Competition

ThinkQuest Narrative Competition Evaluation Criteria 2009

Each judging criteria listed below is worth 10 points. Judges will evaluate entries in accordance with these criteria, entering a score of 0 to 10 for each.

Content(10 points)

• Narrative expertly explores the chosen topic, evidenced by the depth of information presented, supporting details, and a variety of information sources.
• All content is accurate and current.

Writing & Organization(10 points)

• Content is written in English using correct grammar, punctuation and spelling.
• Writing is clear, concise and well organized.

Originality(10 points)

• Narrative content, photographs, and artwork are creative and original.
• A variety of information sources are used (e.g., interviews, surveys, personal observations, original artwork, multimedia recordings, etc.).
• Written content is not paraphrased or copied from outside sources.
• Please see Rules for information regarding plagiarism.

Educational Relevance(10 points)

• Narrative effectively engages its defined student audience.
• Content is educational.

Global Impact(10 points)

• Narrative focuses on the topic selected.
• Narrative presents diverse viewpoints and clearly differentiates opinion vs. fact.
• Narrative raises awareness, presents action steps, and engages others to address the issue and make a difference.

Citations(10 points)

• Sources used to create the narrative are clearly identified and credited, ideally as footnotes on the relevant page, as well as on a summary citations page.
• If the narrative includes legally protected materials (e.g. copyrighted information, images, audio, video), permission to use these materials is clearly provided, or noted as being in the public domain.
• Citations are accurate and thorough enough to verify content.

Collaboration(10 points)

• The entry profile includes a candid narrative on how the team divided tasks, shared responsibilities, and overcame challenges.
• Students share reflections on the difficulties they encountered during the competition, their teamwork, and group problem solving.

Team Diversity(10 points)

• Team members effectively utilize their differences (e.g., culture, background, experiences, beliefs, etc.) to present the topic.
• Team members clearly describe their diversity in the entry profile.

Narrative Structure, Appearance, and Function(10 points)

• The narrative is easy to read. Every page is visually well organized.
• The narrative’s design is artistic and does not interfere with one’s ability to easily read content.
• The narrative does not include technical issues.

ThinkQuest Project Tool Use(10 points)

• ThinkQuest Projects tools are creatively and purposefully used and enhance the narrative.

Rising to the Challenge
Teams including students who 1.) do not have home computer/Internet access, 2.) who participate in ThinkQuest as an after-school activity, or 3.) who reside in different locations will be eligible to receive up to 10 “rising to the challenge” points.