Young Author Competition
Jan. 17, 2024
Good evening, SWSD #1!
Just a reminder that Young Authors Entries are due to me no later than 4pm TOMORROW, THURSDAY, JANUARY 18TH.
I will be picking up entries from each school office tomorrow afternoon, entries can be submitted digitally (see directions attached to this message), can be dropped off at the front desk of the CAB before 4:00pm, or arrangements can be made to pick entries up.
My team of judges and I look forward to reading all of the entries! If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. I can be reached at school at 352-3430 (you’ll need to leave me a message), privately at 605-641-1276 (call or text) or by email wolfk@sw1.k12.wy.us. Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time with questions that you may have. I am excited to assist in this process and look forward to receiving the entries from our students.
As a reminder, the contest is open to all students in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade. Fiction, nonfiction, graphic novel and poetry entries are accepted. The deadline for entries to reach me is January 18, 2024. This will give the judges time to score the entries and get them to the County committee. Please make as many copies as you need. I also attached the County guidelines for the contest. I would encourage you to read over them very carefully to ensure that your students meet all of the requirements.
Our district celebration will be February 22nd, at 6:00pm, at Rock Springs Junior High. Green River will host the county celebration this year on March 5, 2024. We will send one entry representing fiction, nonfiction, graphic novel and poetry from each grade level to county. There will be a state competition again this year!
Rubrics for fiction, nonfiction, poetry and graphic novel entries can be found on the district website. The link ishttp://www.sweetwater1.org/groups/4800/curriculum_instruction_and_assessment/young_author_competition.
I want to touch base on some of the common mistakes so that no entries will be disqualified. Please double check all entries!
- Fiction/Nonfiction books may not exceed 4,000 words. If it is over 3,000 words a word count must accompany the entry.
- A book of poetry may either be an epic poem or a collection of exactly five poems, and must include a table of contents. (only 3 poems needed for Kindergarten authors)
- A book of poems should not include the word poem in the title.
- An author’s name should not appear on the book.
- Illustrations are not required, but are judged as part of presentation at all levels.
- Beginning this year, digital entries are recommended (More information in the guidelines). All physical books should be in book form and no larger than 9” x 12”.
- All books should have a front cover with a title, and a back cover, which is not part of the text.
- A Young Author entry form must be included with the entry. If you do not want to attach it to the work, you can use a library pocket card.
Judging at district, county and state level will be based upon the 6+1TM Trait writing model. At the District Level, prizes will be awarded to one First, Second and Third place book per grade, per category. At the County Level, prizes will be awarded to one First place and two honorable mentions books per grade, per category. Again, I will announce date, time and place of district, county and state celebrations as that information becomes available.
Again, if you would like more information or you have questions you can contact me anytime.
Sincerely,
Kena Wolf
Preschool Teacher
Overland
District Young Authors Coordinator
