Broward County Public Schools

District Literary Fair

Handbook for High School and Middle School

2018-19
 INTRODUCTION
he Language Arts Department of Broward County Public Schools established the District-Level
Literary Fair in 1998 to provide an opportunity for middle and high schools to recognize their
students’ literary accomplishments. The district fair provides a showcase for outstanding student
compositions and language arts projects. The categories for writing competition include various
types of poetry and prose. This handbook is designed to help students, coordinators, and teachers
plan for a successful fair.

LITERARY FAIR 2018-19

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Schedule for District Literary Fair……………………………………………………………….2

Guidelines for the School-based Literary Fair..………………………………………………….3

District Literary Fair Guidelines and Rules………………………………….…………………..4

Categories ………………………………………………………………………...…..………5-10

Student Entry Form for District Literary Fair…………………………………….……………..11

Student Entry Form for Poet Laureate…………………….. …………………………………...12

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 DISTRICT LITERARY FAIR SCHEDULE FOR 2018-2019

Activity Date/Deadline

Distribution of literary fair handbook/materials September 5, 2018

Deadline for entries February 26-28, 2019

Judging of projects/entries March 15, 2019

Notification of winners by email Late March 2019

Literary Fair Awards Program April 25, 2019

Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Amaturo Theatre

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 GUIDELINES FOR THE SCHOOL-BASED LITERARY FAIR

1. Holding a school-based competition is required as a prerequisite to enter the district

fair. To avoid a need for modification of projects that may be entered in the district fair,
schools should use the specifications required at the district fair.

2. It is recommended that schools utilize some (or all) of the categories in the district fair.
First place entries ONLY are to be submitted to the district fair.

3. It is the responsibility of the classroom teacher and competition coordinator to see that all
entries are properly categorized.

4. The Language Arts Competitions/Literary Fair Coordinator should determine in advance

the criteria for judging each category, secure judges for each category, and facilitate the
judging of all entries. Utilization of district fair category descriptions and specifications,
as listed in this handbook, are highly recommended.

5. All entries submitted for the literary fair must be the original work of the student. Entries
found to be plagiarized will be immediately disqualified. Please check qualifying entries
for plagiarism prior to submitting to the district competition.

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 DISTRICT LITERARY FAIR GUIDELINES 2018-19

1. SIX copies of each entry must be submitted for judging purposes. If six copies are not
submitted the entry may not be judged. The only exceptions are Children’s Books, Literary Comic
Strips, and Political/Satirical Cartoons; please send original copies in these categories. It would be
appropriate to retain a hard copy for the school-based coordinator’s records. School winners should
also be encouraged to keep copies of their winning entries. DO NOT STAPLE COPIES TOGETHER.
Do not print entries back-to-back. Non-winning entries will not be returned.
2. ONE official student entry form must be submitted with each entry (one entry form, 6 copies of
the entry)
a. Each entry form must be typed by coordinators before distributing to students.
b. Each entry form must be signed by the parent/guardian or it will not be accepted.
c. For identification purposes, each entry must have a title. Name of category is not sufficient.
d. Title should appear on the entries and the entry forms.
e. Each school may submit one entry per category. Any student(s) designated as the school’s
first place winner(s) is eligible to participate in the District Literary Fair.
f. Each entry must be submitted on 8 ½ x 11inch paper except for Children’s Books, Book
Covers, and Poetry Movie Posters. Do not mount on construction paper or poster board
or submit with report covers.

3. Illustrations are now permitted, but will not be a part of the judging. The only exceptions
are Children’s Books, Literary Comic Strips, Political/Satirical Cartoons, Poetry Movie
Posters, and Classic Literature Book Covers. All entries and artwork must be the original work
of the student. Ekphrastic poems MUST be accompanied by the piece of art that inspires it
(see format specifications on page 8).

4. The Student’s Entry Form 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 student’s entry. Photocopies of signatures will NOT be accepted.

5. 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, double spaced—or according to the category
specifications. The only exceptions to this are the haiku and cinquain, which may be typed
in a larger size font. Neither the writer’s name nor the name of the school should appear on
the front or the back of the entry.

6. There will be multiple judges per entry, and all decisions are final.

7. Projects may be disqualified if they are not submitted according to district requirements. This
includes, but is not limited to, correct punctuation, grammar, mechanics, etc…

8. In each category a First Place, a Second Place, and a Third Place Award will be given.

9. ALL ENTRIES MUST BE THE ORIGINAL WORK OF THE STUDENTS SUBMITTING

THEM FOR JUDGING. All entries must be the work of a single student.

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 PROSE CATEGORIES

Categories Description Specifications

An original, illustrated story written in book format and designed to be
Maximum length
read by children grades 1 – 5. A non-fiction book is also appropriate.
– 10 pages (ms);
Children’s Illustrations must be the original design of the student; they can be
16 pages (hs).
Book drawn by hand or on a computer. Students should not use patented
characters (i.e. Donald Duck) or computer generated/clip art.
Min. length – 1
A short story, such as one of Aesop’s Fables, intended to reveal some
page;
useful truth or precept, especially a story in which animals or
Fable Max. length – 4
inanimate objects speak and act like human beings.
pages.
Minimum length
– 2 pages;
A researched-based piece of prose writing that expresses a particular
Maximum length
point of view on a subject. It should either communicate information
– 4 pages.
or share a personal thought in a formal style and be characterized by a
Formal Essay
seriousness of purpose, dignity, and logical organization. It MUST
Must be
include citations and a correctly formatted works cited page.
submitted via
Canvas
Min. length – 2
pages;
A piece of prose writing that expresses a personal point of view in a Max. length – 4
conversational style. It may contain elements of self-revelation, pgs.
Informal
humor, and an unconventional theme. Letters to the editor are
Essay
acceptable entries in this category as well. Must be
submitted via
Canvas
Comic strip with illustrations and dialogue. The comic strip MUST tell
Minimum length
an original story or be based on a literary work (which must be
– 3 panels;
named). The strip may be hand-drawn or created digitally. Illustrations
Maximum length
Literary must be the original design of the creator. Do NOT use patented
– 1 full page (no
Comic Strip characters (i.e. Donald Duck) or pre-made computer-generated
more than 10
pictures (i.e. clip art). Hand-drawn comic strips must be outlined in
panels)
black ink. All stray marks must be erased.
Min. length – 1
A purely fictitious narrative usually involving supernatural persons,
page;
Myth actions, or events and often embodying some popular explanation or
Max. length – 4
conception of natural or historical phenomena.
pages.
A true account of an experience or event that is personally significant
to the writer. The first person account may include elements of Minimum length
Personal suspense and action, vivid description, and dialogue. It should express – 2 page;
Narrative feelings of how the experience affected the writer or taught the writer Maximum length
something of importance. – 4 pages.

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 Political/ A one panel cartoon with the punch line or dialogue written at the
Length – one
Satirical bottom. The cartoon must be based on a literary work or a current or
panel
Cartoon historical/political event.
Maximum length
– 10 pages of
actual text of the
script
Title page,
A script that contains dialogue, a minimum of two characters and stage
character list,
directions. It will include a title page, a second page that lists
and synopsis are
Scene Writing characters and gives a brief synopsis, and any other information that
not included
seems important to the understanding of the script. The successive
within the page
pages will contain the actual text of the stage play.
count

Must be
submitted via
Canvas
Minimum length
– 3 pages;
A brief prose narrative that can be read usually in one sitting. Includes Maximum length
one conflict, a simple plot, characterization, one setting, one point of - 10 pages
Short Story
view, one theme, and a specific literary style. Short stories are to be
submitted digitally. Must be
submitted via
Canvas

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 INTERPRETIVE CATEGORIES
Categories Description Specifications
A book cover introduces and previews a book. For the 2018 – 2019
literary fair middle school entries will choose a text (poem or short
story) by Edgar Allan Poe, and high school entries will choose a text
1 page folded to
(poem or play) by William Shakespeare. Each entry must include the
Classic resemble a book
following: an original blurb about the author, a brief summary of the
Literature cover with front
text, the title of the text, an image to represent the text, and brief
Book Cover and back flaps
reviews/quotations about the text. Illustrations must be the original
design of the student; they can be drawn by hand or on a computer.
Students should not use patented characters (i.e. Donald Duck) or
computer generated/clip art.
Must be 4-5
Poetry interpretation combines performance with argumentation. minutes in
Speakers perform a cutting, excerpt, from a work of poetry. Single or length.
multiple poems may be utilized in the cutting, single or multiple Hard copy of
characterizations may be performed, and a spoken (not performed) cutting
Poetry introduction must present the argument, or message, of the selection. must be
Interpretation The performance must be from memory and without props or submitted with
costumes. entry form.

DO NOT INCLUDE STUDENT NAME ON HARD COPY OF Must be

VIDEO submitted via
Canvas
Poetry (movie) posters replicate contemporary movie posters and
include the title, images which represent the text, a catchphrase or
slogan, the author/director, brief quotations/reviews about the text. For
the 2018 – 2019 Literary Fair middle school entries will choose a
Poetry Movie Max size of
poem by Langston Hughes and high school entries will choose a
Poster poster: 18x24
poem by Emily Dickinson. Illustrations must be the original design of
the student; they can be drawn by hand or on a computer. Students
should not use patented characters (i.e. Donald Duck) or computer
generated/clip art.
Must be 4-5
minutes in
Prose interpretation combines performance with argumentation. length.
Speakers perform a cutting, excerpt, from a work of prose literature
such as a novel or short story. Single or multiple characterizations may Hard copies of
be performed and a spoken (not performed) introduction must present the cutting
Prose
the argument, or message, of the selection. The performance must be must be
Interpretation
from memory and without props or costumes. submitted with
entry form.
DO NOT INCLUDE STUDENT NAME ON HARD COPY OF
VIDEO Must be
submitted via
Canvas

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 POETRY CATEGORIES
Category Description Specifications
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
ABC Poetry B, etc. The best examples of ABC Poetry have enjambment and include
literary devices.
MIDDLE SCHOOL ONLY
A poem of five lines with the following syllables:
Line 1 - two syllables
Line 2 - four syllables
Line 3 - six syllables
Cinquain Line 4 - eight syllables
Line 5 – two syllables
End rhyme occurs seldom, but internal rhyme, assonance and consonance
appear frequently. The poem revolves around a cohesive idea or topic.

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
Must be at least
Copy Make unique to the student author. Students must attribute to the original
10 lines.
author (inspired by) and include a copy of the original poem.
MIDDLE SCHOOL ONLY
Poetry that is inspired by art. For the 2018-19 Literary Fair students are
to use a Leonora Carrington rendering to inspire a poem. Her work can
be found at http://www.leocarrington.com. Teachers may go to the
National Council of Teachers of English ReadWriteThink lesson plan on
“Ekphrasis: Using Art to Inspire Poetry” for a complete lesson plan on
Van Gogh’s Starry Night as an inspiration to Don McLean’s song
Ekphrastic “Vincent” for teaching ideas, handouts, and hyperlinks. The poem may Must be at least
Poem be lined verse or free verse. 20 lines.
The selected artwork must be downloaded to a document. The student
should then go to the Format menu and size the picture to no more than
3 inches in height. The picture should be centered at the top of the page;
the name of the artwork, artist and source from which it is downloaded
should be immediately below it. The title of the poem should follow.
Must be at least
Free Verse Poetry having no regular meter or rhyme.
15 lines.
A Japanese lyric poem of a fixed 17-syllables SOMETIMES points to
something in nature that has moved the poet. The haiku has the following
lines and syllables:
Haiku
Line 1 – five syllables
Line 2 – seven syllables
Line 3 –five syllables

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 Must be a
minimum of 35
A lyric poem in the form of an address to a particular subject, often
Ode lines and a
elevated in style or manner and written in varied and irregular meter.
maximum of 70
lines
A poem imitating with ludicrous exactness, but ordinarily on a ridiculous
subject, the style and mannerisms of a serious composition (for example: Must be at least
Parody Poem
Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” speech). 15 lines.
HIGH SCHOOL ONLY
Must be at least
A poem written by one persona to be read by two people, sometimes
20 lines.
alternating, sometimes simultaneously. The poem shows different
May be written
Poem for perspectives or viewpoints on the same topic. A good example of a poem
in either one-
Two Voices for two voices is Langston Hughes’ poem “Mama and the Rent Man.”
column format
THIS POEM MIGHT ALSO be a bilingual poem incorporating English
or two-column
and another language, but it MUST reflect two distinct voices.
format.
Written on various topics. May express ideas, emotions, or tell a story.
Rhymed Must be at least
Precise word choice, sensory imagery, and compression of ideas are
Verse 16 lines.
characteristics of poetic expression.
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,
Sestina Poem 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.
Shrinklit A rhymed verse that condenses the main ideas of a literary work. The Must be at least
Poem last two lines frequently present an ironic twist or question. 16 lines.
A lyric poem of fourteen lines written in iambic pentameter.
Shakespearean sonnets have three quatrains followed by a rhymed
couplet. The rhyme scheme is abab cdcd efef gg. The main thought is
presented in the three quatrains and concluded in the couplet.
Sonnet Petrarchan sonnets are divided into a group of eight lines (the
octave) followed by a group of six lines (the sestet). The rhyme
scheme for the octave is abba abba. The rhyme scheme for the sestet
is cdecde. The octave presents a single thought, and the sestet
expands, contradicts or develops it in some way.

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 Must be 1 – 3
minutes in
length

Hard copies of
poems must be
submitted with
Spoken Word poetry combines poetry with elements of the oral tradition,
entry forms
hip-hop, and theatre. It places heavy emphasis on the performance of the
poem; however, the written construction of the poem is of utmost
Poets must
importance. Spoken Word poems rely heavily on figurative language,
project voice and
Spoken sensory details, and emotional connection. These poems may use
speak clearly
Word elements from other types of poetry, especially Free Verse and Rhymed
Performance Verse. Spoken Word poems can tell stories, tackle social issues, or talk
Gestures and
about whatever the poet imagines.
facial
expressions
NO STUDENT NAME OR SCHOOL SHOULD APPEAR IN THE
should
VIDEO
emphasize the
tone and theme
of the poem

Must be
submitted via
Canvas
The tritina is a ten-lined poem, divided over three tercets with a single
line at the end of the poem. Tritinas use three end words that are repeated
throughout the poem, much like a sestina. Having chosen your three
Tritina
words, your pattern should look like this: ABC, CAB, BCA and the last
line have all three words in it, bringing you back to ABC.
MIDDLE SCHOOL ONLY
A French verse form in 19 lines with no set number of syllables per line.
The villanelle has a pattern of only two rhymes and is marked by its
alternating refrain. The poem has five tercets and a concluding quatrain.
The first line of the first stanza is repeated as the last line of the second
and the fourth stanzas, and as the second-to-last line in the concluding
quatrain. The third line of the first stanza is repeated as the last line of the
third and the fifth stanzas and as the last line in the concluding quatrain.
A1 b A2 – lines in the first tercet
Villanelle a b A1 – lines in the second tercet
a b A2 – lines in third tercet
a b A1 – lines in the fourth tercet
a b A2 – lines in fifth tercet
a b A1 A2 – lines in final quatrain
The first line of the second through fourth tercets and the quatrain
rhymes A. The second line of each tercet and quatrain is not repeated buy
rhymes with the first tercet.
HIGH SCHOOL ONLY

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 Please circle one: Middle School High School
Broward County Schools District Literary Fair 2018-19
Student Entry Form – Must be submitted with entry to avoid disqualification
Please write legibly or type
Student’s Name: ______________________________________________ Grade Level _____
Address: ____________________________________________________________________
Cell Phone: __________________________ Home Phone: ____________________________
Teacher’s Name: _____________________________________________________________
Competitions Coordinator: _______________________ Email:_________________________
School: __________________________________ School Phone: ________________________

EXACT TITLE OF ENTRY (REQUIRED):_________________________________________

CATEGORY OF ENTRY (check one) :

Children’s Book Prose Interpretation Parody Poem (HS only)

Fable Scene Writing Poetry Interpretation

Formal Essay Short Story (digital submission) Poem for Two Voices
Informal Essay ABC Poem (MS only) Rhymed Verse
Literary Comic Strip Cinquain Sestina
Poetry Movie Poster Copy-Make Poetry (MS only) Shrinklit
Myth Ekphrastic Poem Sonnet
Classic Literature Book Cover Free Verse Spoken Word Performance
Personal Narrative Haiku Tritina (MS only)
Political/Satiric Cartoon Ode Villanelle (HS only)
Language arts teachers and academic competition coordinators will not take the responsibility for any
loss of materials. However, every effort will be made to safeguard all entries. Students should always
keep a copy of their work.
I hereby grant permission for my original composition or project to be displayed at the District Literary
Fair and also to be read and/or printed in student news broadcasts and/or publications, including the
Internet.
_____ I request that my child’s entry be judged but not displayed or in any way publicized.
_____ I am aware of the content of my child’s writing.
Student’s Signature: ______________________________ Date _________________________

Parent’s/Guardian’s Signature: ______________________ Date _________________________

Submit projects (with completed entry forms) by pony or in person by February 28, 2019 to:
Claire Norris, Olsen Middle School, 330 SE 11th Terrace, Dania Beach, FL 33004
Robin Berard, Coral Glades High School, 2700 Sportsplex Drive, Coral Springs, FL 33065
Valerie Santana, Pioneer Middle School, 5350 SW 90th Ave, Cooper City, FL 33328
ALL ENTRIES RECEIVED AFTER FEBRUARY 28 WILL NOT BE JUDGED. Please consider
possible delays in the Pony system when planning for delivery.

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 Please circle one:
Middle School High School

Broward County Schools District Literary Fair 2018-19

Poet Laureate Entry Form – Must be submitted with entry to avoid disqualification
Please write legibly or type

Student Project ID# _____________________________________(to be filled in by District Coordinator)

Student’s Name: ______________________________________________ Grade Level _____
Address: ____________________________________________________________________
Cell Phone: __________________________ Home Phone: ____________________________
Teacher’s Name: _____________________________________________________________
Competitions Coordinator: _______________________ Email:_________________________
School: __________________________________ School Phone: ________________________
Title of Portfolio (optional):_________________________________________

Portfolios must include 5 original pieces. Six copies of the entire portfolio must be submitted.
None of these pieces can be submitted individually to the district literary fair.
Pieces should reflect a variety of genres of poetry.
All pieces should follow the requirements and expectations laid out in the handbook.

I hereby grant permission for my original composition or project to be displayed at the District Literary
Fair and also to be read and/or printed in student news broadcasts and/or publications, including the
Internet. I attest that all entries in the portfolio are my original work.

_____ I request that my child’s entry be judged but not displayed or in any way publicized.
_____ I am aware of the content of my child’s writing.

Student’s Signature: ______________________________ Date _________________________

Parent’s/Guardian’s Signature: ______________________ Date _________________________

Submit projects (with completed entry forms) by pony or in person by February 28, 2018 to:
Claire Norris, Olsen Middle School, 330 SE 11th Terrace, Dania Beach, FL 33004
Robin Berard, Coral Glades High School, 2700 Sportsplex Drive, Coral Springs, FL 33065
Valerie Santana, Pioneer Middle School, 5350 SW 90th Ave, Cooper City, FL 33328

ALL ENTRIES RECEIVED AFTER FEBRUARY 28 WILL NOT BE JUDGED. Please consider
possible delays in the Pony system when planning for delivery.

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