SPRING 2009 NJCEE ESSAY CONTEST

(Open only to Spring 09 Stock Market Challenge participants)

 

 

Enclosed are the guidelines for the essay contest.  The essay criteria and rules must be followed to qualify. 

 

The top essay winner in the divisions of grades 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12 will be recognized.

 

Student prizes are as follows:

 

Grades 3-5           $200, certificate, and t-shirt

Grades 6-8           $200, certificate, and t-shirt

Grades 9-12         $500, certificate, and t-shirt

 

The teacher award is $100 cash.

 

Deadline:    April 10, 2009     NO EXCEPTIONS  (Essays must be in our hands by this date-please get them in early as the mailing department at Kean can be slow!)

 

Contest winners and their teachers will be honored during a NJ Stock Market Challenge Awards Ceremony luncheon. The Council must receive a total of at least 10 essays per division for judging to continue.

 

Teachers may submit up to as many of their student’s entries as they like.  These must be sent to:

 

Melinda Luciano

NJCEE

Kean University

Willis Hall - Room 307

1000 Morris Ave.

Union, New Jersey 07083

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The New Jersey Council on Economic Education is sponsoring the NJCEE Essay Contest. The essay contest will be judged at the state level and winners will be eligible for state awards. Students are encouraged, individually, to write a comprehensive essay that describes how the student or team developed it’s portfolio, the educational benefits gained from the Stock Market Challenge experience and how they would use these investment strategies if investing their own money in the stock market. There is no fee to enter this contest.  Entries must be received before the registration deadline.

 

 

The NJCEE Essay Contest will enable the participants to:

 

1      Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of basic economic concepts and how they relate to the stock markets.

2      Analyze stocks using various stock selection strategies.

3      Demonstrate proficiency in the use of decision-making and reasoning skills in stock selection.

4      Demonstrate an ability to distinguish between speculation and sound investment.

5      Develop a personal investment plan based on personal goals.

6     Demonstrate an ability to relate and assess the influence of current events on stock prices and trading decisions.

 

 

1     Describe your team’s investment strategy and economic reasons for each decision

       made. You may include one or more of the suggestions listed below:

 

A)    Company(s) facts

·         Products or services provided

·         Financial data, such as profit record, high/low price record, etc.

·         Explanation of current events that relate to the company and price changes in its stock, i.e., technological advances, increased productivity, favorable government regulations and etc.

·         Major Competitors

·         A challenge this company has faced in the last two years and what the company did to deal with the situation (recession, environmental issues and etc.)

 

B)    Current economic environment, i.e., interest rates (monetary policy), taxation

      (fiscal policy) and other economic indicators.

 

C)    General stock market outlook.

 

D)    Growth prospects and competitive outlook for the industry.

 

 

2      Identify and explain any learning experiences, i.e., economic concepts, mathematical

        applications, decision-making skills and etc. gained by your participation in the

        NJ Stock Market Challenge.

 

3      Explain what kind of investment strategy you would adopt if you were investing

        your own money. List your personal goals for such a plan, the time frame for

        your investment and how you would hope to accomplish this plan.

 

4       Include a bibliography of the sources used to complete this essay. All periodicals must include name and date of publication.

 

5      Quotes may be used with proper credit given to the source(s). Essays that have been plagiarized will be disqualified!

 

 

 

1       Students must be currently enrolled in the current Spring 2009 Stock Market Challenge.

2       Entries must range between 1500-2500 words (excluding attachments and title pages). Additional exhibits and attachments may be included that support the essay provided that they be included in a folder or book report binder.

3       An individual student only must submit entry. Essays that are plagiarized will be disqualified!

4       Entries may be included in a folder, using 8 ½ x 11 white papers.

5       Entries must be typed in 12 pt letter size, double spaced.

6       Scoring will be as follows: content 80%, spelling, grammar and writing ability 20%.

7       Portfolio equity achieved by the team during the game will not be considered in the judging. The major criterion will be what was learned from the experience.

8       In addition to the entry form, each entry submitted must be identified on the title page of the project with the name of the student, team number, semester the student played, the school name, teacher or advisor, school address, telephone number, grade and course.

9       Teachers/ Advisors may submit up to as many entries as they like.

10    The judges’ decision on winners is final. The NJCEE reserves the right to be the final judge on all aspects of the essay contest.

11    We must receive a minimum of at least 10 essays per division for judging to continue and for contestants to be eligible for prizes.