Web Links for Writing and Writing Contests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PUBLISHING OPPORTUNITIES AND CONTESTS FOR OLDER STUDENTS
Patriots Pen
Students in grades 6th- 8th may write an 300-400 word essay expressing their view on an annual patriotic topic to win between $1,000 and $10,000 in savings bonds and a trip to Washington, DC. The National Association of Secondary School Principals endorse this contest. More than 115,000 student participate annually.
http://www.vfw.org/resources/pdf/patriotspen.pdf
Date visited- 5/27/06
National Peace Essay Contest
Students in grades 9th- 12th write an essay on the topic of the year up to 1500 words and include a bibliography. The criteria is very detailed. State level judges judge choose the winners. Almost 1,000 students participated in 2006. State winners come to Washington, DC, to tour and meet
public officials. A three day simulation takes place and an awards banquet. Teachers may request a contest guidebook and teaching guide.
http://www.usip.org/ed/npec/enter.html
Date visited- 5/27/06
Scholastic’s Writing Awards
Students in 7th to 12th grade, including students from Canada, may participate. There are quite a few writing categories to choose from. Criteria for submission is detailed. Regional winners works are forwarded to New York City for judging at the national level. Winners will be listed and select works will be published in Scholastic and other magazines. Awards range from $1,000 to $10,000 in cash grant scholarships and sponsoring teachers can win $1,000. An art contest is also available.
http://www.scholastic.com/artandwritingawards/entry_forms/writing_rules2006.asp
Date visited- 5/27/06
Voice of Democracy
Information is provided for an audio-essay contest information for 9th -12th graders in which they can win scholarship money between $1,000 to $30,000 and a trip to Washington DC. The National Association of Secondary School Principals gives its endorsement to this contest. The student records his voice, onto a cassette or CD, reading his 3-5 minute essay on the topic of the year.
http://www.vfw.org/resources/pdf/vod.pdf
Date visited- 5/27/06
PUBLISHING OPPORTUNITIES AND CONTESTS FOR ALL STUDENTS
Cobblestone Publishing
There are fourteen different magazines, published by Cobblestone, for infants thru teens and on up, that have submission guidelines for writers. There is a hyperlink for each magazine for these guidelines. Cobblestone pays those who are selected for publication which may be a motivator for young authors. Illustrators may also submit works.
http://www.cobblestonepub.com/guides_editorial.html
Date visited- 5/27/06
Kids Read
This site has author information, book reviews, and word searches. There is a lot here and many photos of authors and book covers. Teen Reads and Faithful Reader have launched by the same site producers and managers whose biographies are included at the site. There are small contests, polls, and opportunities to respond to.
http://www.kidsreads.com
Date visited 5/27/06
www.faithfulreader.com
www.teenreads.com
Landmark Editions David Melton Memorial Contest
The David Melton Memorial Written & Illustrated by… Contest for Students.
Editors, writers, illustrators, teachers, and librarians judge books submitted based on originality and writing/illustrating skills targeted for grades K- 4th.. The three winning books, one from each age category, will be published and they will be offered a contract to receive royalties (money on the sales of their book). Authors’ age categories are: 6 to 9, 10 to 13, and 14 to 19. Also, winners receive a trip to Landmark’s offices in Kansas City, Kansas, to assist with the final publishing details of their book. The deceased, Mr. Melton started the National Written & Illustrated by… Awards Contest for Students. He managed getting 48 books, written by students, published and the contest is now in honor of him.
http://www.landmarkeditions.com/Scripts/contest.asp
Date visited- 5/27/06
PA Liquor Control Board Posters
Students in grades K - 12th may design a poster that discourage underage drinking. There are eighty winners each year who receive between $50 and $100 U.S. Savings Bonds. The winning posters are shown on bookmarks, book covers, T-shirts, screensavers, and on the Internet. Over 14,000 PA students have entered since 1992.
http://www.lcb.state.pa.us/edu/cwp/view.asp?a=1346&q=555362
Date visited- 5/27/06
Skipping Stones
This publication has received some note-worthy reviews and awards. It is for 8 thru 17 year olds focusing on diverse backgrounds. If a student’s writing is published, he will receive a complimentary copy (s) of the issue and a discount on his first subscription. Artwork and photos may be submitted also.
http://skippingstones.org/submissions.htm
Date visited- 5/27/06
Stone Soup
Students may send fiction stories, poems, book reviews, and also, art. Anyone thru age 13, from around the world, may submit works, but all publications are in English. If published, the author will be paid $40 for writings and $25 for illustrations. Also, the author will receive a certificate, two copies of the magazine, and other discounts. About 250 submissions are received weekly.
http://www.stonesoup.com/main2/sendwork.html
Date visited- 5/27/06
Writers Weekly
This e-zine site holds 24 hour short story contests with a hyperlink located at the left of the page. It costs $5.00 to enter and the students sees the beginning lines of a book and has 24 hours to finish it. The writer can win up to $300.
http://writersweekly.com/books/678.html
Date visited- 5/27/06
WRITING SITES FOR OLDER STUDENTS
Guidelines for Student Writing- A Learning Activity
PDF document briefly stating the writing process for an essay or basic research paper step by step.
http://www.mrsvowell.org/Graphics/Guidelines%20for%20Student%20Writing.pdf
Date visited 5/28/06
Homework Center- Writing Center
Outlined skills for writing essays, biographies, research, bibliographies, and book reports. Explanations on plagiarism, grammar, foreign words, and easily confused words are here. These are text only pages in the writing skills portion of the Fact Monster website.
http://www.factmonster.com/homework/writingskills1.html
Date visited 5/28/06
Write It
There are chat rooms, places to post and hear writings in several genres. The writing process is defined and there are a variety of links for further understanding. Very useful site for teens.
http://www.scholastic.com/writeit
Date visited 5/28/06
Writing
A thorough site, but without graphics, appropriate for the middle and high school writer. Many links related to building writing. There is advice for writing short stories and novels. An extensive page of links to discover how to write an array of diverse documents such as an e-mail newsletter, a letter of complaint, a film review, song lyrics, etc. Although this is a text site it is a good one. Great reference site for teachers too.
http://www.cateringcomplete.com/laura/english/writing.html
Date visited 5/28/06
Writing Fix
At this site, there are writing prompts, links to many resources such as Roget’s Thesaurus, Simpson’s Contempory Quotations, opportunities for students to create interactive webpages, and many word games and story building. Students, who are able already, may have opportunity to publish their interactive writing idea here. Students can also submit writings for the online anthology.
http://www.writingfix.com
Date visited 5/28/06
WRITING SITES FOR YOUNGER STUDENTS
Interesting Things for ESL Students
Wonderful site with a multitude of language activities geared for English as a Second Language Learners although others learners will enjoy themselves here. There are songs, games, proverbs, and slang.
http://www.manythings.org
Date visited 5/28/06
Games- Sentence Scramble
Scrambled sentences are given for the learner to type in the correct order. There are four games here.
http://members.aol.com/Ccochran50/games.htm
Date visited 5/28/06
Wacky Web Tales
Third graders thru elementary school can create stories by filling in words. There are helps for the parts of speech. Then, the student can read the story he helped create.
http://www.eduplace.com/tales/index.html
Date visited 5/27/06
Writing Fix for Kids
At this site, there are writing prompts, links to many resources such as Roget’s Thesaurus, and Simpson’s Contemporary Quotations. There are many word games, and story building activities. Students, who are able already, may have opportunity to publish their interactive writing idea here. Students can also submit writings for the online anthology.
http://www.writingfix.com/forkids.htm
Date visited 5/28/06
TOP PICK FOR INTERACTIVE WRITING ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES
Read.Write.Think.
Forty four independent online student activities are here! Students can make flip books, character trading cards, a riddle interactive, a timeline online, etc. The ReadWriteThink Printing Press activity assists students to design newspapers and brochures to print. There are also a variety of lesson plans for the teacher that incorporate these online learning writing experiences.
http://www.readwritethink.org/student_mat/index.asp
Date visited 5/28/06
Links selected by Debby Hare, MS
SLM-521