Word Up! Poetry Contest

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Congratulations to the winners of our 2010 Word Up! Poetry Contest. Further congratulations to 2009 Word Up! winner, Niki Parker, who was selected as a winner in VOYA's 2009 Teen Poetry Contest!

The Word Up! Poetry Contest is now closed for new submissions.

Entry rules

• The contest is limited to students who live or attend school in Howard County 
  • grades 6-7 (category 1)
  • grades 8-9 (category 2)
  • grades 10-12 (category 3)

• Poems must be original, unpublished works. Plagiarized submissions will be disqualified.
• Submit up to three poems, with no more than 60 lines per poem. The submission deadline is March 10.
• Complete only the information requested on the entry form. Do not add your name or school information to the body of the poem.
• Students may qualify for only one prize in each age group.

Judging criteria
A committee of judges will rate entries according to the criteria listed here. The judges will look for these elements in each poem:

• Poem has a title
• Poem offers original ideas and words
• Poem makes readers think
• Poem contains language that is creative and poetic

Prizes
Winners will be contacted in April. Winners in each category will receive cash prizes (1st prize, $100; 2nd prize, $75; 3rd prize, $50) and an invitation to read their winning poems at a special event on April 21, 2010 at Monteabaro Recital Hall in the Horowitz Center at Howard Community College. In addition, winning poems will be featured on Howard County Library's web site.
 

Additional questions can be answered at any Howard County Library branch, or by sending an e-mail.
The Word Up! poetry contest is sponsored by Friends of Howard County Library.

Thank you to all the poets who entered the 2009 Word Up! Poetry Contest. We received triple the number of poems from past years, and competition was fierce! Read the winning poems, right here.

Entry Form

* denotes a required field

Do not enter anything in this field! *First name: *Last name: *E-mail: *Grade: 6789101112 College *School: Bonnie Branch Middle SchoolBurleigh Manor Middle SchoolClarksville Middle SchoolCradlerock School (upper)Dunloggin Middle SchoolElkridge Landing Middle SchoolEllicott Mills Middle SchoolFolly Quarter Middle SchoolGlenwood Middle SchoolHammond Middle SchoolHarper's Choice Middle SchoolLime Kiln Middle SchoolMayfield Woods Middle SchoolMount View Middle SchoolMurray Hill Middle SchoolOakland Mills Middle SchoolPatapsco Middle SchoolPatuxent Valley Middle SchoolWilde Lake Middle SchoolAtholton High SchoolCentennial High SchoolGlenelg High SchoolHammond High SchoolHoward High SchoolLong Reach High SchoolMarriotts Ridge High SchoolMt. Hebron High SchoolOakland Mills High SchoolReservoir High SchoolRiver Hill High SchoolWilde Lake High SchoolNonePreschoolHome SchoolOut of CountyPrivate Other (Not Listed) Please enter school name below: Address: City: State: Zip code: *Phone number: Teacher's name: The following poem(s) is/are my own original work. I give Howard County Library permission to publish my work on the Library's web site. Poem #1 Poem #2 Poem #3 Poem #1 Poem Title: (or first line of poem) Poem #2 Poem Title: (or first line of poem) Poem #3 Poem Title: (or first line of poem)