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Creative Writing Exam

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

  • How has music served as an integral part of your life? You may cite a specific musical event (concert, competition, etc.), musical work, composer, or teacher to explain how your life has been enhanced through the power of music.

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Divisions and Essay Lengths

  • 750 words maximum (2-3 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 November 1 to November 30, 2024.

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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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​The certificate and judge’s comment will be sent via email by December 31, 2024.

 

 

Award​​

  • 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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