1. Essay Contest

2. What is it? The “Do the Write Thing” essay challenge is an initiative of the National Campaign to Stop Violence, a coalition of institutions, businesses and community leaders. The program is designed to encourage students in middle schools to write about youth violence and drug abuse in their communities and suggest ways in which these problems can be resolved.

3. One male and one female student will be selected as the challenge program "winner" for their middle school and will attend an awards reception. Date and location have not yet been determined. Last year it was held on April 25, 2011 at the Mint Museum on Randolph Road. One male and one female "finalist" will be determined to represent Charlotte- Mecklenburg in the national event taking place in Washington, DC later this year.

4. What do you have to do? Be a 6 th, 7 th or 8 th grade student in CMS ONE entry per year Only ONE entry per year Original work Original work Can be essay, poem, play or song Can be essay, poem, play or song Language must be positive and not derogatory Language must be positive and not derogatory

5. Entries should address 3 questions. 1.How has youth violence and drug use affected my life? 2.What are the causes of youth violence? 3. What can I do about youth violence? 11..

6. Incentives for Participation School with highest number of submissions receives a gift of school supplies. Principals will receive a certificate. Teacher with most entries receives classroom supplies. Each student who participates receives a certificate & chance to go to Washington, DC for a week…all expenses paid!

7. Do the Write Thing Ceremony Video

8. Charlotte student heads to Washington after winning national essay contest

9. Southwest Middle School, CHARLOTTE — A Charlotte student is in Washington this week as a winner of a national essay contest aimed at stopping violence. Cindy Yang is one of the winners of the 2012 "Do the Write Thing" writing challenge. Yang, who recently completed the eighth-grade at Southwest Middle School, wrote an essay about the personal impacts of youth violence and bullying on her life. “We all know bullying is a bad thing. But if you do it just for fun, you shouldn't do it at all. It's not funny. It’s a serious thing,” said Yang.

10. Yang begins high school in the fall and said she hopes she can use some of what she has learned during her trip to the nation's capital to teach her new classmates about the perils of bullying. Yang and the other winners have been in Washington since Saturday sightseeing and meeting with lawmakers. Yang met with staff from Representative Sue Myrick's office Tuesday. A compilation of this year's winning Do the Write Thing essays will be displayed in the Library of Congress.

11. After I read you some former essay and poetry winners you will begin the process to write your own contest entry. 1. Brainstorm ideas…What do you want to say? 2. Pick your best idea and decide if you will write an essay or a poem.

12. Essay 1. Write your thesis. Be clear. 2. Sketch out an outline of your essay before you write. Use one-line sentences to describe paragraphs, and bullet points to describe what each paragraph will contain.

13. Introduction Paragraph: Grab the reader’s attention with a good hook. Give a little background information to lead to your thesis statement. The title and the first paragraph are probably the most important part of the essay.

14. paragraph Each paragraph in your essay should be focused on a single idea that supports your thesis. Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence. Be clear. Support what you say with evidence or examples. Speak to your reader as if he or she were sitting right in front of you.

15. Conclusion Conclusion Gracefully exit your essay by making a quick wrap-up sentence, and then end on some memorable thought, perhaps a quotation, or an interesting twist of logic, or some call to action. Is there something you want the reader to walk away and do? Let him or her know exactly what. Conclusion: Gracefully exit your essay by making a quick wrap-up sentence, and then end on some memorable thought, perhaps a quotation, or an interesting twist of logic, or some call to action. Is there something you want the reader to walk away and do? Let him or her know exactly what. Conclusion

16. Poems Rhymed, unrhymed, acrostic, narrative, free verse… Now get busy and good luck!