nature will be deemed inappropriate.
Any violation(s) of these guidelines or criteria will disqualify the entry. The decisions of the
State Judges’ panel are final.
DEADLINE:
Entries must be received by Mrs. Moody by Friday, December 13, 2013.
Each local State of Maryland International Reading Association Council will select one short
story and one poem per grade level to submit to the state contest. The State Young Authors
Program Committee will then select a first and second place winner per category at each grade
level. All winning entries will be published in an anthology and each student author and his/her
teacher will receive a copy. A reception honoring all Young Authors first and second place state
winners, their parents, families, teachers, chairpersons and judges will be held at the SoMIRAC
Conference in March at the Hunt Valley Marriott in Hunt Valley, MD.
Six Traits Writing Rubric
6
Exemplary
5
Strong
4
Proficient
3
Developing
2
Emerging
1
Beginning
Ideas &
Content
 Exceptionally
clear, focused,
engaging with
relevant, strong
supporting detail
 Clear, focused,
interesting
ideas with
appropriate
detail
 Evident main
idea with some
support which
may be general
or limited
 Purpose and
main idea may
be unclear and
cluttered by
irrelevant detail
 Lacks central
idea;
development is
minimal or
non-existent
Organization
 Effectively
organized in
logical and
creative manner
 Creative and
engaging intro
and conclusion
 Strong order
and structure
 Inviting intro
and satisfying
closure
 Organization is
appropriate,
but
conventional
 Attempt at
introduction
and conclusion
 Main idea may
be cloudy
because
supporting
detail is too
general or even
off-topic
 Attempts at
organization;
may be a “list”
of events
 Beginning and
ending not
developed
 Lack of
structure;
disorganized
and hard to
follow
 Missing or
weak intro and
conclusion
 Lack of
coherence;
confusing
 No identifiable
introduction or
conclusion
Voice
 Expressive,
engaging, sincere
 Strong sense of
audience
 Shows emotion:
humour, honesty,
suspense or life
 Precise, carefully
chosen
 Strong, fresh,
vivid images
 Appropriate to
audience and
purpose
 Writer behind
the words
comes through
 Evident
commitment to
topic
 Inconsistent or
dull personality
 Voice may be
inappropriate
or non-existent
 Writing may
seem
mechanical
 Writing tends
to be flat or
stiff
 Little or no hint
of writer
behind words
 Writing is
lifeless
 No hint of the
writer
 Descriptive,
broad range of
words
 Word choice
energizes
writing
 Language is
functional and
appropriate
 Descriptions
may be
overdone at
times
 Words may be
correct but
mundane
 No attempt at
deliberate
choice
 Monotonous,
often
repetitious,
sometimes
inappropriate
 Limited range
of words
 Some
vocabulary
misused
 main theme
 supporting details
 structure
 introduction
 conclusion
 personality
 sense of audience
Word Choice
 precision
effectiveness
 imagery
Sentence
Fluency
 High degree of
craftsmanship
 Effective
variation in
sentence patterns
 Easy flow and
rhythm
 Good variety in
length and
structure
 Generally in
control
 Lack variety in
length and
structure
 Some awkward
constructions
 Many similar
patterns and
beginnings
 Often choppy
 Monotonous
sentence
patterns
 Frequent runon sentences
 Difficult to
follow or read
aloud
 Disjointed,
confusing,
rambling
Conventions
 Exceptionally
strong control of
standard
conventions of
writing
 Strong control
of conventions;
errors are few
and minor
 Control of
most writing
conventions;
occasional
errors with
high risks
 Limited
control of
conventions;
frequent errors
do not interfere
with
understanding
 Frequent
significant
errors may
impede
readability
 Numerous
errors distract
the reader and
make the text
difficult to read
 rhythm, flow
variety
age appropriate,
spelling, caps,
punctuation,
grammar
Adapted for Regina Public Schools from Vicki Spandel, Creating Writers.
Regina, SK Canada
A Sample Poetry Rubric
Criteria
4
3
2
Ideas and content
Focuses on an idea, feeling
or experience. Uses
specific, concrete images.
May include poetic sound
devices
Exceptional focus of
an idea, feeling or
experience.
Exceptional use of
images. Includes many
examples poetic sound
devices
Adequate focus of an
idea, feeling or
experience. Adequate
use of images.
Includes some
examples poetic sound
devices
Inadequate focus of an
idea, feeling or
experience. Adequate
use of images. Includes
no examples poetic
sound devices
Sentence Fluency
Uses lines of varying
lengths and a variety of
sentence structures
Uses a large variety of
varying sentence
lengths and structure.
Uses some variety of
varying sentence
lengths and structure.
Uses no variety of
varying sentence
lengths and structure.
Organization
Uses a logical, effective
organizational strategy.
Uses an exceptional
logical and effective
organizational
strategy.
Uses an adequate
logical and effective
organizational
strategy.
Uses an inadequate
organizational strategy.
Voice
Uses own unique style.
Writes honestly, as if the
reader were right there.
Writes with confidence and
enthusiasm.
Uses an exceptional
and unique writing
style. Writes
exceptionally honest,
as if the reader were
right there. Writes
with exceptional
confidence and
enthusiasm.
Uses an adequate
writing style. Writes
somewhat honestly, as
if the reader were right
there. Writes with a
standard amount of
with confidence and
enthusiasm.
Uses an inadequate
writing style. Does not
make the reader feel a
part of the text. Writes
with minimal
confidence and
enthusiasm.
Text contains only a
minimal amount of
errors
Text contains several
errors.
Text contains
numerous errors.
Mechanics
Grammar
Spelling
Punctuation
Capitalization