2011 AAAS/Subaru Essay Writing Competition

Awards

• A full passport registration to the 2011 AAAS Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.

• A stipend of $1175 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 $1455.

• Contestants are responsible for all additional costs related to attending the 2011 AAAS Annual Meeting that exceeds the $1175 stipend.

Benefits

• Recognition at the Annual Meeting as one of five winners of the 2011 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.

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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 about science through the use of a nonfiction science trade books;
  • used nonfiction science books to reinforce science concepts taught through science investigative experiences;
  • improved reading by using nonfiction trade books that emphasized science concepts learned in the science classroom;
  • improved student conceptual understanding as a result of integrating nonfiction science trade books into instruction.

• To include in your essay:

  • identify the particular science concept around which the experience you are describing was centered
  • the age group served
  • the classroom type (science, language arts or other)
  • the impact of using literature on student learning
  • if appropriate, describe how you differentiated instruction for different audiences/students, including the following considerations: disability/special education; gifted; English language learners; mixed reading levels, etc.
  • book title and author.

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Rules & Entry

Please note the deadline is 13 December 2010.

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 2011 AAAS/Subaru Essay Writing Competition must be submitted no later than Monday, 13 December 2010. The AAAS/Subaru contest officials reserve the right to extend or adjust the entry deadline, or other contest dates, at anytime and without notice.

Contestant Information

First Name:
Last Name
School:
Grade:
Years Teaching:

Complete Address:

Street 1
Street 2
City
State
Zip code
Phone	(ex. (800)555-1212)
Email Address

Essay Information

Essay Title:
Essay:	Please paste your essay here. Please limit it to 1500 words or less.
I would like to receive the Science NetLinks electronic newsletter. I hereby certify that the above essay is my original work and that all rights to this essay belong to AAAS. I am entering this essay as an honest and true effort of my personal creativity and unique pedagogical vision, and I understand that if selected it will be displayed at the AAAS Annual meeting and with further completion get published on the Internet as my original work. The community of teachers who use this forum will also be able to view and share my essay.

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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. Essays must adhere to the specific guidelines above. Decisions by the judges are final.

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