The Eighth National CLASS Essay Contest
The Eighth National CLASS Essay Contest OFFICIAL RULES (Revised May 7, 2011)
1. The contestant must be a student currently enrolled in a Mandarin Chinese program during the current school year at an elementary school, a middle school or a high school that is fully accredited by the regional Accreditation institutions like Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), or is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).
2. The instructor of the contestant must be a current member in good standing of the Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools (CLASS). The annual membership fee ($40.00 as of April 2011) must be paid by the instructor before students are eligibility to compete.
3. Contest essays must be written on the paper with writing chart provided and hand written legibly. Any illegible writing will result in deducted points.
4. Eligibility of Contest Entry: All entries must be student’s original independent work*. No contestant may use an essay by another contestant in previous years or resubmit an essay that was a previous submission. CLASS reserves** the right to disqualify contestants with identical essays or aboriginal essays.
5. It is the responsibility of the instructor to place each of his/her students in the most appropriate category commensurate with the student’s background and training. CLASS reserves the right to disqualify a contestant who provides false background and training information.
6. Each contestant must agree to compete in his/her assigned division and category as outlined below.
A. Categories: students’ language background information
Category A: students who are non-native speakers of Chinese in a regular foreign language program
Category B: Students who are heritage learners/ native-speakers of Chinese
Category C: Students who have been in an immersion program regardless of first language background
B. Divisions: students’ starting entry point to learn Chinese and the current level Division I Beginner K-5: Students who started learning Chinese as a beginner in elementary school
Beginner 6-8: Students who started learning Chinese as a beginner in middle school
Beginner 9-12 Students who started learning Chinese as a beginner in high school
Division II Intermediate 6-8: Students who started learning Chinese at elementary school and continued at the middle
school level
Intermediate 9-12 Students who started learning Chinese at middle school and continued at the high school
Level
Division III Advanced 9-12 Students who started learning Chinese at elementary school and continued at the middle
school through high school level
Example of group coding: a student grouped in C-II-7 means this is a seventh grader who has been in an immersion program since elementary school.
7. The contestant may write on any appropriate topic commensurate with his/her level of training. Sample topics include: Learning Chinese, Family Life, Favorite Sports, a School Event, Travel to China/ Taiwan/ Hong Kong.
8. Submission: The instructor should send the students entries (one hard copy, electronic files if applicable) along with CLASS Essay Contest Entry and Pledge Form (the form can be downloaded at www.classk12.org ) no later than October 1, 2011 to:
Baocai Paul Jia,
Cupertino High School,
10100 Finch Ave.,
Cupertino, CA 95014
classessaycontest2011@gmail.com
*Definition of “Original Independent Work”
Essay must be drafted and written by individual student author. No online translator is allowed for creating any part of the text. No parental or teacher assistance/editing is allowed. Proper citation is required if others’ words are quoted or employed.
**Please note: CLASS Student Essay Judging Committee reserves the right to reject any entry that is under the suspicion of plagiarism or tempered with more sophisticated authorship. If two judgers raise the suspicion based on their professional knowledge, a third authoritative figure such as CLASS president or a board member will be consulted to make the final decision. Teachers and administrators are expected to model and reinforce ethical behaviors.
Any questions regarding the CLASS 2011 Essay Contest should be directed to The CLASS Essay Contest Committee Chair, Baocai Paul Jia at
classessaycontest2011@gmail.com. For forms related to this contest, please check the CLASS website
Download documents :
1. The Eight National CLASS Essay Contest Official rules
2. CLASS Essay Contest Entry Form
3. Writing Chart_Chinese
