Wordsmith Competition
Molly Brough, MLIS
2015
Wordsmith
 Wordsmith Writing Olympics is sponsored by the
University of Memphis Department of English &
Shelby-Memphis Council of Teachers of English.
 Students who participate will compete to
showcase their talent in “four modes of
nonfiction: description, narration, persuasion,
and exposition” (Dice, 2013).
What is Wordsmith?
 Who: Students grades 7-12
 What: An annual writing
competition involving
approximately 30 schools in
the Memphis area
 When: February 2015
 Where: The University of
Memphis
 Why: Gain recognition and
awards for your talent as an
aspiring writer
Preliminary Competition
 Initially, all students participating in Wordsmith will
compete in a 40 word dash, an 80 word dash,
and a 120 word dash.
 Each of these events will acknowledge the top
three competitors and two honorable mentions
from each grade level.
 Students who place in the top three will go on to
compete in a 400 word dash.
40 Word Dash
 Basics: Students will have 10 minutes to describe
an object “so that a reader who has not seen
the object can visualize it” (Dice, 2013).
 Entries should be in the present tense and
include between 32 and 48 words.
40 Word Dash: Object Examples
40 Word Dash
 Things to consider when describing your object:
 Sight
 Sound
 Touch
 Smell
80 Word Dash
 Students will have 20 minutes to write a
“narration of an event shown in a black-andwhite copy of a photograph” (Dice, 2013).
 “Because no explanation accompanies the
picture, different writers will use their imaginations
to interpret the same picture in various ways”
(Dice, 2013).
 Entries should be in the present tense and
include between 64-96 words.
80 Word Dash: Example
Photo
80 Word Dash: Example
Photo
80 Word Dash
 Entries “should convey the logical sequence of
the actions and interpret the emotions and
motives that are implied by the images” (Dice,
2013).
120 Word Dash
 Students will have 30 minutes to compose a
persuasive letter to the editor regarding a
current controversial issue.
 Entries should be 96-144 words and “state a
definite, clear position about the issue and try to
persuade the readers of the newspaper to
agree with that position” (Dice, 2013).
 “The writer should state a definite, clear position
about the issue and try to persuade readers of
the newspaper to agree with that position”
(Dice, 2013).
120 Word Dash: Headline
Examples
 ”O, say, are we sure Beyonce was lip synching?
Everyone weighs in on Beyonce lip-sync
controversy – except for Beyonce” (University of
Memphis, 2013, p. 9).
 “Lance Armstrong’s former doctor Michele
Ferrari says American would have won without
doping. If Lance Armstrong comes clean, should
he be reinstated?” (University of Memphis, 2013,
p. 9).
Main Event: 400 Word Dash
 Students will have 60 minutes to write 320-480
words to write an “exposition on a given topic”
(Dice, 2013).
 Writers should use “examples, comparison,
analysis, definition, etc.” to support their essay
(Dice, 2013).
 Students must qualify to compete in the 400
word dash.
Main Event: 400 Word Dash
Topic Examples
 Example #1 (from the 2013 competition):
 “If you were a superhero, what powers would
you have? How would you use these powers?
For example, if you could breath under water,
what would you use this power to accomplish?
Would you devote your time to saving others or
would you use your powers in a different way?”
(The University of Memphis, 2013, p.10)
Judging Criteria
Dice (2013) explains the following criteria is
used to judge entries:
 “Sharply focused controlling idea”
 “Unity, coherence, completeness”
 “Imagery”
 “Accurate, specific details”
 “Fresh, figurative language”
Awards
 “The first-, second-, third-place and honorable
mention winners in each grade in each of the
Tournament Day events receive a ribbon” and go on
to compete in the main day 400 word dash event
(Dice, 2013).
 The top 3 students per grade level are awarded
medals (Dice, 2013).
 The top 3 schools in each grade division are awarded
trophies (Dice, 2013)
 The first place student in 12th grade is awarded a
scholarship (Dice, 2013).
Additional Information
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6NK7HxG
ASs
Works Cited
Dice, C. (2013). WordSmith: Writing Olympics for
grades 7-12 [PDF document]. Retrieved from
https://drive.google.com/folderview?pli=1&id=0
B5GMvYGaAQxGdnRrN05YNTJFcUU&ddrp=1#
The University of Memphis. WordSmith 2013.
Retrieved from
https://docs.google.com/folderview?
pli=1&id=0B5GMvYGaAQxGRll0Njd
SaDZvLWs&tid=0B5GMvYGaAQxGdnRrN05YNTJF
cUU