Entrants must join the KISD Secondary Writing Competition Schoology group

(code: 7QDR-88VP-MDNRP) for full access to supports, forms, and the submission link.
Dates
Opens June 1
Submissions due by June 25
Winners announced by July 23

Rules & Submissions

Submission will be made to the KISD Secondary Writing Competition Entry Form and only accessible through a
link provided in the KISD Secondary Writing Competition Schoology group (code: 7QDR-88VP-MDNRP).

1. No entry fee is required and all rights to the story remain the property of the author.
2. By submitting to the contest, the entrant agrees to abide by all contest rules.
3. The contest is open only to students enrolled in a Killeen ISD school who have not professionally published the
submitted work, in any medium.
4. Each entrant may submit only one (1) entry.
5. All entries must be original works by the entrant, in English. Plagiarism, which includes the use of third-party
poetry, characters or another person’s universe, without written permission, will result in disqualification. Any works
with profanity, sex, or excessive violence, determined by the judges, will result in disqualification.
6. Entries are to be submitted electronically using the digital submission form, turned in by hand, or mailed to
Secondary Curriculum & Professional Development, c/o Secondary Writing Contest, 902 N 10th St Killeen, TX.
76541-4829. If offices are closed due to COVID-19, please use the digital submission or mail only.
7. All entries must be typewritten (digital or hard-copy) or a computer printout in black ink on white paper printed
only on the front of the paper, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12-point font, with one-inch margins. All other
formats will be disqualified (excluding Poetry).
a. Each entry must include the work, and a signed parent/media release.
b. High school entrants must include a query letter in same document as the entry (see query guides in
the KISD Secondary Writing Competition Schoology group). Query letters will not count as part of the 4
page entry limit.
8. A Poetry entry may consist of up to three (3) poems in one document not to exceed 4 pages total. Poetry entries
may be formatted as decided by the author. Include your name and the titles of each poem.
9. Each Fiction and Non-Fiction piece must not exceed 4 pages with author name and the title of work on the first
page. Subsequent pages should be numbered.
10. All entries are final. No revisions are accepted.
11. Entries will be judged by Killeen ISD staff. The decisions of the judges are entirely their own and are final and
binding.

Fiction Scoring Non- Non-Fiction Poetry Scoring

Fiction (Personal Narrative) (Informational,
Scoring Argument,
Opinion) Scoring
Characters Characters Topic Devices and Style
Setting Setting Evidence Use of Language
Problem/Solution Problem/Solution Explanation and Analysis Organization
Plot/Events Plot/Events Conclusion Conventions
Word Choice Word Choice Formal Tone and Style High School
Conventions Conventions Organization and only: Query Letter
High School only: High School only: Transitions
Query Letter Query Letter Conventions
High School only:
Query Letter

Middle School: 1 winner and one honorable mention for each genre (fiction, non-fiction, and poetry)
High School: 1 winner and one honorable mention for each genre (fiction, non-fiction, and poetry)
Entrants must join the KISD Secondary Writing Competition Schoology group
(code: 7QDR-88VP-MDNRP) for full access to supports, forms, and the submission link.