Write-A-Book A Guide for Students

1. Write-A-BookA Guide for Students Write A Book Literary Competition Ernest E. Just Middle School 1300 Campus Way North Mitchellville, MD 20721

2. Why Write-A-Book • In order to enter the Write-A-Book Literary Competition.

3. Write-A-Book Literary Competition: What is it? • The Write-A-Book Literary Competition directly supports the instructional goals and standards of PGCPS. Students write to inform, to persuade, and to express personal ideas. They can broaden their scope of knowledge and increase proficiency levels in reading and writing through the Write-A-Book program.

4. Write-A-Book Literary Competition: What is it? • Participation in the program affords students an excellent opportunity to integrate previously learned skills with their creative talents. • It can also provide students with experience in developing and coordinating their writing and illustrating skills. Throughout the process students utilize critical thinking skills. • This activity is an integral part of the total curriculum and helps develop skills that are being taught on a daily basis.

5. How to Write-A-Book • The student will develop an idea into a plot, create characters and describe action… • The student will edit and revise writing… • The student will coordinate writing and illustrating skills… • The student will assemble a book…

6. Book Types/Categories • Picture Story Book • Illustrated Fiction • Poetry • Non-Fiction • Short Story • Graphic Fiction • Plays

7. Picture Story Book(Grades 6-12) Picture storybooks combine the art of storytelling with the art of illustration. Book should have: • Illustration on each page • Limited or no text on each page • Minimum # of pages: 15

8. Illustrated Fiction(Grades 6-12) • Illustrated fiction is a hybrid narrative medium in which images and text work together to tell a story. It can take various forms, including fiction written for adults or children, magazine fiction, comic strips, and picture books. • Text with limited illustrations • Maximum # of illustrations: 5 • Minimum # of pages: 20 (including illustrations)

9. Poetry(Grades 6-12) Poetry is a form of literature that have words that rhyme and a rhythm or pattern of beats similar to music. • Illustrations optional • Minimum # of pages: 15 (including illustrations)

10. Non-Fiction(Grades 6-12) Non-fiction (or nonfiction) is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be factual. • Text with limited illustrations/photographs • Minimum # of pages: 20 (including illustrations)

11. Short Story(Grades 6-12) A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. A short story usually deals with a few characters and often concentrates on the creation of the mood rather than the plot. • 1500-2000 word text • Cover Illustration only

12. Graphic Fiction(Comic Book Style. Grades 6-12) • Graphic Fictionsare long-form comic books, usually with lengthy and complex storylines, and often aimed at more mature, serious audiences. These novel-length books feature text written in speech bubbles or as captions in comic books. • Illustrations should be drawn in frames • Text in same frame as illustrations • Minimum # of pages: 15 • Maximum # of pages: 30 It’s on!

13. Plays(Grades 6-12) Plays are structured literary form of theatre; dramatization • Text without illustrations • Minimum # of pages: 15

14. Please note: Minimum & maximum number of pages refers to the BODY of the book!

15. Entry Groups • The entry groups are: • Individual • Group (No groups allowed @ EEJMS) ALL ERNEST E. JUST MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE INDIVIDUAL BOOKS! Any book produced by a group will be judged in the division to which the highest grade level belongs.

16. Rules • Only books produced by students in Prince George’s County Public Schools are eligible for entry in the competition. • Books must be written during the CURRENT school year. Sequels are permitted. • All stories and illustrations must be the original work of the student(s). • Text must be typed on computer or hand printed (legibly), on computer paper (not lined/loose-leaf). If the text is typed, the font must be no smaller than 12 and no larger than 14, except for Picture Story Book, Poetry books. There the font may be larger than 14 but for headings and titles only. • Computer-assisted drawings must be original (no clip art permitted). If any drawing software is used, the name of the software must be submitted on the entry form.

17. More Rules • Students must securely bind books with hard-back covers that do not bend (examples: corrugated cardboard, foam board). No folders, photograph albums, rings or loose-leaf bindings will be accepted. • Books must be edited with appropriate grammar, spelling, and punctuation. There can be no profanity, sexually explicit situations, and/or excessive violence. • Foreign language entries will be accepted with a clearly written and complete translation included on each page or as part of an appendix. • The size of the finished book may be no larger than 10”x12” and no smaller than 5”x8”.

18. And More Rules • Pages in each book should be numbered. Books should contain no more than 30 numbered pages, including illustrations and/or photographs. This does not include translation, bibliography, footnote pages, title page, fly sheet, author’s biography, or appendices. • Photographs are permitted in the non-fiction category only. Any photograph or artwork that is scanned into a Write-A-Book entry must be available to judges upon request. Photographs must be taken by the author. • Any books that do not follow all of the rules and guidelines of the competition will be returned to the schools without being judged at the District level. Sponsors should work with students and parents to avoid disqualification. The decision of the judges will be final. • Draft of your work must be received by your Language Arts Teacher on or before December 20, 2013. Final entries are due on the 6th of January, 2014.

19. Write-A-Book Timeline • Friday, November 22, 2013 Students receive Write-A-Book information in RELA classes (letter to parents and WAB packet). • Monday-Friday, December 2-6, 2013 Students submit the type of book they will write to their RELA teachers & begin the step-by-step planning and writing of book. • Friday, December 13, 2013 Rough draft of Write-a-Book due to RELA teachers. • Friday, December 20, 2013 Drafts returned to students; begin working on the final product (typing, illustrations, binding). • Monday, January 6, 2014 • Final entries due to RELA teachers for judging at the school level (Jan 7-15). • Thursday-Friday, January 16-17, 2014 —Books due to the Office of the Library Media Services. • Wednesday, May 14, 2013 • Annual Write-A-Book award ceremony

20. The Parts of a Book

21. Steps in Writing a Book • Brainstorming • Prewriting • Drafting • Revising and editing (proofreading) • Rewriting (neatly write or type) • Illustrating • Assembling the book • Binding • Cover design • Promoting (Submitting)

22. Questions?https://sites.google.com/a/pgcps.org/office-of-library-media-services/write-a-bookQuestions?https://sites.google.com/a/pgcps.org/office-of-library-media-services/write-a-book