Home Contests, Competitions and Partnerships Roderick A. Macdonald Contest Preparing Your Entry

Contests, Competitions and Partnerships

Roderick A. Macdonald Contest

Preparing Your Entry

I. Make Sure You’re Eligible You are eligible to enter the contest if you are in your final two years of high school. II. Choose Your Topic This year’s contest theme: Cultural Diversity. Within the framework of cultural diversity and multiculturalism, students are encouraged to choose a topic that interests them. This could include an example of a cultural or religious tradition or a specific issue within multiculturalism. Examples: The right to wear religious symbols/dress at school/work Arranged marriages Sharia law Religious holidays Or, it could be a broader look at the theme. Examples: Human rights Racism International law Individual freedoms Challenges Canada faces in its effort to be a multicultural country When creating their entry, students should look at the issue from all perspectives. Some things to consider: What importance does this religious or cultural group give to a particular tradition? How does its practice affect the people who partake in it? How does the law perceive it? Are there tensions inherent in acceptance of the practice or beliefs? Categories The submission categories are: English Literary – Essays, diaries, poems, etc. French Literary – Essays, diaries, poems, etc. Art (English or French) – Photography, drawings and paintings, sculptures, posters, board games, etc. Multimedia (English or French) – Videos, electronic games, PowerPoint presentations, web sites, recorded performance art, etc. There are first, second and third prizes to be awarded in each category. III: Preparing Your Entry a) Literary submissions (all) On a separate page at the start of your entry, include your name, grade, home address and telephone number. Also, include your teacher’s name, and the name, address and telephone number of your school. Please give your entry a title. Your entry must be in MS Word (in a version compatible with MS Office 2003); send an electronic version, if possible, either by e-mail or on a diskette or CD with a label indicating your name, "Roderick A. Macdonald Contest" and title; number the pages; margins on all sides must be no smaller than 1" (2.5cm); use endnotes rather than footnotes, if any; length should be a maximum of 3,000 words. b) Visual submissions (Video/Audio, Art & Multimedia) On a separate page at the start of your entry, include your name, grade, home address and telephone number. Also, include your teacher’s name, and the name, address and telephone number of your school. Please give your entry a title. Video: VHS or CD; labelled with name, "Roderick A. Macdonald Contest", title and format; maximum length is 15 minutes. Electronic presentations must be in PowerPoint (in a version compatible with MS Office 2003). Photos: black & white or colour; any size; must be accompanied by caption(s) or quotation(s); can be in any format, including storyboard (large board containing photos and captions that tell a sequential story); maximum number of photos: 24. Visual Art: any medium (e.g. sculpture, painting, drawing or multimedia); must be accompanied by caption(s) or quotation(s); representational or abstract; maximum number of pieces: 10. Poster: black & white or colour; size must be no smaller than 11" x 14" (28cm x 35.5cm) and no larger than 18" x 24" (45cm x 60cm). Be sure to include a brief (1-2 paragraph) written rationale describing your work and how it relates to the theme of cultural diversity. For questions concerning submissions, please contact info-rodmacdonald@lcc.gc.ca NOTE: If reporting the views obtained from others, please use fictitious names or first names only. If you cannot conceal the names or identities of people, you must inform them that the Law Commission may publish what they say. IV: Entering the Contest Submit your entry electronically, if possible, to rodmacdonald@whatpublications.com or by mail to: What Publishers Inc. 03-212 Henderson Highway Suite 328 Winnipeg, Manitoba R2L 1L8 Please type "Roderick A. Macdonald Contest" in the subject line of your e-mail or on the envelope. Entries become the property of the Law Commission of Canada and may be used by the Law Commission, in full or in part, on its web site, in its publications, or in any other communications materials. Unfortunately, due to the volume of submissions, the Commission is unable to return entries. V: Contest running dates/deadlines The contest begins on Monday, January 9, 2006. The deadline for submissions is 5:00 p.m. EST, Friday, April 28, 2006. Winners will be announced in early June, 2006. Questions? Please contact us at info-rodmacdonald@lcc.gc.ca