JUDGING CRITERIA & RATING SCALE

Topic: SECRETS

You want to respect a confidence. But what if the secret is dangerous or frightening? What should you do? Who do you tell, and when is it okay not to keep a secret? Do you care enough to listen; care enough to tell?

PROJECT CRITERIA

  • 7th – 10th grade students are the focus for the 2008-2009 American Psychiatric Association and American Medical Association Alliances’ national literary project.
  • Judging will be based on a rating scale ranked 1-10, with a criterion weighted 10 points
  • Winning entries reflect the writer’s understanding that violent/destructive talk can lead to poor behavior choices and, therefore, young people have permission, power and the responsibility to intervene by communicating with adults. The winning writer will have expressed an interest in increased communication, and a willingness to think and write deeply about uncomfortable subjects.

CRITERIA:

  • RELEVANCE: Entries must embody the intent of the project by reflecting an awareness of the fact that violent/destructive talk can lead to consequential behavior, and that young people have the power and the responsibility to intervene by communicating with adults.
  • ORIGINALITY: Entries must be the writer’s own work, in his/her own words and may include personal experiences and thoughtful observations. Writing must reflect that the author has carefully examined and thought through the topic.
  • CREATIVITY: Entries may include the feelings of the writer, may make recommendations and condemnations, use examples from history, current events and express interpretations of human behavior.
  • CLARITY: Entries must clearly reveal the writer’s thinking with an organized presentation and development of theme.

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