Entering the Contest

ELIGIBILITY: All students in Polk County schools, public or private.

DEFINITION: An editorial is a written expression of opinion. It takes a stand, usually for or against something or someone. It backs up that opinion with logical reasoning and, if possible, with facts and figures. A newspaper editorial tries to persuade readers that its opinion is right. It should be written in the third person (Example: “Florida should be better prepared for hurricanes,” not “I think Florida should be better prepared for hurricanes”).

CATEGORIES: Awards will be presented in three categories – High School (9-12), Middle School (6-8), and Elementary School (K-5).

AWARDS: Cash prizes and plaques will go to the top three entries in each category. The three first-place winners will each receive a $250 award, the three second-place winners each will receive a $200 award and the three third-place winners each will receive a $150 award.

PUBLICATION: The nine winning student editorials will be announced and published on The Ledger’s Op-Ed Page NOVEMBER 14, 15 and 16, along with photographs of the three first-place winners and the names of their teachers. Nine runners-up in each category also will be announced.

ONLINE POSTING: TheLedger.com will post the winners as outlined in “Publication” above. Additionally, videos of the three first-place winners reading their editorials will be taken by The Ledger and posted on TheLedger.com.

LENGTH: Editorials in the Elementary School category MUST be from 100 to 150 words. Editorials in the Middle School and High School categories MUST be from 300 to 400 words. Limits on length will be enforced.

JUDGING: Entries will be screened by the Communications Department at Florida Southern College. Winners will be selected by editors of The Ledger.

ISSUES: All entries must comment on ONE of the following topics:

• SCHOOL LAPTOP COMPUTERS FOR STUDENTS. Since 2004, the state of Maine has issued laptop computers to every seventh- and eighth-grader. It was the first state to make laptops so widely available. Would using laptop computers daily in classes throughout local schools help students learn better? If so, in what grades would laptops be most effective? Should the state of Florida or Polk County issue laptop computers to students?
• OIL DRILLING OFF THE COAST OF FLORIDA. This year, a new law took effect to allow offshore drilling for oil and natural gas closer to Florida. It opens about 48 million acres to drilling, including 8.3 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico that begin 125 miles south of the Panhandle and 234 miles west of Tampa Bay. Should the law be repealed before leases are granted in 2008? Should the law be left in place? Or should Congress allow drilling even closer to Florida (as the House of Representatives considered last year – 50 miles from the coast)?
• THE UNITED STATES AND DARFUR, SUDAN. In Darfur, Sudan, some 450,000 people have died from disease and attacks from militias backed by the Sudanese government, and 2.5 million people have been displaced. President Bush says: “My administration has called these actions by their rightful name: genocide. The world has a responsibility to help put an end to it.” Bush also says a multinational effort to stop the genocide has been “slow” and “tedious.” Should the United States use its military or take other direct action in an effort to halt genocide in Darfur, Sudan?

DEADLINE: Teachers and/or department heads must submit their two (2) best entries per class by FRIDAY, OCT. 5. Each entry should contain: The name of the teacher (including his/her first name); the name and grade of the student; the name of the school and the city where the school is located. The teacher’s school e-mail address and school telephone number should be included, for contact purposes.

Entries may be hand-delivered to The Ledger offices at 300 W. Lime St., Lakeland, or 455 Sixth St. N.W., Winter Haven, or mailed to:

Student Editorial Contest

The Ledger

PO Box 408

Lakeland, FL 33802

QUESTIONS: For further information, call Glenn Marston, editorial page editor, at 863-802-7600 or send an e-mail to glenn.marston@theledger.com.