Twin Cities Creation Science Association

Creation Science Writing Contest

What: Students (public, private, and home school), under the supervision of mentors, will research and

compose papers on creation science topics and turn them in for review, judging, and possible prizes.

Purpose:

1. Enhance knowledge and long-term interest in creation science among the next generation.

2. Youth will understand the factual, philosophical, spiritual, and societal implications of creation science.

3. An opportunity will be provided for student writers to advance in their skills of logic, reasoning,

research and written communication.

4. Adults will mentor youth as they begin the task of carrying on the research and proclamation

of God's truth found in creation science.

5. Acquaint students, parents, and teachers with the mission and resources of TCCSA.

Method:

1. Students will submit original papers on creation science topics.

A. Length will vary by age

As a general guideline, 75-100 words X grade of student.

B. A list of suggested topics will be provided, and links to resources

can be found on the www.tccsa.tc web site.

C. Each student will be mentored by an adult. The duties of the mentor include at least the duties of…

· Assisting the student in the selection of a topic compatible with student's age and skill level.

· Overseeing the collection of data from credible, up-to-date, reliable sources

(scholarly books, creation science journals, creation science web sites,

web links suggested by www.tccsa.tc, etc.)

· Supervise the student in assembling thoughts into a coherent paper with introduction, thesis,

logical layout of paragraphs (topic sentences and supporting facts), and a

conclusion which points to God as sovereign over an aspect of creation science,

the Noahic flood, or an event in geologic or human history.

· Proofread the paper for spelling, grammar, and bibliographical accuracy.

· Follow the MLA system of documentation.

Ideas which are “common knowledge” do not require documentation.

Any idea which is not “common knowledge” or the opinion of the student writer,

needs to be attributed to the (or a) source where it was read by the student.

The first time the work the work is cited, the work and page number will be listed:

(Edwards, 45-46)

(Scientific American, 66)

If the student refers to the same work later on in the same paragraph or before

a different work is cited, then only the page number is necessary. (123)

· The last page of the report will consist of a detailed bibliography including all information

needed to locate the sources cited in the student's work.

· The student should try to use facts as close as possible to the original source.

For example, it is less reliable to quote a magazine article, which quoted a book,

which gave a comment on the scientific research of someone else. It would be best

to find the writings of the originator of the information.

· The student or mentor may contact TCCSA with questions up until the deadline.

We welcome inquiries concerning location of data sources, discernment of

reliable data, and paper mechanics if these questions will help the student

compose a paper of superior quality.

D. Papers will be submitted via electronic medium to CreationSciencePapers{at}juno.com

Submission deadline is May 15 of each year. Papers may be submitted any time before that date.

Send as an attachment, saved in “rich text” format: “rtf”

In subject line write author's name and grade level

In the body of the message area please state

Name of student

Age of student on May 15 of that year

School grade of student

Home address

E-mail address

Name and address of student‘s mentor and relationship to student

2. Papers will become the property of TCCSA, and may be reproduced and

distributed by TCCSA, with acknowledgement of the author's name and age.

3. Judging of Papers

A. Papers will be read by volunteers, composed of TCCSA Board members and parents.

B. Paper judging criteria:

- content organization (introduction, thesis statement, logical presentation of paragraphs

with topic sentences, and documentation procedures described above)

- Biblical and scientific accuracy (most reliable and up-to-date information used)

- how well the paper promotes the TCCSA position of creation science and

related topics as compared with other perspectives

4. The writers of selected, superior papers will be invited to present their work in front

of a public audience during a TCCSA lecture. Prizes will be awarded to all who are

chosen to present their papers publicly.
(although it is the author's option whether or not to actually present the paper orally.)