Broward County Public Schools
District Literary Fair
Handbook for High School and Middle School
2020-2021
1
INTRODUCTION
he Language Arts Department of Broward County Public Schools established the District-Level
Literary Fair in 1998 to provide an opportunity for middle and high schools to recognize their
students’ literary accomplishments. The district fair provides a showcase for outstanding student
compositions and language arts projects. The categories for writing competition include various
types of poetry and prose. This handbook is designed to help students, coordinators, and teachers
plan for a successful fair.
LITERARY FAIR 2020-21
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Schedule for District Literary Fair……………………………………………………………….2
Guidelines for the School-based Literary Fair..………………………………………………….3
District Literary Fair Guidelines and Rules………………………………….…………………..4
Categories ………………………………………………………………………...…..………5-10
Student Entry Form for District Literary Fair…………………………………….……………..11
Student Entry Form for Poet Laureate…………………….. …………………………………...12
2
DISTRICT LITERARY FAIR SCHEDULE FOR 2020-2021
Activity Date/Deadline
Distribution of literary fair handbook/materials Fall 2020
Deadline for entries February 23, 2020
(submission portal
open on January 4)
Judging of projects/entries March 5-15, 2020
Notification of winners by email April 2, 2020
Literary Fair Awards Program April 29, 2020
Live Virtual Ceremony
3
GUIDELINES FOR THE SCHOOL-BASED LITERARY FAIR
1. Holding a school-based competition is required as a prerequisite to enter the district
fair. To avoid a need for modification of projects that may be entered in the district fair,
schools should use the specifications required at the district fair.
2. It is recommended that schools utilize some (or all) of the categories in the district fair.
First place entries ONLY are to be submitted to the district fair.
3. It is the responsibility of the classroom teacher and competition coordinator to see that all
entries are properly categorized.
4. The Language Arts Competitions/Literary Fair Coordinator should determine in advance
the criteria for judging each category, secure judges for each category, and facilitate the
judging of all entries. Utilization of district fair category descriptions and specifications,
as listed in this handbook, are highly recommended.
5. All entries submitted for the literary fair must be the original work of the student. Entries
found to be plagiarized will be immediately disqualified. Please check qualifying entries
for plagiarism prior to submitting to the district competition.
4
DISTRICT LITERARY FAIR GUIDELINES 2020-21
1. All entries are to be submitted electronically using the appropriate MS Forms link located on
page 12 of this handbook and in the District Literary Fair Canvas course. Printed, mailed, or
emailed submissions will not be accepted.
2. ONE official student entry form must be submitted for each entry:
a. Each entry form must be submitted electronically via the MS Forms link.
b. Each school may submit one entry per category. Any student(s) designated as the school’s
first place winner(s) is eligible to participate in the District Literary Fair.
3. Illustrations are now permitted but will not be a part of the judging. The only exceptions are
Children’s Books, Literary Comic Strips, Political/Satirical Cartoons, Poetry Movie Posters,
Novel/Short Story Movie Posters, and Poetry Interpretation Posters. All entries and artwork must
be the original work of the student. Ekphrastic poems MUST be accompanied by the piece of art
that inspires it (see format specifications on page 8).
4. Entries may be displayed for the public. Please be sure they are free of errors and any stray
marks, and typed in Times New Roman 12 font, double spaced—or according to the category
specifications. The only exceptions to this are the haiku and cinquain, which may be typed in a
larger size font. Neither the writer’s name nor the name of the school should appear on the
front or the back of the entry.
5. There will be multiple judges per entry, and all decisions are final.
6. Projects may be disqualified if they are not submitted according to district requirements. This
includes, but is not limited to, correct punctuation, grammar, mechanics, etc…
7. In each category a First Place, a Second Place, and a Third Place Award will be given.
8. ALL ENTRIES MUST BE THE ORIGINAL WORK OF THE STUDENTS SUBMITTING
THEM FOR JUDGING. All entries must be the work of a single student.
5
PROSE CATEGORIES
Categories
Description
Specifications
Children’s
Book
An original, illustrated story written in book format and designed to be
read by children grades 1 – 5. A non-fiction book is also appropriate.
Illustrations must be the original design of the student; they can be
drawn by hand or on a computer. Students should not use patented
characters (i.e. Donald Duck) or computer generated/clip art.
Maximum length
– 10 pages (ms);
16 pages (hs).
Entry must be
scanned page by
page and be
submitted as one
file.
Fable
A short story, such as one of Aesop’s Fables, intended to reveal some
useful truth or precept, especially a story in which animals or
inanimate objects speak and act like human beings.
Min. length – 1
page;
Max. length – 4
pages.
Formal Essay
A researched-based piece of prose writing that expresses a particular
point of view on a subject. It should either communicate information
or share a personal thought in a formal style and be characterized by a
seriousness of purpose, dignity, and logical organization. It MUST
include citations and a correctly formatted works cited page.
Minimum length
– 2 pages;
Maximum length
– 4 pages.
Informal
Essay
A piece of prose writing that expresses a personal point of view in a
conversational style. It may contain elements of self-revelation,
humor, and an unconventional theme. Letters to the editor are
acceptable entries in this category as well.
Min. length – 2
pages;
Max. length – 4
pgs.
Literary
Comic Strip
Comic strip with illustrations and dialogue. The comic strip MUST tell
an original story or be based on a literary work (which must be
named). The strip may be hand-drawn or created digitally. Illustrations
must be the original design of the creator. Do NOT use patented
characters (i.e. Donald Duck) or pre-made computer-generated
pictures (i.e. clip art). Hand-drawn comic strips must be outlined in
black ink. All stray marks must be erased.
Minimum length
– 3 panels;
Maximum length
– 1 full page (no
more than 10
panels)
Must be scanned
and submitted
digitally as one
file.
Myth
A purely fictitious narrative usually involving supernatural persons,
actions, or events and often embodying some popular explanation or
conception of natural or historical phenomena.
Min. length – 1
page;
Max. length – 4
pages.
6
Personal
Narrative
A true account of an experience or event that is personally significant
to the writer. The first person account may include elements of
suspense and action, vivid description, and dialogue. It should express
feelings of how the experience affected the writer or taught the writer
something of importance.
Minimum length
– 2 page;
Maximum length
– 4 pages.
Political/
Satirical
Cartoon
A one panel cartoon with the punch line or dialogue written at the
bottom. The cartoon must be based on a literary work or a current or
historical/political event.
Length – one
panel
Must be scanned
and submitted
digitally as one
file.
Scene Writing
A script that contains dialogue, a minimum of two characters and stage
directions. It will include a title page, a second page that lists
characters and gives a brief synopsis, and any other information that
seems important to the understanding of the script. The successive
pages will contain the actual text of the stage play.
Maximum length
– 10 pages of
actual text of the
script
Title page,
character list,
and synopsis are
not included
within the page
count
Short Story
A brief prose narrative that can be read usually in one sitting. Includes
one conflict, a simple plot, characterization, one setting, one point of
view, one theme, and a specific literary style. Short stories are to be
submitted digitally.
Minimum length
– 3 pages;
Maximum length
- 10 pages
7
INTERPRETIVE CATEGORIES
Categories
Description
Specifications
Novel/Short
Story Movie
Poster
Novel/Short Story Movie Posters replicate contemporary movie
posters and include the title, images which represent the text, a
catchphrase or slogan, the author/director, brief quotations/reviews
about the text.
Middle school entries will choose a text (novel or short story) by Ray
Bradbury.
High school entries will choose a text (novel or short story) by F.
Scott Fitzgerald.
Entry will be in the form of a single PowerPoint slide. Illustrations
must be the original design of the student; they can be drawn by hand
or on a computer. Students should not use patented characters (i.e.
Donald Duck) or computer generated/clip art.
Entries will be
submitted as a
single
PowerPoint slide
saved as a PDF.
The slide may be
vertical or
horizontal.
Poetry Movie
Poster
Poetry Movie Posters replicate contemporary movie posters and
include the title, images which represent the text, a catchphrase or
slogan, the author/director, brief quotations/reviews about the text.
Middle school entries will choose a poem by Carl Sandburg.
High school entries will choose a poem by Nikki Giovanni.
Entry will be in the form of a single PowerPoint slide. Illustrations
must be the original design of the student; they can be drawn by hand
or on a computer. Students should not use patented characters (i.e.
Donald Duck) or computer generated/clip art.
Entries will be
submitted as a
single
PowerPoint slide
saved as a PDF.
The slide may be
vertical or
horizontal.
Poetry
Interpretation
Poster
Poetry Interpretation Posters utilize original student artwork to convey
the meaning of a professionally published poem. Students select a
poem from the poet of their choice and design a poster that serves as
an interpretation of the text. The poster must include the title and
author of the poem.
Entry will be in the form of a single PowerPoint slide. Illustrations
must be the original design of the student; they can be drawn by hand
or on a computer. Students should not use patented characters (i.e.
Donald Duck) or computer generated/clip art.
Entries will be
submitted as a
single
PowerPoint slide
saved as a PDF.
The slide may be
vertical or
horizontal.
8
POETRY CATEGORIES
Category
Description
Specifications
ABC Poetry
An ABC poem has a series of lines that create a mood, picture, or feeling.
Lines are made up of words and phrases and the entire alphabet is covered.
The first word of line 1 begins with A; the first word of line 2 begins with
B, etc. The best examples of ABC Poetry have enjambment and include
literary devices.
MIDDLE SCHOOL ONLY
Cinquain
A poem of five lines with the following syllables:
Line 1 - two syllables
Line 2 - four syllables
Line 3 - six syllables
Line 4 - eight syllables
Line 5 – two syllables
End rhyme occurs seldom, but internal rhyme, assonance and consonance
appear frequently. The poem revolves around a cohesive idea or topic.
Copy Make
A poem that was inspired by or modeled from another poem, uses some
of the language from the model poem, but results in something new and
unique to the student author. Students must attribute to the original
author (inspired by) and include a copy of the original poem.
MIDDLE SCHOOL ONLY
Must be at least
10 lines.
Ekphrastic
Poem
Poetry that is inspired by art. For the 2020-21 Literary Fair students are
to use a Jacob Lawrence painting to inspire a poem. His work can be
found at https://www.wikiart.org/en/jacob-lawrence, as well as many
other websites. The poem may be lined verse or free verse.
The selected artwork must be downloaded to a document. The student
should then go to the Format menu and size the picture to no more than
3 inches in height. The picture should be centered at the top of the page;
the name of the artwork, artist and source from which it is downloaded
should be immediately below it. The title of the poem should follow.
Must be at least
20 lines.
Free Verse
Poetry having no regular meter or rhyme.
Must be at least
15 lines.
Haiku
A Japanese lyric poem of a fixed 17-syllables SOMETIMES points to
something in nature that has moved the poet. The haiku has the following
lines and syllables:
Line 1 – five syllables
Line 2 – seven syllables
Line 3 –five syllables
Ode
A lyric poem in the form of an address to a particular subject, often
elevated in style or manner and written in varied and irregular meter.
Must be a
minimum of 35
lines and a
maximum of 70
lines
9
Parody Poem
A poem imitating with ludicrous exactness, but ordinarily on a ridiculous
subject, the style and mannerisms of a serious composition (for example:
Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” speech).
HIGH SCHOOL ONLY
Must be at least
15 lines.
Poem for
Two Voices
A poem written by one persona to be read by two people, sometimes
alternating, sometimes simultaneously. The poem shows different
perspectives or viewpoints on the same topic. A good example of a poem
for two voices is Langston Hughes’ poem “Mama and the Rent Man.”
THIS POEM MIGHT ALSO be a bilingual poem incorporating English
and another language, but it MUST reflect two distinct voices.
Must be at least
20 lines.
May be written
in either one-
column format
or two-column
format.
Rhymed
Verse
Written on various topics. May express ideas, emotions, or tell a story.
Precise word choice, sensory imagery, and compression of ideas are
characteristics of poetic expression.
Must be at least
16 lines.
Sestina Poem
French form consisting of six six-line stanzas and a three-line
envoy. The form is usually unrhymed. The effect of rhyme comes from a
fixed pattern of end-words; the end words in each stanza are the same but
arranged in a different sequence in each stanza. In the closing tercet, each
of the six words is used, with one in the middle of each line and one at
the end. The pattern of word-repetition is as follows where the words that
end the lines of the first sestet are represented by the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 6.
1 2 3 4 5 6 End words of lines in first sestet
6 1 5 2 4 3 End words of lines in second sestet
3 6 4 1 2 5 End words of lines in third sestet
5 3 2 6 1 4 End words of lines in fourth sestet
4 5 1 3 6 2 End words of lines in fifth sestet
2 4 6 5 3 1 End words of lines in sixth sestet
(6 2) (1 4) (5 3) Middle and end words of lines of the tercet.
Shrinklit
Poem
A rhymed verse that condenses the main ideas of a literary work. The
last two lines frequently present an ironic twist or question.
Must be at least
16 lines.
Sonnet
A lyric poem of fourteen lines written in iambic pentameter.
Shakespearean sonnets have three quatrains followed by a rhymed
couplet. The rhyme scheme is abab cdcd efef gg. The main thought is
presented in the three quatrains and concluded in the couplet.
Petrarchan sonnets are divided into a group of eight lines (the
octave) followed by a group of six lines (the sestet). The rhyme
scheme for the octave is abba abba. The rhyme scheme for the sestet
is cdecde. The octave presents a single thought, and the sestet
expands, contradicts or develops it in some way.
10
Spoken
Word
Performance
Spoken Word poetry combines poetry with elements of the oral tradition,
hip-hop, and theatre. It places heavy emphasis on the performance of the
poem; however, the written construction of the poem is of utmost
importance. Spoken Word poems rely heavily on figurative language,
sensory details, and emotional connection. These poems may use
elements from other types of poetry, especially Free Verse and Rhymed
Verse. Spoken Word poems can tell stories, tackle social issues, or talk
about whatever the poet imagines.
No student name or school reference should appear in the video. Be
aware of clothing, signage, or logos that may be in the video that suggest
the school or student name.
Must be 1 – 3
minutes in
length
Hard copies of
poems must be
submitted with
entry forms
Poets must
project voice and
speak clearly
Gestures and
facial
expressions
should
emphasize the
tone and theme
of the poem
Tritina
The tritina is a ten-lined poem, divided over three tercets with a single
line at the end of the poem. Tritinas use three end words that are repeated
throughout the poem, much like a sestina. Having chosen your three
words, your pattern should look like this: ABC, CAB, BCA and the last
line have all three words in it, bringing you back to ABC.
MIDDLE SCHOOL ONLY
Villanelle
A French verse form in 19 lines with no set number of syllables per line.
The villanelle has a pattern of only two rhymes and is marked by its
alternating refrain. The poem has five tercets and a concluding quatrain.
The first line of the first stanza is repeated as the last line of the second
and the fourth stanzas, and as the second-to-last line in the concluding
quatrain. The third line of the first stanza is repeated as the last line of the
third and the fifth stanzas and as the last line in the concluding quatrain.
A1 b A2 – lines in the first tercet
a b A1 – lines in the second tercet
a b A2 – lines in third tercet
a b A1 – lines in the fourth tercet
a b A2 – lines in fifth tercet
a b A1 A2 – lines in final quatrain
The first line of the second through fourth tercets and the quatrain
rhymes A. The second line of each tercet and quatrain is not repeated buy
rhymes with the first tercet.
HIGH SCHOOL ONLY
11
Poet Laureate of Broward County Schools
The Poet Laureate category is unique in that it serves to challenge participants by requiring them
to explore multiple forms of poetry rather than just a single form. Entries in this category are
submitted as portfolios of original student work that aim to show readers a wide range writing
ability.
All portfolios submitted to this category must adhere to the following:
• Portfolios must include five original poetic pieces.
• All five pieces must demonstrate a different poetic form.
• The submitted pieces for the portfolio may not be submitted individually in other Literary
Fair categories.
• Poems should follow poetic rules as appropriate to the individual form.
• Portfolios must be submitted to the District Literary Fair Canvas Course as a single file
that contains all five poems.
12
Uploading Winning Entries for the District Literary Fair
Complete one digital entry form and corresponding document upload for each winning entry you are
submitting to the district fair.
BCPS Coordinators:
Use this link to for the digital entry
form/upload.
13
School-Based Coordinator’s Judging Course
A Canvas course has been created to assist schools with hosting and judging their own virtual
School Literary Fair. This course will allow schools to have student submissions judged virtually
and provide an streamlined method for determining which entries will be submitted to the
District Literary Fair. To be clear, this course is for school-based literary fairs and not for
submission or judging at the district level. Instructions on how to utilize this course are below:
Download Canvas Course Template from Commons
• Commons Search: BCPS Literary Fair School Based Judging
• Filter: Broward County Public Schools
• How do I import and view a Commons resource in Canvas?
Upload files to the course for judging
• How do I create a file link in a page in a course?
TIPS:
• Naming Convention: Category_Title (Ex: Fable_Summer Days)
• Ensure no students names are visible in the document
• Unpublish the module you are not using (high school coordinators, unpublish the middle
school module)
Generate a Self-Enrollment Code and send it to school-based fair judges
• How do I enable course self-enrollment with a join code or secret URL?