Pearson Blueprint for Exceptional Writing Contest
Official Rules
As the largest publisher in teacher education, Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill Professional Development recognizes the exceptional role teachers play in creating life-long writers. You are the inspiration to your student writers! Now, Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill is proud to host the Pearson Blueprint for Exceptional Writing Contest—an opportunity for you and your students to celebrate writing and its role in your classroom.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. CONTEST ONLY OPEN TO STUDENTS IN GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE.
IMPORTANT: Please read these rules carefully before entering the Pearson Blueprint for Exceptional Writing Contest (the “Contest”)
The Contest is a contest whereby (1) an eligible Student writes and submits an essay in one of the following three genres listed below (“Essay”) and (2) the eligible Student’s sponsoring teacher writes and submits an essay describing how the teacher taught his or her class the genre selected by the Student (“Descriptive Essay”).
Genres
1.Personal Narrative: A personal narrative may be fiction or nonfiction. It can take many forms, including: tall tales, folktales, fables, scripts, or personal narratives; and appeals to the audience’s emotion.
Please select from one of the writing prompts below to compose an interesting, thought-provoking personal narrative. Be sure to include details that support your ideas.
- A favorite place: Write about or describe your favorite place. What do you get to do in your favorite place? Why is it so special to you?
- Lessons learned: Write about or describe a time in your life when you learned a lesson. What lesson did you learn?
- Great adventures: Have you read Mark Twain? Write about or describe a time when you had a special adventure in your life, like Tom Sawyer of Huckleberry Finn. What was it? Why was it so memorable?
- A helping hand: Write about or describe at time when you were able to help others in a difficult situation. Why do you remember this time?
Teachers, click here to learn about teaching strategies you can incorporate into your instruction to teach Personal Narrative Writing.
2.Persuasive Writing: Persuasive writing is part of Informational (Expository) genre that attempts to influence and inform the audience—to ultimately change the audience’s mind.
Please select from one of the writing prompts below to compose a strong, persuasive argument for or against your topic.
- Save the environment: The environment is a very important part of our lives. It affects our health, the water we drink, and the food we eat. In order to save the environment everyone should recycle!
- Reality television: Ratings show viewers spend a lot of time watching reality television and each year thousands of Americans audition to be part of any one particular reality show. Many critics believe reality t.v. has a negative impact on American culture and is changing the way we live.
- Writing today: The grades I earn in school will not matter to me later in life. I will feel confident that I can succeed in life no matter how I do on tests and assessments.
Teachers, click here to learn about several teaching strategies you can incorporate into your instruction to teach Persuasive Writing.
3.Poetry: Poetry challenges the author’s ability to write concisely, use rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, and poetic diction. Poetry can take many different forms—acrostic, a ballad, cinquain, or perhaps a haiku to name only a few!
If you choose to write a poem, select one of the writing prompts below to compose an original and imaginative one on your topic.
- Paint a picture: Focus on one object. Just as an artist would draw a picture of that object, paint a picture with words that describes the object.
- Write a song: Pick a song that you know and then change the words, keeping to the rhythm and beat of the melody.
- Your favorite season: Describe the sights, sounds, and emotions that you experience during your favorite time of year.
Teachers, click here to get some fresh ideas to teach poetry in your class.
Read student writing samples.
1. Here's how to enter:
Sponsoring teachers may obtain the entry form, consent form, and essay template (the “Entry Packet”) for the Contest either (i) by going online at and downloading and printing the Entry Packet, or (ii) by emailing a request for an Entry Packet to Danae April, or faxing the request to 617-671-3659.
The Student and his or her sponsoring teacher each must submit, by mailing to Danae April, Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill, 501 Boylston Street, Suite 900, Boston, MA 02116, the following to enter the Contest:a completed entry form, a signed consent form and the Essay and the Descriptive Essay. All submissions must conform to the guidelines in order to be eligible for the Contest. Limit one entry per Student. All entries, Essays and Descriptive Essays become the property of Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill and will not be acknowledged or returned. By submitting an entry, the Student and the sponsoring teacher agree that Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill shall have the right (but not the obligation) to publish any Essay and/or Descriptive Essay, or any part thereof, in its textbooks, web sites, educational programs, and other associated promotional and publishing materials.
2. Eligibility.
The Contest is open to Students who are enrolled in grades K-8 in the United States only and teachers teaching a grade K-8 class in the United States as of October 1, 2008. To be eligible to enter: entries must be completed solely by the entrant(s); each entry must be submitted by the student’s sponsoring teacher and accompanied with a Descriptive Essay of no more than one hundred (100) words in length that has been written by the sponsoring teacher; the Essay’s title must appear at the top of the first page; the Essay’s pages must be double-spaced and numbered; and the Student Essay must be no more than the following number of words or lines in length: Personal Narrative, 900 words and no more than 3 pages in length; Persuasive Writing, 900 words and no more than 3 pages in length; and Poetry, 24 lines.
Employees of Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill and any of its affiliate companies, subsidiaries, agents, professional advisors, advertising and promotional agencies, and immediate families of each are not eligible to enter.
3. Disclaimer.
Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill, all participating sponsors and any of their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, professional advisors, employees and agencies will not be responsible for (1) any late, lost, late, incomplete, misrouted, misdirected, postage due or damaged entries or errors in transmission; (2) any Contest disruptions, injuries, losses or damages caused by events beyond the control of Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill; or (3) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Contest.
Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill and its agencies are not responsible for technical, hardware, software or telephone malfunctions of any kind and shall not be liable for failed, incorrect, incomplete, inaccurate, garbled or delayed electronic communications utilized in this Contest which may limit the ability to participate in the Contest. If for any reason, (including, but not limited to infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other cause beyond the control of Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill , which corrupts or affects the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest), the Contest is not capable of being conducted as described in these rules, Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill shall have the right, at its sole discretion, to modify and/or cancel the Contest.
4. Contest Period.
All entries must be postmarked no later than April 1, 2009 5:00 p.m. EST and received by Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill no later than April 15, 2009 5:00pm EST (the “Deadline”), to be eligible to win the prize.
5. Prizes.
On or aboutMay 15, 2009, in each of four Geographic Regions listed below, one student winner” will be selected for each of the following “grade bands”: (i) Kindergarten through Second Grade, (ii) Third Grade through Fifth Grade, and (iii) Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade.
Geographic region
Region 1– CT, DE, FL, ID, IN, LA, MA, MD, OR, SD, VA, VT
Region 2– CO, HI, KS, KY, MO, MS, NV, SC, TN, UT, WI, WY
Region 3– AK, AZ, CA, IA, MT, NC, ND, NE, NM, PA, RI, WA
Region 4 –AL, AR, DC, GA, IL, ME, MI, MN, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, WV
Each of the twelve Student winners will receive the following prizes:
- Four (4) professionally published books of his/her personal writing signed by the Publisher and at least one of Executive Editor in Chief of Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill;
- an Exceptional Writing Award from Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill.
- Each Student winner’s Essay will be featured in the Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill e-newsletter that is posted on the website (
- Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill will issue a press release noting the results of the Contest.
Each Sponsoring Teacher of a Student Winner will receive a $500 credit towards the purchase from Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill Professional Development of professional resources.
ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECEIPT OR USE OF ANY PRIZES ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNER AND THE SPONSORING TEACHER.
The Sponsoring Teacher and each Student Winner will be notified by telephone, fax, mail or e-mail on or about May 15, 2009. No substitutions or exchanges (including for cash) of any prizes will be permitted. All prizes are awarded "AS IS" and WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, express or implied, (including, without limitation, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose).
6. Selection of Winner.
The Contest winners will be determined as follows: All eligible entries submitted prior to the Deadline will be reviewed by Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill author Jen Fontenot and a panel of five distinguished teachers selected by Ms. Fontenot. The twelve winners shall be selected by Ms. Fontenot and such panel of teachers in accordance with the following selection criteria:
Evaluation Criteria for Personal Narrative: Personal Narrative Scoring Rubric
Student entries will be evaluated according to the following criteria at all grade levels.
STORY ORGANIZATION
Genre format & Voice: Student has written a Personal Narrative that has: a story with a beginning which defines the setting, includes story details with an interesting plot and an ending with a story resolution that expresses a new level of enlightenment.
0 12 3 4 5
Character & Setting Development: Story has character dialogue and developed the setting which made the story come alive.
0 1 2 3 4 5
Total Score out of 10:
VOCABULARY & WORD USAGE
Imagery: Did the student create vivid images through their word choice which “show” the story events instead of just telling" them?
0 1 2 3 4 5
Reader Appeal: Student appeals to their reader by appealing to the senses and is able to put the reader into the scene with the author.
0 1 2 3 4 5
Total Score out of 10:
CONVENTIONS & GRAMMAR
Point of View: Story was written in 1st or 3rd person.
0 1 2 3 4 5
Spelling: Words were spelled correctly with correct grammar usage.
0 1 2 3 4 5
Total Score out of 10:
Final Total Score out of 30:
Evaluation Criteria for Persuasive Writing: Persuasive Writing Selection Scoring Rubric
Student entries will be evaluated according to the following criteria at all grade levels.
STORY ORGANIZATION
Genre Format & Voice: Student has written a true Persuasive selection, by firstidentifying their defined stand, then stating 3 good reasons supporting theiropinion and finishing by re-stating their position.
0 1 2 3 4 5
Voice of Authority: Student told the audience that experts in the field agree withtheir stand or presents research as evidence.
0 1 2 3 4 5
Total Score out of 10:
VOCABULARY & WORD USAGE
Used Arguments: Student used convincing arguments to persuade the reader to take their stand.
0 1 2 3 4 5
Reader Appeal: Student appealed to their reader's sense of urgency, emotions orlogic.
0 1 2 3 4 5
Total Score out of 10:
CONVENTIONS & GRAMMAR
Point of View: Story was written in 1st person.
0 1 2 3 4 5
Spelling: Words at-e spelled correctly and student used correct grammar.
0 1 2 3 4 5
Total Score out of 10:
Final Total Score out of 30:
Evaluation Criteria for Poetry: Poetry Selection Scoring Rubric
Assessment of this genre is somewhat different than the assessment of other genres. Because poetry is artistic in nature, there are other elements that enter into the assessment: such as voice, presentation and the elements of poetry.
POETRY ORGANIZATION
Genre Format & Voice: Student followed the appropriate format for the type of poetry written.
0 1 2 3 4 5
Type of Poetry:
Voice: Student communicated their feelings through a strong voice.
0 1 2 3 4 5
Total Score out of 10:
VOCABULARY & WORD USAGE
Concise Vocabulary: Student used concise, descriptive vocabulary along withsome of the elements of poetry.
0 1 2 3 4 5
Reader Appeal: Student appealed to their reader’s senses.
0 1 2 3 4 5
Total Score out of 10:
CONVENTIONS & GRAMMAR
Spelling: Words were spelled correctly with correct grammar usage.
0 1 2 3 4 5
Verses and Stanzas: These were written according to the appropriate poetry style selected.
0 1 2 3 4 5
Total Score out of 10:
Final Total Score out of 30:
In the event an insufficient number of entries are received, as determined by Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill, Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill reservesthe right to cancel the Contest and shall be under no obligation to award the prizes.
Download the entry documents
Entry Form / Consent Form
Essay Form
7. General Release.
By entering the Contest, all entrants release Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill, participating sponsors and any of their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agencies (collectively, the "Released Parties") from any liability whatsoever, and waive any and all causes of action, for any claims, costs, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Contest or resulting from acceptance, possession, or use or misuse of any prize including, without limitation, personal injuries, death, property damage, and claims based on publicity rights, defamation, invasion of privacy, defamation, portrayal in a false light, copyright infringement, patent infringement, trademark infringement and merchandise delivery.
8. Ownership of Entries
All entries, Essays and Descriptive Essays, irrespective of whether they are the winning entry, become the property of Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill and will not be acknowledged or returned. Without limiting the foregoing, by entering, all entrants shall be deemed to have transferred and assigned to Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill, their respective successors and assigns, absolutely and forever, all right, title and interest (including copyrights and other intellectual property rights) in and to their entries, Essays and Descriptive Essays, including the right to edit, modify and prepare derivative works based upon the entries, and to display, reproduce, transmit and deliver the entries in and by any and all media now in existence or hereafter discovered or devised throughout the world in perpetuity. Entrants agree to execute any and all documents requested by Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill to effectuate Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill’s rights described in this paragraph. Entrants hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waive any and all moral rights or any rights of similar nature under any law in any jurisdiction in and to any and all elements of the entries. Entrants represent and warrant to Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill that (i) any Essays and Descriptive Essays submitted are the original creation of entrant (whether entrant is student or teacher); (ii) Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill’s use of such Essays and Descriptive Essays as contemplated in these rules will not violate the rights of any third party; and (iii) entrant has obtained all rights necessary (including but not limited to releases from other students, teachers, students’ parents or legal guardians or any other third parties) in order to transfer these rights.
9. Use of Winner's Information.
Except where prohibited by law, acceptance of a prize constitutes permission to use the winning student’s and sponsoring teacher’s names, pictures or likenesses, school and school district name, state of residence, and prize information, without limitation, for promotional purposes without further permission or compensation.
10. Rules Request.
To obtain a copy of these rules, send an email to Danae April, Attn: Pearson Blueprint for Exceptional Writing Contest Rules Request at .
11. Copyright Notice.
The Contest and all accompanying materials are copyright © 2008 by PEARSON EDUCATION, INC., publishing as Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill.
12. Miscellaneous.
The Contest will be governed, construed and interpreted under the laws of the United States. By participating in the Contest, entrants agree (i) to be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill which are final and binding in all respects and (ii) to the use of the information supplied by entrant by Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill, its subsidiaries and affiliates within Pearson Education, Inc. and certain websites affiliated with Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill for marketing and advertising purposes. Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill reserves the right to suspend or cancel the Contest or any entrant's participation in the Contest should any cause beyond Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merril’s control affect the administration, security or proper play of the Contest. Entrants who violate these Official Rules, tamper with the operation of the Contest or engage in any conduct that is detrimental to Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill, the Contest or any other entrant (as determined in Pearson Allyn&Bacon’s sole discretion) are subject to disqualification. Each winner will be required to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility and publicity/liability release that must be returned within fifteen (15) days of notification. The winner shall forfeit the prizes if such affidavit and publicity/liability release is not signed and returned within the required time. Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill reserves the right to reject entry forms from persons whose eligibility is in question or who have been disqualified or are otherwise ineligible to enter the Contest. If you have any questions about these Official Rules or the Contest, please send written questions to Pearson Allyn & Bacon/Merrill, 501 Boylston Street, Suite 900, Boston, MA02116, Attn: Danae April
13. Winners’ Names
To obtain the name of the winners after June 15,2009, send an email to , Attn: Pearson Blueprint for Exceptional Writing Contest Winners
14. Contest Sponsor.
The sponsor of the Contest is Pearson Allyn & Bacon/ Merrill Professional Development, 501 Boylston Street, Suite 900, Boston, MA02116.