RULES AND GUIDELINES

1. The competition is open to all pupils currently enrolled in primary schools in Singapore. A school has the option to send a maximum of three pupils, one for each of the three categories of the competition. Category 1 is for P1 and P2 pupils; Category 2 for P3 and P4; and Category 3 for P5 and P6 pupils.
2. The story must be presented within the time limit of 3 - 5 minutes. It must highlight the magnificence and beauty of the natural world, which can include the storyteller’s (or a family member’s) personal encounters with it. The story can also be about current issues that threaten the environment and how people are working towards its protection and preservation.
3. Classic stories such as myths and legends pertaining to the natural world can also be used. All stories can either be an original, unpublished work or something previously published. If using a work by a published author, the storyteller must make sure to mention the author’s name at the beginning of his/her storytelling performance.
4. A contestant’s story must inspire respect for the environment and can take the form of any relevant story genre: horror, romance, comedy, tragedy, or even fantasy involving the supernatural.
5. Stories presented in the Earth Stories Storytelling Competition in previous years are not eligible to be used again.
6. Deadline for submissions of application is on Friday, 29th May 2009 Late submissions will not be accepted.
7. Schools must also submit a copy of the stories they are using in the competition. The stories can be submitted together with the application form on or before the 29th May deadline. These stories can also be sent at a later time before the dates of the qualifying rounds. They can be sent by post, fax or email. E-mailed stories must be in either PDF or Microsoft Word format.
8. Failure to send the stories before 16th July 2009 will mean cancellation of slots at the qualifying rounds.
9. All submitted entries (not including copyrighted and published stories) become the sole property of the National Book Development Council of Singapore and Acropolis English Centre. The two organisations reserve the right to promote, edit, publish, and use otherwise said entries without permission from, notice and compensation to the authors at any given time.
10. Participants will receive an appointment to present their stories at the qualifying rounds. Schools are allowed to bring a contingent of supporters of 10 people (teachers, classmates, and parents/ guardian).
11. Participating schools and their contingent must be at the Merpati Hall of the Geylang East Public Library 15 minutes before their assigned time. Failure to make it to the appointed block of time will forfeit the school’s chance to compete at the qualifying rounds. Requests for rescheduling on the actual days of the qualifying rounds will not be entertained.
12. Participants and their school contingent must leave the hall once their group has finished their round of presentations within the given block of time.
13. The contestant may opt to use props or wear a costume on the day of the competition but doing so will not affect judging in any way. The contestants will be judged based on the following criteria:
    

    Content	:	10 points
    Relevance	:	10 points
    Diction	:	20 points
    Expression	:	20 points
    Total	:	60 points

14. Stories must be presented from memory and must not be read from a script. Participants will have the aid of a microphone.
15. The care of the participants and supporters, including all transport arrangements, is the responsibility of the school. It must also arrange its own permission/consent forms from parents.
16. Participating schools will be notified of the results by email. There will be a total of 12 pupils, four for each category, to be selected for the Grand Final.

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