Subchapter D: 2nd-8th Grades (1462)
Section 1462: READY WRITING
- (a) THE CONTEST.
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(1) Summary. Texas has put a great emphasis on writing skills at all levels of school and all levels of statewide testing. Ready Writing builds upon those skills and helps students refine their writing abilities. In particular, this contest helps them learn to write clearly and correctly a paper that is interesting and original.
(2) Contest Format. Contestants are given a choice between two prompts, each of which defines the audience and provides the purpose for writing. Students should be encouraged to analyze the prompts for purpose, format, audience and point of view. The format may be, for example, a letter, an article for the newspaper or an essay for the principal. Various writing strategies may be stated or implied in the prompt. Some of these include:
(A) description to inform – describe the happening or person/object from imagination or memory;
(B) narration – write a story;
(C) persuasion – describe and argue just one side of an issue; describe both sides of an issue then argue only one side; write an editorial; write a letter to persuade, etc.
There is no minimum or maximum number of words the contestants may write. Two hours are allowed for writing the composition. The District Executive Committee may shorten the length of the contest period to conform to the needs of the grade level. - (b) REPRESENTATION.
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(1) Contestants. Students in officially prescribed grade levels below 9th grade who are eligible under Sections 1400 and 1405 may enter this contest.
(2) Divisions. Districts shall offer either a separate division for each participating grade level or combined grade level divisions as specified in official contest procedures.
(3) Individual Competition. For each division, each participant school may enter as many as three contestants in the district meet.
(4) Team Competition. There is no team competition in this contest.
- (c) CONTEST ADMINISTRATION.
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(1) Personnel.
(A) Contest Director. The contest director may be the coach of a participating student. A single or an odd number of judges should be selected. Judge(s) shall not be coaches of participating students.
(2) Options For Writing. Contestants may hand-write their essays or may bring and use their own computers. If contestants choose to use their own computers, they shall bring their own printers, associated hardware, software and paper. Spell check and thesaurus functions may be used. Students who opt to compose their entries on computers accept the risk of computer malfunction. In case of computer malfunction, the contestant may use the remaining allotted time to complete the composition in handwriting. Contestants may use electronic or printed dictionaries and thesauruses.
(3) Viewing Period An optional period of time not to exceed 15 minutes may be arranged for coaches and contestants to review
their own evaluations and compositions, and verify identification.(4) Ties and Points. There can be no ties in this contest. Points are awarded as specified in Section 1408 (i).
(5) Official Results. After the optional viewing period has ended and all compositions have been collected, the contest director shall announce the official winners. Official results, once announced, are final.
(6) Returning Materials. No materials from district contests may be returned to contestants prior to official release dates.