MANY CONTEST OPS!!!
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******CONGRATULATIONS TO
BEN V: He will be recognized at the FCTE (English Teachers Conference)
on October 16th. He won the state writing contest for his short story
entitled "RailTracers." Ben also won the NCTE National Writing
awards for his timed writing and submitted piece of writing last spring. We
congratulate Ben for his successful winning of 2 huge contests!
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LEDGER EDITORIAL CONTEST--FALL 2009
The Ledger awards a plaque and check to the first three places in Elementary,
Middle School and High School categories. The checks are $250 for first
place, $200 for second place and $150 for third place.
Students must find and bring to class THURS. OCT. 15th 3 copies of
articles on the topic of their choice--one of the 3 below.
The students must write on one of the following topics:
Cell phone calls and texting while driving: A series of studies about
auto drivers taking part in cell phone calls or sending text messages has
raised concern about the danger of these practices. Should any of the
following be banned while driving in Florida? Handling of a cell phone
handset (limit phone usage to a hands-free mode). Reading or sending a text
message. Any use of a cell phone or text device.
Near-shore oil drilling: Drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico off
Florida's coast is limited to an area that is 125 miles south of the
Panhandle and 234 miles west of Tampa Bay. The purpose is to protect the
environment as well as the tourism industry, which relies on Florida's
beaches and other coastal attractions. In its annual session this spring, the
state House of Representatives passed a bill to encourage drilling as close
as 10 miles from shore. The rationale was to increase the U.S. oil supply and
bring drilling royalties into the state treasury. However, the bill died in
the state Senate. Several Florida lawmakers have suggested reviving the bill
in a special session late this year or submitting a new bill in next year's
annual session to encourage drilling as close as five miles from shore.
Should the state of Florida call for oil drilling close to its gulf coast?
Governmental funding for medical research: Until recent years, the
federal government funded most medical research in the United States.
Primarily it did so through the National Institutes of Health. Then federal
budget cuts resulted in funding reductions. Funding from private
pharmaceutical companies and makers of medical devices became more prominent.
On Sept. 30, President Barack Obama announced medical-research grants of $5
billion. The money comes from the Stimulus Act and includes a total of $10
billion for the NIH. Is the stimulus-related medical-research funding
worthwhile? If so, should the government find other sources of money to
continue the funding once the stimulus money runs out?
OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE LEDGER -- RULES and ELIGIBILITY:
ELIGIBILITY: All students in Polk County schools, public or private, or
homeschooled in Polk County.
DEFINITION: An editorial is a written expression of opinion. It takes a
stand, usually for or against something or someone. It backs up that opinion
with logical reasoning and, if possible, with facts and figures. A newspaper
editorial tries to persuade readers that its opinion is right. It should be
written in the third person (Example: “Florida should be better prepared for
hurricanes,” not “I think Florida should be better prepared for hurricanes”).
CATEGORIES: Awards will be presented in three categories – High School (9-
12), Middle School (6-8), and Elementary School (K-5).
AWARDS: Cash prizes and plaques will go to the top three entries in each
category. The three first-place winners will each receive a $250 award, the
three second-place winners each will receive a $200 award and the three third-
place winners each will receive a $150 award.
PUBLICATION: The nine winning student editorials will be announced and
published on The Ledger’s Op-Ed Page on the tentative dates of DECEMBER 9, 10
and 11, along with photographs of the three first-place winners and the names
of their teachers. As many as 10 runners-up in each category will be
announced.
ONLINE POSTING: TheLedger.com will post the winners as outlined
in “Publication” above. Additionally, videos of the three first-place winners
reading their editorials will be taken by The Ledger and posted on
TheLedger.com.
LENGTH: Editorials in the Elementary School category MUST be from 100 to 150
words. Editorials in the Middle School and High School categories MUST be
from 300 to 400 words. Limits on length will be enforced.
JUDGING: Entries will be screened by the Communications Department at Florida
Southern College. Winners will be selected by editors of The Ledger.
ISSUES: All entries must comment on ONE of the following topics:
CELL PHONE CALLS AND TEXTING WHILE DRIVING. A series of studies about auto
drivers taking part in cell phone calls or sending text messages has raised
concern about the danger of these practices. Should any of the following be
banned while driving in Florida? Handling of a cell phone handset (limit
phone usage to a hands-free mode). Reading or sending a text message. Any use
of a cell phone or text device.
NEAR-SHORE OIL DRILLING. Drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico off Florida’s
coast is limited to an area that is 125 miles south of the Panhandle and 234
miles west of Tampa Bay. The purpose is to protect the environment as well as
the tourism industry, which relies on Florida’s beaches and other coastal
attractions. In its annual session this spring, the state House of
Representatives passed a bill to encourage drilling as close as 10 miles from
shore. The rationale was to increase the U.S. oil supply and bring drilling
royalties into the state treasury. However, the bill died in the state
Senate. Several Florida lawmakers have suggested reviving the bill in a
special session late this year or submitting a new bill in next year’s annual
session to encourage drilling as close as five miles from shore. Should the
state of Florida call for oil drilling close to its gulf coast?
GOVERNMENTAL FUNDING FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH. Until recent years, the federal
government funded most medical research in the United States. Primarily it
did so through the National Institutes of Health. Then federal budget cuts
resulted in funding reductions. Funding from private pharmaceutical companies
and makers of medical devices became more prominent. On Sept. 30, President
Barack Obama announced medical-research grants of $5 billion. The money comes
from the Stimulus Act and includes a total of $10 billion for the NIH. Is the
stimulus-related medical-research funding worthwhile? If so, should the
government find other sources of money to continue the funding once the
stimulus money runs out?
DEADLINE: Teachers and/or department heads must submit their two (2) best
entries per class by FRIDAY, NOV. 6. A homeschooled student’s parent or
guardian may submit one entry. Each entry should contain: The name of the
teacher (including his/her first name); the name and grade of the student;
the name of the school and the city where the school is located. The
teacher’s school e-mail address and school telephone number should be
included, for contact purposes.
Entries may be hand-delivered to The Ledger offices at 300 W. Lime St.,
Lakeland, or 455 Sixth St. N.W., Winter Haven, or mailed to:
Student Editorial Contest
The Ledger
PO Box 408
Lakeland, FL 33802
QUESTIONS: For further information, send an e-mail to Glenn Marston,
editorial page editor, at glenn.marston@theledger.com or call him at 863-802-
7600.
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SAMPLE 1st-place WINNER FROM LAST YEAR'S CONTEST--ALI CAHALAN, LHS
An incredibly controversial subject throughout the past four years,
the debate between the Electoral College and the popular vote in the
Presidential election continues to intensify. Beginning with the spark of
George W. Bush versus Al Gore, the issue has since ignited into a vicious
firestorm. While some may insist that the Electoral College is the most
efficient choice, popular vote is the only way to ensure each American’s vote.
The Electoral College-- people representing the votes of each state
in a ratio of population to number of electors-- ostensibly maintains balance
between disparate states, such as New York and Montana or between Florida and
Alaska. This election method attempts to award the smaller states equal
importance to the larger states.
The popular vote, however, aims to give every American a voice.
While the Electoral College claims its goal is fairness between the states,
it is anything but fair. When taking the eight least populated states and
combining their electoral votes, the sum is equivalent to the number of
electoral votes Florida possesses. However, Florida’s population is three
times larger than the population of those eight states combined. If dousing
the fire of a large state’s electoral influence is fair, then the Electoral
College is certainly ‘fair.’
With the popular vote, all Americans can be heard, regardless the
state they represent. In the 2000 election, Al Gore won the popular vote by
nearly 540,000 votes while Bush won the election by 5 more electoral votes
than Gore. The same disparity has sparked controversy in three other
presidential races: Adams, Crawford, Jackson, and Clay (four main candidates
at that time) in 1824; Tilden and Hayes in 1876; and Cleveland and Harrison
in 1888. If these instances of contention reveal anything, it is that we
need to learn from our history and not make the same mistakes we have made
for nearly 116 years.
Employing the popular vote as an alternative to the Electoral College
would be one of the most important decisions in American history. While the
Electoral College preaches fairness and balance, examining the facts proves
it is simply cinder from the fire of skewed politics. Choosing the popular
vote ensures that every American truly will be heard.
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MARTIN LUTHER KING ESSAY CONTEST
WANT TO WIN $1,000 and a FREE BREAKFAST???
Enter the 2009/10 Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Challenge
October 19th – November 19th
***START TURNING IN YOUR DRAFTS TO ME ONLINE, AS OF OCT. 25th
Essay Topic: “Remember! Celebrate! Act! Make it a Day ON, Not a Day Off!”
Participants’ Criteria:
Elementary School students - Grades K - 5
100 word limit (not more than 100 words)
Middle School students - Grades 6 - 8
200 word limit (100 - 200 words)
High School students - Grades 9 - 12
300 word limit (200 - 300 words)
Personal Data (Cover Page – Essay will NOT be graded without a cover
page)
Name & Grade (Name on cover page only – NOT ON Essay)
Residential Address and Phone Number
Parent(s) Name and Phone Number
School’s Name and Phone Number
Teacher’s Name
School Principal’s Name
Content of Criteria
Subject of Essay: “Remember! Celebrate! Act! Make it a Day ON, Not a
Day Off!”
Relevance of material to the subject- expound on Dr. King’s dream
regarding how the dream is or can be celebrated today and how people
(communities) can take action to honor him on his holiday, and not just take
it as a day off from school and/or work.
Composition
S Is content organized?
S Is there unity of thought?
S Is subject developed in a logical manner?
S Does choice of words show variety and are non-repetitive?
S Is sentence structure and grammar good?
S Content should be creative and original
Neatness
Note: All essays must be forwarded to Mr. Otis R. Anthony, Senior Director,
Diversity Management, at 1915 S. Floral Ave., Bartow, FL 33830 no later than
5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 19, 2009. All first place winners will be
expected to read his or her essay at the Annual MLK Breakfast in honor of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. on January 13, 2010 at the Bartow Civic Center, 2250
S. Floral Ave., Bartow, FL. All winners will be notified in advance.
Sponsored by the Polk County Board of County Commissioners’
Community Relations Advisory Council and the
Polk County School Board
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POLK COUNTY POETRY CONTEST
(more rules and advice will follow)
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SPRING: FLORIDA COUNCIL TEACHERS OF ENGLISH WRITING CONTEST. If you want
to enter this contest, you have to fill out forms for each of 3 pieces of
selected prose or poetry. MORE TO COME!!
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WHAT IS GOOD POETRY?
Laurence Perrine, writing in Sound and Sense (Harcourt, 1973), lists the
following as qualities of good poetry. Please use these as you direct and
oversee your students writing for the district contest.
SIX STANDARDS FOR EXCELLENCE:
1. The good poem contains no excess words, no words that do not bear their
full weight in contributing to the total meaning, and no words used merely
to fill out the meter.
*2. In the good poem, each word is the best word for expressing meaning;
there are no inexact or inappropriate words chosen merely for the sake of
rhyme.
3. The word order in a good poem is the best order for expressing the
author's meaning: distortions or departures from normal word order are for
emphasis or some other meaningful purpose. Again, word order is not
distorted for the purpose of filling out meter or producing rhyme.
*4. In a good poem, the diction (word choice), the images, and the figures
of speech are fresh, not trite. There should be specific, concrete images
and/or figures of speech, not a jumble of abstract words.
5. There are no clashes between the sound of a good poem and its meaning, or
its form and its content: in general, the poet uses both sound and pattern
in such a way as to support his meaning.
*6. The good poem should be in some sense a "new" poem; it must elicit a
fresh response from the reader. It will not be merely imitative of previous
literature, nor will it appeal to stock, pre-established ways of thinking
that are automatically stimulated in some readers by words
like "mother," "home," "freedom," "country," "faith," "God," "America,"
much as a coin put into a slot always gets an expected reaction.
Please use the above standards of good poetry, generally accepted by
literary critics, as guidelines when teaching poetry writing and when
judging the poems submitted at your school.
*Standards 2, 4, and 6 are particularly important.
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STYLES TO AVOID:
Perrine also discusses several kinds of inferior poems which, he says,
frequently fool poor readers (and occasionally a few good ones) into
thinking that they are good. Among these inferior poems are two kinds worth
mentioning:
1. The sentimental poem: Perrine defines the sentimental poem as
one that "aims primarily at stimulating the emotions directly rather than
at communicating experience truly and freshly; it depends on trite and well-
tried formulas for exciting emotion; it revels in old oaken buckets, rocking
chairs, mother love, and the pitter-patter of little feet; it
oversimplifies; it is unfaithful to the complexity of human experience."
2. The didactic poem: Perrine defines this as the poem that "has as its
primary purpose to teach or preach." It is recognizable, he says, by the
flatness of its diction, the triteness of its imagery and figurative
language, its emphasis on moral platitudes, and its general lack of poetic
freshness. In short, its teaching/preaching purpose has entirely superseded
its poetic purpose.
While our contest is one for young amateurs, still we should endeavor to
develop their ability to write good poetry - poetry that adheres, to some
degree, to the standards described above.
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POETRY CONTEST GUIDELINES: No more than 25 lines. Experiment with
style and form. Use a thesaurus and limit your words to the bare minimum.
Create metaphors, imagery, sound repetition, etc. You know the drill.
Posted below will be some samples from the past (not all winners)! I will
change them frequently. If the format doesn't come out right, I'll post
them as downloads. Make sure it is YOUR WORK.!!! We check carefully
and deal with any sort of PLAGIARISM as a crime.
Once I have told you that I will submit your poem for the school's selection
process, you must download both poetry sheets from the download site. One is
to copy and paste your poem WITHOUT YOUR NAME. The other is to fill out for
the contest--information and attesting that you have not plagiarized.
Both forms must be sent to me online as rich text attachments, and both must
be turned into me (HARD COPY).
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