STEP UP to WRITING for EXCELLENCE AWARD Criteria

• First 75 essays/reports received per level (5 per teacher maximum) will be reviewed for the Writing for Excellence Award.
  1. Must be submitted on white 8.5" x 11" paper
  2. Must be submitted as a printed document in Times New Roman size 12
  3. Must include the following code in the top right corner of each page: the level, student’s first name, and birthday (e.g., Primary 1-3, Zachary, January 22)
  4. Please include all writing plans, rough drafts, and hand written copy as well.
• There are four levels for the award (Primary K, Primary 1-3, Intermediate 3-6, and Secondary 6-12).
• First and second place will be awarded for each level, and one Grand Prize winner will be named. Contest winners will receive:
  • Second Place: $50 per student, and $50 per teacher
  • First Place: $100 for student, $100 for teacher
  • Grand Prize: A day with author, Maureen Auman

Fall 2009 Essay/Report PROMPT: How can we live more “green?”

Interview friends, neighbors, family members, or leaders and business people in your community.

• Ask them questions about how they are making or have made changes in order to live more "green" and help take care of the environment.
• Write an essay or report about what you hear and learn. Write about just one person or one group - or write about several people and the changes they have made.
• Use the Interview TOOLS to list your questions (or make your own page for planning questions*). Use the left side of the tool for your questions. On the right, jot notes about what the people say. Below their responses add your reactions and feelings about what you hear. Use your notes to plan for and write the essay or report. *If you use your own paper, you will have more space to write.
• Make a plan for your essay/report using an informal outline, write your essay, revise and edit as needed, and send it off—to win the Writing Excellence Award.
• Length of essay/report for each level: “As long as it needs to be.” The planning strategies, if used correctly, help writers set good boundaries. Feel free to include your interviews, questions, and plans with your entry.
• The Permission Form on the next page must accompany each entry. Click here
• A Scoring Guide is posted for each level, consistent with the program: Primary (K-3) | Intermediate (3-6) | Secondary (6-12)
• All entries must be received by October 30, 2009.
• Winners will be selected and announced December 1, 2009. Winners will be contacted directly and announced via the Winter 2009 Small Steps, Giant Leaps e-newsletter.
• Mail to: Karen Hiatt Secondary Literacy Product Manager c/o Cambium Learning-Sopris West, 4093 Specialty Place, Longmont, CO 80504

Full details about the award

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