2010 AAAS/Subaru Essay Writing Competition

• Contents

About the Award

Awards & Benefits

Judges & Criteria

Rules & Entry

Contact Us

K-12 Teachers!
The AAAS/Subaru Essay Writing Competition offers K-12 teachers the opportunity to share their knowledge on designing science lesson plans and integrating technology into the classroom. Now in its seventh year, the competition seeks entries submitted by teachers from the United States and Canada that describe methods for teaching science effectively and creatively. Awards will be presented on 19 February at the 2010 AAAS Annual Meeting in San Diego.

The best 5 essays earn:

• A deluxe package to the 2010 AAAS Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA, that includes registration fees and general expenses.

• An opportunity to submit essays for publication.

• A one-year subscription to Science Books and Films review journal (SB&F).

Don't miss this opportunity. Share your knowledge today!

Awards

• A full passport registration to the 2010 AAAS Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA.

• A stipend of $800 for travel-related expenses to the AAAS Annual Meeting.

• A free subscription to Science Books and Films—a teacher's guide to science resources for all ages.

• Prize valued at $1180.

• Contestants are responsible for all additional costs related to attending the 2010 AAAS Annual Meeting that exceeds the $800 stipend.

Benefits

• Recognition at the Annual Meeting as one of five winners of the 2010 AAAS/Subaru Essay Writing Competition.

• An opportunity to publish your winning submission on Science NetLinks.

• Participation in the AAAS/Subaru photo session. A photo of the five finalists and Subaru representatives will be taken during the annual meeting.

Be sure to check out the previous year's winners.

Keep an eye out for the winners and be sure to enter next year. The submission site will open in late October 2010. To be reminded by e-mail, sign up for Science NetLinks News.

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Judges and Criteria

A team of evaluators from AAAS will serve as the judging panel for this contest. Judges' decisions are based on the following criteria:

Essay Components:

• Title

• Topic
  Describe an experience you have provided in your classroom that has accomplished one or more of the following:

  • enhanced students' conceptual understanding, skills, and attitudes;
  • employed nontraditional means to make science interesting;
  • addressed science using an interdisciplinary context;
  • supported student inquiry in the science classroom; or
  • improved student conceptual understanding as a result of integrating technology into instruction.

  In your essay, clearly identify the particular science concept around which the experience you are describing was centered and clearly state the age group served. If appropriate, also describe how you differentiated instruction for different audiences/students, including the following considerations: disability/special education; gifted; English language learners; mixed reading levels, etc.

• Essay
  • Clear, coherent, and well developed
  • Minimal typos and grammatical errors
  • 1500 words or less

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Rules & Entry

Please note the deadline is 14 December 2009.

AAAS and Subaru will present 5 awards to teachers. Provide your contact information and essay, then click submit!

Contestants can enter the competition simply by submitting an essay, 1500 words or fewer, on one of the proposed topics.

1. Enter only one essay per contestant. Entries must be the original work of the contestant. No group submissions allowed. The contest is open to any K-12 educator.

2. To enter, simply follow the directions provided, then click "Submit" at the bottom of the page.

3. As directed in the Judges and Criteria section, submit an essay on one of the topics provided.

4. Entries for the 2010 AAAS/Subaru Essay Writing Competition must be submitted no later than Monday, 14 December 2009. The AAAS/Subaru contest officials reserve the right to extend or adjust the entry deadline, or other contest dates, at anytime and without notice.

If you are having problems using this form, please e-mail your entry to snl@aaas.org. Don't forget to include all the information requested on the above form. You must also paste the above paragraph (starting "I hereby certify . . . ") into your email submission.

Science NetLinks shall have no liability for entries that fail to comply with contest rules, are lost, or are misdirected. Lessons must adhere to the specific guidelines above. Decisions of the judges are final.

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