Extemporaneous Essay

In-PersonIndividual

View Official PDF (Page 38)

Competitors are allotted 60 minutes to compose a handwritten essay on a randomly selected topic related to the theme.

Format

In-Person

Registration Guidelines

1. A limit of two (2) students from each team may register for this competition.
2. Each student competes individually — collaboration is not permitted.

Procedure

1. ONLY MIST ID should be written on the paper. No other personal identifiers (name, spirit team, school, etc.).

2. All competitors report to the competition room at the same time (designated in competition schedule).

3. Paper and pen/pencil will be provided, but students may bring their own.

4. Students will choose one topic from a selection of three.

   • Topics will be relevant to the annual theme or current events.

5. After topics are chosen and written on the top of the submission page, students are allotted 60 minutes to complete their essay in English.

   • Submission is turned in to the proctor at the end of the hour (or earlier).

6. Students are allowed to bring printed reference materials (newspapers, articles) or quotations relevant to the theme or current affairs for citation during the competition.

   • Prepared notes or personal essays are NOT allowed.
   • Materials must be reviewed and approved by the Competition Moderator before the competition begins.
   • No annotations permitted (highlighting, underlining, post-its, margin notes).

7. Electronic device usage is not permitted during the competition.

Interactive Scoring Ballot

Interactive Ballot

Enter scores to calculate the total automatically.

Criteria	Score
Section A: Technical (5 points)
Technical Participant is on time for the competition Participant stopped writing when time was called No identifiers on submission aside from MIST ID
Section Subtotal	0 / 5
Section B: Content (60 points)
Conventions Deductions: -1 per spelling error, -1 per punctuation error, -2 per grammar error. Bonus: +1 per citation.
Ideas and Development Did the writer answer one of the topics with sufficient detail? Did the writer take a unique approach when addressing the topic? Did the writer stay on topic throughout the entire essay? Was the main idea or message clear to the reader?
Organization Did the introduction grab attention with unique start, clear thesis, and concise supporting points? Were adequate details, examples, and support provided for each supporting point? Were paragraphs well-developed, each with their own main idea? Did the conclusion link back to the introduction?
Sentence Fluency Did the writer vary sentence types (mixture of simple and complex sentences)? Do most sentences begin with different words? When read aloud, do the sentences flow well together? Was there a logical progression of ideas?
Section Subtotal	0 / 60
Section C: Style (35 points)
Word Choice Did the writer use thoughtful adjectives to create more vivid imagery? Did the writer use strong action verbs to support the essay's message? Did the writer use precise nouns to help present a clear and distinct message? Did the overall usage of words create color and texture in the writing? Was it clear that this writer took risks with their word choice?
Voice Does the writer show passion about the topic? Is the tone natural and consistent, reflecting original thinking and expression? Does the writer capture a tone or mood with their words?
Section Subtotal	0 / 35
Total Score	0 / 100