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AMMA
Essay Contest

AMMA is excited to present an essay contest as a way to encourage students of all ages to express their creativity through the power of written words.  

Rules and Regulations

Topic

  • Discuss how music has helped you cope with hardship. The response may address an experience with the Covid-19 pandemic or another hardship of significance. 

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  • You are encouraged to use a specific concert, piece of music, or person (teacher/performer/composer) that inspired you as a point of reference.

 

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Divisions and Essay Lengths

  • Junior Division (ages 12 and under) - 500 words maximum (1-2 pages double-spaced roughly)

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  • Senior Division (ages 13-18) - 750 words maximum (2-3 pages double-spaced roughly)

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  • Adult Division (ages 18 and up) - 1000 words maximum (3-4 pages double-spaced roughly)

 

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General Guidelines (excerpted from  Purdue Owl Writing Lab)

  • Double-space the text of your paper and use a legible font (e.g. Times New Roman). Whatever font you choose, MLA recommends that the regular and italics type styles contrast enough that they are each distinct from one another. The font size should be 12 pt.

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  • Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks (unless otherwise prompted by your instructor).

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  • Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides.

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  • Indent the first line of each paragraph one half-inch from the left margin. MLA recommends that you use the “Tab” key as opposed to pushing the space bar five times.

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  • Create a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. (Note: You may ask that you omit the number on your first page.)

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  • Use italics throughout your essay to indicate the titles of longer works and, only when absolutely necessary, provide emphasis.

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  • If you have any endnotes, include them on a separate page before your Works Cited page. Entitle the section Notes (centered, unformatted).

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  • Please click here to access the rubric.  

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  • Your essay must be original.  If you plagiarize or submit work that is not entirely your own, your entry will be disqualified from the AMMA Essay Contest.

 

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Application is open from March 1 to March 31, 2022.

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  • Please send your essay as an email attachment with the subject heading, “AMMA Essay Contest.”

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  • Word or PDF files are preferred.

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Results will be posted on our website at www.AMMusicAwards.com by April 20, 2022.

 

 

Awards

  • First, second, third prizes, and honorable mentions per Division will be awarded. 

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  • Award certificates will be given out to all winners and participants.

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  • Grand Prize: the most outstanding essay selected from the entire contest will be awarded a cash prize of $100 and will be featured on our website.  

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