2015 Young Authors’ Competition and Awards Reception For Schools:

The 2015 Young Authors’ Competition and Awards Ceremony is hosted by the English Literature Department at UAE University. The purpose of the Competition is to encourage and reward excellent writing skills in the primary and secondary years. All primary and secondary schools located within Al Ain are warmly welcome to participate. Thanks to generous funding by UAEU and local institutions, there is no charge to participate in the Competition or the Awards Reception.

The theme of this year’s competition is “Journeys”; be they physical, mental, emotional and/or philosophical. Each submission should, in some way, creatively and imaginatively address the theme of the competition. Submissions may be fiction or non-fiction and should contain scholastically and culturally appropriate language. Illustrations are optional in all divisions but if included, they must be original works created by the author.

The Competition is divided into the following age divisions with maximum word counts and illustrations given for each division. Competition ages are calculated by age as of August 31, 2015.

  1. Division A is 7 to 9 year olds, 250 words maximum, one (1) illustration not exceeding the printable margin of one (1) A4 page,
  2. Division B is 10 to 12 year olds, 500 words maximum, two (2) illustrations not exceeding the printable margin of two (2) A4 pages,
  3. Division C is 13 to15 year olds, 750 words maximum, three (3) illustrations not exceeding the printable margin of three (3) A4 pages,
  4. Division D is 16 to18 year olds, 1000 words maximum, three (3) illustrations not exceeding the printable margin of three (3) A4 pages.

Entries must be submitted in English and must be original works written/illustrated entirely by the contestant. Submissions deemed by the judges not to be entirely original and/or not created solely by the author will be disqualified.

In order for the Competition to remain manageable and proceed as smoothly as possible, the organizers are asking for each participating school to select only two (2) of their top candidates from each age division to submit to the Competition. Since each participating school is limited to only 2 entries per age-division, it will be necessary for many schools to organize their own internal competitions or rating schemes to select which entries are submitted to the 2015 Young Authors’ Competition. While schools may employ whatever selection process they deem best, the Competition judges will most closely be evaluating:

    • an exploration of the theme of “Journeys”
    • creativity, imagination, and linguistic craftsmanship and
    • respect for standard grammatical and mechanical forms.

After all entries have been submitted, judges will select the top 25 authors in each age division to attend an Awards Ceremony held at UAEU on Tuesday November 17, 2015 between 8:00AM and 11:30AM. Each author invited to attend the Awards Reception will receive a certificate of excellence in writing. Authors penning the top 3 stories in each age division will receive CASH prizes. The best illustrator for each division will also receive a CASH prize. In total, 16 CASH prizes will be awarded. Brunch will be served and local authors and dignitaries will address the audience and award prizes. Schools MUST provide transportation and supervision for any student attending.

The absolute deadline for submissions is November 5, 2015 at 11:59PM. Under no circumstances will late submissions be accepted.

To submit student entries, participating schools are asked to select one (1) representative from the school to submit all entries. This representative must be officially recognized for the submissions task by the school. Principals/Headmasters would be ideal representatives but teachers and/or school advisors may also be selected if sanctioned by the school represented.

Submissions should be e-mailed to (ENGL.conference@uaeu.ac.ae) and should include the following:

    • E-Mail Subject: Young Authors’ Competition
    • Body: Representatives full name, full name of school, representative’s position at school, representative’s telephone contact information (cell and school), number of entries being submitted and full names and ages (as of August 31, 2015) of all competitors.
    • Attachments: Attach one (1) document per entry. The maximum number of attachments will be eight (8). Send all entries as attachments in one e-mail message. DO NOT send multiple e-mails. Each attachment will consist of the following: one (1) cover page per attachment including (typed, centered, double spaced, in 12 point “Ariel” font and in MS Word format): the student’s full name, the student’s age as of August 31, 2015, the student’s school’s full name and the student’s grade/year level and, the title of the student’s submission. Students (above the age of 9) must complete this formatting themselves. The student’s entry, beginning with title, should be included after the cover page and SHOULD NOT CONTAIN THEIR NAME. Formatting for entries should be typed, double spaced, in 12 point “Ariel” font and in MS Word format. Representatives should keep in mind that all formatting and text is the sole property of the author and no editions/corrections may be entered by the representative. The Competition will accept only works penned and formatted entirely by the author. The only exception is with formatting assistance offered (if needed) to entrants aged 9 and under.

Reminders and the Competition and Awards Reception in brief:

      • every school in Al Ain with students aged between 7 and 18 is welcome to participate.
      • each school may enter a total of 8 students for the competition (2 in each age-division).
      • one representative from your school must e-mail submissions and cover pages to (ENGL.conference@uaeu.ac.ae). Questions may also be sent to that address.
      • the top 25 submissions from each age-division will be invited to attend the 2015 Young Authors’ Awards Ceremony held at UAE University on November 17, 2015.
      • the top three stories in each age-division will be awarded a cash prize as will the best illustrated story of each division. Award winners must be present to collect prizes.
Oct 11, 2015