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3rd Annual

Writing Contest for Grades 3 - 5

Support Your Students' or Children's Writing

Encourage your students or children to creatively express themselves through their writing.

Reading and writing are critical literacy skills for children to develop, especially in the primary grades. Our 3rd annual Young Authors' Festival and Writing Contest provides an opportunity for children to be recognized and celebrated for their work in developing their creative writing skills.

Please take this opportunity to support your children's or students' literacy!

Writing Contest Theme: Celebrating Our Differences

As students write a poem, narrative, or expository piece, some writing prompts they might consider are: What makes you unique or different? How do differences change things for the better? How is the world a better place due to our differences? What would the world be like if we were all the same?

If students do not want to write about a personal experience, they may write about someone they know, make up a character, etc.

Writing Contest Rules:

Students in the 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade may enter.
- Submit one piece of writing: essay, poem, or narrative
- Illustrations may be included
- 500-word limit
- Writing must be original
- Typed entries only
1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will be selected from each grade plus one grand prize winner.
Winners will receive gift cards and be invited to read aloud their entries at the Young Authorsʼ Festival on Nov. 14, 2015.

Do not put the student's name on the entry. A second sheet must be submitted with the following information:
- Name and grade
- Home address
- Title of contest entry
- School name & address
- Name, e-mail address, and phone number of sponsoring teacher or parent

Due Date: Friday, October 16, 2015

Entries must be e-mailed or postmarked by Friday, Oct. 16, 2015; late entries cannot be accepted.
E-mailed documents are preferred.
Winners will be notified in early November.
E-mail digital entries as an attachment to: yaf-contest@umich.edu
Mail paper entries to: Barbara Kriigel, Mardigian Library, Univ. of Michigan-Dearborn, 4901 Evergreen, Dearborn, MI 48128

FREE!! Young Authors' Festival, Saturday, November 14, 2015 FREE!!

Everyone is invited to attend the Young Authors' Festival on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the University of Michigan-Dearborn Mardigian Library.

Gary Schmidt, Michigan author and two-time Newbery Honor recipient, is the special guest speaker. The event also includes breakout sessions for children to write, and for adults to learn tips for supporting their children's literacy development.

The Festival is FREE and open to the public. Registration begins Monday, Oct. 12, 2015.

For more details, see the event's website: http://library.umd.umich.edu/events/YAF

Directions to the campus are at: http://umdearborn.edu/maps_directions/