Literary fair specifications
All entries (unless otherwise noted) must be typed (minimum size 12 font)
Children’s Book for Pre-readers
A story written and designed to be read to children below kindergarten age and presented
in a book format. The story may reflect a literary work or be the development of an
original adventure. Each book must display the ages for which it is appropriate.
Illustrations must be the original design of the creator. Authors should not use patented
characters (i.e. Donald Duck) or computer generated pictures.
Max. length 16 pages
Children’s Book for Emergent Readers
A story written in a book format and designed to be read by children who are starting to
become independent readers. The story may reflect a literary work or be the development
of an original adventure. Each book must display the ages for which it is appropriate.
Illustrations must be the original design of the creator. Authors should not use patented
characters (i.e. Donald Duck) or computer generated pictures.
Max. length 16 pages
Fable
A short story intended to reveal some useful truth or precept, especially a story in which
animals or inanimate things speak and act like humans.
Max. length 500 words
Formal Essay
A piece of prose writing that deals with a subject and expresses a particular point of view.
It should either communicate information or share a personal thought in a formal style
and be characterized by a seriousness of purpose, dignity, and logical organization.
500-1000 words
Informal Essay
A piece of prose writing that deals with a subject and expresses a personal point of view
in a free style. It may contain elements of self-revelation, humor and an unconventional
theme.
500-1000 words
Literary Comic Strip
A 3 to 4 panel comic strip, based on a literary work, with illustration and dialogue. May
be hand drawn or created digitally. Illustrations must be original and not patented
characters or pre made computer generated pictures. Hand-drawn comics strips must be
outlined in black ink; all stray marks must be erased.
8 1/2 x 11” paper
Literary Gag Cartoon
A one panel cartoon with the punch line or dialogue written at the bottom. Must be based
on a literary work.
8 1/2 x 11” paper
Literary Newspaper
A fictional newspaper based on a literary work or a time period, which is studied in the
curriculum. May be done by an individual or a group. Graphics or illustrations included
as part of the entry. All work must be original.
No size limitation
Myth
A purely fictitious narrative usually involving supernatural persons, actions, or events
and often embodying some popular explanation or conception of natural or historical
phenomena.
Max. length 1000 words
Parody
A composition imitating with ludicrous exactness, but ordinarily on a ridiculous subject,
the style and mannerisms of some serious composition.
Max. length 1000 words
Personal Narrative
A true, first person account of an experience or event that is personally significant to the
writer. It should express feelings of how the experience affected the writer or taught the
writer something of importance.
500-1000 words
Short Story
Brief narrative that can be read in one sitting. A short story contains the following major
elements: plot, characterization, setting, point of view, theme and style. 500-2500 words
Tall Tale
A folklore genre, in which the physical attributes, capabilities, and exploits of characters
are wildly exaggerated for comic effect. It should contain a folk hero and a feat of
extraordinary consequences.
Max. length 1000 words
ABCDarian poem
A twenty-six line poem that follows the alphabet from A to Z. The first line begins with
A and the last line with Z. It may be rhymed or free verse, constructed of words, phrases,
or one or more sentences. Each letter must be used as an integral part of the poem.
Cinquain poem
A poem of five lines with the following syllables:
Line 1 – 2 syllables
Line 2 – 4 syllables
Line 3 – 6 syllables
Line 4 – 8 syllables
Line 5 – 2 syllables
End rhyme occurs seldom, but assonance, internal rhyme, and consonance appear
frequently.
Concrete Poem
Poetry that can be seen and read. Meaning comes through words and appearance.
Free Verse
Haiku
Rhymed Verse
Rap Poem
Written form of the oral poetry tradition that is written in everyday language rather than
formal English. Takes much of its power from heavy rhythm and rhyme. Language and
subject must be school appropriate.
Persona Poem
First person poem in which a fictional, mythic, historic, or other type of figure speaks.
Sestina Poem
Unrhymed poem consisting of six six-line stanzas and a three-line envoy. Usually
unrhymed. The effect of rhyme comes from a fixed pattern of end-words; the end words
in each stanza are the same but arranged in a different sequence in each stanza. In the
closing tercet, each of the six words is used, with one in the middle of each line and one
at the end.
123456
End words of lines in first sestet
615243
End words of lines in second sestet
364215
End words of lines in third sestet
532614
End words of lines in fourth sestet
451362
End words of lines in fifth sestet
246531
End words of lines in sixth sestet
(6 2) (1 4) (5 3) Middle and end words of lines in tercet
Shrinklit Poem
A rhymed verse, which condenses the main ideas of a major work such as a novel, play,
or film. The last two lines frequently present an ironic twist or question.
Sonnet
A fourteen line poem written in iambic pentameter.
Rhyme Scheme
Shakespearean—3 quatrains followed by rhymed couplet.
abab cdcd efef gg
Petrarchan—1 octave and one sestet.
abba abba cdecde
Spenserian—3 interlocking quatrains and a couplet
abab bcbc cdcd ee
Tanka
A Japanese verse form in five lines. The tanka has the following lines and syllables:
Line 1 – 5 syllables
Line 2 – 7 syllables
Line 3 – 5 syllables
Line 4 – 7 syllables
Line 5 – 7 syllables