Theme: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place

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1 2012 LA GEAR UP ESSAY CONTEST Theme: LA GEAR UP extends an invitation to all 10 th and 11 th grade students for participation in the 2012 fall essay contest. This is a competition for cash prizes with a purpose to target student achievement through writing, and a campaign for improvement in reading and writing skills. Each year LA GEAR UP awards thousands of dollars to qualifying student authors. A topic is assigned for both grades 10 and 11; essays submitted as winners must adhere to topics specified for the grade level of the participants. Each school has the responsibility of reviewing and judging all essays and selecting three winners (1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd place) in both grades, and submitting essays and student rankings to LA GEAR UP before the contest deadline. Schools or districts will disburse cash prizes to contest winners, and LA GEAR UP reimburses the districtfor all writing contests. Please remember that timely submissions to LA GEAR UP, assists with timely reimbursements from the district.

2 11 th Grade Essay: Writing for College 2012 ESSAY CONTEST The National Association for College Admission Counseling s 2011 State of College Admission report found that while grades, strength of curriculum and admission test scores are the top factors in the college admission decision, a majority of colleges and universities believe the college essay and/or personal statement to be of considerable or moderate importance in determining which academically qualified students they would choose. What is the college essay or personal statement? The basis is simple: this is an essay that provides background to an applicant's scholastic record, a face to put in front of the test scores. Length and content requirements for the personal statement vary widely from school to school; some colleges want brief, specific responses to a set of questions while others allow the applicant to give a general outline of his or her strengths. The typical college essay question asks you to share personal information allowing a selection committee to get to know you such as your plans or goals, an important event in your life, your philosophy and/or beliefs, or your financial situation. Writing the college admission essay is an opportunity for you to stand out among the applicants and to prove you re the most deserving candidate. 1) Research the college(s) or university(s) that you might like to attend. 2) Determine whether the admissions requirements for the college or university include an essay or personal statement. 3) Locate and read sample college essays and personal statements that may be available online. After doing the three activities above, choose one of the following options below to write a college essay or personal statement for a university or college: Option A: A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you. Option B: How did you become interested in (Name of University or College)? Option C: Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you. Option D: Discuss some issue of personal, local, national or international concern and its importance to you.

3 10 th Grade Essay: Expository Writing Education: The act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life. The result produced by instruction, training or study. The act or process of imparting or acquiring particular knowledge or shills as for a profession. Knowledge: Information and skills acquired through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. What is known in a particular field, or in total. Familiarity awareness, or understanding gained through experience or study. Education s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one. ~Malcolm Forbes Education is when you read the fine print. Experience is what you get if you don t. ~Peter Seeger Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will. ~Vernon Howard If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. ~Derek Bok I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it. ~ Pablo Picasso Knowledge is power. ~ Sir Francis Bacon There is not much difference between education and knowledge as both shows a relationship to each other; in fact one leads to another. The primary difference between the two is that education is viewed as a formal process, whereas knowledge is viewed as informal. Education is acquired through the formal institutions like school, colleges and universities, and knowledge is often gained from real life experiences. Consider the importance of having an education and having knowledge. Then using the information above, your own experiences, observations and personal reading, write a speech for incoming freshmen on the meaning and/or importance of having an education and having knowledge. As you write your essay, remember to: Consider the audience and purpose your essay Organize your ideas and details effectively Include specific examples that clearly develop your essay

4 Contest Rules and Guidelines 2012 ESSAY CONTEST 1. Essays submitted to LA GEAR UP should be the writer s own work. Teachers may assist with facilitating and proofreading, but the final work should represent the student s ability. 2. Student authors must be in grades 9 and 10 to qualify for cash prizes. 3. Essays must be between 500-1,000 words. 4. Essays must adhere to the topics assigned to specific grade level of participants. 5. Titles should be developed to represent assigned topics. All entries must have titles. 6. Student s name, name of English teacher/assisting teacher and grade should be placed in the upper left hand corner of each page that is submitted. 7. Essays must follow the format for expository, narrative, persuasive, or descriptive writing. 8. Basic essay format (introduction, body and conclusion) should be used for entries. 9. Entries that include pictures, clipart or graphics will be disqualified. 10. Typed essays are preferred. Handwritten essays will be accepted, but must be legibly written in blue or black ink on one side of the sheet(s) submitted. 11. Please use basic black font (Arial, Times Roman, or Courier) for typed essays. 12. LA GEAR UP reserves the right to edit the content (grammatical or typographical errors) of any essays selected for publication, in LA GEAR UP newsletters or other LA GEAR UP publications. Winning Essays Submitted to LA GEAR UP Should Reflect the Following: Skillful connection of topic to ideas Clear, concise sentences that are grammatically sound and properly punctuated Clearly detailed composition using the structure and format listed in the contest rules and guidelines Clearly organized thoughts Clearly edited essays for standard grammar, spelling, and punctuation

5 Mail winning entries to: LOSFA P.O. Box BR LA Attn: ELA Coordinator Announce and distribute contest information to ELA teachers/assisting teachers and students. Select and establish a team to judge student essays and select winners. Select three winners from both grades 9 and 10. Names of selected winners must be ranked 1 st, 2 nd, or 3 rd, and placed on the contest grade-level submission forms enclosed. Please include one copy of each winning essay. Also include, on the space provided, the number of students who participated in the essay contest, but were not selected as winners. Blank certificates will be available for schools in recognition of those students efforts. A certificate of achievement will be provided by LA GEAR UP for each 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd place winner. All certificates will be mailed or delivered by respective LA GEAR UP program coordinators within two weeks of receiving schools submissions. Submissions must be postmarked NOVEMBER 16, 2011 and must reach the LA GEAR UP office by 4:30 p.m. Cash prizes are awarded to all writing contest winners. Selected winners in grades 9 and 10 will receive $100 (first prize), $50 (second prize) and $25 (third prize). The school or district may distribute cash prizes to students. Once cash prizes have been disbursed, have selected winners sign and include the amount received on the enclosed student signature form. This form along with other appropriate verification must be turned in to the LA GEAR UP office in order to ensure the reimbursement of funds. LA GEAR UP reimburses the district for all writing contests. LA GEAR UP prefers that ELA teachers assist students with compositions, but other subject areas teachers may assist students also. Teachers assisting students will receive a stipend ($50) award for participating and coaching students. A maximum of four teachers per school can receive stipends. On the grade-level submission form, please include the name(s) of the teachers who will receive stipends; recipients must complete teacher signature page. Please maintain a copy of winning essays, and other pertinent contest documents for your records.

6 CONTEST WINNERS SUBMISSION FORM Grade Level 10 Name of School: School address (city, state zip): School phone: ( ) LA GEAR UP On-site School Coordinator(s): English Teacher/Assisting Teacher English Teacher/Assisting Teacher Essay Contest Winners (Please print first and last name of winning student authors) First Place Second Place Third Place Number of non-winning participants Please provide the number of students who participated in the contest, but were not selected as winners. Upon request, blank certificates (names of students to be filled in by school designee) will be provided in recognition of students participation.

7 CONTEST WINNERS SUBMISSION FORM Grade Level - 11 Name of School: School address (city, state zip): School phone: ( ) LA GEAR UP On-site School Coordinator(s): English Teacher/Assisting Teacher English Teacher/Assisting Teacher Essay Contest Winners (Please print first and last name of winning student authors) First Place Second Place Third Place Number of Non-Winning Participants Please provide the number of students who participated in the contest, but were not selected as winners. Upon request, blank certificates (names of students to be filled in by school designee) will be provided in recognition of students participation.

8 Grade Level 11 STUDENT SIGNATURE PAGE The following students have received cash prizes for being selected as 1 st ($100), 2 nd ($50), or 3 rd ($25) Place in the 2012 LA GEAR UP Essay Contest

9 Grade Level 12 STUDENT SIGNATURE PAGE The following students have received cash prizes for being selected as 1 st ($100), 2 nd ($50), or 3 rd ($25) Place in the 2012 LA GEAR UP Essay Contest

10 ENGLISH TEACHER/ASSISTING TEACHER SIGNATURE PAGE I, have received a cash stipend in Teacher Signature the amount of $, for assisting students in the LA GEAR UP Essay Contest. I, have received a cash stipend in Teacher Signature the amount of $, for assisting students in the LA GEAR UP Essay Contest. I, have received a cash stipend in Teacher Signature the amount of $, for assisting students in the LA GEAR UP Essay Contest. I, have received a cash stipend in Teacher Signature the amount of $, for assisting students in the LA GEAR UP Essay Contest.