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4th Annual Creative Writing Competition
deadline Dec 1, 2011.

Open to passionate writers in grades 3rd —12th.

Open to CISD students and students outside CISD
CGA membership required only if student does not attend CISD schools.

Deadline: December 1, 2011 by 12:00pm, noon.

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Each entry will be judged based on its artistic expression; however, technical merit will also be a factor. Finalists (evaluated by student grade and category) will be announced the week of February 6, 2012. The winning entries will be published in a book that will be available in the spring. Students need not be identified gifted to participate.

Categories:  

• Poetry
• Fiction
• Non-fiction (includes memoir, personal essay, narrative)

Esteemed judges:

• Kim Smith: author of Sydney Wakefield, Into the Faraway
• Matt Bowden: Coppell High School Teacher
• Nicole Scott: Pinkerton Teacher
• Jill Haltom: CISD Language Arts Coordinator
• Jennifer Judd: author
• Jennifer Miller: author
• Debra Marshall: Wilson Librarian
• Laila Sanguras: CMS West Teacher
• Catherine Vanover: Spanish teacher; professional photographer
• Todd Kettler: CISD Director of Advanced Academics
• Lexanne Seifert: CHS Librarian
• Michael Cooke: CHS Librarian
• Becky Bouchard: Cottonwood Creek Librarian
• Andi Feille: Wilson Teacher
• Lynette Fortson: retired Mockingbird librarian
• Liz Tanner: Lakeside Teacher
• Cacey Narez: Lakeside Teacher
• John Scott: Teacher

Want the specifics?

Rules:

• All entries must be received at or before the deadline of December 1, 2011, at noon.
• All entries will be submitted digitally this year through our Online Entry Form.  If you need help with the submission process, please contact your CGA campus rep. If you do not attend CISD and you are a member of CGA, please contact Elizabeth Chappell for submission instructions.
• Fill out the Online Entry Form and attach your composition as a Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) file.  If you need help with the submission process, please contact your CGA campus rep.
• All entries must be typed, double-spaced, in 12-point Roman Times or Times New Roman. The total length in any category can be no longer than 6 pages. The top of each page, in the right hand corner, place the title of the work and the page number (do not include your name anywhere but on the Online Entry Form). Drawings, photographs or artwork will not be accepted.
• Each student may only submit one entry per category.
• Students need not be “identified gifted” to participate. We are looking for passionate, creative writers.
• All entries must be the work of a single student.
• No foreign language submissions will be considered. However, limited foreign language dialog is acceptable if it is understandable within the context of the entire work.
• Entries may not contain profanity or explicit adult situations.
• Entries cannot be returned. Please submit copies of work, not originals.
• Please use pseudonyms when appropriate to hide the author’s true identity from the judges.
• Each work must be the original work of the student author. No plagiarism. No parental assistance, embellishment or editing. Parent may type final work, but can not alter content.
• Plagiarism.org defines plagiarism as “the use of another’s original words or ideas as though they were your own.”  Examples of plagiarism are also available at the Plagiarism.org website.  For instance, if you are inspired by another author’s story, a fable or parable, provide credit in a footnote.  If you have any questions about what constitutes plagiarism, please contact your Language Arts teacher.
• If our judges determine that plagiarism has occurred, the participant, the participant’s parents, and/or the participant’s school may be notified and the entry will be removed from the competition.
• CGA reserves the option of establishing a panel to pre-screen the entries or recruit additional judges.
• Entries selected as finalists will only be published upon written consent of the author’s parent or legal guardian.  This consent will be sought following the posting of results, so each entry form must contain valid contact information.
• The decisions of the judges are final.
• Submission indicates acceptance of the rules.
• Please note that if we receive multiple versions of a submission, the most recent version will be submitted to the judges.

If you have questions, please contact Elizabeth Chappell.

Interested in what happened in previous competitions?

2010-2011 CGA Creative Writing Competition

For information on the CGA Book Relase Party on April 7, 2011 (or the link to pre-order the book), please click HERE.
For final results, CLICK HERE.
Creative Writing Poster 2010

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2009-2010 Creative Writing Competition

• Over 200 young authors from CISD and beyond entered the 2nd annual Creative Writing Competition. We are hoping to be even bigger and better this year. Are you a teacher or author who would like to help us judge these talented entries? Please contact Elizabeth Chappell.