Name____________________

 

Rubric for Competition Question

 

You will be writing up an answer for your assigned competition question.  There are strict requirements for how much time you will have to present your answer in the contest so it is important that you pay attention to the length requirements. 

 

You will be reading this answer aloud during the competition.  Therefore, it will be helpful to make it clear to the judges which part of the question you are addressing as you read your answer.  It is fine to paraphrase the part of the question you are answering.  That will help the listeners to note that you are answering the question.

 

Since you must get your points across completely, yet quickly, you will not need to follow some of the wonderful guidelines you usually follow in your writing.  Your introduction and conclusion can be very brief.

 

This draft of your essay will count as a test grade.  I will be reading it and making comments and recommendations. Therefore, you must save your copy of the essay on your computer so that you can easily make the recommended changes.

 

 

Possible Points

Your Points

Use of good English: grammar, spelling, and punctuation.  Just because you will be reading this aloud is no reason to write poorly.

20

 

Completely addressing all of the sections of the question

30

 

Using specific information such as historical events, Supreme Court Cases, and laws to back up every single general point you make in your essay

30

 

Using cues to let the listener know which part of the question you’re addressing throughout the paper

10

 

Following the length requirements

1. typed

2. double spaced

3. a 12 pt. font

4. NO MORE THAN 2 ˝ pages

5. one inch margins

6. attaching this rubric to the front of your paper

10

 

TOTAL

100