DISTRICT LITERARY FAIR GUIDELINES
1. Schools should observe the following guidelines when submitting entries:
a. Each entry must be submitted on 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper, except for Literary
Newspapers, and Childrenʼs Books. Do not mount on construction paper or
poster board or submit with report covers.
b. Two clear copies of each entry must be submitted for judging purposes. The
only exceptions are Childrenʼs Books, Graphic Novels, and Literary Newspapers. It
would be appropriate to retain a hard copy for the school-based coordinatorʼs
records.
All entries must be identified with the following information listed on one 3 X 5 inch
index card. Please staple the card to the original work with the student information
facing out. The index card should also be clipped to the back of the second entry, not
the front (judges are not to see the studentʼs name on the entry).
Studentʼs Name _____________________________
School Name _______________________________
School Number _____________________________
Name of Coordinator _________________________
Title of Work ________________________________
Category ___________________________________
c. An official student entry form must be submitted with each entry (see page 31).
1. Each entry form must be signed by the parent/guardian or it will not be
accepted.
2. For identification purposes, each entry must have a title.
Each school may submit one entry per category. Any student(s) designated as the
schoolʼs first place winner(s) is eligible to participate in the District Literary Fair.
2. Language arts teachers and language arts competition coordinators will not take the
responsibility for any loss of materials. However, every effort will be made to safeguard
all entries.
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3. No illustrations are permitted. The only exceptions are Childrenʼs Books,
Graphic Novels, and the Literary Newspapers. All entries must be the original,
hand-drawn work of the student. The Studentʼs Entry Form (page 31) must be signed
by the parent/guardian and returned to the school-based language arts academic
competitions coordinator who must submit the original copy of the form with the
studentʼs entry. It would be appropriate to retain one copy for the school-based
coordinatorʼs records.
4. Entries will be displayed for the public. Please be sure they are free of errors and any
stray marks, and typed in Times New Roman 12 font. Neither the writerʼs name nor
the name of the school should appear on the front of the entry, only on the clipped
index card on the back of the entry form.
5. The school-based language arts competition coordinators will assume responsibility for
their schoolʼs entries in the District Fair, and will deliver the entries from their school on
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 to Tom Moore at New River Middle School
beginning at 4:30 pm.
6. Every effort will be made to have each entry judged by three separate judges. Points
will determine winners; judgesʼ decisions will be final.
7. A student may not enter more than three categories. Of those three entries, he/she
may enter only one entry per category. Projects may be disqualified if they are not
submitted according to fair requirements.
8. Unless otherwise specified, each entry must be submitted on 8 1/2 x 11 inch white
paper.
9. Do not mount on construction paper or submit in report covers.
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MIDDLE SCHOOL CATEGORIES
PROSE
Childrenʼs Book
Definition
An illustrated story, suitable for younger children, grades 3-5. May be original or the retelling
of a familiar story. Do not use patented characters (i.e., Donald Duck) or computer-generated
pictures.
Specifications
Written and illustrated by one student
Maximum length - 10 pages (cover not included)
Editorial
Definition
An article that contains a statement of the topic, strong thesis statement that may or may not
rebut the other point of view, addresses a current issue, persuasive techniques, and contains
personal opinion.
Specifications
Written by one student
Minimum length – 250 words
Maximum length – 500 words
Typing required – 12 font
Fable
Definition
Narration intended to enforce a useful truth, especially one in which animals or inanimate
objects speak and act like human beings. Unlike a folktale, it has a moral that is woven into
the story and often explicitly formulated at the end.
Specifications
Written by one student
Minimum length – 500 words
Maximum length – 1000 words
Typing required – 12 font
Graphic Novel
Definition
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using
sequential panels, while the words are presented in speech bubbles (for dialogue) or text
boxes (for narration). Graphic novels retell existing stories from novels or other literature or
can present a story original to the author. Do not use patented characters (i.e., Donald Duck)
or computer-generated pictures.
Specifications:
Written and illustrated by one student
Maximum length—10 pages (cover not included)
May not use paper larger than 8 ½ by 11 inches
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Literary Newspaper
Definition
A fictional newspaper based on a literary work, which is studied in the curriculum. It can
contain all the sections of a regular newspaper: news stories, features, editorials, letters to the
editor, retail ads, classified ads, political cartoon, and comic strip.
Specifications
May be written by one student
Graphics or illustrations included as part of the entry
May be larger than 8 1/2 x 11 inch, but no larger than 11x14 (legal size)
All work must be original
Myth
Definition
A legendary narrative that presents part of the beliefs of a people or explains a practice, belief,
or natural phenomenon. May be original or the retelling of an original myth.
Specifications
Written by one student
Minimum length – 500 words
Maximum length – 1000 words
Typing required – 12 font
One-Act Play
Definition
A composition, in prose or poetry, usually intended to be acted upon a stage, presenting, a
story by means of characters speaking or acting.
Specifications
May be written by one student
Include stage direction and follow the written format of a play
Maximum length – One-Act Play-10 pages
Typing required – 12 font
Personal Narrative
Definition
A true account of an experience or event that is personally significant to the writer. The first
person account may include elements of suspense and action, vivid description and dialogue.
It should express feelings of how the experience affected the writer or taught the writer
something of importance.
Specifications
Written by one student
Minimum length – 500 words
Maximum length – 1000 words
Typing required – 12 font
Short Story
Definition
A brief prose narrative that usually can be read in one sitting. Includes one conflict, a simple
plot, characterization, one setting, one point of view, one theme, and a specific literary style.
Specifications
Written by one student
Minimum length – 500 words
Maximum length – 1500 words 12 font
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POETRY
ABC poem
Definition
An ABC poem has a series of lines that create a mood, picture, or feeling. Lines are made up
of words and phrases and the entire alphabet is covered. The first word of line 1 begins with
A; the first word of line 2 begins with B, etc.
Specifications
Poem written by one student
Typing required–12 font
Ballad Poetry
Definition
A short narrative poem with stanzas of two or four lines and usually a refrain. The story of a
ballad can originate from a wide range of subject matter but most frequently deals with folklore
or popular legends. They are written in straightforward verse, seldom with detail, but always
with graphic simplicity and force. Most ballads are suitable for singing and, while sometimes
varied in practice, are generally written in ballad meter, i.e., alternating lines of iambic
tetrameter and iambic trimeter, with the last words of the second and fourth lines rhyming.
Specifications
Poem written by one student
Typing required – 12 font
Cinquain Poetry
Definition
Unrhymed, five line poem with line one a noun; line two-two adjectives describing line one;
line three - three verbals, activities of line one; line four - a four word statement capturing the
essence of line one; line five - a synonym, antonym, or rewording of line one.
Specifications
Poem written by one student
Typing required – 12 font
Copy-Make Poetry
Definition
A poem that was inspired by or modeled from another poem, uses some of the language from
the model poem, but results in something new and unique to the student author. Students
must attribute to the original author (inspired by) and include a copy of the original poem.
Specifications
Poem written by one student
Typing required – 12 font
Haiku Poetry
Definition
Haiku (also called nature or seasonal haiku) is an unrhymed Japanese verse consisting of
three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables (5, 7, 5) or 17 syllables in all. Haiku is
usually written in the present tense and focuses on nature (seasons).
Specifications
Must be written about nature
Written by one student
Typing required – 12 font
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Quatrain Poetry
Definition
A Quatrain is a poem consisting of four lines of verse with a specific rhyming scheme. A few
examples of a quatrain-rhyming scheme are as follows:
#1) abab, #2) abba -- envelope rhyme, #3) aabb, #4) aaba, bbcb, ccdc, dddd -- chain rhyme
Specifications
Poem written by one student
Typing required —12 font
Rap Poem
Definition
Written form of the oral poetry tradition that uses the vernacular rather than formal English and
takes much of its power from heavy rhythm and rhyme. This urban poetic form tends to be an
in-your-face, earthy sort of art form, and poets should be attentive to the fact that both
language and subject must be school appropriate. The rap poetry category in the literary
fair will be judged on its efficacy on paper.
Specifications
Poem written by one student
Typing required —12 font
Poem must be free of violence and vulgarity
Rhymed Poetry
Definition
Written on various topics. May express ideas, emotions, or tell a story. Precise word choice,
sensory imagery, and compression of ideas are characteristics of poetic expression, and must
rhyme.
Specifications
Written by one student
Typing required – 12 font
Sestina Poetry
Definition
French form consisting of six six-line stanzas and a three-line envoy.
The form is usually unrhymed. The effect of rhyme comes from a
fixed pattern of end-words; the end words in each stanza are the same
but arranged in a different sequence in each stanza. In the closing
tercet, each of the six words is used, with one in the middle of each
line and one at the end. The pattern of word-repetition is as follows
where the words that end the lines of the first sestet are represented by
the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
1 2 3 4 5 6 End words of lines in first sestet
6 1 5 2 4 3 End words of lines in second sestet
3 6 4 1 2 5 End words of lines in third sestet
5 3 2 6 1 4 End words of lines in fourth sestet
4 5 1 3 6 2 End words of lines in fifth sestet
2 4 6 5 3 1 End words of lines in sixth sestet
(6 2) (1 4) (5 3) Middle and end words of lines of the tercet.
Specifications
Poem written by one student
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Typing required—12 font
There are other patterns for the Sestina, but only those entries that follow these specifications
will be judged.
Shrinklit Poetry
Definition
A rhymed verse that condenses the main ideas of a literary work. The last two lines frequently
present an ironic twist or question.
Specifications
Written by one student
Typing required – 12 font