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POSTER AND WRITING CONTEST 2009-2010:
Frequently Asked Questions for Students
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
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This page contains information that students might find helpful when preparing their posters and essays. Good luck!
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Entries must be postmarked by Friday, March 12, 2010. Early entries are encouraged.
The first place winner in each category will receive a $100.00 gift card. 2nd place a $50.00 gift card and 3rd place a $25.00 gift card. Every student who enters will receive a certificate of participation. All winners, along with their families and teachers will be invited to an Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 28, 2010, held at Deer Island.
What information needs to be included with my entry?
All poster and writing contest entries must have a completed Student Label attached to the back of the entry. The labels should be taped or glued securely to the back of the entry. Sometimes labels that are paper clipped or stapled fall off. If there is no Student Label on the entry, you cannot win!
Where can I get a student label?
Ask your teacher for one or download it from one of these links:
Student labels (.doc) | (.pdf)
May I enter both the poster and writing contests?
If you are in grades 3-8, you may enter both contests.
How will I be notified if I win?
Your teacher will receive an e-mail to let him or her know if there are any winners in the class.
What size should the poster be?
Your poster must be no smaller than 8.5 X 11 inches and no larger than 18 X 24 inches.
What makes a good poster?
Make sure your poster is on topic. Don't try to include too many ideas or activities on your poster. A single message, clearly illustrated, is more effective. If you use lettering, make sure it can be read from across a room.
What are this year’s poster contest topics?
For the poster contest, students are being asked to create a poster showing someone (or a group of people) doing their job in the water or wastewater field. Posters will be judged in three grade level categories: K-2, 3-5 and 6-8.
Can friends work on posters together?
No, only individual work will be accepted.
Do posters have to be drawings?
No, posters can be any form of art you choose to express the topic. You can create a collage with pictures cut out of a magazine, you can use pieces of fabric or you can create a drawing using markers, crayons, paints, or charcoal. We are looking for unique and creative works of art.
Posters must be no smaller than 8.5 X 11 inches and no bigger than 18 X 24 inches. Be sure to attach a student label to the back of your poster.MWRA staff will select the strongest posters from the entries in each category. Then a panel of judges will score the posters on originality, clarity of message, creative and artistic use of materials, and quality of work.
What makes a good writing entry?
First, be sure your entry addresses the question. As good as a piece might be, if it isn't on topic, it can't win a prize. Then, use your creativity to make your entry stand out. The reader should remember your work because there was something unique about it. An essay can be just as creative as a poem or dialogue, if it has a clear theme and develops it cleverly.
What are this year’s writing contest topics?
- Grades 3-5: You are one of the many people whose job it is to provide safe, clean drinking water of process wastewater. Write about a typical day on the job.
- Grades 6-8: You recently started a new job in the water or wastewater field. Write about how your job has a positive impact on the environment and the people in your community.
- High School: Not many high school students consider a career in the water and/or wastewater fields. Write an essay to convince young people that these are great fields to consider.
Do I have to write my entry on a computer?
Writing entries may be written neatly in ink and can be no longer than two pages. Please use only one side of the paper and be sure to attach a Student Label securely to the back of your entry. Audio and video entries will not be accepted.
How will my writing entry be judged?
MWRA staff will select the best entries in each category. Copies will be given to a judging panel, who will first read and rate them and then meet to decide the winners. Writing entries will be judged on factual accuracy, creativity, originality and persuasiveness.
Only schools located in the MWRA Service Area listed below are eligible to participate in the Annual Poster & Writing Contest
Water |
Sewer |
Water & Sewer |
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Chicopee |
Ashland |
Arlington Bedford Belmont Boston Brookline Cambridge Canton Chelsea Everett Framingham Lexington Malden Medford Melrose Milton Needham Newton |
Norwood Quincy Revere Somerville Stoneham Stoughton Wakefield Waltham Watertown Wellesley Winchester Winthrop Woburn |
| Schools located on Cape Cod and within the Quabbin and Wachusett Watershed are also eligible to participate. | |||
| Meg Tabacsko – 617-660-7975 Meg.Tabacsko@mwra.state.ma.us |
Updated February 2, 2010