Writing Competitions

Acaciawood School places great emphasis on teaching its students to be good writers. The writing program operates under the premise that students learn to write by writing. Successful writers consistently attribute their success to writing frequently and persistently. Another secret to good writing is to incorporate editing and rewriting into the writing process.

Since it is sometimes difficult to inspire students to expend adequate effort in editing their writing in order to perfect it, Acaciawood motivates its students by sending their compositions to writing contests and student magazines. We find that the prospect of having one’s writing evaluated by a third party as part of a contest and/or for publication causes students to exercise a significantly higher degree of diligence in editing and reworking their writing.

The students in the elementary program submit their material to the following contests:

1. Creative Communications Essay contest
2. Creative Communications Poetry contest
3. Cricket Magazine writing contests
4. Letters About Literature Essay contest
5. Young Authors of America
6. Orange County Youth Exposition writing contest
7. Other writing contests that are available periodically

Junior high students participate in the Chapman University-sponsored Holocaust Writing Competition. Many Acaciawood students have experienced the joy of having their writings recognized either by doing well in these contests or by seeing them published.

Last modified: 5/17/06