Wheatland Library Media Center

Peterson Library Media Center Indian Prairie Community School District #204 4008 Chinaberry Lane Naperville, Illinois 60564 (630) 428-7259

February 2014

Dear Parents: It is time to begin the Young Author’s Writing Program! Peterson students have the option to participate in an annual writing program called the “Young Authors Program.” This is an opportunity for students to take a piece of writing from start to finish and create a finished product where they can showcase their own work with their peers in a different setting. This is not a contest. It is an opportunity for those students who love to write to create a finished piece of writing of their choice. This optional writing activity should be started and completed at home. It is an Illinois state program which is an extension of the writing curriculum. Students who wish to participate can follow the writing process (prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing, publishing and reflecting) to create a “published” manuscript, following state guidelines and then turned into the LMC. All Peterson participants will be honored at a special Young Author’s Cafe sometime in April, 2013. They will also have the opportunity to showcase their own work at the gathering. More information about the Young Author’s Cafe event will come home with participants at a later date. Please see the guidelines that students need to adhere to as they go through the writing process. If these guidelines are misplaced, they will be posted on the Peterson LMC Website throughout this time period. We do ask that your child follow the guidelines set forth by the state of Illinois since there is the possibility that ONE student could represent our school at the state conference which will be held in May, 2013. This student would be selected by the lottery process. If your child plans to participate in this year’s optional Young Author program, please let the LMC know by filling out the bottom portion and return it to your child’s classroom teacher by February 8, 2013. Students can begin working on their writing and publishing starting now. Final Young Author submissions will be due to the LMC on Monday, March 3trd. If your child loves to write, we hope he/she will consider this opportunity to create some special writing. Each year, students look forward to this program and are proud of their finished work! Sincerely, Ann Schimmoler LMC Director

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Yes, the following student(s) plan on participating in the Young Authors Program.

Student Name: ______Class ______

Parent Signature: ______PLEASE REFER TO GUIDELINES ON THE NEXT PAGE Peterson Library Media Center Indian Prairie Community School District #204 4008 Chinaberry Lane Naperville, Illinois 60564 (630) 428-7259 Student Guidelines Manuscripts are due on Monday, March 3, 2014

 K-5 students can participate.

 Students will have a “published” formal piece of writing (manuscript) that has followed the writing process.

 Only individual manuscripts are allowed. No co-authored manuscripts can be accepted.

 Illustrations are encouraged. They can be included if the student desires, however, all illustrations must be hand-drawn by the author. No tracing or computer generated graphics are allowed.

 Students may choose from the following types of writing for their manuscripts: fiction, non-fiction, essay, or poetry collections.

 Any quality piece of writing that has been created during the current school year can be used for this manuscript. It should have a beginning, middle, and end if it is a fiction book.

 Parents may give assistance with spelling, grammar, etc., but the manuscript should be the student’s own work. Helpful suggestions are encouraged, but parents should not be the authors. Suggestions and assistance should be learning experiences for students.

 The length of the manuscript is left up to each student. Every word should be important to the main idea.

 A Title Page which includes title, author, and year of publication, must be included at the beginning of each manuscript.

 An “About the Author” section should be placed at the end of the book. It must include a picture of the author (you) and tell a little about you as a writer and your interests.

 If a student decides to use word processing for the manuscript, he / she should complete this on their own.

 Students should turn in their writing / manuscript in “book format” or in a 3 ring binder / folder. The LMC will supply heavier tag board if a student wishes to use this, but the LMC will not bind the books this year.

 Completed manuscripts will be collected in the classrooms and then sent to the LMC for reading and safe keeping until the Young Author’s Café is scheduled.

Please keep this page for your child’s use while creating their Young Author Story